Best Practices for Cannabis Growers
Sorry, succulents! You’re about to be dethroned as America’s favorite plant to grow at home, because many states have legalized growing cannabis. Succulents might be cute and more hands-off than cannabis, but imagine never having to use your money to purchase bud again. You’ll have complete control over every aspect of the cannabis you’ll eventually smoke or consume. No more wondering if it’s been laced with something else. It’s kind of a dream come true.
If this sounds like one of your biggest fantasies coming to fruition, or you just have a green thumb and want to try your hand at it, you’ll want to make sure you’re using the best products available to grow weed. If you’re a beginner, you may need a few tips and tricks to make sure your marijuana garden is robust. Here’s what you need to know to get started as a new grower, so you’re ready to grow weed easy.
What you need to know before you grow
Before you decide to purchase everything you need to be a personal cannabis grower, it’s important that you check your state/city’s legislation regarding the legality of growing. The United States isn’t exactly on the same page about cannabis. In specialized dispensaries like Dimes Cannabis, you’re able to legally buy and use marijuana, but growing a cannabis plant—even a small plant—is considered a felony.
In Illinois, for example, it’s legal to grow up to five plants for medical marijuana use, but if you’re not a verified patient, growing your own weed will get you fined. If marijuana is legal in your state, but you’re fuzzy on the rules about growing, a local dispensary should be able to give you solid advice. Once you know the rules, you’ll be ready to grow your own cannabis plants.
Set yourself up for success
If you plant it, it will grow. However, the quality of your cannabis may vary if it’s not grown under the right conditions. First, you’ll want to purchase seeds from a reputable, brand-name company, like ILGM or Gorilla Seeds. It’s important that these seeds are feminized and that you don’t pick a type of seed that will grow too tall if you’re in a small grow room or tent. Once you’ve established a space to grow weed that has good ventilation, you’ll need to decide whether you want to grow in soil or using hydroponics.
Soil is probably the most straightforward way of growing for beginners, since it’s more forgiving if you have a misstep. Just know that your plants won’t grow as quickly in soil as they would using hydroponics. When you’re looking for soil, you can use unfertilized potting soil, organic soil, coco coir, or expanded clay pellets. It’s best to avoid just digging some up from your backyard, since it might not have many nutrients and may include pests. You can find these types of soils at most major gardening stores.
Light it up
A pivotal part of your growing process will be light. Nothing beats the sun, but sometimes growing outside isn’t realistic. In that case, you’ll need “full-spectrum” LED lights with a 400-600 watt range for your small crop. If you’re growing inside, ventilation and a fan will keep your plants growing properly and help remove the smell of growing cannabis plants, which might start to bother your roommates or partner if you’re not careful. Don’t be afraid to spend a little extra money on this part in order to get quality equipment.
Growing any kind of plant is considered great for your mental health, so growing your own weed shouldn’t be any different. It’s a fun project with a cool reward at the end. Don’t be afraid to use trial and error while growing. If one product doesn’t work as well as you’d hoped, switch it up. Growing cannabis is relatively new in the mainstream. Find sources you like, and try their recommendations.
