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Grow Tips 101: Avoid these 10 While Growing Cannabis!
Growing cannabis is a brilliant way to indulge in the magic that cannabis offers. It’s an experience that helps you know cannabis at a deeper level. Well, having a grower license can make things easier for you. You can grow more and all within the legal boundaries. To harvest a crop, you need to follow the right strategy. There is a good amount of work that goes into growing healthy cannabis plants. Well, there are certain mistakes that you should absolutely avoid.
1) Bad Germination
A large fraction of growers don’t pay much attention to germination. The seeds need to sprout properly to give a perfect kick start to growing. There are certain conditions that a seed needs to germinate. A humid and dark environment, a temperature of 22-27 degrees Celsius, humidity between 70% and 90%, and a pH between 5.8 and 6.2. You should also ensure that fluorescent lighting is proper. There are various methods of germinating the seeds. The most common one is to germinate directly in the soil. Other methods include paper towel method, rock wool method, and germinating in a glass of water. Just choose whatever makes the job easier for you.
2) Not Aware of the Seed Type
If you randomly sourced seeds from someone without knowing their type, then you are in a problem. In fact, a large fraction of people does that. You need to know the type of cannabis plant you’re growing. It might be Sativa, Indica, or an auto flower. Every cannabis plant is not the same. A photo period Sativa will behave differently than an autoflower Indica. There are vast differences in the growing conditions too. Some might need a hot environment while other strains may require a cold climate. Similarly, some strains need a good supply of nutrients while others only require light feeding. We hope you’re getting the idea. So, before you start, gain proper knowledge about the kind of strain you are growing. Once you have the right information about nutrition, growing condition, and other factors, you can start growing.
3) Not Using the Right Kind of Soil
The seed is one of the most common mediums of growing cannabis plants. The use of hydroponics is on the rise but the soil still remains the top choice. A good soil has a light and airy structure that facilitates proper drainage. Along with that, you should ensure that it contains the right nutrients. This speeds up the growth and keeps the plants healthy. Your soil should not contain any contaminants because it affects quality. Avoid using old and reused soil. The quality is not good and it contains pests and fungi. Purchase good quality soils from reputed brands to ensure proper growth.
4) Not Having a Grower License
If you are planning to grow in bulk, you need to have a proper license. People with a medical marijuana card, you can grow up to 6 mature of 12 immature plants. With a grower license, you can grow up to 99 plants. If you are someone who is growing without a license, then stay prepared to face legal action. Before you start growing, this is the first step you should take. A license allows you to grow legally without any hassle. Just remember that it does not allow you to sell the product. You should only use it for your health. If you are planning to sell, you need a commercial license from the state government.
5) Over Watering
Plants need water to grow but there is a specific quantity that works for them. Over watering is worse than under watering because plants can recover from a dry spell. Excessing watering leads to oxygen damage, fungus, and root rot. You need to do it in the right amount. Occasional watering is much better than overdoing it. The same holds for nutrition. Overfeeding the plants leads to nutrient burn. You’ll have to flush out the excess minerals in the soil to bring back the pH to normal levels. Keep the amount right and your plants will respond much better and grow properly.
6) Not Maintaining the Right pH Level
Maintaining a proper pH level is very important for ideal growth. There is a certain amount of nutrients that the cannabis plants can take. If the pH level is above or below the normal level, the plants will get sick. You obviously don’t want that. Ideally, the pH level should be between 6 and 7. For soil less mediums, the range between 5.5 and 6.5 works absolutely fine. Ideally, you can purchase products that can allow you to adjust pH levels and offer you the ease of growth.
7) Improper Ventilation
Ventilation is very important for the plants to breathe. If you are growing your crop indoors, achieving this might be a challenge. Well, you cannot take the risk because the lack of proper air-circulation leads to molds. If you are growing outdoors, air circulation shouldn’t be a problem but masking the strong cannabis smell might be a challenge. You need to protect them from the danger of thieves. Well, there are various ways to do that. You can mask the smell using a tent or securing the area with temporary fencing.
8) Heat Stressing the Plants
Excess heat can damage the plants. If you are growing indoors, placing the grow lights too close to your plants can lead to burns. You might notice curled and brown leaves. If you notice these, it means you need to move your lights further away from your plants. When you are growing outdoors, the only possibility of heat damage comes from the sun. If the weather is hot, try keeping your plants in some shade to provide some relief from the heat.
9) Not Harvesting at the Proper Time
You need to harvest your plants at the right time for proper potency. If you harvest too early or late, you won’t get a good crop. To know when it is the right time to harvest, you need to pay attention to the trichomes. If the trichomes are clear, it means the harvest is still weeks away. If they are turning white, it means the production of THC is on the rise but there is still time until you can harvest. The trichomes might turn reddish with the absence of white ones. This means that you are too late. So, when is it the right time to harvest? When you notice the color is cloudy white with traces of amber hue, it means that your crop is ready. Paying attention to these aspects will surely allow you to harvest at the right time.
10) Not Using Proper Pots
This might sound weird, but the size of the pot matters a lot. If your pot is too small, the roots might not have proper space and ventilation to grow. This will affect the overall growth of the plant. Well, if the pot is too big, it might lead to over watering and buildup of fungus. Ideally, you should start with a root cube pot and then gradually increase the size, as you top each week.
Avoiding these mistakes will surely allow you to grow better. A good crop can stock you up quality buds that you can use to enhance your health. Just ensure you have a valid grower license to earn the right to grow freely.
