8 Tips for Growing Cannabis
If you are looking for tips to make growing cannabis easier, then you have come to the right place. Growing cannabis outdoors or indoors is not that difficult at all. Cannabis is a fairly hardy plant that does not require much care. In this blog, we give you 8 tips that will give you everything you need to get started as a beginner or experienced grower.
What do you need to know if you are going to grow cannabis?
Are you thinking about getting some cannabis plants in your garden or in pots? Many people doubt whether that is not a lot of work and whether you should not know a lot about plants. In fact, cannabis doesn't need much to produce a good harvest.
On the other hand, with some useful tips and a little basic knowledge, you can get more out of your cultivation. Below you will find 8 tips that give you the tools and that bit of basic knowledge to provide your plants with that extra care. So that when it's time to harvest, you can proudly harvest the full buds.
1. Take possible sounds and smells into account
When you start getting involved with cannabis, it goes without saying that you prefer not to make your growing activities public. If you grow indoors, you should pay attention to noise pollution from fans and the strong smell of weed. You can avoid odour nuisance by using carbon filters and odour neutralizers.
When growing outdoors, try to place your plants strategically, behind or between larger shrubs or other plants. If you're concerned about the smell, place fragrant herbs nearby, such as rosemary or thyme.
2. Choose the optimal spot
One of our useful tips for growing cannabis is to choose the right spot before sowing. When growing indoors, pay attention to the availability of light and the possibility of ventilation. Keep it simple at first, you don't have to purchase expensive equipment.
If you are going to grow outdoors, find a spot in your garden or on the balcony where the plants get a lot of sunlight, but where they are protected from the wind. You also have to choose between pots or sowing in open ground. The advantage of growing in pots is that you can move them if necessary. If they are in full soil, they have access to all the richness of the soil and can grow larger.
3. Choosing the right species
When you start growing yourself for the first time, it is also important to choose the right species or strain. Of course, you have your own preferences, but especially when growing outdoors, it is useful to choose a variety that can withstand the current climate. It is useful to know that Indicas can handle cold better and have a shorter flowering period.
Sativas, on the other hand, are more resistant to heat, but take longer to flower. Also, autoflowering varieties are a good option. These bloom independently of light and bloom earlier in the season. This way you can harvest before it gets cold.
When growing indoors, it is especially good to pay attention to how large plants grow. You have less space indoors, so it is best to choose a small-growing strain, such as Indicas and autoflowers.
4. Fertilizer and watering
Many novice growers think that it is necessary to provide a lot of water and nutrition. But it is certainly not the case that more is always better. Too much water and nutrition can harm your plants. Outside, your beloved weed can benefit from the rain. Only water when the top layer of soil is really dry. Extra nutrition may be good for your plants, but follow the instructions on the package.
Watering indoors is of course important, but water management is also important there. Place plants in pots on a tray and allow excess water to drain. Nutrition is provided in the form of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium . You can also adhere to the advice on the packaging.
5. The soil quality
The pH of the earth and the drainage of water are central to soil quality. The pH indicates the acidity of the soil, and it should be between 6.0 and 6.8. You can measure the acidity with a pH meter. If the acidity deviates, this may mean that your plants can absorb fewer nutrients. If the soil is too acidic, you can add lime and if the soil is too acidic (this is called alkaline), sulfur is needed.
One of the other tips to pay attention to when growing cannabis is drainage. If soil allows water to pass through too quickly, it dries out faster. If it retains too much water, the soil can become soggy. Ensure that the soil has an ideal texture by combining soil types.
6. Cannabis Growing Tips: Dealing with Pests and Diseases
Unfortunately, you can encounter pests and diseases whether you grow indoors or outdoors. Cannabis plants can suffer from mildew, aphids, bud rot or spider mites, among other things. Check your plants regularly for signs of disease, so you can intervene quickly. For control, it is best to use environmentally friendly options, such as garlic, diatomaceous earth and neemoil. It may also be necessary to remove diseased plants to prevent the rest from becoming infected.
7. Pay attention to heat and cold
As mentioned, cannabis is a robust plant. It can handle a lot, but it is still good to help your plants in case of excessive heat or cold. This is especially true if you grow outdoors. If your plants are in pots, you can move them and place them out of the sun. If they are in the open ground, you can use shade cloth. When it's cold, temporarily put your plants indoors. You can also protect the roots using a layer of mulch or heat mats.
8. Harvest at the right time
To get the most out of your cannabis grow, the right time of harvest is also very important. Too early means buds with a low THC content, if harvested too late, THC is lost because it is broken down. What should you pay attention to determine the right time? You will need a magnifying glass for this. Take a look at the buds and in particular the trichomes (the small resin glands).
The right time to harvest is when these trichomes look whitish and milky. If you are too early, they will still be translucent. When you are late, they look amber in colour. If the majority of the glands are milky, then the buds contain the ideal amount of THC and you can harvest them.
