Beginner Guide
Growing cannabis is an art, an enjoyable and rewarding one. However, beginner growers can find it challenging since it requires lots of time and effort. While indoor growing is an expensive investment, outdoor growing is the best way to save on these costs and expenses. In this article, we will delve into the different steps to grow cannabis outdoors, to help you save both time and money, while also yielding a fruitful harvest!
Outdoor Cannabis Growing Equipment
High-Quality Cannabis Seeds
When growing cannabis outdoors, choose seeds that are best suited for the climatic conditions of your area. The three types of cannabis seeds include.
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Regular seeds: These seeds can produce either mail or female cannabis plants. Therefore, during the flowering stage, remove any male plants and keep only the females because male plants reduce potency and yield.
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Feminized Seeds: These seeds are genetically modified to only produce female plants and maximize potency and yield.
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Auto-flower Seeds: These seeds are great for beginners. Auto-flower seeds automatically begin to flower when they reach a certain maturity regardless of the amount of light they are exposed to.
The best seeds for outdoor growing are ones that are hardy and can withstand local weather variations and potential pests.
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Protective Fencing or Netting
When your plants are outside, they are vulnerable to animals and pests. Therefore, every outdoor grower needs to set up barriers to prevent unwanted disturbances and potential damage to the plants.
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Watering System
A reliable watering system will keep your plants healthy and hydrated. Watering systems can either be manual where you must do more of the watering by yourself or automated system where you simply set up the watering system and its water when you are not around. Outdoor plants require more water, especially during hot and dry periods.
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Soil and Natural Nutrients
The best soil is that which is rich in organic matter and supports healthy plant growth. You can mix the soil with natural nutrients like compost or manure to enhance its fertility, encouraging healthy plant growth.
The Essential Steps for Successful
Cannabis Cultivation Outdoors
Growing outdoors means using the power of natural elements and your environment. Sunlight is a vital aspect of outdoor growing. And since it's abundant and free you will save a lot when it comes to outdoor growing. Furthermore, outdoor plants grow larger due to more space, air circulation, and natural plant resources. Here are the essential steps beginner growers can use for cultivating cannabis outdoors.
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Germination
Begin by buying high-quality seeds from a reputable source which can be a trustworthy seed
bank. Place the seeds in a moistened medium such as peat moss, rockwool, or even a damp paper
towel. Place it in a warm and dark environment until the seedlings emerge.
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Seedling Care
Once your cannabis seeds start germinating, expose them to small amounts of light while keeping a consistent temperature. The seedling stage is pivotal in ensuring your plants establish a strong foundation for future growth.
Vegetative Growth
As your plants move from seedling to the vegetative stage, expose them to more sunlight, which is about 18 hours a day. This will ensure the plants attain robust growth. Ensure to space out your plants so they have enough space as they grow and adapt to the watering and feeding schedule as they develop.
Training and Pruning
Most cannabis growers want their plants to have higher yields. Using Techniques like topping (removing the plant’s main stem) and LST (Low-Stress Training) will encourage bushier growth and higher yields. Prune away the branches at the bottom that are less susceptible to light so that the plant will direct its energy to its upper branches.
Transition to Flowering
As your cannabis plants move from vegetative to the flowering stage, reduce the light cycle to 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness. This will signal the plants that they have to start developing buds. If you are using regular seeds, remove any male plants to prevent pollination.
Flowering Stage
This stage requires a lot of care and attention. Ensure that your plants don’t have nutrient deficiencies or excesses with careful monitoring and adjustments.
Pest and Disease Management
Also, constantly clean grow space and proper air circulation to reduce pests or diseases. If you notice any signs of pests, it's best to use organic pesticides or fungicides if necessary and avoid synthetic ones.
Harvesting
The best time to harvest will depend on your observation and the strain. Use a magnifying glass and see whether the trichomes on the buds have turned from clear to a milky white or amber color.
Drying and Curing
Post-harvest, dry your buds in a controlled, dark, and well-spaced environment. After drying the buds, cure them in jars, opening them periodically to let fresh air in and humidity out. A well-cured bud will enrich the flavor and potency of your cannabis.​​​
The Way Forward
As you grow your cannabis plants outdoors, you will learn more about this amazing journey. Take down your mistakes, observe your environment, and don’t be afraid to fail.
Intermediate Guide
Cannabis cultivation is a rewarding journey that begins with soil composition. When you align
all the essential aspects correctly, your plants will thrive. In this intermediate guide for growing
cannabis outdoors, we will guide you on how to ensure your home-grown cannabis reaches its
maximum potential.
Optimizing Soil Composition for Outdoor Growing
Good Drainage
Cannabis plants rely on well-drained soil to prevent root rot. The best soil is one with a balanced texture that allows water to pass through easily while retaining sufficient moisture.
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pH Level
Cannabis plants also thrive in slightly acidic soil with a pH range of 6.0 to 6.5. You must test your soil’s pH before planting. If it's not up to the necessary pH level, you can use lime to raise it or sulfur to lower it.
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Nutrient Balance
Cannabis plants rely on the right balance of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) for maximum growth. Nitrogen is responsible for bushy plants, phosphorus promotes root and flower development, and potassium supports overall plant health.
Giving your Plants Proper Nutrients
Organic Nutrients
These nutrients result from the mixture of compost, worm castings, and other natural materials. Organic nutrients are gentle on your plants and contain numerous beneficial microbes.
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Synthetic Nutrients
These types of nutrients are easily available and affordable, suitable for growers on a tight budget. These nutrients ensure immediate uptake and rapid growth, especially when your plants are facing nutrient deficiencies.
Using the Sunlight for Healthy Cannabis Plants
Go South
If possible, your plants should be in a place that gets 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day. This sunlight is pivotal for the growth of your cannabis plants.
East or West
If your plants are not facing the south, consider east or west-facing areas. Areas where your plants can capture the morning or afternoon sun are also vital.
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Measure the Light
You can measure how much sunlight different spots get throughout the day using a light meter. This helps you find the sunniest areas for your cannabis plants.
Getting the Optimal Water Balance for Your Outdoor Plants
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Water your plants in the morning so they can efficiently soak up the moisture before dawn.
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Ensure to spray the water on the soil, avoiding the leaves to prevent fungus.
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Make use of lukewarm water to avoid shocking the roots.
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Monitor your plants for signs of overwatering or underwatering. Overwatering results in wilting leaves while under-watering results in stunted growth.
Natural Ways to Protect Your Garden
Ladybugs and Lacewings
These are nature’s bug-eaters that will happily eat all pests in your garden.
Neem Oil Spray
Mix neem oil spray with water and gently spray it on leaves to prevent insects from multiplying.
Diatomaceous Earth
This powder pokes holes in bug bodies, stopping them from doing damage. Simply dust it on leaves and soil.
When to Harvest Your Cannabis Plants
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Users seeking moderate THC content from their cannabis plants can harvest when 60-70% of trichomes become milky white, with the rest clear or just starting to turn amber.
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Users seeking pure should allow all trichomes to become fully milky, yielding maximum cannabis with little THC content.
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Users seeking stronger, sleep-inducing effects should allow 10-20% of trichomes to turn amber. This will lead to high THC and less cannabis as more amber means less Cannabis.
The Way Forward
This intermediate guide gives a more detailed view of how to grow cannabis outdoors. After reading this guide, you will be more equipped to continue your cannabis grow journey.
Advanced Guide
The world of cannabis cultivation has evolved from the days of traditional growing methods. Traditional methods which involve using mediums such as soil or greenhouses, are still popular, but there’s an emergence of advanced growing methods. For most growers, these methods offer a variety of advantages over traditional methods. In this guide, we will explore these promising advanced growing methods for cannabis cultivation which include aquaponics, hydroponics, aeroponics, and vertical farming.
Advanced Methods for Growing Cannabis with Higher Yields
Aquaponics
This method involves growing cannabis alongside fish in a water-based system. The waste from the fish acts as organic nutrients for the plants. Fish waste contains ammonia which is released into water for the plants to absorb. This process works vice versa as the plants clean and filter the water that goes back to the fish.
Benefits of Aquaponics
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It leads to reduced water usage of up to 70%
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The nutrients the plant receives are organic
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The plants rely less on chemical fertilizers
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The grower can grow cannabis and aquacultural products like fish or shellfish.
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Hydroponics
This method involves growing plants in a soil-less medium. Nutrient-rich water is sent directly to
the roots.
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Benefits of Hydroponics
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The grower has precise control over the nutrient mix
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The plants can absorb nutrients more effectively which can lead to improved growth rates
and cannabis potency.
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Aeroponic
This method involves growing cannabis with their roots suspended in the air, and a nutrient solution is misted onto them. The process of growing involves hanging the roots in an air chamber and then periodically misting them with a fine spray of nutrient solution. This gives the roots more oxygen while providing them with all the vital nutrients.
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Benefits of Aeroponic
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The root becomes more exposed to oxygen which leads to healthier root systems, essential for nutrient absorption leading to high yields.
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It promotes efficient nutrient uptake which can result in higher cannabis yields and quality.
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Vertical Farming for Cannabis Growth
This method involves cultivating cannabis plants in vertically stacked layers in a controlled environment. The process uses vertical space, often in indoor settings, where each layer of plants is exposed to artificial lighting and a controlled climate. The equipment for setup includes shelves, towers, or even rotating walls for optimal light exposure.
Benefits of Vertical Farming for Cannabis Growth
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It leads to optimal usage of space for a higher density of plants.
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Growers can better control lighting and climatic conditions for optimal growth and cannabinoid synthesis.
Advanced Testing Methods for Harvesting
Choosing the perfect time
Timing is Everything when it comes to harvesting. When you harvest too early, you have a lot to lose. When you harvest late, the potency of your cannabis plants diminishes. The best way to prevent early and late harvest is by using advanced testing methods. These methods will reveal the peak of cannabinoid production for each cultivar. With these advanced methods, you get to tune your ear to the subtle whispers of the plant, which will reveal whether to harvest or not.
Curing as an Art
Curing does not only deal with removing moisture – it involves preserving and even enhancing the potency of your plant. When you dry your plants in a slow and controlled manner, it allows enzymes to transform raw plant material into fragrant, potent buds. Temperature and Humidity are essential factors when it comes to drying your plants. Ensure to maintain the right balance to ensure slow evaporation without disrupting the cannabis content of your plants.​
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, in this advanced guide, you have learned about the latest innovations in cannabis cultivation which means you can make informed decisions about the best method for your needs.