Sharing our love for growing cannabis extends beyond the walls of Sira’s cultivation facilities. Cultivating this magical plant yourself can be done in a variety of ways with as simple or complex a process as you’d like it to be. Plants can be grown indoor year-round using various lighting methods or outdoors in Massachusetts during the warmer months in Spring to Fall. Whether you’re a novice grower cultivating for the first time, or an avid enthusiast growing for the hundredth time, there a 5 key areas to focus on to ensure your plants reach their fullest potential.
bubba kush grow room up close shoot
Soil
At every stage of a plant’s growth, the growing mix (also referred to as growing medium), plays a pivotal role. Soil-based mixes are the most typical growing mix used for indoor cannabis cultivation, but soilless and hydroponic methods are also another option.
Whether you’re growing in a traditional soil-based potting mix, a soilless mix composed of sphagnum peat and/or coco coir, or using a hydroponic system, each method offers its own pros and cones.
Whether you’re growing in a traditional soil-based potting mix, a soilless mix composed of sphagnum peat and/or coco coir, or using a hydroponic system, each method offers its own pros and cones.
Soilless media or hydroponic systems that use mineral-based, water-soluble nutrients allow for quicker nutrient uptake which in turn can increase yields and hasten growth but this requires the grower to be attentive and focused on the needs of the plant. No matter which medium is used, the plants’ containers should provide good drainage first and foremost.
The ideal pH level of the growing medium differs for each: a PH range that falls between 6 and 7 when using a soil-based mix is ideal, while in soilless mixes and hydroponic systems a pH level of 5.5 to 6.5ish is generally regarded as ideal.
When using a hydroponic system, the pH levels of the nutrient solution must be checked regularly as any changes will need to be corrected quickly to avoid detrimental effects to the plant. Similarly, if growing in soil or a soilless medium, you should monitor the pH of the substrate (soil/growing mix) using a reliable testing method.
Getting this right is crucial for avoiding nutrient lockout, which can prevent the plants from absorbing the nutrients they need.
NUTRIENTS
Plants are hungry.
The primary nutrients (or macronutrients) needed are simple: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. But cannabis also requires several micronutrients in varying degrees – these include calcium, magnesium, and iron. If you’re using a pre-fertilized growing mix then your bases should be covered. Otherwise, specially designed fertilizers are available in water-soluble powder or concentrated liquid formats, each suitable for a specific stage of growth after being mixed with water at various recommended rates. Using a measured pipette can help accurately titrate nutrients into water to dilute.
When it comes to watering the plants its best to use filtered water. Depending on where you live, water that is perfectly safe for humans can harm plants. The most important thing to remember, even with pure, filtered water, is not to overdo it.
EQUIPMENT
Lights, exhaust fans, circulating fans, 24 hour timers, ventilation, and pH test kits are the necessities for ensuring a good harvest, particularly when growing indoors.
Light quality is arguably the most important environmental factor; when cultivating indoors, grow lights should be chosen wisely from several options, including the industry-standard HID (high intensity discharge), fluorescent fixtures, LED (light emitting diode), and induction lamps.
The size and power requirements of each piece of equipment will depend on the size, conditions, and overall needs of the grower and their grow space.
For large scale or commercial cannabis growing such as at Sira, custom control software can monitor and communicate with numerous pieces of equipment to regulate environmental conditions automatically to keep hundreds of plants living in harmony at all times.
ENVIRONMENT
There are several variables to keep in mind here, from the amount of light the plants get to proper airflow, temperature, and humidity.
For growing indoors, start with a cool, dry area with a steady stream of fresh air – usually achieved by placing a filtered exhaust fan and a fresh air inlet at opposite sides of the growing space or tent – this will allow stale air within the grow to be replaced regularly with fresh air rich in carbon dioxide – a critical component necessary for plant photosynthesis.
A light breeze, created by a circulating fan, is good for strengthening the plants’ stems so the weight of the plant’s buds when flowering doesn’t bend the plant.
But timing is everything: The ideal light/dark cycle will consistently give the plants 16-to-20 hours of light per 24-hour period when in vegetative growth, which is then reduced to 12 hours of light followed by 12 hours of darkness when they’re ready to begin the important process of forming buds. This process mimics the amount of light the plant would receive in its typical grow cycle outdoors from May to October.
Finally, in terms of temperature, cannabis plants seem most comfortable in a range of 70-to-85 degrees F during the lit (day) period, and 58-to-70 F during the dark (night) period. Some lighting systems do generate more heat than others – but conditions also depend on the space.
FACILITY
For a cannabis garden to reach its fullest potential the area’s size and capacity for cooling and heating are key concerns. Indoor growers typically use grow tents as their choice for growing within as the environment can be controlled best. The space should be “light-tight,” too; if any light leaks in during dark periods, the plants may become stressed and put their energy away from growing buds.
Understanding the importance of these 5 key areas when growing cannabis will get you on the path to growing cannabis from home to its fullest potential.
Topics: Recreational Cannabis
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