Growing cannabis can be an incredibly fulfilling hobby, not just because it gives growers access to all the pot they could want but also because it gives them a stronger connection with their plants. What could be better than smoking a heavy-hitting bowl and taking satisfaction in the knowledge that it was grown right at home?
The best part about growing pot is that it really isn’t rocket science. While expert growers spend years cultivating both plants and skills, even a complete newcomer can still take down a good crop at the end of the season by following the advice below.
Novice Growers Should Start by Cultivating Knowledge
Every plant needs three things to grow: light, water, and nutrients. If growers don’t provide their cannabis plants with these basic requirements, they’ll never realize their plant yield expectations. The good news is, there’s plenty of helpful information out there to fill in growers’ knowledge gaps about basic plant care, whether they choose to plant outdoors or start indoor grows.
Before buying supplies and seeds, it’s worth taking some time to get familiar with the basics. Print out or write down a feeding chart, set up a watering schedule, or install an irrigation system set to a timer, and make sure the plants will have access to all the light they need for each growth stage. Developing a solid knowledge base will help to keep novice growers on track and ensure that they don’t miss anything important.
There’s No Need to Spend a Small Fortune on Equipment
It may be exciting to check out all the newest technological advancements in indoor grow equipment, but there’s no need to invest thousands of dollars upfront for first-time grows. It’s perfectly possible to take down a decent crop even on a strict budget. The first season will be more or less a trial run, anyway, so avoid the temptation to go into debt getting everything just right.
Try starting with either an outdoor garden or a small indoor grow tent that features just a few plants, and focus on investing money where it really counts. Invest in high-quality seeds and nutrient mixes, and buy the basics like a decent grow light and ventilation system when starting an indoor grow, but don’t sweat the rest of it. Growers can always upgrade their equipment as they come up with the extra cash.
Every Strain Has a Different Personality
One of the most common mistakes that novice growers make is trying to grow marijuana strains that aren’t right for their climate or site conditions. Every strain has a unique set of soil, water, and climate requirements, so choose carefully. It’s better for growers to harvest a decent yield of their second-favourite strains than it is to invest a ton of time, effort, and money into trying to grow plants that won’t perform well in the space they have.
The Best Way to Learn Is to Try
Although it’s important to develop foundational knowledge regarding marijuana cultivation before planting those first seeds, the only way for aspiring growers to develop all those skills they’ve been reading about is to get their hands dirty. After getting a grasp of the basics, buy a few seeds and get growing. Even if everything doesn’t go perfectly smoothly the first season, it will be a good learning experience and most growers will still be able to harvest a decent crop.