8 Myths About Growing Cannabis: What's True and What's Nonsense?
When you start growing weed, you will soon hear the wildest stories, fables and myths. But which of them are true, and which are nonsense? It can be difficult to find the truth. Strange advice and useless tips can lead you astray. That is why you can read more about what is true of the most heard urban legends in this blog.
In search of the truth
There are a lot of stories going around in the wonderful world of growing weed. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced grower, they can mislead you, cause you to invest time and energy in something for nothing or can even lead to a failed harvest. If you want to prevent this, read on below and discover the truth behind 8 strange fables and myths about growing weed.
1. Give weed plants fruit juice for a better taste
You don't really need to improve the taste and smell of weed. However, some people claim that giving weed plants fruit juice can improve the taste. But this is a good example of an urban legend. In fact, it's a very bad idea. Fruit juice that ends up on the soil and your plants can attract pests and mold and disrupt the absorption of nutrients. So leave your delicious fruit juices in the fridge and just give your weed plants clear, fresh water.
2. Seeds with tiger stripes are better seeds
One of the most well-known myths about the weed is that seeds with tiger stripes are the best seeds. But does the appearance of a seed also say something about its quality? That is not the case. These seeds look tough, and perhaps we associate such a tough appearance with strength and health. But whether a seed is plain, brown or dark gray or striped, this is only a pattern or color on the skin and that says nothing about the genes or health of the seed. Make sure you buy your seeds from a reputable shop, then you know for sure that you get good quality seeds.
3. Autoflowering weed is less strong
A well-known fable about weed, which is still going around, is that autoflowering weed would be less strong than photoperiod plants. In the past, this was seen as true. And then it was also somewhat true: Autoflowers were bred from ruderalis species, and these have a low percentage of THC. The first crosses were therefore clearly less strong. But now, a few decades have passed, and we can say that careful crossing has made autoflower strains much stronger, allowing them to truly compete with photoperiod strains.
4. More nutrition means faster growth
Cannabis needs relatively more nutrition, more than regular houseplants. If the plants do not get enough nutrition, you will see this in the discolouration of the leaves and slowed growth. They will also not form beautiful, full buds. This might make you think that more nutrients are better, but it is important to find the golden mean.
Overfeeding can be seen by burning the leaves and it also disrupts growth. And if you feed too much during the flowering phase, it can lead to a chemical taste in the buds. It is best to feed the correct amount so that your plants look healthy and strong and develop well.
5. Hanging buds upside down increases potency
Most growers hang their buds upside down to dry them. But it is one of the common myths about growing weed that this would increase potency. Drying upside down is done to keep the shape of the buds good and to dry them evenly. It helps to ensure the quality of your weed. So it has nothing to do with the potency of your weed. However, it is true that a bad drying method can cause the THC in your buds to break down. So make sure you choose a good drying method that does not lose any THC.
6. Purple weed is stronger than other types of weed
Does the color of your weed say anything about its strength? Purple weed is very striking and rumor has it that it has special psychedelic effects. However, the color does not say anything about the effects of the weed, because it is determined by pigments (anthocyanins). The effects of cannabis are caused by cannabinoids and terpenes, which is independent of the color.
7. Put your plants in the dark before harvesting for strong buds
If you grow weed, you may have heard the following fable: 48 hours before you harvest, it is a good idea to leave your plants in complete darkness for 48 hours. This is said to increase the potency. Some growers use this technique, but there is no scientific evidence that this does anything for the THC percentage. We are not saying that you should not try it, but we think it is more important to focus on good growing and harvesting techniques.
8. Peeing on your plants improves growth
Nitrogen is an important nutrient for weed plants and urine contains nitrogen. Is that a good reason to pee on your plants? According to some growers, yes. It is a cheap solution, but it is certainly not recommended. When you urinate directly on your plants, it can lead to imbalances in the soil. Urine is too concentrated, which can burn the roots and leaves of your weed. So it really won't help to provide your plants with extra nutrition. If you think your plants need more nutrition, buy suitable and balanced fertilizers, which are specially developed for this, such as Plagron PK-13-14.
As you can see, there are a lot of fables and myths about growing weed, but they are usually not true. If you hear a special and striking story, don't immediately start working on it. First look up more information about it. If you just start using a technique, it can be harmful to your plants. On our site you will find a lot of useful and reliable information about growing cannabis, such as weed seeds germination and common problems when growing.
