Growing Cannabis At Home: Tips and Tricks

Growing any plant at home takes time and care, but we’ve found that some specific tips and tricks work best with cannabis.

Pick your Plants with Care

Begin your cultivation journey with high-quality cannabis seeds or clones from reputable sources. Good genetics play a crucial role in determining the overall health, yield, and potency of your plants.

Additionally, unless you are actively looking to breed and create your own strains, you should stick with planting only female plants. If cannabis is pollinated, it will begin to put energy into producing seeds instead of buds.

Lastly, different cannabis strains have unique characteristics and requirements. Research and understand the specific needs of the strain you’re growing, including optimal growing conditions, flowering times, and potential challenges.

Create the Right Environment

Cannabis plants require proper lighting throughout their lifecycle. Consider using high-quality grow lights such as LED, HPS, or CMH to provide the appropriate spectrum and intensity of light. Adjust the light cycle during different stages (vegetative and flowering) to mimic natural lighting conditions.

Maintain a controlled and optimal environment for your plants. This includes managing temperature, humidity, airflow, and ventilation. Aim for a temperature range of 70-85°F (21-29°C) during the day and slightly cooler temperatures at night. Keep humidity levels around 40-60% during vegetative growth and lower to 40-50% during flowering to prevent mold and mildew.

Watering Techniques

Avoid overwatering or underwatering your plants. Allow the top layer of the soil to dry out before watering again. Check the moisture level by inserting your finger into the soil about an inch deep. If it feels dry at that depth, it’s time to water. Use filtered water at room temperature to avoid shocking the roots.

Manage Their Growth With Care

Cannabis plants require a balanced nutrient regimen to thrive. Understand the nutritional needs of your plants during each stage of growth. Start with a quality cannabis-specific fertilizer and follow the recommended feeding schedule. Monitor the pH levels of the soil or hydroponic solution to ensure nutrient uptake is optimal.

Utilize training techniques such as topping, pruning, and low-stress training (LST) to promote a more even canopy, increase light penetration, and encourage more bud sites. This can result in better yields and improved overall plant health.

Regularly inspect your plants for pests like spider mites, aphids, or fungus gnats. Use preventive measures such as neem oil, insecticidal soaps, or biological controls to mitigate pest infestations. Maintain good hygiene and cleanliness in your growing area to prevent the spread of diseases.

Practice Patience and Observation

Pay close attention to your plants’ health and respond to any issues promptly. Monitor pH levels, nutrient deficiencies or excesses, and signs of stress. Adjust your growing techniques or environmental conditions as needed to optimize plant growth.

Growing cannabis requires patience and observation. Take the time to observe your plants closely, noting any changes or issues. Keep a grow journal to track progress, note successful techniques, and learn from any challenges encountered.

Getting Your Hand Dirty

When it comes to learning to manage your own cannabis, it’s important to be patient. Some of the most common reasons that a plant may die relates to either under or over-care. For example:

Overwatering or Underwatering
Lack of Light or Excessive Light
Lack of Nutrients or Overfertilization

However, once you begin to understand the behavior of your plants and the symptoms they show when they are stressed you can begin to focus on techniques to increase the yield of each plant. The most effective ways to increase plant yield are:

Topping:

When your cannabis plant has developed a few sets of true leaves and is in the vegetative stage, you can proceed with topping. Locate the main stem’s tip or apical bud, which is the central shoot at the top of the plant. With clean pruning shears or scissors, make a horizontal cut just above the node below the apical bud. Ensure that a few sets of healthy leaves remain on the plant after topping. This process stimulates the growth of two new main branches from the nodes below the cut, resulting in a bushier plant structure. Repeat the topping process on the new main branches as the plant grows to encourage further branching and an even canopy.

Pruning:

Pruning involves selectively removing specific parts of the plant to promote growth in desired areas, enhance airflow, and improve light penetration. Identify any yellow, dying, or dead leaves and carefully remove them using clean pruning shears or scissors. Make clean cuts as close to the stem as possible. Removing lower foliage and branches that receive minimal light or obstruct airflow can redirect energy to more productive areas of the plant. Be cautious not to over-prune, as this can stress the plant. Prune selectively and gradually to allow the plant to recover and adapt.

Low-Stress Training (LST):

Low-stress training (LST) is a technique that involves gently bending and securing the branches of the plant to create a more horizontal canopy. This allows for better light exposure and increased bud development. Start LST when your plants have multiple sets of healthy leaves and are flexible enough to bend without breaking. Choose a branch to train and gently bend it away from the center of the plant, creating an even canopy. Secure the bent branch in place using soft plant ties or gardening wire, being careful not to tie it too tightly. Repeat this process with other branches, spreading them out to achieve an open and balanced canopy. Regularly check and adjust the plant ties as the plant grows. Continue to train the branches as needed throughout the plant’s growth.

Harvest at the Peak

Determining the optimal time to harvest cannabis involves considering several factors.

One important indicator is the trichome color, which can be observed using a magnifying tool. When the trichomes appear milky or cloudy, it suggests peak cannabinoid production, indicating that the plant is ready for harvest. Some growers prefer to wait for a portion of the trichomes to turn amber or brown for a more relaxing effect.

Additionally, examining the pistil color can provide insights into the plant’s readiness. As the plant matures, the pistils may change from white to amber, orange, or brown. When about 70-90% of the pistils have darkened, it suggests that the plant is nearing harvest.

Evaluating the size and density of the buds is also crucial. Fully developed buds should be plump, dense, and tightly packed. If the buds still feel airy or loose, the plant may need more time to mature.

Overall trichome development and the appearance of the plant, such as yellowing or browning leaves, should also be considered.

Keep in mind that the ideal harvest time can vary based on personal preferences, desired effects, and the strain being grown.

Wrapping It All Up

With each new round, take the time to identify which methods work best for you and take notes to ensure you can repeat the process again in the future. As with any hobby, as you improve the results of your work should become more evident.

If you find yourself with more specific questions, our staff would love the opportunity to talk! Feel free to stop in at KindCare anytime even if you don’t have any questions and instead just need to pick up some high quality seeds to get you started!