By Lisa D
Cannabis is one of the most resilient plants. It can thrive in many climatic regions around the world and is commonly known as weed. Nonetheless, it’s not very easy to grow. That’s mostly because the strains that are cultivated today are different from the wild cannabis we’ve known from time immemorial.
If you’re planning to venture into cannabis cultivation, there are certain rookie mistakes that you must avoid. Five of those mistakes is the focus of this article.
1. Overfeeding Your Cannabis Plants
There’s a general misconception among many rookie cannabis growers that supplying their plants with more nutrients than the recommended portions translates to higher yields. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Like any other organism, overfeeding your cannabis plants will likely produce the contrary results. More food doesn’t always equate to faster growth. In the worst-case scenario, overfeeding young cannabis plants might lead to stunted growth or even kill the entire plant or crop.
So, if you want buds to develop fast and healthy, stick to the recommended amounts of nutrients. Generally, plant nutrients come in two forms – organic and non-organic nutrients.
As the name suggests, organic nutrients are derived from organic matter, which mainly includes manure and compost. On the other hand, non-organic nutrients are industrially-prepared nutrients formulated with essential minerals that plants require to grow.
If you’re a rookie cultivator, your best bet is to choose organic nutrients as they release slowly into the soil and present lower risks of overfeeding. Non-organic nutrients are preferable where you’re looking for an immediate boost and already have some experience in determining the measurements.
Since non-organic nutrients are available for immediate uptake by your cannabis plants, you should ensure the measurements are right. A few grams over the recommended portion is all it takes to kill your plants.
Whichever form of nutrient you choose, the convention is to start low and work your way up slowly. Above all, follow the instructions and carefully monitor the plants for any signs of overfeeding.
2. Overwatering Your Plants
Overfeeding cannabis plants is bad enough. But overwatering your plants will almost certainly lead to an early death. The general rule is to give your plants just enough water to allow them to thrive. Overwatering the plants leads to root rot. When that happens, the roots are unable to absorb water and mineral salts to nourish the upper parts of the plant. Death comes slowly.
Similarly, under-watering your plants deny them adequate amounts of water to carry out certain physiological functions, such as photosynthesis and respiration. It will only be a matter of time before the plants start to wither.
Then comes the question, how much water is considered enough?
The rule of thumb is to ensure the top inch of the soil remains dry. If you’re unable to determine when your plants need watering, watch out for the first signs of wilting. Then, you know they’re ready for watering.
3. Poor pH Levels
Poor pH levels are another common rookie mistake. The power of hydrogen or pH refers to a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a substance. It’s measured using the pH scale, which ranges from 0 to 14. Values closest to zero are considered strong acids while values closest to 14 are strong alkalis. On the other hand, weaker acids have a pH value closer to but less than seven, whereas weak alkalis have a pH range closer to but more than 7. 7 is considered neutral.
When growing cannabis, the right pH for both the soil and water must be determined. Generally, cannabis thrives within a pH range of 5.5 to 6.5. At this range, you’re guaranteed high-quality cannabis buds that you can use to prepare powerful shatter.
A pH value less than 5.5 or more than 6.5 affects the plant’s ability to absorb nutrients from the soil, affecting your overall yields.
4. Improper Pruning
Pruning is an essential process where you remove dead or dying leaves, as well as branches and stubs from your cannabis plants. Pruning serves various crucial functions.
First, it prevents the redundant leaves from harboring pests, which might adversely affect your yields. Pruning also ensures that your plants follow a natural growth shape and remain healthy for as long as they experience vegetative growth.
When you prune the upper leaves of your cannabis plants, you encourage sunlight to penetrate through to the lower leaves, which positively impacts photosynthesis. Pruning also promotes aeration, ensuring that all the plants in your garden receive an adequate supply of air and oxygen.
When pruning your cannabis plants, focus on fan leaves. These are large leaves that don’t have any bud site at their nodes. Fan leaves play a crucial role in promoting photosynthesis. Therefore, the best time to remove them is as soon as the plants start to shadow the lower leaves.
5. Growing Cannabis Under The Wrong Climatic Conditions
When it comes to climate, two factors to consider are temperature and humidity. The ideal temperature and humidity for cannabis plants depend on whether you’re growing the plants inside, outside, or in a greenhouse.
Extreme temperatures (too hot or too cold) affect your plants negatively. Cold temperature conditions lead to the frosting. When that happens, the cells of your plants get frozen, preventing nutrients from moving efficiently through the plant. The ultimate effect is stunted growth.
Similarly, hot temperature causes wilting and weakness. If the hot conditions persist, heat stress may set in, leading to the eventual death of your plants.
The ideal temperature for growing cannabis plants is 75°F. It’s also very important to maintain humidity within the lower levels of the spectrum. Too high humidity harbors mold growth. To regulate the levels of humidity, especially for indoor plants, consider opening the walls of your greenhouse to allow humid air out while drawing dry air in. If you can, invest in intake and outtake fans, or dehumidifiers.
Like any plant, cannabis thrives when it’s cultivated under ideal conditions. Avoiding these rookie mistakes means you’ll enjoy the results of a good growing season and anticipate a bumper crop come harvest.
