Stop Making These 8 Marijuana Grow Mistakes

Stop Making These 8 Marijuana Grow Mistakes

The Most Common Marijuana Growing Mistakes to Avoid from CannabisNet on Vimeo.

Growing your own cannabis, whether for recreational or medicinal purposes, is a truly fulfilling activity. It will also save you a lot of money in the long run.

However, it isn’t always easy. There will be a learning curve and you might stumble along the way, but it’s all part of the learning process. It’s completely normal for beginner growers to make a few mistakes along the way, but don’t let that discourage you.

The good news is that you can learn from the mistakes of others. To save you time and energy, we’ve compiled a list of common mistakes people make when they start growing so that you can avoid them.

Talking about it too much. Growing cannabis should be considered a private matter, otherwise this can lead to drama and possible trouble. Bragging about it is even worse. Only tell your close friends if you really have to, just to reduce the risk of any unnecessary trouble down the road.

Manhandling germinating seeds. It’s easy to get impatient about your cannabis grow. Stay patient and don’t touch your germinating seeds! Stay away from the towel method and other supposed methods that are intended to speed up growth because they require you to touch the seeds. Let them germinate naturally; otherwise it will only hinder the germination process.

Using poor quality cannabis seeds. Many first-time cannabis growers aren’t willing to invest serious money in buying the best products for their plants. Many also end up planting the seeds that they found in their stash. Poor seeds will give you poor results. From the start, it’s always recommended to purchase good quality seeds from a reputable source otherwise you’ll just end up wasting time and money. Knowing that you start with a good seed will give you the confidence to plant strong and healthy cannabis plants.

Ignoring PH levels. Growing cannabis isn’t like other plants: there are many factors to be considered for a successful grow. It definitely isn’t like certain vegetables or herbs that will sprout a few days after tossing some seeds into soil. One of the most important aspects of cannabis growing is the PH level, which many new growers tend to underestimate. A good balance between acid and alkaline is critical in creating a healthy grow environment for your plant. Once the PH levels are correct, cannabis plants can effectively absorb the nutrients that they need. Cannabis plants require a PH level between 6.0-7.0, while hydroponically grown plants require a PH level of 5.5-6.5.

Overfeeding or overwatering. The first sign of overwatered plants are drooping, so make sure that you look out for this. Yes, you definitely want your plants to get what they need, but too much is also a bad thing. Plus it’s way too easy to go overboard with watering. When purchasing nutrient products, keep in mind that many of them are NOT manufactured with cannabis plants in mind and following the packet instructions may cause you to overfeed them. If it’s your first time, start with less – as a general rule of thumb, start with around ¼ of what the nutrient packet says.

Rootbound plants. Keep in mind that your cannabis roots will grow at a much faster rate than the actual plant you see above ground while it’s young. Using a container that is too small will cause the roots to wrap around the container bottom, which is when it becomes rootbound and you don’t want this. Rootbound plants will die quickly. To prevent this, once your plant reaches two feet, it will require a container that’s twice as deep and wide to give it a chance to grow. A spacious container will also drain excess moisture.

Overpruning. Pruning and training plants are a common cultivation technique used by gardeners to help maximize their yield, cannabis or otherwise. It’s just as important for cannabis plants, but a common mistake among inexperienced growers is to prune too much off. Start small to evaluate how much your plant can and can’t handle; besides, a small harvest is better than none at all.

Harvesting too early. Patience is everything when it comes to growing cannabis plants. See it through to the end. However, nothing tests your patience more than waiting around for the perfect time to harvest. Harvesting too early will decrease its weight and reduce the quality of your overall plants.

What mistakes have you made and learned from?

Avoid These Common Marijuana Growing Mistakes