Guide to growing cannabis

Cannabis is consumed by humans for thousands of years. Whether for recreation or medicinal purposes, it is clear that humans reap the benefits of this beautiful plant. With the green revolution sweeping across North America and parts of the world, more people are keen to grow their own product.

People choose to start growing for various reasons. Many cite costs as one reason. Instead of paying $50 for a half ounce, you can pay the same in electrical and upkeep costs and get ten times as much. Another reason is the choice in what you grow. Medical patients may need a different strain compared to recreational users. Growing your own supply ensures maximum control over your cannabis.

While growing cannabis indoors is a great hobby, please ensure that you have considered the following:

So you have decided to grow! There are many factors to consider. Firstly, are you growing indoors or outdoors? And why?

Outdoor grows face problems such as pests, nutrient deficiencies, and adverse weather. However, indoor grows often don't have these problems because the grow environment is fine-tuned.

The general cost of growing outdoors is almost always less than growing indoors. You need just a few things:

• At least 8 hours of sunlight a day
• Temperatures above 15 C
• Private space free from threats

Cannabis is called "weed" for a reason. It can grow in difficult conditions. As long as you give your plants the best you can for their environment, they will be fine.

Generally not very expensive, many people use the soil available in their yard. They enrich it using a combination of fertilizers or buy commercial growing soil like Fox Farm, Biobizz, or Plagron.

A private space is essential. This can be a safe place in the woods, your back garden, or a communal grow space. It is important to access your plants at short notice, for instance, to water them during a heatwave.

Indoor growing requires a greater, more expensive setup. Besides privacy and a secure location, basic things you need are:

Choosing a grow room is like choosing a first car. You may look at all the brand-new, expensive options. However, the reality is you only have so much to spend. You may not want to make a significant investment in case growing isn't for you. Consider the space you are working with. Do you have a tent, a closet, or an entire room?

Your expenditure will vary depending on the size of your grow. A tent is a cheap and effective way to do your first grow. Even if you have access to an entire room, it may be better to use one large or multiple smaller tents.

A grow tent is exactly what it sounds like. It's a durable, waterproof, light-leak proof tent with reflective walls. These come in a range of sizes, so choose one best suited to your space and needs. Most tents come with support bars to hang your light, appropriate cutouts for fans, and a zip to access and securely close the grow space.

To provide the correct temperature and relative humidity, ensure that heat and moisture released during your grow are managed. This can be done using extraction fans to remove excess heat from the light, or an air-conditioning unit to reduce temperature and humidity. It is vital to ensure adequate ventilation. Keep your grow tent temperature below 30C.

A carbon filter is an air filter that passes "contaminated" air over a mesh of activated carbon to scrub it of any smell. This is a tried and tested method to remove grow-related aromas and is the industry standard for commercial growers. A carbon filter usually goes inside your tent and is connected to an extractor fan via a duct.

This is a must-have for stealth, especially when growing more pungent and smelly strains like Skunk. Cannabis prefers to grow at a certain pH. This varies depending on your growing medium. It's between 6 and 7 for soil grows and between 5.5 and 6.5 for soilless techniques. A pH meter or indicator strips are essential in every grower's toolkit.

Cannabis enthusiasts have a range of options when choosing a growth medium. Due to its rugged nature, the plant grows in soil or in the absence of soil, using an alternative material to support the plant roots and weight.

Soil requires a feeding pH of between 6 and 7. This is because soil has live bacteria that require a biological pH to function. Most soil mixes need no extra nutrients for a few weeks, as they contain the essentials the plant needs from the start.

Soilless grows use an inert medium. You need to provide all nutrients in the water during feeding. Commonly used mediums are peat coco (coir), vermiculite, or perlite. A key benefit is faster growth than soil, however, a limitation is the need for accuracy with pH and feeding nutrients by hand.

Hydroponics and aeroponics systems allow for optimal nutrient intake. They generally provide growers with more yields but need constant attention. They are not as forgiving as soil.

Now that you have decided on a growing medium, consider the container. Cannabis is versatile. You could grow it in a bucket or a normal garden pot. Modern grow techniques indicate more efficient alternatives like fabric or air pots.

The porous nature allows better air permeation through the medium. This provides the roots of the plant with oxygen needed for growth. They also offer better drainage, often a key issue for beginners.

Fabric pots are often made from recycled material. They provide excellent drainage and allow some air to pass through them, especially between watering.

Air pots are made of plastic. They offer the key benefits of fabric pots, however, they have far greater air permeation. This accelerates growth, particularly during the vegetative period.

The choice of grow lights is perhaps the most important decision when starting a grow. There are various options, all with their benefits and downsides.

Compact fluorescent lights are a great choice for small or micro grows. They do not let off much heat and are often low in energy consumption. They can be kept as close as 2-5 inches from the tops of the plant. This is beneficial for those growing in a space bucket or inside a PC case where space is an issue.

However, they do not have great penetration. There will be very little light for bud sites lower on the plant, so they are not ideal for larger grows.

High-pressure sodium lights are excellent for larger grows. These lights provide excellent penetration, are very bright, and are not very expensive compared to LEDs. They waste a lot of energy on heat, which can be an issue for smaller grows, as additional costs are incurred in cooling the grow space.

Many HPS systems have cooling systems called "cool tubes." These connect the light directly to exhaust fans, removing excess heat generated by the lights. This allows them to be placed closer to the plants, providing better light penetration.

Light-emitting diode grow lights are the most advanced form of horticultural growth lamps. They are used in various forms; diode panels, quantum boards, and the newest form chip-on-board (COB) LEDs. They offer the ideal light source for any grower. They are powerful, efficient, and very versatile, however, they tend to be more expensive than their counterparts.

Due to their high power, they need to be positioned at a greater distance compared to HPS.

For a beginner, it is advisable to purchase an LED light. They are the easiest to use. The majority are plug and play. Unlike HPS and CFL, they still retain some value if you decide growing isn't for you.

You want to ensure clean air enters your tent and that you ventilate your used air either outside or into another room. Recirculated air isn't great for cannabis plants. Your plants need a high level of CO2. Cannabis prefers temperatures between 22 and 27 C.

Relative humidity (RH) is the amount of water in the air as moisture. This is very important. The plant needs different relative humidity depending on its cycle stage. While in vegetation, plants thrive with higher levels of RH. In flower, RH should be lowered to prevent mold and mildew forming.

There are many techniques you can employ to ensure a fruitful harvest of high-quality buds, including different forms of training you can do to the plant.