2021 was yet another incredible year for the progress of cannabis sativa, aka weed, marijuana, pot, and, who could forget, reefer. But if you’re here, then you probably already know that!
There are now eighteen states with legal recreational weed (18 or 21 and older), and a whopping 36 that permit medical use. Another handful of states, including Ohio, Maryland, and Arkansas, are likely to legalize this year.
But what does this mean for you? Well, chances are better than ever that you can legally grow cannabis in your own state. If that’s you, read on to learn some crucial tips about growing your own high-grade marijuana right from the comfort of your home!
5 Tips for Growing Premium Cannabis
While this isn’t a step-by-step guide per se, it will take you roughly from the beginning of the growing process all the way through to the harvesting period. These five tips are sure to come in handy for new growers (and maybe even more experienced growers, too!).
Assess Your Space
Unfortunately, you can’t just toss some cannabis seeds into the ground and expect miracles to happen. First, you need to consider how much you are hoping to grow.
The general recommendation is to take it easy your first time by starting slow. Growing cannabis is highly possible for just about anyone, but it also takes some time to get over the learning curve. Assess how much space you have to grow and how much you can reasonably grow, as well as what your budget is.
Also, think about what kind of space you have to work with: indoor, outdoor, greenhouse? If it’s indoors, where is it going to go? You don’t even necessarily need an entire room; some fantastic bud has been grown in closets and cupboards, believe it or not! In any case, it’s essential to establish the basics of your operation before you can get too deeply into anything else.
Get Equipped
Okay, so you’ve assessed your space. You’ve figured out how much you’re going to try to grow and where you’re going to grow it. Now what? It’s time to get equipped!
Growing cannabis well is all about having optimal conditions. As the grower, it’s your job to ensure that everything is set up for success. Depending on your budget, you can make your life a whole lot easier. You can get different kinds of automated grow lights as well as grow tent fans and other climate regulating systems.
Just for lights alone there are a ton of possibilities: induction lights, fluorescent lights, HID lights, LEDs, etc. You might want something that won’t jack your light bill up to the moon; or maybe that’s not an issue for you and you’re prepared to shell out any amount to ensure the best grow.
Whatever your situation is, be sure to establish a budget and, at the very least, get all the most necessary equipment. This will make your life a ton easier along the way.
Don’t Skimp on Soil or Seeds
Soil and seeds are often overlooked aspects of growing cannabis. Especially soil.
However, you need soil or some kind of medium so that your cannabis can grow. It’s a fundamental part of growing marijuana, and you might want to think twice before grabbing just anything off the shelf at the hardware store. For example, you can look into hydroponics (growing plants without soil) or rockwool, which is a favorite among growers and works well for cannabis.
When it comes to choosing cannabis seeds, it’s really a matter of personal preference. You’re going to want to grow a strain that you know and love so that you’re happy with the final product. Even if it doesn’t come out perfectly, you can still sit back and enjoy one of your favorite strains. Nowadays, you can even buy cannabis seeds online.
That said, not all cannabis strains are the same for growing! In fact, some seeds are particularly well known for their ease of growth, whereas others are notoriously difficult. There are also different types of seeds, including ones that are guaranteed to be feminized. This matters because male plants don’t produce potent flowers like the female ones. It pays to do your research in this regard.
And if you don’t want to bother with seeds, you can also explore clones if that’s an option in your area. Clones are simply cuttings from an original plant—this means they give you a head start on the whole process!
Care is King
Just like humans and all living creatures, cannabis plants need certain conditions to thrive. There are also particular nutrients that need to be supplied. You may be able to provide a lot of these through a nutrient-rich soil. If you just have a basic soil, however, you’ll need to be sure to add additional nutrients. A few critical ones for cannabis plants include calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Just like with any plant, water is a critical element. It’s crucial that you don’t overwater. Take your time and evaluate your plants on a day-to-day basis to establish what they need. You don’t want them too dry, but it’s also unlikely that they’ll need water more than once, maybe twice a day at the very most.
Don’t Rush the Process
Ultimately, try to enjoy this process! Sure, it might come with its share of frustrations or even catastrophes (spider mites, anyone? ), but you’ll eventually persevere. A key aspect of success will be patience.
You should be sure that your plants are fully grown, and you need to take your time before trying to use them right away. Carefully cutting, drying, curing, and trimming your buds will be essential to making them both look and smoke the way that you’ve been dreaming about!
Wrapping up
With these tips, you should be well on your way to growing some premium cannabis! Remember to carefully assess your space and budget before getting started, and don’t forget to enjoy the process along the way! If you proceed slowly but surely, you’ll eventually have some excellent marijuana on your hands. Enjoy!
