Marijuana may have earned the common moniker of "weed" by being easy to grow, but that doesn't mean just putting a few seeds in the ground will lead to a good yield of healthy, hardy buds. It takes a good deal of work to grow high-THC pot plants, and that work starts before planting the first seed. Before planting this year's cannabis plants, read through this article to find some tips for success that will get any grower on the right track.
1. Invest in High-Quality Seeds
Anyone who is going to plant cannabis should know that the only way to wind up with healthy plants is to start with high-quality seeds. Buy them from a reputable seed bank, not some random dealer or local grow shop, and take the time to make sure the strains chosen will be a good fit for the climate.
It's also relevant to note here that, because they're not usually as genetically stable as seed-grown plants, clones don't hold up to environmental stressors as well as plants started from seed. Yes, it takes a little extra work to germinate seeds and care for seedlings, but that work will pay off in the form of stronger and more-fertile plants.
2. Start With Fertile Soil
The quality of the soil chosen for growing pot plants is almost as important as that of the seeds, themselves. Instead of trying to amend the native soil, most growers purchase specialty blends designed specifically for growing cannabis plants. These living soils contain all the nutrients required to grow healthy plants as well as beneficial bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that will help a crop reach its full potential.
3. Pick the Right Place
Growers in mild to moderate climates have two options when it comes to location: They can start an outdoor cannabis garden or set up an indoor grow room. Grow rooms cost more to set up and maintain, but they reduce problems with inclement weather, pests, and diseases and usually produce better crops. Outdoor gardens are much more affordable to start and maintain, but it can be difficult for novice growers to manage environmental pressures. Neither of these solutions is inherently better than the other, so growers should consider both options carefully.
4. Avoid Male Plants
Cannabis plants are dioecious, meaning that they can be either male or female. Marijuana plants are always female, while hemp plants are male. This may seem like no big deal, but male plants produce pollen, and pollinated female plants produce seeds.
The easiest way to avoid pollination is to plant only females. Clones are always female, but they're genetically unstable and can wind up becoming hermaphroditic and pollinating the rest of the crop even in the absence of male plants. Feminized seeds, on the other hand, maintain a higher level of genetic stability without risking pollination, which makes them a fantastic option for beginners.
5. Don't Overwater
Everyone knows that cannabis plants need water to grow. What newbies often fail to recognize is that when it comes to irrigation, it's just as easy to go overboard as it is to underwater. Too much water will cause root rot, so pay attention to warning signs like leaves that curl up and away from the pot. That's how cannabis plants indicate to growers that they've had enough to drink.
Don't Be Afraid to Try
Here's one final tip for beginning growers: don't be afraid to try. While it's possible to get everything right and still wind up with less-than-perfect plants, it's impossible to grow even a meager crop without planting those first seeds.
