Picking up new hobbies and becoming an expert in a new field is always a good idea; especially while there is not much else to do. Luckily, marijuana is now legal in Illinois and Sunny Cultivation is the first and only USDA licensed and registered medical cannabis seed merchant, distributor, and importer. Simply put, you can trust that the seeds you get from us are top of the line. So, now that you have your seeds, it’s time to figure out how to put them to use! There is an abundance of information online regarding everything you need to know about growing your own marijuana, and some of it can be overwhelming. Here’s a comprehensive guide on everything you need to know to begin your own marijuana garden.
Use the Right Marijuana Seeds
The first and most important aspect to remember is that only female marijuana plants yield smokable flowers! Luckily, we have feminized marijuana seeds that have been engineered to eliminate male chromosomes. This means that you—as the grower—will face little risk in your plants growing into males. Ensuring that you are working with feminized seeds saves you lots of time and money in the long run.
Find the Right Environment
Unlike regular house plants, marijuana plants need very controlled environments to flourish. The first factor to consider before beginning your venture is where to grow your marijuana. The space you choose can be as large as an entire room or as small as a closet. However, if this is your first time, choosing a smaller grow space is more efficient since it minimizes the costs. Growing can be expensive, so if you choose to set up a large grow space and plant several marijuana seeds, then your first-time mistakes will only cost you more than they will benefit you. Beginners should choose a smaller space with a smaller amount of plants to minimize cost and get familiarized with the process.
Pay Attention to Lighting
Pay attention to your lighting. Typically, when marijuana is first growing in its vegetative state, it needs 13 hours of light per day. Later, when it enters the flowering stage and is ready to produce flower to smoke, they need a schedule that is 12 hours of complete darkness followed by 12 hours of light. According to Leafly, light leaks during dark periods will confuse your plants and cause them to produce male flowers which, as stated before, do not yield smokable marijuana. There are many different lights to choose when growing your own marijuana, but the most common lights for beginners who are growing small batches are fluorescent glow lamps since they are cheaper to set up and they do not require a cooling system that some other lights do. Just as light is important, so too is temperature. Fluorescent lights make it easy to control the additional factor of temperature. While lighting and temperature are important, air control is another aspect to be cautious of. Ensure that temperatures remain at a comfortable level for marijuana plants. The temperature should be between 70-85 degrees with lights on and 58-70 degrees when lights are off.
Focus on Nutrients & Watering
Marijuana requires more nutrients than your typical house plant. Make sure that your plant is getting enough nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These are the main nutrients that should be monitored, but marijuana also needs nutrients in small doses from calcium, magnesium, iron and copper.
Be mindful of your watering. Marijuana plants are susceptible to root rot, which will kill your plant. Avoid this by making sure that you are never overwatering. A tip that many people follow is waiting until the lower leaves on the plant begin to droop before watering to ensure no overwatering is taking place.
Here at Sunny Cultivation, all of our seeds are top quality, certified and verified. Contact us to get answers to any and all of your questions!