Best Cannabis Grow Tips
…In No Particular Order, Stuff You SHOULD Know When You Grow!
What are the BEST cannabis grow tips we can share, given that we work and speak with some of the best cannabis breeders in the world here at OldSchoolBA? Allright. You asked for it, you got it…in no particular order of significance here’s a first installment on listing some of the very best grow tips you should know. Remember, great yields and quality start with great genetics–however, there’s a lot of little things you can do–sometimes even for free–that can add up to healthier plants with bigger buds and more resin at harvest.
cannabis grow tip #47, don’t rush things
Seems obvious right? However, a lot of growers tend to get enthusiastic about growing their cannabis strains and may find themselves in a hurry to take their plants to the next step. STOP right there. The plant is the boss! Is that young seedling REALLY ready to get moved under brighter lights? Has the plant spent enough time in veg to get to the right size at the end of flowering? Are those buds fully ripe or are you picking them a little early? Before you implement your crop management decisions, ask yourself–are the plants ready for it, or is that just what I want?
cannabis grow tip #383, start more than you need
Ok, there might be some limitations to this one when it comes to plant counts or space available. However, do as nature does: produce in abundance and then eliminate the plants with less potential in each stage until flowering begins (germination, pre veg, veg, pre flower (sexing). Imagine your yields and crop quality if every plant in the garden grew as your favorite one does? Don’t waste time cultivating runts–start with more than you need and kull (remove lesser plants) at each step as you go along. If you want 10 absolute winners, you’ll need to start with more than 10 seeds (sexing plants aside as with regular seeds). Nature didn’t intend every plant to be the best one–while breeders work very hard to make sure you have great uniformity nature will always favor some specimens over others in the garden. Make more than you need–it’s easy when plants are small, and choose only the best performers for the next phase.
cannabis grow tip #6, let roots breathe
Cannabis roots love air. Yes, of course they need water too–however, they can probably do better with more air and less water than you think! A lot of growers have a tendency to keep the growing medium moist or wet at all times. If you have some time to spare and can check on the garden frequently, see how long you can keep the growing medium on the drier side before plants start to look unhappy—you might be very surprised. While watering is a good thing, roots don’t like sitting in wet conditions for prolonged periods. Cannabis crops with roots that breathe better tend to have tighter buds and less stem–more flower per foot of growth. TIP: adding a drainage layer and lightening up soils with additional perlite helps roots breathe easier and lets excess moisture drain away from roots more freely. Additionally, fabric grow pots or bags further improve drainage and encourage better breathing for cannabis roots.
cannabis grow tip #126, don’t overwork your mothers
When you grow from regular seeds you may find a plant that you want to keep for cloning future crops. However, over time you may see a gradual decline in crop vigor and even a reduction in yields and qualities. If you clone clones from clone over and over it is likely results will diminish genetic drift or mutations DO occur. If you want to grow from clones it is recommended that you replace mother plants every four to six months with fresh selections grow from seed. Additionally, try to clone from the original seed plant, rather than from a clone of the seed plant. When taking cuttings, do not take more than 30% of the mother plant biomass away as cuttings–it creates stresses that compound the potential for genetic drift or mutations.
cannabis grow tip #72, less is more
It’s easier to apply more of something later on than it is to take it away or repair damage if you have over applied crop inputs. Fertilizer is a great example. People think adding more of something that plants need is going to make it grow bigger or faster–not the case, too much of a good thing hurts crops. Over fertilized plants grow weak tissue that is soft and susceptible to damage, insects and diseases. Following the label on your fertilizer usually means applying nutrients at maximum strength. Start at 1/4 strength and work your way up over time, based on plant response. Dark or distorted growth is often a sign of over fertilization.
