Imagine how convenient it would be if you had a cannabis plant in your room or your backyard. Well, you don’t have to imagine anymore because you can turn it into reality if you haven’t already. If you are a registered medical cannabis consumer, you have the advantage of growing cannabis at home. That’s right! Along with your indoor plants and shrubs, you can also have a cannabis plant. So if you haven’t considered homegrown cannabis yet, it’s time that you plan a consultation with any of your nearest medical marijuana doctors in Rochester. They will guide you through the important points so that you can finally have a cannabis plant at your home.
Moving forward from here, all you have to do is take proper care of the plant to have a healthy harvest. Depending on your growing space (indoor or outdoor) you will have to meet different growing conditions. But don’t worry if you feel confused. I have some very useful tips that will not only help you have a healthy harvest but will also boost your yield if done right.
Selecting The Right Seeds
If you wish to have a cannabis plant in your home, the first step is to go get one. Don’t take it lightly because this is the most important step too. The seeds you choose will decide the fate of your harvest. So be very careful.
First, decide which strain you wish to grow. Cannabis is broadly classified into three types of strains: Indica, Sativa and Hybrids. Each type differs in its chemical compositions and the effects on the body. So your choice will be based on the type of end result your medical condition requires. The choice of strain is also important to have a better harvest because strains differ in their growing requirements. For instance, Indica prefers cooler temperatures and is perfect for small spaces as they grow short. Sativa, on the other hand, is perfect for hot temperatures and open spaces as it tends to grow tall.
The second factor you must keep in mind while picking seeds is whether they are male or female. While the former is helpful for cross-breeding, the latter produces more buds. So you should look for feminized seeds for a better harvest. The last and most important factor to look after is the quality of your seeds. Make sure that the ones you choose are of high quality. Old or low-quality seeds will result in a plant with stunt growth and poor harvest.
Proper Feeding
Like every other plant in your garden, cannabis plants also need to be fed. And if you wish to have a harvest that’s high quality, you have to ensure that your cannabis plants are properly fed.
The three most important factors that cannabis need to feed on for proper growth are nutrients, light and water. Let’s have a look at each of these factors individually.
Nutrients
The soil in which you sow your cannabis seeds will meet most of the requirements of your plant. But you will have to fill the soil with additional nutrients if you are looking for a higher yield. And you don’t just have to ensure the right amounts and type of nutrients but also if the growing stage of your plant needs it or not.
For instance, the vegetative stage of cannabis benefits from more nitrogen and less potassium whereas the flowering stage benefits from less nitrogen and high potassium levels. So do some research before feeding any nutrients to your plant. Also, make sure that the amount you add in the soil is neither too low or too high. While the former will lead to deficiency, the latter can cause a nutrient burn. Either scenario will stunt the growth of your plant and produce poor quality buds.
Light
When growing a cannabis plant, always remember, more light means better harvest. So whether you have an indoor or outdoor growing space, proper light is essential. But this does not mean that you expose your plant to light and expect more buds. You have to keep up with other conditions too while increasing the exposure.
Depending on the growth stage of your plant, you can find a light spectrum or color temperature that will boost growth. The stage of the plant will also help you determine the suitable light schedule which includes the light as well as dark hours. Once you figure it out, stick to it. Because cannabis is sensitive to light fluctuations and may develop stress or hormonal imbalance. Another point to remember is that when you are increasing the intensity of light, increase the addition of nutrients accordingly. Since light boosts growth, it will absorb nutrients quickly too. So the soil should be able to meet the requirements.
Water
It goes without saying, cannabis needs water. It is essential for the proper absorption of nutrients and maintaining the health of the plant. But you shouldn’t go overboard with it. While less water will dry out the plant, overfeeding will rot the roots and make it hard for them to absorb the nutrients. So stick to a watering schedule and follow it properly.
Maintenance
After you have fed the plant with what it needs, it’s time to focus on maintaining the right conditions. Here are a few that will help.
Pruning
Pruning is like a selection process. You choose the parts of the plant that are healthier and have more chance of survival over parts that are lower, diseased or receive low light. Cut out the parts you don’t need so that the plant can deliver more nutrients to other healthier areas.
Training
Training is a method used to increase the number of top colas so that they yield more. If done correctly, you can increase your yield by as much as 40 percent. Some of the many ways of training cannabis are topping, bending and fimming.
Container Size
If you want to spread your plant and make it bigger, consider shifting it to a larger container. It will let the plant spread out the roots and absorb nutrients more efficiently. So you must know when it’s time to transplant your plant. If you don’t do it at the right time, the plant will become bound to the container and the growth will also reduce or stop.
Optimal Conditions Of Growth
If you wish to see a healthy plant with lots of buds, nail these three conditions: right temperature, right humidity and right pH level.
As I mentioned already, your choice of strain will decide the temperature that’ll suit your plant. You will have to try different temperature settings to find the perfect range. Just remember to avoid any fluctuations as it may lead to heat stress or stunted growth. The same is the case with humidity. Cannabis needs only a specific level of humidity. If you go above the required level. You run the risk of mold developments and pests.
pH is often ignored when growing cannabis. But if you aim to increase your yield, do not miss out on this step. The right pH level ensures that the nutrients are properly absorbed by the plant. To stay within the range of 6.0 and 7.0, you must do a pH check on your growing medium and water and adjust it accordingly.
Harvest At The Right Time
Don’t be hasty when it’s time for harvest. After the flowering stage, the aroma becomes strong and temptation kicks in to harvest it immediately. But wait. The window for harvesting cannabis is 2-3 weeks long. If you control your temptation for a little more time, you’ll give the buds time to increase in size.
Now you are well aware of the tips and tricks of getting a better yield from a cannabis plant at home. So visit a dispensary near you or check the online stores and start picking the best cannabis strain that you can grow at home. I can bet that you will not be disappointed.
