Growing cannabis is easy if you know what you are doing. As the industry expands, we expect more growth and more people choosing to grow cannabis. The growth comes in several stages. If you are a beginner, it is very crucial to learn about these stages beforehand. You need to know about every demand in every stage, including the amount of light, water, and nutrients required. You also need to know the different types of seeds and the best places you can get them. United Strains of America is one of the leading seed banks in America, providing the best seeds for a bountiful harvest. Growing cannabis takes about 4-8 months, and this variation is based on where you are growing your plants. You need to know that the quality of your plants will depend on your knowledge about cannabis and its growth stages. If you are reading this article, you might want to learn about these stages. Here are the stages discussed in detail.
- Germinating Stage
Before you germinate your seeds, you must ensure you have chosen what you want. There are different types of cannabis seeds, including auto-flowering seeds, feminized seeds, and regular seeds. So, you must choose quality seeds before you start the first stage. Before germination, you must ensure that the seeds have grown to maturity. Otherwise, your seeds will not germinate. How do you know mature seeds? Mature seeds are shiny and a bit dark brown. The shell is also hard and dry when you touch it. If the seeds are green, white, and soft, they are still underdeveloped.
Germinating the seeds requires you to put them in a wet and dark area. There are many places you can put the seeds for germination. Just choose what suits you best. Later, when the seeds are exposed to light, they will start shooting after 1 to 7 days. You can see the radicle or small root pushing the seed outside the soil. You can later see two small leaves sprouting from the stem, and once these leaves gather energy, the plant becomes stable and starts to grow. The seed is ready for the seedling stage.
- Seedling Stage
In this stage, the plants are weak and delicate. You need to make sure they are getting at least 18 hours of light for better growth. They also need humidity and soaked soil. Avoid over watering the plants since this could destroy the roots. With time, the plants develop true leaves. For cannabis leaves, you will get around 3 to 10 fingers. However, the leaves straight from sprouting have only one finger. The fingers continue to increase as the leaf matures. For you to consider the seedling as a plant, you must check that it has more than 5 fingers. This is the least number of fingers for a mature leaf. The seedlings should be short, and the stem must be thick. If the plants are still weak, there are various things they might be lacking. You must make sure that the surroundings are clean and there is enough moisture. Too much moisture can result in mold and diseases. So, keep it low and constant. The average time for this stage is about 2 to 3 weeks.
- Vegetable Stage
At about 2 to 8 weeks, the plant will be at the vegetative stage. Mostly, plants in this stage have about 7 fingers. You will need to remove the plants from their seedling area and relocate them to a larger space. The plants grow very fast at this stage, and that means you must have enough room. The stem becomes taller and thicker, the leaves increase, and there are more branches and nodes. The root system becomes stronger too. This is when you should start training your plants. Check the distance between the nodes to know the type of cannabis plant you are cultivating.
Increase the water supply to facilitate growth. When watering, keep a distance or use sprinklers to ensure the water gets to the spreading tips of the roots. Make sure the soil is well-drained to ensure the plants do not drown after watering. Remember, the growth of your plants will depend on the amount of light the leaves are getting. If you have indoors growth, ensure the plants are getting exactly 18 hours of uninterrupted light and 6 hours of uninterrupted darkness. You can keep the plants in the vegetation stage by controlling the light when using clones.
- Flowering Stage
This stage happens when the plant receives less than 10 hours of light in a day. If you want the plants to go to the flowering stage, you should give them at least 10 to 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness. In this stage, give the plants medium warmth, humidity, and enough nutrients. You can notice small hairy buds that change color with time. If the color starts turning from white to reddish, then the plant is beginning the harvest stage. Once the heads turn to amber, it is a high ratio of CBD to THC. Don’t let the trichomes fall off. It will be an indication that your plants grew for too long, and you will have to start all over. So, your plants are ready for harvest when the trichomes turn from white to brown.
- Harvesting Stage
Once your plants are ready, it is now time to harvest. You will require to cut them down in small branches for easier drying. Make sure the branches are hung upside down in a dark and cool room. For commercial cannabis, you will need to hand the plants for about 1 to 2 weeks in a room with 40% humidity. Drying the plants is important since it prevents the growth of bacteria and fungus. The dry plants can also be preserved for a long time.
Conclusion
If you want to get high-quality cannabis and a great harvest, start by choosing the right seeds. Get quality seed and start on the first stage of germination. Now that you know the stages of growing cannabis, you can start on your own. Just know the number of nutrients, water, humidity, and soil to give your plants.
