Growing Cannabis 101

The experience of growing your own weed plant is very rewarding. It is an experience that also comes with a wide set of challenges including finding the time and money that is needed. of time and money. In most states with cannabis legalization, people are able to grow their own plants in one way or another.

If you decide to grow your own plants, you will find many different techniques and equipment that are used to grow weed in specific ways. Which direction you go in will depend on how much money you want to spend. Some setups are very expensive and others are more affordable but these differences in price come with a set of compromises.

Growing your own plants also means you will have weed leftovers. The buds of the plant are commonly used to smoke but the stem, branches, and leaves also contain cannabinoids and can be used to make some edibles or concentrates.

Processing the weed plant will help you learn its anatomy and may inspire you to get creative. You can get wild and juice the leaves to make healthy green juices or use them as rolling papers when they are dried out enough. Who knows, if you find you have got a talent for it, you could even start up your own business and become a weed entrepreneur.

About the plant

There are two main strains of cannabis: sativa and indica.

It is not backed by science, but sativa and indica strains boast unique characteristics from one another. Indica strains are known to be more sedative and relaxing. Sativa strains induce creativity and are more energizing.

These two strains also grow differently. Sativa strains tend to grow tall and spread out therefore they are best to grow outdoors. Indica strains grow more like a bush; dense and short, and therefore are great to grow indoors especially in smaller grow rooms.

Cannabis ruderalis is a strain of sativa that is also known as industrial hemp. This is not meant to be smoked. It is meant to use for materials such as fibers and rope. It is bred with a very high ratio of CBD (cannabidiol). A weed plant must have less than 0.3 percent THC in order to be legally considered hemp. Ruderalis is also used by cannabis breeders to make hybrid strains.

The basics for growing

The main factors to consider when you grow weed are:

• Air
• Light
• Water
• Nutrients
• Medium for growing (soil, hydroponics, etc.)

Balancing, controlling, and understanding the above environmental factors is crucial for growing high-quality plants.

Indoor growing

Growing indoors demands more attention and equipment, but the benefits include greater precision and control.

The advantages of growing indoors include:

• High-quality cannabis: More equipment and use of utilities mean indoor growing will certainly cost more money to operate. However, the benefits include greater control over the environment which makes it less likely for something to go wrong.
• Adaptability: Regardless of the climate you live in, you can grow cannabis indoors all year round.
• Privacy and legality: Indoor grows will secure greater privacy and in some states growing indoors is the only legal option.

Outdoor growing

Growing outdoors is usually easier and needs less equipment which means you will spend a lot less money. Whether your yard is small or big or you only have a balcony, weed can grow in any space outside as long as there is enough light from the sun and the climate is not extremely cold or hot.

Advantages of growing outdoors include:

• Low costs: Sunlight is a whole lot cheaper than running huge lights indoors. You also can usually save money on nutrients because outdoor soil usually has enough nutrients for a plant to flourish.
• Higher yields: Outdoor plants do not need to be restricted in height because they do not have lights and ceilings hanging over them. They can grow as tall as possible outside which will result in greater yields.
  
• Environmentally friendly: Growing indoors means using more utilities and resources which is ultimately not great for the environment.

Starting with seeds vs. clones

You can grow weed plants from either seeds or clones. Clones grow quicker and come with more certainty because they come from a mother plant which guarantees it will be a bud-producing female. Seeds on the other hand are cheaper and provide the satisfaction of starting the process from the beginning.

If you are purchasing seeds, make sure to get them from a reputable seed bank. High-quality seed banks have dedicated breeders and growers constantly improving their genetics. Seed banks are like any other business that whats to create a respectable name for themselves. They want customers returning and therefore compete to have the highest of standards.

Autoflowering cannabis plants start flowering on their own within 2-4 weeks of germination, regardless of whether there was a change in the ratio of light to dark hours.

Classic plant varieties, both indica, and sativa are photoperiodic. Growers often trigger the flowering process in photoperiod plants by shortening their light cycles to an even 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark each day.

Depending on the time of year it is or the location of your plants, this can be difficult for outdoor grows. This is an advantage to using autoflowering seeds especially for growing outdoors. It is a great way to start your grow from a mother plant you enjoy.

Clones are great for growers who want to replicate their favorite strains. Clones are rooted cuttings that are identical to the plant they were taken from. Cloning your cannabis plants can be extremely cost-efficient and may give you a completely sustainable harvest.

Deciding on your grow medium

A growing medium is where your cannabis plants develop their root system. Many growers keep it simple with pots of soil, but you can also use coco coir, perlite, Rockwool, or go for a fully-fledged hydroponic setup.

What is important to know is that there is no “best” way to grow. Each medium has its pros and cons, though you may prefer one over the other based on your preferences and resources. As long as the roots of your plants can access water, nutrients, and oxygen, they will grow.

Soil or compost

The two most common mediums to grow weed with are compost or soil.

Most soil will naturally have some nutrients that should provide for your plants at least for the first several weeks of the plant’s life. Nutrients over time will deplete and therefore you may need to implement more into the soil, especially with indoor grows. Outdoors is a different story. If you elect to use soil as your grow medium, look to get a non-peat-based potting compost. This soil mix is looser which allows for airflow and proper drainage.

Look for a soil mix with around 20-30 percent of a soil conditioner like perlite. Perlite is the small white beads that are present in the soil to help with proper drainage and airflow which all contribute to a plant’s well-being.

Soil that does not contain perlite or that is not loose will result in slower growth than with coco or hydro, however, soil-grown buds commonly have a more fragrant smell. Standard soil will do the job but living soil, such as compost will do even better.

Living soil is soil that contains microorganisms that create a diverse ecosystem for plants. Over time nutrients are decomposed from organic sources and become food for your plants. When using living soil you do not need to use nutrients which will save you money and time in the long run.

Just keep the plant properly watered and the soil will do the rest. A negative side of living soil is that plants will grow slightly slower than with other grow mediums.

Soilless

Soilless mixtures can also be an effective grow medium for weed plants. They contain ingredients such as perlite, Rockwool, coco coir, vermiculite, and peat moss.

You are able to care for your soilless plants similar to how you would if growing in soil. The only difference is that the feeding of nutrients happens in their water. This allows for direct feeding to their roots and therefore is why soilless plants grow faster and bigger than ones in soil. Also, overwatering the plant is not as much of a problem with soilless because they are designed to drain very effectively.

The most common soilless mixtures for weed plants contain abundant amounts of perlite and coco coir.

Hydroponic

Hydroponics is a soilless method of growing cannabis using water as the primary medium. Weed plants are grown in buckets or baskets filled with an inert growing medium and are suspended over a tank full of water. The water contains all of the nutrients plants need to grow and prosper, while air stones are added to aerate the tank.

The two major advantages of soilless growing include faster growth and greater yields. With certain hydroponic methods, you only need a little amount of grow medium and it can usually be reused. It is also easier to control the exact nutrient distribution.

This level of control is exactly what leads to bigger and more potent cannabis flower.

Hydroponic setups include a decent amount of equipment so be prepared to invest in some materials if this is the route you go.

Finding the proper grow light

The sun is crucially important for plants. When growing indoors, it is essential to try and imitate the sun the best you can. Everything matters from color temperature to output strength, to the duration of light. Lighting is not something to be taken for granted or to cheap out on. The following are different lights that can be used for your indoor grow setup.

HID (high-intensity discharge) lights

HID lights are typically used by commercial growers because of their output capabilities. They are more expensive than fluorescent or incandescent fixtures but produce more light and efficiency. They cost way less than LED lights yet are not as efficient.

HID lamps that are commonly used include:

• Metal halide (MH): Produces a cold color temperature (blue) and typically gets used during the vegetative cycle.
• High-pressure sodium (HPS): Produces a warm color temperature (orange) and commonly gets used during the flowering cycle.

HID lighting setups require a lot of equipment outside of the bulbs themselves. You will need a ballast and reflector/hood for each light.

If you are trying to choose between starting with MH and HPS bulbs, go with HPS because they offer more light per watt. Between a magnetic ballast and digital ballasts, magnetic ones are cheaper but get hotter and are also less efficient. Digital ballasts are superior to magnetic but will cost more money.

HID bulbs get very hot so consider getting air-cooled reflector hoods to mount your lamps in. You will also need exhaust fans and ducting, this will help control the temperature in your grow room.

Fluorescent grow lights

Fluorescent light fixtures are commonly used amongst people with small, personal-sized grows.

They are often cheaper in cost, easy to set up, and can be purchased in kits. They do not generate a lot of heat so they do not need any cooling system.

The problem with fluorescent lights is that they are not very efficient. They generate about 20-30 percent less light per watt than HID lights generate. They compensate the lower power numbers by being bigger in size which can also lead to some problems.

LED grow lights

Light-emitting diode (LED) is quickly becoming the new go-to light for growers. The lighting is efficient, does not get very hot, and every day they get cheaper in price. They are cheaper than they were upon their conception however, HID lights are still cheaper.

LED lights also last longer, provide the full spectrum of light, and use less power to run which saves you money on your energy bills.

There is a lot of poor-quality LED lights on the market so be sure to read reviews in order to find good ones for your plants.

Induction grow lights

Induction lamps are also known as electrodeless fluorescent lamps and are considered older technology. Induction lamps last longer than fluorescent bulbs but are otherwise similar. Unfortunately, these bulbs are not very cheap nor easy to find.

Select your nutrients

Nutrients are essential for cannabis plants. You must use exact levels of specific nutrients and at different stages of growth for weed plants and this is not up for debate. Those nutrients should be formulated for the particular medium that you are using. For example, some nutrients are designed for soil, while others will only work in hydroponic setups.

Oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen are non-mineral essential plant elements. They are absorbed into the plants in either vapor or gas form. In ideal growing conditions, water and air will provide ample oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen.

The macronutrients required for plant growth are:

• Nitrogen
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Sulfur

Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) are the most crucial elements. When purchasing a bag of nutrients from the store, look for the N-P-K ratio on the label.

The proper ratio depends on which growth cycle your cannabis plants are in. As an example, you want a higher ratio of N and K to P during the vegetative cycle. For the first few weeks try to remain close to a 3-1-3 (N-P-K) ratio.

It is ideal to reduce the proportion of N to P and K during the flowering cycle. It is important to lower the proportion of N at this point. It can promote vegetative growth instead of flowering growth.

Providing higher proportions of P and K is crucial when flowering. The plants are using greater amounts of these elements during the flowering cycle than during the vegetative cycle.

This is important, do not confuse supplements for nutrients. If the NPK ratios printed on the label are low (such as 0.2-0.2-0.1) then the product is a supplement. Supplements are unnecessary for plants to thrive because NPK nutrients provide everything the plant needs.

Cannabis growing and maintenance techniques

Years of trial and error have led to some of the more innovative growing techniques we use today. These techniques include bending, pruning, and tying down parts of the plant in order to allow for better light exposure, airflow, and overall growth potential.

Bending and stabilizing your plants

Low-Stress training

Low-stress training, also called LST, involves lightly tying or bending the stem of the plant to change its structure and shape in an effort to maximize yields. This also encourages the plant to grow multiple colas rather than one. Do not apply LST in the later stages of the plant’s growth because the stem is too thick to manipulate at this point without risking permanent damage.

Early in the vegetative phase is the best time to apply LST and you can even do it around the flowering stage. Bend and tie the plant in a manner to create as even of a canopy as possible, giving all parts of the plant equal sun distribution. You want a flat and wide shape rather than a tall one.

Super cropping

Super cropping is more strenuous to the plant than LST. It should ideally be performed 1-2 weeks before the flowering stage. The technique involves bending the plant’s stem until some of its interior fibers break. This will theoretically hurt the plant a little but it is fine as long as you avoid breaking the exterior skin of the stem to prevent critical damage. This method will boost your yields and make for a happier plant which usually means an increase in potency.

If you do not properly super crop your plant then fear not. Weed plants are tough and can bounce back as long as a minimal amount of damage was done. After successfully super cropping your plant, you may want to tie parts down to help secure it.

How to super crop:

1. Using your index finger and thumb, gently squeeze the stem, manipulating it to loosen some interior fibers. Pinching and rolling help to loosen the stem enough to bend it.
2. Keep manipulating the stem until it feels flexible.
3. Slowly bend the stem towards one side at a 90-degree angle.

Screen of Green (ScrOG)

Screen of Green, also referred to as ScrOG, is another specific technique for stabilizing and manipulating your cannabis plant. ScrOG is ideal for a small indoor grow.

ScrOG is similar to the above techniques in that the main goal is to create an even canopy so that all parts of the plant get equal light exposure and airflow. This is best performed up until a few weeks into the flowering stage. Garden netting, poultry wire, or a DIY net will work perfectly for the screen.

Steps to using ScrOG:

1. In the vegetative stage, top your plant (instructions below) when it is about 10 inches tall.
2. After that first top, near the second set of new node growth top the plant once again. Using a five-gallon pot is ideal for this stage regardless of your grow medium.
3. Continue doing this for any new node growth. Move your plant to a seven-gallon pot for larger plant growth.
4. Place your screen right above your freshly topped plant.
5. When new growth from the tops becomes long enough that it sticks through the screen, carefully bend them down through to the next square in your screen so that it stays underneath the screen.
6. You will need to repeat step 5 to all new growth that stands through the screen. The goal is to maintain an even canopy and keep all growth underneath or level to the screen. After 2 weeks into flowering stop performing this step.

Remove parts of the plant

Yields from your harvest can be increased with some rather simple techniques that involve removing unnecessary parts of the plant. Try some of the following methods for a bountiful harvest:

Pruning

Pruning a weed plant entails specifically trimming parts of the plants that do not determine bud production, thusly providing more plant energy to the parts that are more critical. This technique is great for maximizing yields at harvest time.

Along with prioritizing bud production, pruning is also helpful with allowing the pant a healthy amount of airflow. Weed plants can grow as foliage dense as a bush so it is important to clear some leaves and small branches out of the way for the bigger branches. It is best to prune your plant during the vegetation cycle.

Pruning can be stressful to your plant so avoid doing it during the flowering stage. If too much of the plant gets pruned then this can also be a problem. Plants release jasmonic acid when they become overly stressed out. This can hinder growth by forcing the plant to begin healing instead of producing larger buds.

Topping

As we mentioned above, topping your plant is key to maintain a healthy canopy with the aid of a ScrOG. Topping is the process of pruning the growing tip of the main stem of a cannabis plant. This encourages the stem to grow into two colas rather than one. Two colas mean more bud production.

Topping is best applied in the vegetative stage before the plant gets large in size. Combining LST with topping helps to allow lower branches to produce bigger buds than they naturally could all on their own.

FIMing

This technique started from a failed topping attempt, giving it the name “fuck, I missed,” or better known as FIM for short. FIMing is essentially the same as topping except you remove much less of the stem. Plants need to recover from topping but with FIMing they usually come out mostly unscathed and less stressed.

Rather than completely removing the top of the stem, you are just shaving some of it off. FIMing is effective in encouraging the plant to grow as many as 4 main nodes whereas topping you just get 2. It is also way less abrasive to the plant, allowing it to recover faster.

When your plant has 3-5 nodes on it, pinch the growth on the newest node. It will look injured but this is okay. This pinched node should recover and grow into multiple new nodes. Do not FIM when your plant is in the flowering stage.

Making clones

The mother cannabis plant allows for growers to make exact clones that retain the same cannabinoid profile and genetic. You must keep a plant in the vegetative cycle for it to become a mother plant. Mother plants are only capable of creating female plants which are the only plants that produce buds.

Taking a clone cutting

A clone is a cutting from a weed plant that was in the vegetative cycle for at least 2 months. Choose a branch to cut from, then take a pair of sharp scissors or knife and remove the branch at a 45-degree angle. Make your cut just below the node on the branch.

Take your cutting and apply a rooting hormone to the bottom of it. You then want to place it into a medium such as soil or rockwool. It is important to maintain a high humidity level of around 70 percent and temperatures between 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Leave the cuttings in their environment for up to 2 weeks.

Harvesting your plants

Harvest is an exciting time as your hard work and patience are about to pay off.

To check if they are ready to harvest, be sure to check the plant’s buds. You need to check the color of the pistils on the flower. The pistils are wispy white hairs growing out of the buds. As the plant matures, the pistils gradually become an amber color.

When roughly 40 percent of the pistils become darker in color, it is time to harvest your plant. If you desire weed with a high THC content, wait until 50-70 percent of the pistils become darker. For a more relaxing brand of weed, wait to harvest until over 80 percent of the hairs become darker. When this occurs, a significant amount of the THC in the flower will have converted to CBN which is the cannabinoid that is associated with a calming and relaxing effect.

To harvest, take some garden clippers and cut off the branches that contain the flower.  Afterward, you should hang them to dry out for 4-5 days before you trim off the non-potent stems and sugar leaves.

Make sure to store your flower into a jar or other sealed container and keep them in a dark and cool place. Occasionally, open the lid to let some air flow through and then re-seal it. Do this about once a day, every couple of days for about 2-3 weeks minimum.

This step is called curing and it allows for your buds to gradually lose some of their moisture content but without becoming too dry. Curing your weed also allows for most of the terpenes to stay intact which is what gives cannabis its fabulous aroma.