The Process of Growing Cannabis

 

The cannabis plant grows like any other plant. It has to go through several growth phases before producing flourish buds. Watching a cannabis plant grow from seedling to flowering stage brings a high feeling of accomplishment. This article will guide you through the growing process, to better understand cannabis growth.

Cannabis growth Cycle
The cannabis plant goes through four important stages before it becomes mature. At each stage of the growing process, the plant has to receive sufficient lighting and nutrients. The cannabis plant is an annual plant, which means it undergoes a lifecycle from germination to seedling, in a single growing season and then dies.

Germination
The ability for seeds to germinate will depend on several parameters including quality, nature of the seeds, and color. High-quality cannabis seeds are dry, hard, and brownish.

To easily germinate cannabis seeds, it's preferable to use a paper towel. The germination process usually happens within 24 hours, but depending on the type of seeds, it can take up to 7 days. Also, sativas germinate faster than indica strains. During the germination process, the seed removes its husk and develops its first two leaves.

Seedling
This stage requires a lot of attention to the plants. The grower has to develop a good watering routine as well as use good fertilizers on the plants.

Also, the plants will need to be exposed to sufficient lighting. The best lighting for your plants is LED grow lights which are full-spectrum and very affordable. The plants need a good supply of light and water to develop stronger roots and brighter leaves.

Plants in the seedling stage usually have only one leaflet and you realize that the seedling stage is over when plants start developing 5-7 leaflets. This usually takes about 2 to 4 weeks.

Vegetation
This is the stage where the cannabis plant proliferates. Well-catered plants can grow up to 5 inches in just 24 hours. The plants also need a good supply of Nitrogen to help provide chlorophyll and protein.

The vegetation stage will require more water and light than the seedling stage. Gowers will also need to invest in pesticides.

The vegetation stage usually lasts about 2-3 weeks considering that you provide your plants with sufficient nutrients.

Flowering
This stage requires a lot of patience since it's usually longer than the other stages. It takes about 4 to 12 weeks. The flowering stage has two stages called the pre-flowering stage and the flowering stage. The pre-flowering stage happens during shorter days when the plants receive less light.

At this stage, you can easily recognize the sex of your plants. Female plants are characterized by beautiful flowers and buds while male plants are characterized by pollen. It's recommended to know the sex of your plants to isolate the females from the males.

The pre-flowering stage needs a good watering schedule as well as a good supply of potassium and phosphorus-based nutrients for faster growth. The end of the flowering stage is characterized by matured buds that have milky pistils and a pungent smell.

Bottom line
It’s simple to learn how to grow cannabis. You just have to follow the steps above and have a good understanding of the cannabis plant.