How to Grow the Best Cannabis Strains. Tips and Tricks

By: Tia M.

Growing cannabis requires technique and attention to detail. Depending on the plant you’ve chosen, you will also need a selected amount of time before the weed grows.

This isn’t necessarily a difficult task. However, new growers need to learn some tips on growing weed before they get started.

When you grow weed, there are many things to consider. There’s a learning curve and as a grower, you’ll make some mistakes.

However, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t learn more about this process to avoid common mistakes.

Below you’ll find some useful marijuana growing tips to grow quality strains.

The Best Way to Grow Weed: Start with Genetics

Genetics determines everything. Even if you apply an amazing strategy and have ideal conditions for your plants, none of it will matter unless you know genetics.

These affect yield, aroma, taste, and traits of the plant. Knowing the genetics is a crucial part of cultivating cannabis.

By selecting the right seed, you’ll influence the outcome of the plant. When it comes to strains, growers have different preferences.

Some seek cerebral Sativa that is powerful and leaves users motivated and energized. Others want stoney effects that only Indica brings.

And of course, some seek medicinal benefits found in CBD-rich marijuana plants.

Growing Weed and Environment

Where you grow your weed is an important factor that you must consider when you choose the seed.

If you are growing outdoors, you can get a seed that grows big. But, if you are growing indoors, you need plants that will fit inside your space.

Some plants require more sunlight and are generally ideal for outdoor growth in the right climate.

You must base your decision on growing conditions. If you are growing indoors, do you have the necessary equipment that your selected plant requires?

If you are growing outdoors, are the conditions ideal for that specific cannabis strain?

Cannabis Growing Mediums

Once you establish what you’ll grow and where you need to decide on ‘how’. There are many ways to cultivate cannabis plants nowadays.

You can sow the seeds in a pot filled with soil or use a modern hydroponic setup in an indoor growing facility.

In addition to tools and techniques, there are also different substrates to choose from. There’s soil, clay pebbles, coco coir.

For new cultivators, one of the best weed growers tips is to start with soil.

Speaking of soil, certain things make soil ideal for growing such plants. These include:

Water draining and retention: The water in the soil should drain properly. Otherwise, the cannabis will have so-called ”wet feet” for a prolonged period. Also, draining it too fast is not good for the plant. The soil should hold both nutrients and water for a reasonable, optimal period.
Texture: Ideally, the soil should have an airy, light texture to allow roots to grow easily and have access to oxygen at all times.
Nutrients: The soil itself should contain nutrients in addition to the ones you’ll provide for your plant.
pH levels: The optimal pH level of soil in which cannabis is grown is around 6.0. A bit over or below this number is fine, but don’t go overboard.

Some people prefer to purchase ready soil that has nutrients for a couple of weeks in it. Others prefer to grow their soil. Depending on how much experience you have, it is up to you what you decide.

Nutrients for Cannabis Growth

Unless you set up a purely organic growth, you’ll need nutrients to feed the plants. This also needs to be moderate. You cannot have too little or too much unless you want to hurt the plant.

Feeding the plants with more nutrients does not result in more buds. This is a common misunderstanding and a reason why many overfeed their cannabis. Young plants and seedlings don’t require nutrients until they grow a bit, and neither do autoflowers.

If you purchase or make good soil that has nutrients to last for around 3 or 4 weeks i.e. are pre-fertilized, you might not even need to give nutrients until the plant’s flowering phase.

How much nutrients a plant needs depends on its phase of growth, as well as the conditions and type of plant you are cultivating.

Some recommended ratios for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium and flowering include:

Vegetative growth – high: low: medium NPK ratio
Flowering period: low: high: medium NPK ratio

Keep in mind that, even though these three are essential, there are also other micronutrients that cannabis needs. These include calcium, zinc, iron, etc.

Other Cannabis Flowering Tips

Depending on where you grow cannabis and what type of seed you chose, there are many other things to consider as part of the growing operation. Here are some additional tips:

If you are growing indoors, make sure to get the proper light for your plant. You have many options. The most popular include modern LEDs, high-intensity discharge lights, and compact fluorescent lights.
When growing indoors, try to achieve the perfect climate for your plants. Consider both temperature and humidity. Incorrect watering i.e. under-watering and overwatering is a common mistake and leads to many problems.
If you use a growing tent, add a simple fan to blow a steady stream of air. This strengthens the stems, prevents the growth of mold and bud rot, and deters mites, fungus, and other pests.
Harvest the buds at the right time. Wait until they mature to their full potency, size, and flavor. Don’t wait for too long – all of these features start to degrade. In most cases, the harvest time is when most of the leaves turn yellow and the pistils turn brown or dark orange.

Growing cannabis can be a lot of fun. It all comes with practice. If you haven’t don’t this before, you’ll probably make some mistakes. Hopefully, this guide will help you avoid some of the most common ones.

Written by Tia M., Editor and Contributor at AskGrowers