3. Growingperiod
Growing Cannabis; Basic Rules for the Growing Period:
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Inside: Ideal humidity around 70%
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Inside: Temperatures between 22-27 degrees are ideal, with little variation between high and low temperatures.
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Inside: PH 6.0-6.5
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Outside: Grow indoors to a height of 20-45 cm. Then the plant is sturdy enough to survive outdoors.
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Follow the recommended feeding amounts as stated in the feed manufacturer's growth chart.
Another very important rule in this manual growing weed. That's why you shouldn't overwater a plant, especially a seedling. You need to find the right balance between water and oxygen in your substrate. Both are essential for photosynthesis. If you ensure this, the plant will develop healthy, strong roots and therefore grow optimally.
If your substrate contains too much water, the roots won't grow through the entire pot, even though there's still plenty of water. This results in weak root development, making the seedling fragile. The seedling will then be long and stringy, resembling spaghetti. The plant has to search for water with its roots, forcing it to spread throughout the pot.
Use a basic fertilizer for growth after the first two weeks. Also use some enzymes. Enzymes keep the roots clean, maximizing the absorption of nutrients in the substrate. The enzymes also absorb accumulated nutrient salts, lowering the EC in the substrate or keeping it stable.
Weedgrows with 18 hours of light and 6 hours of darknessThe ideal temperature is between 22 and 27 degrees Celsius. Indoors, ensure sufficient fresh air (containing CO2) is supplied to the growing area from outside. A fan on the plants will reduce the protective layer around them and make CO2 more readily available to the plant. CO2 is essential for photosynthesis.
Growing Cannabis: Outdoors
Outdoors: if you're growing in the ground, dig out 1m². Mix the soil with nutrients and pour the soil back into the hole. Plant the plants in the ground and feed and water them regularly. If you want to limit their height, you can top the plants. In general, outdoor plants require little nutrition.
Growing Cannabis: Outdoor Plant
It's best to germinate and grow an outdoor plant indoors under sufficient light (window sill or artificial light) and only move it outside when it reaches a height of 20-45 cm. This will make the plant strong enough to withstand wind and rain. Don't move the plant outside until mid- to late May, after the Ice Saints. To allow it to acclimate to the outdoors, place the pot in a sheltered spot, such as a patio or balcony.
Growing Cannabis: Indoor Plant
With an indoor plant, it's best to grow cannabis in a specially equipped grow room or grow tent. Go for quality and buy a reputable brand like Budbox. Make sure there's no stray light, as this can stress the plant. During the growth phase, use an HPI-T lamp (150/250 or 400 watts), a fluorescent lamp, or a special propagator lamp. Hang the HPI-T lamp at least 40 cm away from the plant. Otherwise, it will burn the plant. Because a propagator lamp or fluorescent lamp emits little heat, you can hang it closer, about 15 cm away. Keep the pH between 5.8 and 6.2 to ensure optimal nutrient absorption.
2. Germination
There are numerous ways to germinate your cannabis seeds. We recommend the coffee filter method.
For guaranteed cannabis seed germination, use coffee filters. Preferably brown, unbleached filter paper. You'll also need a large plastic zip-lock bag. You can buy these at the supermarket; they're designed for storing food. A handy feature of these bags is that you can easily write the date and the cannabis strain on them.
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The first step is to wet a coffee filter. Just soak it completely. You don't need to squeeze it; letting it drain for a second is enough. Place the wet filter on a flat plate and unfold it.
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Next, distribute your cannabis seeds on the unfolded wet filter. It's recommended to point the pointed end of each seed toward the bottom of the filter. Each cannabis seed has a navel, a kind of dot, and a pointed end. The root will grow from the pointed end. By pointing them vertically downward, they all grow straight down and won't curl and twist like you see with the paper towel method.
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Now fold the wet coffee filter closed again so that the seeds are trapped inside. Then place the wet filter with the seeds in the plastic ziplock bag with the tips of the seeds facing downward. Seal the plastic bag and hang it with a piece of tape inside a cupboard in a dark, room-temperature place.
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After 2 to 3 days, most seeds will have germinated. Leave any that haven't yet. Carefully pick up the seeds that have germinated with a teaspoon and plant them in the soil, with the root pointing downward and the seed halfway into the soil. That's it!
We have clearly explained all the steps for you in the video below.
1. Seed Selection
Growing cannabis, some important choices:
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Indica or Sativa?
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Knowledge level (avoid difficult to grow species as a beginner)
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Which high?
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Which flavor?
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What scent?
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What yield?
Growing Cannabis: Compare Indica and Sativa, Then Make a Choice
Below, we'll compare sativa and indica strains and explore their differences, so you can make an informed decision about what to grow.
Indica
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Short, bushy, and compact. Bud structure: hard and compact.
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Dark green plant. Oval-shaped, broad, and short leaves. Short internodal distance.
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Higher CBD levels than a sativa. This results in a more physical high: relaxing, chilled, stoned, or even narcotic.
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The scent is often more penetrating, ranging from skunky, musty, to musky, or from sour to earthy.
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Indoors; ready faster and also yields more than a Sativa.
Sativa
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Widely branched, tall plant. Stretched buds that are airy and fluffy.
Light green plant. Narrow-fingered leaves that are large and widely spaced. -
Higher THC levels than indicas. A high that ranges from euphoric and energetic to spacey and trippy.
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The scent ranges from tropical fruit to floral, from fresh herbs to lemon.
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Outdoors; a better yield. Excellent flower-leaf ratio. Due to the bud structure, less chance of bud rot and mold.
Growing cannabis: what difficulties can you encounter?
Some strains are easy to grow and therefore perfect for beginners. Others are more suitable for advanced growers because they require a certain level of expertise. Indica strains, in particular, are relatively easy for beginners to grow. Haze strains (sativa dominant), for example, are much more difficult to cultivate because they are much more sensitive to nutrients and vulnerable to mold and bud rot.
Experience and knowledge will improve yield and quality. So be curious and try to gather as much information as possible by reading books and magazines about growing cannabis, consulting the internet, asking experts, and watching videos. Learn the basics for successful cultivation. First, carefully read this cannabis growing guide and look for information about planting processes, nutrients (e.g., boosters), the various substrates, the different systems, and what other materials are available.
Growing Cannabis: 5 Basic Rules to Get Right for a Successful Grow
The basics of growing your own cannabis are simple, yet incredibly difficult. You need to master five factors: light, fresh air, temperature, water, and humidity. First, light: plants need sufficient light in every stage. Avoid shading some plants. The other four factors (fresh air, temperature, water, and humidity) will be discussed later. Always adhere to the recommended dosages of nutrients from your brand. Consult their growth schedule and you'll be on your way. You'll start with a starter booster for the first two weeks, then use a growth nutrient, and during flowering, a bloom nutrient and a PK booster.
We will support you with thismanual for growing cannabis by addressing each stage: germination, growth, flowering, and drying.
Beginners Guide for Growing Cannabis
Never grown your own cannabis before? No problem! We'll explain the key points step by step and help you choose. To find the perfect strain for you, you first need to make a few important decisions. The most important of these is, of course, whether it's for indoor or outdoor use. If you grow outdoors, you're dependent on the weather conditions in your area. Plants that can be grown outdoors in more southerly countries might not be ready in time in more northerly countries.
4. Flowering Phase
Growing cannabis: basic flowering rules
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Indoor: Humidity during early flowering: 60-65%. Then reduce to 55%. 45% for the last two weeks.
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Indoor: Above temperature between 27-29 degrees with no more than 8 degrees difference between above and below temperature.
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Indoor: PH 6.0-6.5
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Follow the recommended amounts of food listed in the food manufacturer's growth chart (EC between 1.8 and 2.2). Increase the EC at the end.
In the flowering phase you start with a flowering nutrient and after week three of flowering you add a PK booster.
Outside:
Let nature take its course, check the plant regularly, and feed it when necessary. If the plant turns yellow, seek advice and use foliar feeding for a faster recovery.
Inside:
Through your timer12 hours of light and 12 hours of darknessBy doing this you force the plant to start the flowering phase.
The upper temperature should be between 27-29 degrees Celsius. The lower temperature should be no lower than 20-21 degrees Celsius, depending on the upper temperature. Ensure that the difference between the upper and lower temperatures is no more than 8 degrees Celsius. If the temperature is consistently high, the plant will remain active and won't rest.
By varying the temperature between lights on and off, you mimic the seasons. The plant thinks, "Hey, autumn is coming, so I have to finish flowering because the cold season is coming." At the lower temperature, the plant goes dormant and lets its leaves droop. This way, it conserves energy when the lights come back on (or the sun rises again).
Tip: Start preheating the room to around 22 degrees Celsius two hours before the lights go on. The plants will already be waking up two hours before the lights come on, and they'll be fully prepared to bloom as soon as the lights come on. This will encourage them to bloom more intensely, for a longer period, and yield more.
Keep the humidity between 60-65% at the beginning of flowering and only 45% in the last two weeks of flowering. The plant shouldn't be putting too much effort into evaporation during flowering, but rather into finishing. Between the second and fourth week of flowering, depending on the variety, the plant will reveal its gender.
Note: Only water your plants during the last week! Use enzymes during this last week to make the nutrients easier for the plant to absorb and thus eliminate. By not feeding during the last week, you improve the flavor and aroma, and your harvest won't smell or taste like food.
Growing Cannabis: Female Plants
Feminized cannabis plants are the ones that produce a delicious smoke. You can recognize female plants when the first white hairs appear at the top of the plant, on the side branches, and at the internodes in week 2 or 3 of flowering. At Ultimate Seeds, all seeds are feminized. This way, you're always guaranteed female plants.
5. Drying & Harvesting
In the final chapter of this cannabis growing guide, we discuss when you can harvest, namely:
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- When the white hairs have turned about 75% brown (amber-colored), it is time to harvest.
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- A second method we prefer is to hold the crystals (trichomes) under a magnifying glass or microscope.
Trichomes will initially be clear, almost transparent. Once these trichomes turn cloudy and milky white, the plant is ready to harvest. Milky white trichomes indicate that THC is already degrading in the buds. The first method carries the risk of letting the plant flower for too long. This causes the crystals to turn amber, indicating that the plant is degrading THC.
We prefer the second method because you can better estimate the high, which depends on the genetics you've chosen. To clarify, here's an example: If you've chosen a sativa, it's probably because you're looking for an energetic, psychoactive effect. If you flower the plant too long, you'll get a more stoned effect and not the desired effect you were looking for in the first place.
Then, cut off the base of the stem, remove all the leaves, and hang them to dry thoroughly. This allows all the sugars from the entire plant to enter the buds. Proper drying takes at least a week. If they smell like grass, leave them hanging a little longer to regain their distinctive scent. We recommend hanging and curing them in the dark at a temperature of 19 degrees Celsius and 50% humidity.