When you are new to growing marijuana, it may feel like you are in over your head. The fact is, anyone can learn to grow weed, you just need to be willing to put in the time to learn how to grow marijuana correctly. If you can do that, then you can handle the task. This article will explain the most important things you need to know as a newbie grower.
Where should I grow marijuana?
Deciding where to grow your weed is one of the biggest choices you will have to make. There are good and bad sides to grow indoors and outdoors. What you need to consider the most are your personal preferences and lifestyle.
Growing Indoors
This option offers more privacy, ensuring no one accidentally finds your little hobby. Growing indoors can be cost effective as well, depending on how you do it.
Indoor growing gives you complete control over the entire environment and how it influences your plant’s growth. This may mean more work for you, so if you prefer just to let your plants grow more naturally at their own pace, this probably isn’t the best method.
Growing Outdoors
Growing your plants outdoors is a great way to cut down on cost since you don’t have to buy lights, pots, and fans for example. When growing outdoors, you do have to consider the dangers of pests potentially destroying your plants. Then there is always the privacy issue since your plants may be in a location where they can be discovered. While it may be a great solution, many challenges must be considered.
What kind of grow light should I use?
Outdoor growing doesn’t necessarily require the use of lights since your plants will get direct sunlight and they need at least 8 hours of it each day. The more light they get, the better they will grow.
The grow light you choose for indoor growing needs to be the one that best suits your environment and needs. There are specific lights you must decide between such as HPS lights, LEDs, MH lamps, CFLs and a few others.
Most newbies pick CFLs because of the price. LED lights have more strength and tend to be much more expensive; however, they do not need as much electricity as CPS and MH lights. CPS and MH lights cost less than LED and are very powerful, making them a good option for beginners.
What kind of growing medium should I use?
How you take care of your marijuana plants has a lot to do with the growing medium you use. Do plenty of research on the different options besides soil to make the most informed decision. Using soil is generally the easiest way for newbies to get started. You can always look into vermiculite, coco coir, perlite, and many other mediums.
Growing mediums such as hydroponic growing do not use soil. This method allows your plants to grow submerged in water. This is not the simplest way to grow weed, but it will bear great results since hydroponics generate the highest yields.
What type of nutrients should I feed my plants?
If your soil does not have the proper nutrients, you will have to buy nutrients. What your plants need will depend on the growth cycle they are in and the growing medium. Potassium (K), phosphorus (P), and nitrogen (N) are the primary nutrients your plants need.
Hydroponic systems require a specific nutrient formula created just for that type of medium. This way your plants will not end up with “nutrient burn.” Another thing to pay attention to is the pH level of the soil or growing medium at the plant’s roots. The water the plants receive must have the proper pH level. Regularly testing the pH is essential as well.
Which strain of marijuana should I choose?
Every grower must decide which seeds to buy. Having a good harvest starts with high-quality seeds from a trusted vendor. If you are in the United States, it is easy to purchase seeds online that come from a variety of locations. You can even have seeds delivered discreetly.
New growers should select seeds that they can easily grow and will work best in the climate they will be growing.
Germinating marijuana seeds
You can germinate your seeds with a starter cube and be sure to keep it moist and warm. Within a few days to one week, your seeds will sprout into a baby marijuana plant.
You can also put them in a glass of water for the same amount of time. The water’s temperature needs to be 68 degrees and the pH set at about 6. Once the tail emerges, you can plant it.
Marijuana growing phases
Your plants will grow the fastest during the vegetative phase. During that time, keep the temperature around 70 – 85 degrees Fahrenheit with direct light for 18 – 24 hours each day when growing indoors.
The most critical phase for growers is the flowering stage since this is when you will notice the buds start developing. For indoor growing, the lighting schedule will need to shift to 12 hours on and 12 hours off consistently to help your plant move from the vegetative to flowering phase Outdoors plants, on the other hand, will make this shift on their own. The temperature in an indoor grows room should be between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Male plants should be removed before the plants enter the flowering stage to prevent them from pollinating the female ones. You will know it’s a male plant by their pollen sacs and they will not have white hairs.
For more growing tips, download the free Marijuana Grow Bible.
How to dry and cure marijuana
To properly dry your weed, hang the plant upside down in a dark, cool space with good ventilation. When they are finished drying, start curing them by putting them in a mason jar. Occasionally open the jar to allow fresh air in. If the buds become moist, leave the lid off for longer periods of time to prevent mold from forming. Cure for two weeks and open the jars once a week.
