Now that marijuana is legal in many states, users are starting to grow their plants for consumption. Growing cannabis offers the advantage of knowing your strains, where they came from, and how they were produced. As a result, you can more effectively use cannabis for anything from anxiety to cancer relief. Discover what you need to know before growing cannabis to have a crop you feel proud of.
Understand the Basics
The first step to effectively growing cannabis is understanding the basics, such as strains and growing phases. For example, if you grow your own cannabis, you need to know three stages of growth: seedling, vegetative, and flowering. Additionally, there are three strains of cannabis, such as indica, sativa, and hybrid. Indica is the relaxing strain that helps insomnia, sativa is invigorating and improves focus, while a hybrid combines the two strains.
Consider the Costs
One of the most significant reasons people grow cannabis is to save money. However, there are costs associated with growing marijuana, and you should estimate them before getting started. For example, if you grow plants indoors, you need lighting and ventilation. Conversely, growing cannabis outdoors also costs for soil, watering, and other supplies. Summarize a list of supplies and determine the cost to figure out how many plants you can afford to grow.
Know How to Grow
There are also various ways to grow cannabis beyond using soil, referred to as hydroponics. These methods use other mediums for growth, such as air, water, or sand, and require different nutrients for the plants to thrive. However, hydroponics often yields crops faster than other growth methods. Research the different ways to grow cannabis to choose the best method for your space, goals, and budget.
Find the Right Space
Whether you grow cannabis indoors or outdoors, it is crucial to have enough space for the plants to expand. Measure the area and plot out where the seeds will grow and how they will get light. Often marijuana plants are seeded in the spring to give them up to ten months to grow, but the time differs indoors based on the lighting used. Also, some growers still need to be cautious about who views their crops to avoid legal issues.
Learn About Nutrients and Pest Control
Another crucial aspect of growing cannabis is learning about essential nutrients to help the plants thrive. Plants need nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and other nutrients to get the best possible crops. Also, learn about pests that might damage your plants and how to deter them from feasting on your flowers before they are fully grown.
Know How to Harvest
Finally, a thriving crop requires harvesting to appreciate the benefits of cannabis. Once the plants are matured, they must be dried, cured, and stored correctly for future use. Also, this requires additional time to be included in your growth journal process so you are ready to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Growing cannabis is an exciting opportunity to control your crops and consumption. From choosing the correct strain and seeds to maintaining proper growth conditions, every step matters to yielding the crops you want for medicinal or recreational use. Once you master growing cannabis, you’re sure to want to do it again – and continue appreciating the results of your hard work.