Although cannabis is a generally simple plant to grow, errors can still occur. Actually, inexperienced growers make mistakes occasionally as well. However, you can anticipate having an abundance of plump buds waiting for you when harvest time arrives if you know about common growing errors and how to avoid them.
Before cultivating cannabis in Parkersburg, obtaining a medical marijuana card for legal medicinal consumption and a medical marijuana grower’s license to cultivate on your property are necessary steps.
The most crucial factor has been moved to the bottom of the list, even though heat, pH, overwatering, and soil are still significant. That is lighting! Light is essential for cannabis plants to produce energy and grow. You’ll discover the ideal method for lighting your plants at the conclusion of the article.
1. Unaware of what you are growingÂ
It does occur: You are given a bag of seeds for “some great weed” to cultivate by someone. You just saved some money on seeds, so you’re happy. The issue is that you have no idea what kind of cannabis seeds they are—autoflowers, sativa, indica, or something else entirely. We’re not exactly off to the best start.
However, marijuana isn’t just marijuana. The traits of cannabis plants grown from different seeds vary greatly. Undoubtedly, the behavior of an indica autoflower differs from that of a fussy photoperiod sativa. Certain strains might thrive in a colder climate, while others might need bright, sunny conditions. While certain strains might only need modest feeding, others might need a lot of nutrients. You understand.
To put it briefly, it’s critical to understand what you’re genuinely growing. You can grow your plant with confidence when you purchase your seeds from a reputable supplier like Royal Queen Seeds. You will receive information on yields, nutrition needs, anticipated flowering time, and other pertinent details specific to your strain. If you want to grow successfully, you must do this!
2. Bad germinationÂ
Due to growers’ mistakes when germination occurs, some grows end before the seeds have an opportunity to sprout.
For cannabis seeds to sprout, they require this:
- A dim, muggy, but not damp atmosphere
- 22–25°C is the ideal temperature for germination.
- Relative humidity in the range of 70% to 90%
- Although fluorescent lighting is best, a windowsill will do
- Steer clear of handling seeds to prevent contamination and damage.
- If you’re using rockwool for germination, make sure the pH is between 5.8 and 6.2.
Germination Methods
Cannabis seeds can be germinated using a variety of techniques. While there isn’t one that’s “better” than the others. This eliminates the potentially dangerous step of moving sprouted seeds and breaking them.
Glass of water technique
Pour lukewarm (22°C) water halfway into a glass and add your seeds. The seeds should have sprouted after three to five days, at which point you can carefully transplant them into the soil pots that you have prepared.
Paper towel method
Put a few sheets of absorbent paper—such as kitchen paper or coffee filters—on a plate or other level surface. Plant your seeds on the paper, a few inches apart, and fold over a few more sheets. To prevent the paper from drying out, moisten it and make sure it stays damp. When the seeds have 2-3 mm taproots after a few days, move them to their seedling pots.
Germinating in rockwool
When hydroponically growing, this is typically done. After soaking the rockwool blocks in low-pH water, set them inside a covered plastic tray. Put your seeds in each rockwool block’s hole. The seeds ought to sprout within a few days. When the roots begin to show through the soil pots, place the rockwool blocks containing your seedlings inside of them.
Germinating directly in soil
“Light” or unfertilized potting mix should be added to a small seedling pot. Make a tiny indentation in the center, about 1 centimeter deep, and plant your seed. Apply a thin layer of dirt. To keep moisture in the soil, water it and place cling film over the seedling pot. The seeds ought to sprout within a few days.
3. Not using the right soil
- Keep potting soils separate.
- Never use soil devoid of nutrients.
- Use only uncontaminated soil (free of pests, fungi, etc.).
- Another common error is using the incorrect soil. What kind of soil is “proper” for growing weeds, then? Alright, let’s investigate.
It should be light and airy
A light, airy structure, ideally with some perlite mixed in, characterizes good cannabis soil. This guarantees proper drainage and permits roots to spread freely. Too much soil density will hinder the growth of cannabis.
It should contain nutrients
Except for specialized soil mixtures used for seedlings and propagation, the majority of cannabis soils have been pre-fertilized. In this manner, you can delay giving nutrients to the plant until a few weeks into its growth. In actuality, you might not even need to fertilize your plants until they begin to flower. In the unlikely event that your growing medium isn’t pre-fertilized, you’ll need to start your plants off with nutrients.
It should be free of contaminants
Avoid using soil from your garden or any other dubious-quality soils, such as old, repurposed soils from past grows. These might be contaminated with pests or fungi. These dangers are absent from high-quality potting soils purchased from reliable suppliers.
You must add new nutrients to your old soil if you truly want to repurpose it. Make sure your soil is free of pollutants before proceeding. To legally cultivate marijuana, you have the option to apply for your medical marijuana card online from the comfort of your home, enabling legal consumption of marijuana.
4. Improper humidity for seedlingsÂ
Due to their extreme sensitivity, seedlings do not tolerate mishandled humidity and moisture levels during growth. Both could mean your seedlings’ early demise.
Too little humidity
Maintain a high relative humidity of approximately 65–70% (for germination and seedlings, use a humidity dome) and keep the soil slightly damp but not soggy.
Humidity too high / excessive moisture
For seedlings, too much moisture is also detrimental. An excessive amount of humidity or overwatering your seedlings can cause the deadly fungal disease known as damping off. There’s nothing you can do to save seedlings once they weaken and topple over. Sterile medium should be used for germination, and excessive humidity and overwatering should be avoided.
5. Overwatering and overfeedingÂ
Overwatering
Though occasionally underwatering, overwatering is far worse because plants can nearly always bounce back from slightly dry conditions. However, overwatering them on a regular basis robs the roots of oxygen, which can cause a variety of problems like rot and fungus. Let the soil dry completely in between waterings. It’s better to water less frequently than too much!
Overfeeding
People believe that providing more weed plants must be beneficial because they adore their weed plants. Unfortunately, though, it’s not. Nutrient burn or, worse, nutrient lockout due to a buildup of minerals in the soil can result from overfeeding. To get the pH back to the ideal window in this situation, you’ll need to flush your soil with water and restart your feeding schedule.
Prior to cultivating cannabis on your premises, note that it’s illegal to grow cannabis in Parkersburg. To access legal medicinal cannabis, obtaining a medical cannabis card is crucial. Afterward, applying for a grower’s license ensures an uninterrupted cannabis supply.
Also Read: Beyond the High: The Progression of the Cannabis Industry
