Cannabis is one of the most popular plants in the world, both for its medical benefits and because of how many people use it recreationally. However, the farmers and gardeners adding this plant to their collection are mostly growing it for the first time. If you fall under this group, you should know that this plant is picky and needs to be cared for properly, so keep reading to find out everything that you’ll need to do through this process.
Overwatering
Overwatering is a major problem when it comes to growing a plant since it requires a lot of water to be able to grow, but it can be difficult to determine how much is required. If you consistently water your soil too much, it’ll become waterlogged, which is a term referring to soil that’s too wet and choked off from nutrition for plants to be able to grow properly. While waterlogging is a problem for most plants, cannabis seeds are especially susceptible to this problem, wilting off and dying at even minor overwatering issues. Since every seed may have a different need for water, you should try a test run with one seed before you try germinating the rest.
Not maintaining the internal environment
Creating an optimal environment is essential for healthy plant growth since the resources the plant finds in the ground and the air are how it’s able to grow and sustain itself. The biggest issues surrounding their growth depend on the soil’s pH and the level of humidity in the air, both of which are difficult to manage. Seeds need a pH of 6-6.5 to grow effectively, and if the soil is too acidic or too basic, the germination stage will most likely fail, and you’ll end up with a dud. Maintain a temperature range of 75 to 85 degrees and a humidity level between 30 and 70%.
Inadequate ventilation
Ventilation is integral when you’re growing any plant, but it’s even more vital if you’re dealing with cannabis, a plant that may be thousands of miles from its natural habitat. Inadequate ventilation leads to countless issues, such as bacteria, mold, and mildew growing inside, or even pests like small insects infiltrating the soil to help themselves to your plants. If you want to counter this, increase the level of ventilation in your growing area, especially if you’re growing your plants indoors or in a container. You can install a vacuum fan in your room, which can be turned off whenever you need to increase the humidity inside.
Poor nutrient management
While plants are seen as lower maintenance than caring for animals or pets, they can have their own set of unique nutritional needs, too, and ignoring this can lead to a bad product or a stunted plant. As your seeds grow and develop, they’ll be in different phases of growth, and in these phases, they’ll need different levels of nutrition and fertilizer. If you use too much of either of these things, the plant won’t be able to grow properly, while not fertilizing enough will mean your plant will die before it’s done growing.
Not picking the right soil
Soil isn’t the most vital consideration that people make when they’re gardening, but cannabis has special needs, so its soil and growth medium have to be special, too. The best soil for growing cannabis needs to have everything from natural antioxidants to fertilized parts that help to grow the plant and prevent excess acidity. A combination that many people use is coco coir and peat since it has enough ammonia to provide nitrogen to the seedling and because it can balance out and buffer excess acidity or alkalinity.
Conclusion
Cannabis is perhaps the most popular plant to grow in the world right now, as more and more states across the US decriminalize it and ensure that hobbyists can start their collection wherever they want, even if it’s in their backyard. However, as with any plant, cannabis has its demands and preferences, and you may fall into a few common mistakes if you’re not careful. Luckily, if you use the information in this article, you’ll be able to grow cannabis in your backyard easily.
