With a new growing season pending, Seedsman CSO Dr Gary presents 5 key points for new cannabis growers to consider.
The days are stretching, and the temperature’s rising. You know what that means? No, it’s not about to start raining men – it’s time to get your garden in shape for the new cannabis growing season. Whether you’re super-experienced or a first-time grower, indoor or outdoor, the start of a new season brings a sense of excitement, possibility, and wonder.
The new cannabis growing season is also an opportunity to connect with other growers and enthusiasts. There are plenty of opportunities to learn from others and share your knowledge and experiences. For a more thorough guide, check out the legendary Jorge Cervantes written works, such as the recently released free book, We Grow Cannabis, for a more comprehensive guide.
Key Tips For New Growers
Genetics
The genetic makeup of a cannabis plant determines its growth characteristics, resistance to environment or pests, potency, smell and flavour. Therefore, choosing the seed that suits your growing environment, skill level, and desired effects is essential. Many high-quality varieties are easy to grow, but not all are! Try to steer towards the easy-to-grow/beginner-friendly varieties. There’s no correlation between cannabinoid/THC levels and more difficult or easy-to-grow varieties. You can achieve high levels as readily with beginner-friendly varieties as with more expert-suited varieties. Terpenes, partly responsible for smells and flavours, are often at the mercy of the environment. However, this is a good way of choosing your most desirable variety beyond cannabinoid potency.
Lighting
Light is one of the most important factors for growing cannabis. It’s essential to provide your plants with adequate light during their vegetative and flowering stages to ensure proper growth and development. If growing outdoors, you need a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight, but ideally, place in full sun for as long in the day as possible. The intensity of light is equally crucial to productivity.
If growing indoors or using supplemental lighting, LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights, HPS (High-Pressure Sodium), or fluorescent lights can be used, but it’s crucial to select the right one for your setup, stage of development, and genetics. Higher-intensity light must be balanced with temperature offsetting, avoiding cross-over saturation (when two lights are close and the middle space is more lit than would be under one light directly), and proximity to the plants (i.e., headroom).
Soil and Nutrients
Good soil is key for growing healthy cannabis plants. Having good soil makes growing cannabis super easy! It should drain well, have a balanced, stable pH level of around 6.0-6.5, and contain the essential nutrients that cannabis plants need to grow. Organic soil is often preferred as it has natural nutrients and microbes that can help produce a more earthy-tasting product. If not in soil, cannabis plants require essential nutrients, including nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), along with micronutrients like calcium, magnesium, sulphur and many more, to grow and produce a healthy yield. Understanding the nutrient requirements of your plants is crucial to their growth and development. Most nutrient manufacturers have made products with easy-to-follow instructions so that new growers can worry less about the ratios etc.
Environment
The environment where cannabis plants are grown is critical to their health, productivity, and overall quality. Growers must control obvious factors such as temperature, humidity, and airflow to prevent the onset of pests and diseases. A well-mixed/homogenised environment will also promote optimal growth and development whilst preventing the development of problem spots in the grow space. I include watering here, although it could have been a point on its own, as it is crucial to success. Well-controlled watering can direct the plant to its full potential, so learning when, how much, and how frequently your roots get watered will elevate your understanding of the plant in no time. The best advice is to edge towards caution, underwatering rather than overwatering, as underwatering symptoms come faster and are easier to rectify than overwatering. However, getting the balance is the key. This applies to both outdoor and indoor growing. Of course, outdoor growers should also consider the predicted rainfall in their planning.
Harvest, Drying, and Curing
Harvesting your cannabis plants at the right time is essential to achieve the desired effects and optimised product. Traditionally, the changing colour of the trichomes is considered when gauging maturity, with the onset of amber signalling the time for harvest is nearing. Once harvested, the buds must be dried slowly in a dark, cool, and well-ventilated area until they reach the desired moisture content. There are many approaches to drying, but perhaps most importantly, don’t dry too fast/aggressively. A reasonably safe method is to dry for at least two weeks unless the buds are huge, in which case go longer, staying around 16ºC, with around 62% RH throughout.
Curing the buds after drying is also vital for developing their flavour, aroma, and potency. Proper curing involves storing the buds in airtight containers with optimal conditions (including space, 2/3’s to 3/4’s fill level as maximum), opening and resealing the containers regularly at first to release any built-up moisture (known as ‘burping’). Eventually, reduce this as the humidity levels out, mellows out, and becomes consistent.
Ultimately, the new cannabis growing season invites exploring, learning, and growing. With a little patience, dedication, and a lot of love for the plant, you can produce high-quality cannabis that rivals even the best dispensary offerings. So, take a deep breath, roll up your sleeves, and get growing!
