When reading guides on how to grow cannabis, it is often expected that you have some level of gardening knowledge. But not all of us grew up with gardens. As we approach legalization in Canada, we thought this would be a good time to create a really basic grow guide. One that doesn't make assumptions about your prior knowledge. If you have a basic understanding of how a plant grows (put a seed in the ground, water it and a plant will sprout), you can learn the basics of growing cannabis here.
create space
Cannabis plants take up space. That's a simple fact. You can grow small plants in small spaces and large plants in large areas, but you will need a minimum of a few square meters per plant. For your first grow, we recommend growing one or two plants. You'll likely make mistakes and experiment a little when starting out, so don't risk ruining a great crop on your first try. To even out each plant's growth and give yourself some wiggle room, aim for 3-4 square feet per plant. Plus several feet of growing space above the plant. An unused closet, guest room, or grow tent is ideal.
Our guide will focus on indoor growing as it gives you more control and provides the highest quality cannabis. There are many other variables to consider when growing outdoors: weather, changing seasons, safety concerns, and increased risk of pest infestation. We do not recommend it for the best results or for inexperienced growers.
get the equipment
Before you start growing cannabis, you need to get some equipment. While you could drop a seed in some soil, water it and hope it works, it won't produce very good buds - if the plant survives. Instead, it pays to invest in the right equipment. Not only does this result in higher quality buds, it also makes the process easier. Just follow the directions to a "T" and you'll be growing fast!
only the essentials
Here is a list of the absolute basic requirements to start growing:
- Cannabis seeds or clones [This guide is only intended for those who have a medical license to grow cannabis. You cannot legally purchase seeds or clones otherwise.]
- grow tent(optional, but strongly recommended). Grow tents are closed, box-shaped frames covered with canvas - a tent. The interior is made of reflective fabric to maximize the efficiency of your grow lights. They come in a variety of sizes, ranging from 2'x2'x4' to more than twice that size. For your first grow, a basic 2" x 2" x 4" tent should suffice, unless you're sure you'll need more space in the future.
- Soils and fertilizers for all growth stages. We recommend ourhandmade marijuana kitas a one-stop shopping solution for organic growing! There are many considerations when choosing a growing medium. There's also a lot to learn about the stages of growth and the different needs of mature and immature cannabis plants. The Craft Cannabis Kit includes all the soil, fertilizer and growing instructions you need to get started. If you choose other soils and additives, you face the challenge of understanding an increasingly complex science. Lastly, you might want to read some of our cultivation guides to learn about some cultivation concepts the easy way.
- pot holder. 5-gallon buckets work great for this, but any similar-sized container will do. Make sure you have drilled drainage holes every few inches around the bottom of the container.
Bowls to collect drainage from your flower pots. Otherwise you will get muddy water all over the floor. Not ideal. You don't want your plants to stand in standing water. If too much drips into the bowl, you may need to drain the excess water. - a light. There are so many options as to the type of light you can choose from, from LEDs to CFLs to specialized HID lights. Some of these switches generate a lot of heat or consume a lot of power, such as HIDs. While others are relatively cool and energy efficient. For novice growers, LEDs are a good choice. They are easy to set up and consume little power while generating small amounts of heat. Hang them about 18 inches above your plants, adjusting the height as they grow. Light is often the biggest initial and operating cost of indoor growing. Expect to pay at least $75 for a grow light and between $20 and $75/month in utility bills on top of what you're paying now.
to grow!
Once you have all your equipment in order, you need to assemble everything. As each producer will likely have a different setup, it's difficult to give general advice for your specific setup. However, there are some basics to remember.
germination and watering
When working with seeds, you must first germinate them. Germinating cannabis seeds is very easy. All you do is "wake up" the seeds with heat and moisture. You can start seeds by simply burying them a half inch to an inch into the soil of your growing container and watering them into the soil. However, in a large tank, water can be difficult to manage. Planting in a small container, such as a disposable cup with holes in it, can help ensure that you don't overwater, damage, or kill your plant.
You should water whenever the top half of the soil is dry. Water until the soil is saturated and about one-fifth of the water has filtered through the soil and into the drainage pan. This washes away salt deposits that can lead to nutrient deficiencies over time.
Some prefer to germinate their seeds on cuttings. Then transplant the plug into the main growing container once the seedling is established. Seedling plugs provide perfectly ideal germination conditions for cannabis seeds. You can buy them at most hardware stores and garden centers.
clipping
Entire books could be written about cannabis pruning. There are dozens of ways to train a cannabis plant with the intention of producing higher yields, and this guide simply cannot cover all the details. The basic principle is to improve airflow and ensure that leaves and buds are exposed to the right amount of light. Pruning the lower branches of your plant that receive little or no direct light is a good starting point. Removing small branches that have become tangled in the plant's canopy will increase airflow and light exposure. You can also cut individual leaves that have withered or died due to lack of light.
You can (and definitely should!) learn a lot more about cannabis pruning than this guide covers. Don't expect your first few crops to have perfect pruning jobs. It is a skill that takes a lot of practice.
Feeding and light times
Once your plant has germinated (or your clone has been transplanted), you'll need to establish a watering, fertilizing, and lighting schedule based on your plants' stage of growth. Before the plants enter the flowering phase, they must be exposed to light for 18 to 20 hours a day. This helps them develop leaves and roots without triggering the flowering phase, where they start to develop buds. Keep them in a vegetative state until they fill your growing space.
Once your plants have reached a decent size, it's time to enter the flowering phase. You do this by changing the light cycle to 12 hours light and 12 hours dark. If you use our products, you can use ourgrowing calendar toolto establish fertilization, watering and light requirements during flowering. If not, you'll need to research the nutrients and additives you plan on using. Proper nutrition ensures high yields from large weeds.
harvest and cure
Once you've completed the flowering phase, you're ready to harvest. There are a variety of ways to harvest buds. The easiest way is to simply cut off each branch that contains the bud and hang them from the ceiling in a dark, cool room with a fan on low speed to circulate the air. Once the buds are dry to the touch and the branches brittle, it's time to trim the buds well, removing stems and leaves. Place the buds in closed containers to cure and open the jars several times a day for several days to allow moisture to escape. Keep them like this for several weeks to allow the bud to fully heal. This ensures that you have a potent, great-tasting bud.
And that!
That's pretty much all there is to basic cannabis cultivation. As with many subjects, it doesn't take long to understand the basics, but it does take years of research and practice to become really proficient. You will learn from your mistakes and continue to improve with each successful growth. we wrote somegrowth leadersto help you understand some of the more complex growth concepts. Stay tuned and you'll become a pro in no time!