Cannabis cultivation – How it's done

Friends of the green gold – April 1st was probably the starting signal for all those who have been waiting eagerly to finally be able to legally grow their own favorite varieties. At least that is what a look on the Internet tells us, because: The forums are running hot, the first cultivation reports are coming in and grow tents for the Cannabis cultivation indoor are sold out as far as the eye can see. And we don't blame anyone; we've been waiting for the turnaround just as eagerly. To make sure your first grow is a complete success, we've put together the most important tips for the best weed. Read along, write down what we've got and please remember: a maximum of three female cannabis plants are allowed per adult person in a household.

Is growing cannabis difficult?

Yes and no. Basically, cannabis is a weed and grows pretty much anywhere - even on the windowsill in the bathroom. If you do it right, the ladies will give you impressive yields with a decent THC content. And that's what cannabis cultivation is all about. Most people manage to keep the plant alive, but in order to end up with really good grass, the ladies want friendly growing conditions. Before we get into the actual tips for successful cannabis cultivation, let's quickly clarify some important basics:

AND: Is growing cannabis really legal now?

Yes! But please read the Cannabis Act again so that you know the restrictions. In short: You may grow a maximum of three flowering plants and these only for your own use. Passing them on to third parties is prohibited and after the harvest you may only be in possession of a maximum of 50 grams of dried cannabis flowers.

Cannabis cultivation: indoor vs. outdoor

Well, which is better? This is where opinions differ. At the end of the day, as a hobbyist grower, you will probably choose the options available to you - you can get great results with both.

For outdoor cultivation … ... you need a place with lots of sun. Cannabis needs light - the more the better. Growing cannabis in the garden or on the balcony only works if you are facing south (in Germany). Otherwise, the plants will grow, but they may not develop as strong buds and therefore less THC.  The advantage: less investment in the form of financial resources.

For indoor cultivation … ... you need more accessories for growing cannabis: grow box, lamp, ventilation. So you have to invest some time, energy and money here until you have the right equipment ready. You should not skimp on ventilation in particular, otherwise you run the risk of the entire hallway smelling of fresh cannabis for months. Not really what the ladies and gentlemen of the federal government wanted to achieve with the CanG.

Growing Cannabis: A Beginner’s Guide

Whether outdoors or indoors: the principle of growing cannabis is always the same. The goal is to create the perfect growing conditions possible. Outdoors, summer does this, while indoors you can recreate these conditions using the right equipment. The growing conditions in which your cannabis plants grow and thrive best:

*Legend: The abbreviation "NPK" stands for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). The following values ​​indicate the ratio in which the nutrients should be present. When you buy fertilizer, you should pay particular attention to this. Using the growth phase as an example: Buy a fertilizer that has a nutrient distribution of 3 parts nitrogen, 1 part phosphorus and 2 parts potassium for the main nutrients. Most fertilizers already have these values ​​specified; you don't have to calculate the ratio yourself.

Not all values ​​always have to be perfectly maintained, but the closer you get to the ideal conditions, the more eagerly your ladies will reward you. Before you start growing cannabis, you should also think about the right growing medium. Soil from the hardware store is often used here - one option. Another frequently used, but somewhat more expensive alternative is hydroponics. The disadvantage here, however, is that watering the plants is more complex, which is why we will limit ourselves to growing cannabis in potting soil for this article. 

We are also assuming that you have already set up your cannabis cultivation kit (grow box, lamp, ventilation) or found a suitable location for growing cannabis on the balcony or in the garden. Ready? Then let's get started.

Germination

There are various methods for germinating cannabis, such as germinating in a glass of water, between tissues or cotton pads, or simply in the soil. There are also germination systems that are designed to help create ideal germination conditions for successful cannabis cultivation. In any case, make sure to create conditions that are as close to spring as possible: some warmth, darkness and moisture. You can also combine different germination methods, for example like this:

1. Soak the seeds in a glass of water for about 12-18 hours.
2. Then carefully place it between two damp cotton pads, which you then place in a loosely sealed plastic bag in a dark box.
3. After about 1-3 days, a thin, white taproot should have grown from the seed. When it is between 1 and 2 cm long, you can plant the seed in potting soil with the root facing downwards.

If you consider yourself to be a clumsy person, we recommend germinating directly in soil or growing pots, as the taproot is extremely sensitive – even very small, invisible injuries can negatively affect the later growth of the plant.

The growth phase in cannabis cultivation

After a few days in the dark soil, the seedling will put out the first two tiny, still round leaves; these are the cotyledons. These first leaves do not carry out photosynthesis yet, but primarily supply the seedling with nutrients until it has developed two real leaves. As soon as the first pair of jagged leaves is there, you usually start counting the days in the growth phase. Now it is important that you know the difference between photoperiod and autoflowering cannabis strains.

Photoperiodic Photoperiodic varieties require a light cycle of 18/6 during the growth phase. In addition, you can "train" the plant using various methods during the growth phase. This strengthens the plant and brings the growth into a form that will ultimately produce more yield. The aim is to interrupt the apical dominance (i.e. growth in the shape of a Christmas tree). With natural growth, apical dominance creates a dominant main shoot in the middle, which is accompanied by weaker side shoots. Training interrupts this growth pattern - with the result that the shoots are all relatively equally strong in the end. All forms of high-stress training (HST) are suitable for photoperiodic varieties: Mainlining Fimming Toppings

Autoflowering When growing cannabis with automatics, HST should be avoided. The reason: Because the autoflowers automatically switch to flowering, they have less time to recover from the stress of plant training during the growth phase. It could be fatal to cut the main stem, only to end up with a puny plant with even less yield. It is better to choose one of the following methods: Supercropping scrog LST However, when growing autoflowers, you don't have to pay as much attention to the correct light cycle, because the growth and flowering phases happen independently. This could be useful for growing cannabis outdoors in areas with less light. However, keep in mind that automatics can be a bit more finicky and need good care right from the start, otherwise they won't grow optimally and can stay very small.

Flowering phase in cannabis cultivation

As soon as the plants enter the flowering phase (in the case of photoperiod varieties, this only happens when they only receive 12 hours of light a day), they start to form flowers. You can tell this by the first small white pistils that form on the shoots. 

FINALLY the time has come: the harvest

You can tell that your cannabis cultivation is coming to an end and you can harvest the plants when the pistils turn orange. Another indication is the trichomes on the leaves: these will change from white to amber and clear crystals. You will get the best THC content when around 15% of the crystals are amber and 15% are clear. When you want to stop growing cannabis and harvest the plants, cut the individual branches from the main stem and collect them in a bowl.

Drying & trimming after growing cannabis

Once you've cut the plants, you'll need to hang the buds to dry. Ideally in a dark room with some air circulation. It will take about two weeks, but then you should notice the following: If you try to break one of the branches, it should give way with a dry crack. Now it's time to trim the sugar leaves! The small, protruding sugar leaves are trimmed to give the buds a clean look and allow for a smoother smoking experience. 

Everything ready? Then nothing is stopping you from trying your first taste of cannabis cultivation in your Hizen Vaporizer For the best taste, you can cure your buds in a glass jar at 60% humidity for about a month - refine them, so to speak.

Final tips for growing cannabis

1. Use for the Germination in cannabis cultivation Potting soil. Normal potting soil is usually already pre-fertilized and too harsh for the sensitive seedlings. For the best start in life, they need nothing more than some mild potting soil.
2. Many make the mistake of to fertilize from the beginningWe recommend not fertilizing before the second week of the growth phase, but ideally only when the plant shows the first signs of deficiency.
3. Think about the type of fertilizerthat you want to use. Organic or chemical? This will also determine how you fertilize.
4. If you pH value of your irrigation water If you want to adjust the pH value, don't check the pH value of the water directly from the tap, but check the drain, i.e. what runs out of the bottom of the pot after watering. This way you will have a more precise value, because fertilizer and soil subsequently change the pH value.

If you avoid these beginner mistakes when growing cannabis, you can increase your chances of a good harvest! Of course, you will still make some mistakes and that is normal. This way you will learn and can apply your expanded knowledge to your second grow.

We congratulate you on a successful grow – and the Cannabis legalization, naturally.