Common cannabis growing mistakes are repetitive patterns in which beginners tend to fall out of lack of experience. Knowing them will increase your chances of having a more productive experience and prevent you from feeling deception. Growing cannabis is possible and rewarding but it also has lots to learn.
These are the topics in which everyone usually makes their first mistakes growing cannabis.
Growing Environment
Choose your growing environment carefully. Remember that cannabis plants cycle last from 3 to 6 months on an average. So the climate conditions in which they grow will influence most of its growth and problems.
Not enough light or too much of it: Light is essential for photosynthesis, the biological process in which plants produce their food. So the amount of light and its spectrum will define everything. Natural sunlight is the best kind of light and when growing outdoors you’ll only need to find a spot with only some hours of light shade, especially on these hot months of summer. We begin outdoor growing at spring, and temperatures get really high during some months. Heat will stress plants and evaporate too much of the healthy moisture if not protected.
When growing indoors, you’ll need to match the amount of watts needed for the numbers of plants. This factor changes between types of lighting sources. And you’ll make most of its potency; the closer the light gets to your green material. Plants won’t grow properly if there’s not enough light. But be careful of maintaining enough distance from the canopy, because light burn stress is also very common.
Not enough air circulation: Airflow is very important, because it regulates temperature and humidity. These factors will maintain the conditions for plants health. Ideally they need to be close to 25ºC. and a range from 40%-60% humidity. These it very important for pest control too. Pests usually appear when conditions are hotter and humid. It will also bring fresh air with new available CO2 for plants breathing and photosynthesis process. And last, it will bring a resistance force for branches and stems to grow stronger and thicker.
Watering
Make your watering efficient. Medium quality will translate for most of the absorption process and water regulation. Components that are to compact won’t distribute it well. So light and oxygenated mediums will let roots grow better and water get to them.
Check drainage: pots that are not made for cannabis usually need lots of additional holes for water to drain properly. Too much water accumulation, will lead to anaerobic conditions that are not healthy.
Too much water or not enough when it’s needed: Then it’s all about watering when is needed. If you let plants go constantly dry for long periods, it will stress and impact plant’s growth and immune system. You’ll notice cannabis starting to ‘go dry’. Leaves will start to drop and soil will not feel moisture. But if you’re not on a hot weather and plants and soil don’t show any signals of dehydrating, it’s best not to water them. And water them when sun going is down and temperatures are fresh.
Fertilizing
Roots systems have equilibrium and when it collapses, it has a big impact on plant development. It’s also called nutrient burn. It’s a result of overfeeding with high doses of nutrient solutions or fertilizers. It quickly debilitates roots and could even lead up to infections, because of a weaker immunity.
You will notice over-fertilization signs on leaves. Their tips will start to show as if they’re burnt. Turning brown and slightly bent.
Normally people think that with more fertilizers, plants will grow bigger, but that’s not entirely true. And it is common that beginners overdose their plants with the wrong kind of fertilizers, which will end up with reversed results. If you’re starting as a grower, compensate with additional nutrients only if you see specific deficiencies. And you can try very diluted foliage spray fertilization, for a faster and safer assimilation.
Harvesting
Too early or too late harvesting: When cannabis yield is not fully developed, cannabinoids have not reach they mature state on its resin. And when harvest is delayed, some important cannabinoids like THC degrade and have no more potency left. Pistils are not the best indicators for harvesting time. They’re too sensible to weather conditions and a closer look into trichomes is needed.
Find a good magnifying glass: Check out those little resin components on grown cannabis flowers. When they’re transparent or white, they’re still developing. When most of them change color and turn amber, cannabinoids are properly matured and plants can be harvest.
Learning it’s easier and cheaper, and advance will be faster. Go step by step and prepare yourself to every stage. Start on a proper scale, the more you handle conditions, the better results!