backwoodsburner
Active Member
Cannabis Cultivation Guide 2011
When growing marijuana, you must first understand its origins. There are two sub-species. The sub-species are Cannabis Sativa and Cannabis Indica. Sativa is a tall, slow maturing plant. Its buds give a mental buzz and are used frequently by medical marijuana patients for depression and appetite problems. Indica is a short, bush-like, fast maturing plant. Its buds give a body buzz and are used frequently by medical marijuana patients for pain management and sleep problems.
For optimal growth you must supply the following:
· Proper Temperature
· Good Growing Medium
· Balanced Nutrition
· Adequate Light
· Proper Moisture
· PH, TDS, PPM Monitoring and Control
Whether you grow indoors, outdoors, or in a greenhouse, all of the above must be provided for your plants to grow to their optimal potential. There are many different strains of marijuana that have very many different characteristics and potencies. Throughout the years breeders have created hybrids and have altered the genetics of marijuana. The optimal germination temperature is 78F. A pH that is between 6.5 to 7.0 supports nutrient utilization and prevents lockout. Marijuana plants absorb CO2 with pores on the undersides of the leaves called stomata; CO2 absorption can be locked-out if the temperature or humidity is too high or too low.
Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium are the major elements needed for growth:
· Nitrogen (N) – A major element needed by all green plants. It is very important in the vegetative stage and it controls new leaf growth and plant vigor.
· Phosphorus (P) – An important mineral that stores energy in plants. It induces flowering in marijuana plants. Its importance cannot be understated.
· Potassium (K) – A nitrogen catalyst that aids in enzyme manufacture. It is needed in large amounts, although plants do not absorb it in large amounts.
Marijuana plants take raw minerals and convert them into sugars, carbohydrates, proteins, and amino acids and use them to their advantage to grow and thrive. Besides hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon, which plants acquire from the air and water, 11 other elements must be present. They’re acquired from the earth by weathering or from decay of organic matter through bacterial action. Most plant nutrients are derived from mineral salts. Others can be derived from organic sources such as worm castings, fish fertilizer, or bat guano.
There are many choices of growing mediums for starting seeds. Jiffy pellets or starter plugs are excellent choices for starting seeds. Never use garden or potting soil. A good starting medium is 1/3 vermiculite, 1/3 perlite, and 1/3 sphagnum peat moss. You might want to consider using a heat mat for germination or seedlings. This will prevent root rot and stunted growth.
It is necessary to keep seedlings above 60F. Seedlings started on heat mats grow dramatically faster than seeds in a cool environment. As previously stated, seeds germinate best at 78F. Once seedlings have sprouted, they will thrive at between 65 and 70F. If the temperature gets too high seedlings will grow too fast, stretch, and get weak.
Start feeding seedlings with a ¼ nutrient solution. Organic seaweed or fish nutrients accelerate seedling growth. The medium should be kept moist, but not too soggy to prevent rotting. Let the growing medium slighting dry out between waterings. Do not water seedlings with cold water. Tap water should sit overnight to allow any chlorine to evaporate. Water treated with a water softener will kill seedlings. 50% to 70% humidity is optimal for seedlings. If the humidity is too high rotting and fungus will occur. A slight breeze on seedlings will promote good stem strength. Consider putting fan on your plant for 3 to 4 hours a day.
Organic Gardening
Some sources of organic nutrients are manure, guano, fish, and seaweed. Use them for seedlings, vegetative growth, and flowering. Organic nutrients improve nutrient uptake, soil structure, and help control pests and diseases. Synthetic green fertilizers contain dyes and chemicals which are unnecessary and can cause lockout. Another source of organic nutrients is compost. Adding compost to the surface of the soil or mixing it in with the soil will improve drainage and help soil retain moisture. Using organic nutrients and adding compost will greatly improve the quality of your soil. Earthworm castings are a great source of soil building material.
Outdoor growers might want to utilize mulch. Examples of mulch are leaves, hay, straw, grass clippings, peat moss, coconut fiber, or wood shavings. Adding mulches throughout the growing season helps maintain moisture content in the soil, reduces stress, and aids disease prevention by reducing contact between the soil and the plant. As mulch breaks down, it contributes to the nutrient content of the soil. Keep bare soil covered with mulch to smother weeds. Weekly watering is most effective.
Organic Feeding Schedule
· Week 1-6 (Vegetative Stage) – During this stage plants require a good source of nitrogen. This will promote thick, dense, compact growth and maximize the potential number of flowering sights. Use a liquid fertilizer and a top dress fertilizer for this stage. Using these will ensure complete plant nutrition.
· Week 7-16 (Fruiting and Flowering Stage) – During this stage plants require a good source of phosphorus. This will promote strong, extra-long multiple blooms, and big buds. A liquid bloom fertilizer and a dry water soluble fertilizer will maximize budding and production.
· Week 1-16 (Supplement Use) – Using supplements will supercharge your nutrient regiment. A few supplements to look for are: Mycorrhizal Fungi, which colonize the soil and aid plant roots, Enzymes, which aid nutrient utilization, transportation, and cell division. Humic acid, which aids absorption and nutrient uptake. Seaweed and fish extracts, witch aid overall plant growth and health.
When growing marijuana, you must first understand its origins. There are two sub-species. The sub-species are Cannabis Sativa and Cannabis Indica. Sativa is a tall, slow maturing plant. Its buds give a mental buzz and are used frequently by medical marijuana patients for depression and appetite problems. Indica is a short, bush-like, fast maturing plant. Its buds give a body buzz and are used frequently by medical marijuana patients for pain management and sleep problems.
For optimal growth you must supply the following:
· Proper Temperature
· Good Growing Medium
· Balanced Nutrition
· Adequate Light
· Proper Moisture
· PH, TDS, PPM Monitoring and Control
Whether you grow indoors, outdoors, or in a greenhouse, all of the above must be provided for your plants to grow to their optimal potential. There are many different strains of marijuana that have very many different characteristics and potencies. Throughout the years breeders have created hybrids and have altered the genetics of marijuana. The optimal germination temperature is 78F. A pH that is between 6.5 to 7.0 supports nutrient utilization and prevents lockout. Marijuana plants absorb CO2 with pores on the undersides of the leaves called stomata; CO2 absorption can be locked-out if the temperature or humidity is too high or too low.
Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium are the major elements needed for growth:
· Nitrogen (N) – A major element needed by all green plants. It is very important in the vegetative stage and it controls new leaf growth and plant vigor.
· Phosphorus (P) – An important mineral that stores energy in plants. It induces flowering in marijuana plants. Its importance cannot be understated.
· Potassium (K) – A nitrogen catalyst that aids in enzyme manufacture. It is needed in large amounts, although plants do not absorb it in large amounts.
Marijuana plants take raw minerals and convert them into sugars, carbohydrates, proteins, and amino acids and use them to their advantage to grow and thrive. Besides hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon, which plants acquire from the air and water, 11 other elements must be present. They’re acquired from the earth by weathering or from decay of organic matter through bacterial action. Most plant nutrients are derived from mineral salts. Others can be derived from organic sources such as worm castings, fish fertilizer, or bat guano.
There are many choices of growing mediums for starting seeds. Jiffy pellets or starter plugs are excellent choices for starting seeds. Never use garden or potting soil. A good starting medium is 1/3 vermiculite, 1/3 perlite, and 1/3 sphagnum peat moss. You might want to consider using a heat mat for germination or seedlings. This will prevent root rot and stunted growth.
It is necessary to keep seedlings above 60F. Seedlings started on heat mats grow dramatically faster than seeds in a cool environment. As previously stated, seeds germinate best at 78F. Once seedlings have sprouted, they will thrive at between 65 and 70F. If the temperature gets too high seedlings will grow too fast, stretch, and get weak.
Start feeding seedlings with a ¼ nutrient solution. Organic seaweed or fish nutrients accelerate seedling growth. The medium should be kept moist, but not too soggy to prevent rotting. Let the growing medium slighting dry out between waterings. Do not water seedlings with cold water. Tap water should sit overnight to allow any chlorine to evaporate. Water treated with a water softener will kill seedlings. 50% to 70% humidity is optimal for seedlings. If the humidity is too high rotting and fungus will occur. A slight breeze on seedlings will promote good stem strength. Consider putting fan on your plant for 3 to 4 hours a day.
Organic Gardening
Some sources of organic nutrients are manure, guano, fish, and seaweed. Use them for seedlings, vegetative growth, and flowering. Organic nutrients improve nutrient uptake, soil structure, and help control pests and diseases. Synthetic green fertilizers contain dyes and chemicals which are unnecessary and can cause lockout. Another source of organic nutrients is compost. Adding compost to the surface of the soil or mixing it in with the soil will improve drainage and help soil retain moisture. Using organic nutrients and adding compost will greatly improve the quality of your soil. Earthworm castings are a great source of soil building material.
Outdoor growers might want to utilize mulch. Examples of mulch are leaves, hay, straw, grass clippings, peat moss, coconut fiber, or wood shavings. Adding mulches throughout the growing season helps maintain moisture content in the soil, reduces stress, and aids disease prevention by reducing contact between the soil and the plant. As mulch breaks down, it contributes to the nutrient content of the soil. Keep bare soil covered with mulch to smother weeds. Weekly watering is most effective.
Organic Feeding Schedule
· Week 1-6 (Vegetative Stage) – During this stage plants require a good source of nitrogen. This will promote thick, dense, compact growth and maximize the potential number of flowering sights. Use a liquid fertilizer and a top dress fertilizer for this stage. Using these will ensure complete plant nutrition.
· Week 7-16 (Fruiting and Flowering Stage) – During this stage plants require a good source of phosphorus. This will promote strong, extra-long multiple blooms, and big buds. A liquid bloom fertilizer and a dry water soluble fertilizer will maximize budding and production.
· Week 1-16 (Supplement Use) – Using supplements will supercharge your nutrient regiment. A few supplements to look for are: Mycorrhizal Fungi, which colonize the soil and aid plant roots, Enzymes, which aid nutrient utilization, transportation, and cell division. Humic acid, which aids absorption and nutrient uptake. Seaweed and fish extracts, witch aid overall plant growth and health.
