On average, it takes fifty to sixty days for a cannabis plant to be ready for harvest. After harvesting, the plant must be dried for 10 to 14 days. Growers can then consume their cannabis or cure the blooms for another week or two to improve the quality.
Online retailers like Zamnesia.com are popular with seasoned and first-time growers alike for their affordable, low-maintenance strains. When buying seeds, bear in mind that only female plants will flower, and there is no way of knowing how many female seeds are in a packet. Feminized seeds are genetically modified to produce solely female plants, although they can be slightly more expensive than their male counterparts.
While growing from seed is a trial-and-error process, cloning is a viable option. Cloning a plant involves planting and labeling numerous seeds, growing, and removing a cutting from each plant before blooming. You can then cultivate the cutting from whichever plant produces the most fruit.
What is the Easiest Cannabis Strain for Beginners to Grow?
Start with a hybrid strain and avoid strains with OG in the name or labeled “exotic,” as they can be picky. The popular 50/50 hybrid Blue Dream, for example, is a hardy plant that can tolerate both hot and cold temperatures. Green Crack, Grape Diamonds, and Cherry Garcia are other beginner-friendly hybrids.
What Do I Need to Grow Cannabis?
Nutrient-rich soil, water, and light are required for cannabis cultivation. Cannabis grows best indoors in full-spectrum light, similar to sunshine. Thus, a typical incandescent bulb will not suffice. Instead, begin with an affordable growth light. Crawl before you walk to learn how to grow your plant, harvest it, dry it, and cure it. Then you may build on top of that. As with any skill, you may find that the reliable option when it comes to cannabis growing equipment isn’t necessarily always going to be the pricy, flashy new product. Instead, find a piece of equipment that works for you and stick with it.
Where Can you Grow Cannabis?
Most people will grow their plants indoors, in a closet or garage. The ideal temperature is around 75 degrees. Use a fan to circulate air in and out of a remote location with stagnant air. A novice can begin in a closet with a 100-watt grow light and an oscillating desk fan.
Some cannabis farmers use grow tents, which resemble black boxes, but cannabis can be cultivated anywhere if you adapt to the environment. Mulch the soil to keep it cool. The larger the pot, the better for creating a buffering zone – five gallons is a good starting point.
Putting the plant in another pot or wrapping it in an insulating barrier can keep it from baking in the sun. While it may be tempting to spray your plants on a hot, sunny day, the water droplets on the leaves can behave as tiny magnifying lenses. Therefore, as with any plant, it is better to water early in the morning. If you must water during the day, first drain the hot water from your hose if you are using one, and then water the soil surrounding the plant rather than the leaves.
How Much Light Does my Plant Need?
The cannabis plant, once planted, requires approximately eighteen hours of light and six hours of darkness to grow in the vegetative stage, which does not produce flowers. Your space limitation is determined by how long you allow the plant to grow in this state. Begin small.
After a few days, gardeners can initiate the flowering stage by alternating between 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness. When growing outside, a full moon’s brightness is about the greatest quantity of light a plant should receive throughout the night.
How Frequently Should I Water My Plant?
When the soil is dry, water the plants. Growers can test this by inserting a finger into the soil halfway between the plant and the pot’s edge. It is time to water if the soil feels warm and dry.
The quality of water can influence the quality of flowers. So, rather than using tap water, fill up a jug of distilled or filtered water at one of the many water dispensers located throughout town.
Harvesting
Harvesting takes around fifty to sixty days after moving to the twelve-hour light, twelve-hour darkness stage. If people wish to examine the trichomes or crystals on the blossoms, they can buy a cheap jeweler’s loupe. When the majority of the trichome caps turn transparent, and 10% of the caps turn amber, the plant is ready to harvest.
After harvesting, the plant should be hung upside down to dry for ten to fourteen days. When dried, the stems should be brittle. After removing the flowers’ leaves, place them in an airtight container, such as a mason jar. While the blooms are edible, they can be cured. Seal the container and open it for 20 minutes every 24 hours. Because moisture might induce mold, the flowers must be properly dried before being wrapped. After a week or two, you should have a lovely, high-quality blossom.