Marijuana is a complicated plant with many different factors to consider when growing it, especially regarding the environment within which they are grown.
The Four Phases of Marijuana Grow Cycles include the Germination Phase, Vegetative Phase, Flowering Phase, and Final Harvest. This article will explore each phase in detail, including what you can do during each phase to maximize your yield.
The Germination Phase
The Germination Phase is the first phase of the marijuana growth cycle. During this phase, you will sow the seeds (both the male and female seeds) to start new plants.
According to Tropicanna Dispensary, a good practice is to place them in a wet paper towel and soak them until all the water has been absorbed out of it. Then set them on a plate with a sterile glass cover and keep the plate inside a dark room until they sprout. Once they’ve sprouted, it’s time to put them into the soil.
You will need to make sure that the soil is moist but not wet during this phase. The best way to tell if the soil is too moist is by pressing the soil, which should produce some resistance similar to touching your cheek. This means that there are adequate air pockets for root growth. If you’re too dry, it will be more difficult for roots to penetrate into the ground because of a lack of moisture.
Seeds that have been sprouted in a glass of water need to be put into a new pot with holes for drainage and given at least 12 hours of light each day. Some people recommend keeping the room’s temperature between 70 degrees Fahrenheit and 80 degrees F, but other growers prefer warmer temperatures because this will keep the plant from growing too long without being exposed to sunlight or darkness. This means that flowering will occur much sooner than if they were given more darkness time.
The Vegetative Phase
The Vegetative Phase is the second phase of the marijuana growth cycle. During this phase, your plants will start to grow bigger and stronger as they attempt to produce flowers. After germination, it takes roughly 4-6 weeks for your plant to be ready for the vegetative phase. However, keep in mind that some strains can take longer than others.
To begin this phase, gradually increase the amount of light your plants are exposed to. If you’ve been using fluorescent lights, move them further away from the plant every few days until they are about a foot above them.
Then, during week five or six, switch to HID lighting (HPS Lights preferably). These lights should be placed slightly further away from the plant than fluorescent lights-about 2 feet in order to prevent overheating. Once you start this stage, keep your lights running 18 hours per day with six hours of darkness for optimal results.
The benefit of switching to HID lighting now is that it will allow for an increase in the number of buds compared to giving more time under fluorescents. The downside is that it will require more energy, but this is usually offset by the fact that your yield will be larger.
It’s important to keep in mind that you don’t want to give your plants too much light during the vegetative phase because it can cause problems with growing buds later on down the line.
The Flowering Phase
The flowering phase comes directly after the vegetative phase and is characterized by short internodes (the spaces between nodes), which means it has shorter branches than in the past when compared to its height. During this stage, you’ll need to reduce its exposure to light so that it isn’t exposed for longer than 12 hours per day.
Reducing its exposure will cause your plant to try and grow buds. During this flowering phase, you will need to determine if your plant is male or female by looking at the tiny white hairs coming out of the tops of your plants.
If they are, in fact, females, keep cutting back on their exposure to light because it’s incredibly important that its energy be directed towards growing buds instead of leaves during this stage. It takes about two to three weeks for them to start showing their sex-but it can take longer depending upon how old they were when you started.
One difference between males and females is that only females will actually produce buds during this phase. Males usually die off after they go through their sexual process, which means it’s incredibly important to make sure no males remain in order to get the best harvest possible.
Harvesting Your Marijuana
To determine when to harvest, look at the white hairs located on your plants again. If they are orange, it’s definitely time to start harvesting because this means it’s reached full maturity. To harvest, cut all of your branches at once (this includes the bigger ones as well) but keep in mind that you should leave about two inches on each one because this allows for easy handling later down the line when you need to dry and cure them before they’re actually ready for consumption.
After cutting, hang them upside down somewhere dark with plenty of airflows (like inside an empty closet or garage) to dry. This process should take about a week to two weeks before your plants are ready for consumption. You can also leave them outside in direct sunlight for a few days, which will dry them out so that mold isn’t a problem later on down the line.
Once the plants are dried, it’s time to start curing them. To do this, you’ll need to place your dried buds into mason jars then store them in a dark, cool cabinet. Allow for fresh air into these jars several times per day because this helps “burp” out the unwanted moisture, which reduces mold problems later on down the line. After about two weeks of this process with occasional burping, you can safely smoke or ingest your marijuana without worrying about any contaminants getting in the way.
Tips For Maximizing Your Yield
There are several different things that you can do in order to maximize your yield. For example, keeping your plants in the right environment means everything when it comes to getting high yields.
You should also make sure you’re giving your plants enough water for their roots to absorb, but not so much that their leaves are covered with droplets. Lighting is another important factor since it will determine how long your marijuana plant can actually grow.
The longer they’re exposed to light, the more potential there is for mold problems to arise if conditions aren’t just right. Finding a balance between these factors is essential because it will help ensure an optimal yield instead of dealing with issues later on down the like pest infestations or low.
It’s important that you make sure that there is plenty of airflow within the grow room since stagnant air will lead to mold problems which can wreak havoc with your plants.
You also want to make sure that the temperature doesn’t drop below 70 degrees Fahrenheit because this can cause cold stress and turn off photosynthesis for up to three days, even if they’re brought back above 70 degrees.
It’s important to remember, too, that most plants don’t like humidity levels higher than 50% because it can interfere with their stomata (which are tiny openings on the surface of plants), causing them not to be able to transfer carbon dioxide into oxygen during photosynthesis.
The level of humidity is also important for increasing yields and quality. For example, marijuana likes a humidity level of 45% because it increases the surface area of its leaves which allows more light to enter and be utilized for photosynthesis.
You’ll want to keep the humidity down during the vegetative phase, though, because it reduces transpiration (which is when plants transfer water from their roots through their body) and doesn’t give you enough time for all those buds to grow bigger and thicker before flowering begins.
It should also be noted that using an oscillating fan near your canopy helps increase air circulation, and this can lead to larger yields as well as better quality (by cutting off any dead leaves and other parts which might cause mold later on).
In order to maximize those yields then, make sure that your grow room is set in the right environment and that you’re giving your plants just the right amount of water, light, and nutrients.
A grower will follow four phases in order to successfully cultivate cannabis; germination, vegetative phase, flowering phase, and final harvest. These phases each have their own considerations for environmental factors such as humidity levels, airflow, and nutrient balance. A good yield is contingent on these variables being optimized during each phase leading up to a complete harvest.
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Disclaimer: This article does not constitute medical advice and is simply an explanation of what happens when marijuana grows at each stage of its life cycle, whether it be indoor or outdoor growth. Please consult with a physician regarding any questions you have.