Growing marijuana, whether indoors or outdoors, is enjoyable and gives a ‘highly’ enjoyable yield. But it can also be difficult and time-consuming, necessitating a certain amount of patience, effort, and money.
We’ll take you through every step of the growing process, from seed germination to plant growth to harvesting. Also elaborating on recommended practices and how to troubleshoot common issues.
Because the plant remained banned for a long time, much information about growing it was handed down by word of mouth. Because there are so many myths and traditions around marijuana cultivation, it can be difficult to distinguish between excellent, sound advice and rumor.
Also, because it was prohibited, there is a wealth of literature on indoor cultivation, maximizing harvests, and training plants to make the most of a little space.
Origins of Cannabis
Marijuana and its different uses have been around for millennia. The fabled Emperor Shen Neng of China prescribed marijuana tea to remedy various ailments as early as 2737 B.C (4). Early use of the plant in more recent times can be traced back to Columbus bringing the Cannabis plant to the new world as a means of growing it as a cash crop— hemp (1).
Anatomy of the Marijuana Plant
Buds
Firstly, you should know that male, female, and hermaphrodite varieties of the cannabis plant exist. Each plant contains either male or female reproductive organs.
It is the female cannabis plants that produce female flowers or “buds,” which must be pollinated by a male cannabis plant to generate seeds.
When female plants are deprived of pollen from male plants, they generate larger, fatter buds that lack seeds. These are known as “sinsemilla” (Spanish for “no seed”) and are the most prevalent product found in dispensaries, retailers, and home growing yields (6).
Female Cannabis Plants
Inflorescences (clusters of miniature flowers) or “buds” are produced by female cannabis plants. These buds have the highest concentration of cannabinoids in the plant. That is why many gardeners concentrate all of their efforts on extracting the largest and frostiest buds possible.
Around week 4-6 from seed, cannabis plants begin to exhibit sex with pre-flowers. Female pre-flowers have the appearance of a pair of white hairs. Pistils, or “hairs,” are the plant’s female reproductive structures, and they’re where the seeds are produced.
Marijuana Plants: Male vs. Female
Cannabis is a dioecious plant. This means (if you aren’t a biologist like the rest of us) that it can be either male or female, with male and female reproductive organs on separate plants. If you look at your stash right now, you’ll see the female bud.
Male plants generate pollen sacs near the base of the leaves, while female plants create resin-secreting flowers that are trimmed down into the buds you smoke (6). Male plants pollinate female plants to start seed production, but the buds we eat come from seedless female plants, which are known as “sinsemilla.”
The female plant contains the pistil (4). The pistil holds a flower’s reproductive parts. Meanwhile, the stigmas are the pistil’s hair-like threads. The point of stigmas is to catch pollen from males.
By generating clones or genetically identical clippings from a parent strain, growers may ensure the sex of their plants. Feminized seeds are also available as a result of a unique breeding method.
Parts of the Plant
Buds
The flowers of a cannabis plant, often known as “buds,” are the fruits (or flowers in this case) of your labor. They contain cannabinoids and terpenes that can make you experience a high or provide health benefits (4). These buds are dried before you can smoke them for that experience.
Stem
The backbone of your plant. The stem gives structure and support. After around five nodes, growers usually top the stem, encouraging the plant to spread out laterally and develop more bud sites.
Branches
Fan leaves and buds are supported by branches that develop from the main stem. A helpful tip from top growers is to prune the top branches to increase the number of bud sites on a cannabis plant.
Roots
The plant’s roots grow down into the soil from the main stalk. The primary root of a plant that grows from a seed is known as the “taproot.” A cannabis plant’s roots are its lifelines, drawing water and oxygen into the plant so it may grow healthy and strong.
Seeds
Seeds are generated by female cannabis plants and contain male and female DNA. Seeds must germinate to sprout, and they will develop a taproot, which will become the plant’s main root.
Regular Cannabis Seeds
Growing marijuana plants from ordinary Cannabis seeds is one of the most common and straightforward methods. Regular Cannabis seeds are easier to find and manufacture, and they are less expensive than feminized seeds. But the catch is that you don’t know what sex you’ll plant until the reproductive parts start growing. It’s a gamble.
Feminized Cannabis Seeds
Many growers purchase sexed Cannabis seeds and begin their crops knowing that they will only be raising female plants. We believe this is the best bet to save resources and avoid waiting for the ordinary seed to show its sex. Cannabis seeds that have been feminized will only generate female plants, the thing that you’re looking for.
Growing Your Own Marijuana Outdoors
Many users prefer marijuana that has been grown in the open air and exposed to the full spectrum of natural sunshine, and we get it. Artificial lighting does not produce the same range of cannabinoids and terpenes as natural lighting.
It’s a great idea to have a firm grasp on the climate in the location where you’ll be growing. Cannabis is extremely adaptable to various environments, yet it is vulnerable to harsh weather.
Sunlight
Remember that cannabis plants require at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Even if you have a backyard, it may not be ideal for gardening if it does not receive full light every day.
Climate
It’s critical to have a firm grasp on the climate in the location where you’ll be growing. Weed is rather sensitive to it. Cannabis is adaptable to most environments, but it is vulnerable to harsh weather.
Temperatures between 68° and 77° F are ideal for the vegetative state. Meanwhile, temperatures between 65° and 85° F are preferred when the plant is flowering (3).
Extra moisture can lead to mold and powdery mildew. You don’t want to inhale that; take it from us. Meanwhile, heavy rains and high winds can cause physical harm to plants and limit yields.
Fertilizers
Cannabis necessitates more nutrients than many other plants in your garden. A quality bud needs quality care, after all.
Quality soil contains enough organic nutrients to get your cannabis plant started. Still, as it grows and transitions into flowering, you might need to add back some nutrients that were already used. At this point, additional fertilizers would be your friend.
Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are the three most important nutrients for marijuana cultivation (2).
Growing Medium
Growing medium, most commonly soil, but there’s a growing market for alternates like coir and hydroponics as well. A growth medium’s primary roles and requirements are to provide physical support for the plant, facilitate root respiration, and content available water and nutrients.
Your plant will develop steadily and healthily as long as the roots have enough space, the proper amount of water, good aeration, and nutrients. If one of these components is missing, your cannabis might not grow to its full potential.
Ideal Conditions
Cannabis plants do best in soil between 6.0 and 6.5 in pH, are rich in organic content, and have good drainage (2). Most outdoor growers will either dig a hole and fill it with fresh soil or grow their cannabis in pots. You’ll be able to regulate better the growing media and the number of nutrients your plants receive as a result of this.
Water
Like any other living organism, your cannabis plant also needs ample water to survive. The quantity of water a plant requires is mostly determined by its size, container size, soil type, and general environmental factors such as weather and sun intensity.
Throughout a plant’s life cycle, the amount of water required changes. Larger plants consume more water in hotter climates than smaller ones in cooler climates.
Watering your marijuana plants by hand is what we recommend. It lets you familiarize yourself with each strain’s requirements and provide each plant with the exact amount of water it demands. Irrigation systems are useful when you have many plants to water or when you cannot be in your garden.
Conclusion
Cannabis has been grown outdoors for thousands of years, but before you plant a seedling, it’s important to understand how the process works and how to get the most out of it. Keep this in mind as you begin your cannabis-growing journey.
To get a good head start, top-quality seeds will go a long way in ensuring the best possible yield after you’ve put all this effort into growing the best plant. After all, the effort will mean nothing if your seeds aren’t prime at the end of the day. It would be best to waste your efforts and an entire harvesting season, only to lose motivation.
That is why we recommend checking out the i49 catalog. Their extensive seed bank has something for all tastes, preferences, and growing conditions. You can find the right cannabis seeds that suit your growing needs and your smoking preferences.
Did the post help your growing endeavors? Do write to us and let us know. Ciao till then!