April is often considered the ‘Christmas’ of the cannabis world, with an entire holiday dedicated to ‘blazin’ it.’ Many consumers are seeking to move away from conventionally grown flower and are seeking a clean, high-quality product that’s better for them and for the planet. In the true spirit of DIY, gardeners and houseplant aficionados have taken it upon themselves to grow a better crop from scratch. They picked up their grow bags, grabbed a bag of soil, planted their seeds, plugged in the grow lights, and… discovered that cannabis can be a very, VERY, tricky plant to cultivate.
From yellowing leaves to drooping to plants that give up the ghost right when it seems you’ve finally gotten it all figured out. Sometimes you think your plants are happy all the way to harvest but aren’t as productive as you wanted them to be. Cannabis is a plant that’s all about drama, and it has pretty big reactions to changes in its environment. Even experienced growers can struggle with their plants. If you’re new to growing and have had some first-harvest heartbreak, don’t give up!
We’re here to provide you with four easy ways that you can support your plants and avoid some common grower goofs.
Give Them Room to Grow
Cannabis abides by the goldfish rule: It will only grow as big as the container you put it in.
If you know anything about goldfish, you know that this isn’t remotely true.
While your plants can grow bigger if given the time and space to flourish, a smaller container only limits size because it denies them the resources they need to fully exhibit their genetic potential. Growing plants in too small of a container can stunt their development by limiting access to nutrients and water, and creates unhealthy root binding that is difficult, if not impossible, to reverse.
Growers working in smaller 3-gallon pots will often find that they have to continually nurse their plants with liquid nutrients, because the soil has been sapped of available inputs. Increasing your container size will decrease your reliance on added fertility and allow you to get more out of your soil and your plants. We generally recommend a 7-gallon minimum for cannabis pot sizes, especially when growing in a water-only supersoil like IndiCanja.
Hydrate (Don’t Die-drate)
Water is the most critical input your plants will consume; it’s also one of the easiest ways to kill your plants. What’s a grower to do? Balancing your water application with what your plants actually need can be tricky, especially when the symptoms for overwatering and underwatering look very similar.
The amount of water your plants need will change throughout their growth cycle and will be heavily influenced by your specific grow setup. As a general rule, you want to water deeply and infrequently, approximately every 3-4 days. It is better for plants to be slightly underwatered than overwatered to prevent root rot, but dehydration is a quick cannabis killer, so always monitor your plants on non-watering days. When looking for signs that your plants need water, stick a finger in the soil. When the top few inches of soil are dry, it’s probably time to hydrate.
Check out our blog post, Solving Water Worries, for more information on how best to get your plants the hydration they need.
It All Comes Down to Genetics
Not all plants are made (or grown) equal. Every cannabis plant has unique care requirements, and the type of plant you’re growing will determine how easy or difficult it is to cultivate. The debate between autoflowers and photoperiods is a perfect example.
Autos are finicky in the early stages of their life cycle, but the automatic flip into flower makes it easy to go from seedling-harvest without a specialized lighting program. Many autoflowering plants come in varietals that naturally grow to a smaller size, perfect for small grow setups. That said, you have less customizability in your grow cycle, and you can’t boost your harvest by extending your veg phase.
Photos are much more malleable and are only limited in size by how large their genetics will let them grow. Photos are also much easier to grow as mother plants and can be used to create clones. However, growers face a constant battle of light pollution, as they don’t need much light to go from veg to flower. You can also eat more energy costs depending on how long your grow cycle is.
Beyond the type of cannabis, the individual strain you’re cultivating can change the requirements of your overall plant. You can use this to your favor by cultivating plants that match your specific needs and preferences. Contact a seed manufacturer for questions on what plant genetics will work the best for you!
Take it Easy!
Sometimes, the best way to avoid plant drama is to find a setup that limits the amount of work you need to do. Automatic timers, drip waterers, and smart thermostats can make it easier to cultivate the perfect environment for your plant’s needs. We have the technology; make it work for you!
One underlooked way to make it easier to grow healthy plants is to grow in a supersoil that contains all the nutrients your plants need to go from seedling to harvest. Cannabis is a heavy feeding plant and relies on a regular supply of macronutrients, secondary nutrients, and trace nutrients for full and balanced development. Purple Cow IndiCanja is a living supersoil that takes the guesswork out of your nutrient program, making it easier to support vibrant cannabis. You can pair this with a liquid biological like our BIOACTIVE® Liquid Biology Bundle to get more out of the soil you’re growing in.
Cannabis doesn’t have to be a hassle, and it can be fun and easy to grow healthy plants when you know how to get started! For more information on drama-free cannabis cultivation, contact our experts.