GROWING MARIJUANA (CANNABIS)

Growing marijuana is an almost common thing today, as everyone that has access to marijuana seeds, knows they can put the seeds together maybe in their backyards, and come out with some weed.

But that is not the case, growing cannabis is a whole process that looks easy but difficult, because you will have to make sure a lot of things and factors are put together.

for example, depending on the strain you have to consider the temperature in which the weed is being grown, humidity, and many others.

So, we have come to give you guides on how to grow a perfect plants for yourself, and also with the help of technologies, there are systems that can be bought to ease indoor growing.

Each stage during the cannabis cultivation process requires its own unique demands, including different levels of light, water, and nutrients.

It can take anywhere from 4 to 8 months to grow a cannabis plant, this varies based on where you’re growing.

If you have an indoor grow room, your plant has the ability to flower after only a few weeks!

The quality of your plant depends on your knowledge of the cannabis growth stages and the lifecycle of your plants.

The whole process of marijuana growing from seeds germination through the stages of flowering right up to harvesting, is a very tactical process and for you to breed the best plants, you have to treat each step with plenty of care and love for the growing process.

If you don’t love your plants, they won’t love you also by not doing well on their own, so the process goes thus;

GROWING MARIJUANA (CANNABIS)

1. SEEDS GERMINATION

it is crucial to give your plants the best start in life possible, Just as with animals and children, healthy beginnings will encourage rapid, strong growth.

You have two basic options for growing your own cannabis: start with seeds or use clones.

If you chose the seed route, you will want to know the best way to germinate marijuana seeds.

Experimenting with marijuana germination is your best bet for determining what’s right for you, since even seasoned growers often argue about the best methods for germinating marijuana seeds.

And maybe you have been using trial and error but ended up thinking, “Why won’t my marijuana seeds germinate?”” Truth is, you’ve likely been making some mistakes without knowing it.

You can increase your results, although some seeds will never germinates.

No one can attain 100% germination, but there is room for improvement regardless.

Germination simply means getting a seed to sprout a taproot, which will serve as its main root into the soil as it grows.

For the best results, start with the best seeds you can afford to buy online.

Choose between indica and sativa according to your preferences for cannabis effects or the market’s demand.

You will also have dozens of strains to choose from, If possible, get feminized seeds.

Female pot plants produce the bodacious bud that cannabis connoisseurs crave, starting with feminized seeds will produce more buds when the plants mature.

Feminized seeds won’t provide 100% female plants, but they will greatly increase your odds from the 50-50 chances of a standard seed selection.

How long does it take to germinate marijuana seeds?

It mostly take from a couple of days to up to a week to see your seeds start to turn into plants.

There are five basic germination methods that are popular. With any of these methods, remember that seeds will need adequate warmth, moisture, and air to germinate properly.

Generally, cannabis seeds like a temperature of 70° F to 90° F for sprouting.

2. SEEDLING GROWTH STAGE

The seedling growth stage is fragile and plants must receive 18-24 hours of sunlight, moist soil, and mild humidity to grow rapidly.

Once the germinated seeds are planted, they will begin growing.

A little cannabis plant will sprout from the soil and begin to develop familiar characteristics.

During the seedling stage, it will produce two leaves that open outward from the stem to start receiving sunlight.

Next, its trademark cannabis leaves will begin to sprout at the top of the plant as it enters its first growth cycle.

As a general rule, the seedling should be kept at 77˚F with a humidity of around 60%.

Often, marijuana prefers a light cycle of 118-hours of white light per day once the leaves have emerged.

You should be using a nitrogen-rich fertilizer at this point.

Healthy seedlings should be short with thick vegetation and their leaves should appear vibrant green in color.

During this stage, growing environments must be kept clean and free of excess moisture to ensure the plant does not become diseased or moldy

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3. VEGETATIVE GROWTH STAGE

Once a seedling develops 7 pointed leaves, it enters vegetative growth.

During the vegetation stage, it’s important to increase water to aid in the plant’s development.

As your plant grows larger and the roots grow outward, it’s better to water farther away so that the tips of the roots can more easily absorb it.

By the time the vegetative stage comes round, you should have transferred the plants to larger pots.

During this stage your plants need an increase in warm water, a flow of dry air, nitrogen and potassium-rich nutrients, and a lot of soil space to allow them to grow 2-3 feet tall.

At this point, they will be growing rapidly as they take on more nutrients and carbon dioxide.

This allows them to develop leaves and take shape very quickly.

You will now be able to tell what kind of plants you’re growing as they show their defining characteristics.

Sativas will become taller and narrower, whereas indicas will appear short and bushy with dense foliage.

For indoor grow rooms, plants should be kept on an 18-hour day light cycle with a 6-hour night period.

You can keep your plants on a 24-hour light cycle but plants tend to do better when given breaks and it will save you some money.

During the vegetative stage, the general rule is to keep the temperature between 68 and 77˚f, and the humidity between 50% and 70%.

Once again, nitrogen is the essential nutrient, but you can also increase levels of other key nutrients in the feed.

4. PRE FLOWERING STAGE

It can take anywhere from 7 to 14 days for a plant to enter the pre-flowering stage.

Once it does the sex can be determined by the pre-flower found at the nodes.

It becomes easier to figure out the sex when the plant goes deeper into vegetation.

How to tell if your plant is a male or female?

Female plants have 2 pistils (pistils contain the reproductive part of a flower) that will be seen on the buds

males have small green sacs full of pollen will be seen on the node areas.

 If you see these sacs, remove the plant from the vicinity before it pollinates the females and ruins your harvest, because the sacs can burst open and pollinate with the females.

Since Hermies have both glands and leaves (the reproductive organs of a cannabis plant),

they can pollinate themselves and ruin your harvest. You must remove and destroy all intersex plants because of this risk.

Non-pollinated female plants produce Sinsemilla, they have no seeds and produce more cannabinoids.

Sensimilla has an exceptionally high concentration of psychoactive agents and is responsible for effects like

talkativeness, increased sociability, euphoria, the munchies, and hallucinations.

These plants produce large volumes of resin and fake seed bods both containing high levels of THC.

Once the plant starts receiving less light per day (from 18 to 12 hours), its growth will halt and it will enter the flowering phase.

5. FLOWERING STAGE

The flowering stage is the last stage of growth, and it is the most crucial for you as a cultivator.

You can transition plants into the flowering stage by reducing their light exposure.

A 12-12 cycle (12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness) is ideal.

You will know that your plant is ready to be harvested when the colors of the pistils on cola buds turn from white to reddish orange and the trichome heads turn from transparent to milky to opaque and finally amber.

The amber color indicates a higher CBD to THC cannabinoid ratio in its resin.

What condition is necessary for cannabis flowering stage?

In the flowering stage, cannabis plants enjoy warm weather, medium humidity, and benefit from intermittently receiving blooming nutrients. You can stop giving the plant nitrogen now, but up the intake of potassium and phosphorus.

If you notice that the trichomes fell off, you let the plant grow too long and most of the cannabinoids are gone meaning you won’t get the THC or CBD effects and will have to start over with a new batch.

Another way to determine if your plants are ready for harvest is by checking the color of the hairs that grow inside of the pistils or calyxes.

• If there is a high color ratio of white to red pistils your cannabis will provide a euphoric THC high.
• If the color ratio is more red to white, your cannabis will provide a calmer, CBD-stoned feeling.
• If you harvest once half the trichomes are opaque and the pistils haven’t turned brown, your cannabis will provide a balanced THC/CBD high.

6. HARVESTING

It is very tricky during this stage as you will need to figure out when is the right time to harvest!

You will have to keep a close eye on your plants to determine when it’s the right time to reap them.

Your timing can affect the smell, taste, weight, and potency of the final product.

A good trick is to look closely at the pistils. When they begin to turn brown, and the leaves start to yellow, now is the time to harvest.

Generally, experts say you should harvest the plants when 70-90% of the pistils have browned.

If the pistils are entirely brown, the marijuana may be ‘overripe’ – it won’t taste good, and its effects will be less pleasant.

Harvesting early is better than harvesting too late. The weed won’t be as potent, but you will still get something out of it.

When pruning them, make sure you cut the cannabis into smaller branches to ease harvesting.

When the plant is cut into small sections, the pieces should be strung and hung upside down in a cool, dark room.

Commercial cannabis is typically dried by applying a humidity level of between 40 and 50%. The plants should remain hanging for 7 to 14 days.

Why do we dry marijuana plants after harvesting?

We dry the plants to prevent bacteria and fungus from growing,  By removing moisture, you can effectively preserve the life of your cannabis.

Completing the drying process too quickly will result in harsh cannabis.

The curing process is optional and involves aging cannabis in sealed, airtight containers (generally mason jars)

and placing them in a cabinet where temperature levels remain between 50 and 60 °F.

To avoid a decrease in airflow, jars should not be packed tightly.

They must remain stored for 1 to 3 weeks and opened briefly once a day to release any buildup of gases while absorbing the fresh air.

It’s believed that curing improves flavor and burn quality, and reduces the harshness.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Using your own home-grown Mary Jane can be very rewarding.

If you’re a cannabis user with a green thumb, then we recommend giving it a go at least once.

You never know, you might find your new favorite hobby! Once you get the hang of things, you can start growing more challenging and exciting strains.

Before you start, though, it’s crucial to find out the laws in your locality.

Growing weed in a state where it’s illegal can carry hefty penalties, so it’s just not worth it! Make sure you stick to the laws in your state, and you will find the experience much more pleasant.