How to Grow Marijuana
- High School -

Growing cannabis can seem intimidating, but with some preparation and the right information at hand, it's easier than you think.

Understanding the basics of the growing process will help you produce high-quality buds, but where do you start learning about how to grow Marijuana? Right here at our Marijuana High School. The admission is free of charge, and instead of a diploma with a top grade, you'll leave with top-grade buds. So let's start with the basics!

Before learning how to grow cannabis, you need to learn how to select the right Marijuana to grow. Some strains are known for being easy to grow, making them the perfect choice for a first-time grower. So how do you make sure you choose the right strain? By buying from a reliable seed bank. 

Good seed banks will provide plenty of information about their strains, including which ones are best-suited for beginners. Great seed banks will also help you choose the right type of cannabis seeds (for example, regular vs feminized seeds).

You’ve picked your seeds, now it’s time to think about where you want to grow them. You have two options: growing weed indoors or outdoors. Growing indoors allows you to control the temperature, humidity, and lighting conditions for optimal growth of potent strains. This option is particularly beneficial if you live in an area with unsuitable weather conditions. This also applies to growing in greenhouses.

If you’re lucky to live in a place with plenty of sun and predictable weather, you might be able to grow outdoors and to get all the light you need for high yields from the sun. But even in the best of places, you will still need to monitor your plants closely and protect them from any damage mother nature might cause. 

After you select the right location, you'll need to ensure it is all set up just right for your plants. The setup will vary depending on whether you're growing indoors or outdoors. 

Indoor growers will need to install grow lights, ventilation systems, and temperature and humidity control systems, and a carbon filter (if discretion is important) in order to create the optimal environment for their plants. They will also need to choose the right soil and nutrients. 

Both indoor and outdoor growers will need to select the best soil for their plants and protect them from any elements and intruders (especially pests). By taking the time to set up the right space, you'll give your plants the best chance of thriving.

When your new and carefully selected seeds finally arrive you'll need to germinate them before they can grow into bud-producing plants.

Germinating cannabis seeds with wet towels is popular for first-time growers who like to keep it simple. While it might have a slightly lower success rate than other methods, its simplicity makes up for it. To start:

1. Dampen a paper towel or cloth and place it on a plate or tray.
2. Place the cannabis seeds on the towel, spacing them out evenly.
3. Cover the seeds with another damp towel and cover with another plate.
4. Place the plate in a warm, dark area.

Keeping the towels moist but not soaking wet is essential, as excess water can cause the seeds to drown or rot. After a few days, the seeds should begin to sprout, and once the roots have grown to a bit over 1 cm (0.5 inches), you can carefully move them into the soil (or another growing medium of your choice). Use a small spoon to create a hole in the growing medium, then gently place the seedling in the hole and cover the roots with soil.

Alternatively, growers can use the zip lock bag method, which involves placing the damp towel with the seeds inside a sealed zip lock bag and following the same steps to keep the seeds in a warm, dark place and monitor their progress until they are ready.

Would you rather not start right away? No problem. Properly stored seeds can last up to 5 years!

After a cannabis seedling has sprouted, it's time to transplant it into a larger pot or container. You must choose the right soil mix (formulated explicitly for Marijuana plants) to help it grow better. During the vegetative stage, the cannabis plant needs plenty of space and nutrients, so make sure to use a container that's large enough to accommodate its growth. It's essential to take good care of the plants at this stage to ensure they grows strong and healthy.

Growing high-yielding cannabis plants requires using the right nutrients. Different strains might have slightly different requirements, but they all need nutrient-rich soil. Although commercial fertilizers can be a convenient option, some growers enjoy the process of creating their own nutrient solution. We would nevertheless suggest you go through a few successful grows before you get into the chemistry behind your soil.

In addition to nutrients, it's important to water your cannabis plants - and to water them with just the right amount. Over-watering or under-watering can damage the plants, so do not undermine this task.

You should also remember that the watering needs of your cannabis plants will also vary depending on the growth stage. For example, your plants will need more water during the vegetative stage than during the flowering stage. 

Controlling lighting and temperature is crucial to making sure your plants reach the flowering stage and eventually produce high-quality buds. By adjusting the grow lights as your plants mature, you ensure they get the right amount of light throughout the entire growing period. The temperature of your grow space should also be carefully monitored, as making the environment too high or too low can affect the growth and potency of your plants. 

This requires a few different tricks depending on whether you grow indoors or outdoors.

Time for the exciting stuff - harvesting! This process can be time-consuming as you want to ensure you cut down the buds properly and hang them to dry carefully. Once the buds have dried, you'll need to cure them by storing them in airtight containers, and keeping the containers in a cool, dark place for a few weeks. This process helps to further develop the potency and flavor of your final product, so taking the time to dry and cure your cannabis buds properly is worth it.

While this guide has covered the basics of growing cannabis, there are many advanced techniques that intermediate and experienced growers may want to explore. For example, the difference between F1 and F2 seeds, or training techniques such as topping, fimming, ScrOG (Screen of Green), SOG (Sea of Green), low-stress training (LST), and defoliation can all help to increase yields and produce healthier plants. However, these techniques require more knowledge and experience to master, so it's essential to do your research before attempting them.