States that allow growing marijuana (with restrictions): Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, Washington D. C. States that allow growing marijuana for medical purposes (with restrictions): Arizona, Hawaii, Illinois, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Rhode Island
Try to remove shade-creating obstacles from your garden.
Perlite is a mined volcanic glass that prevents the soil from getting too soggy.
Breathable containers allow more oxygen to get to the roots to promote growth and overall healthier plants. Pick a larger container if you want a larger plant and a higher yield. 10–20 gallon (38–76 L) pots are standard, but you can get 100 gallon (380 L) pots. Growing in containers also lets you have more control over the soil (if you want to use a proprietary soil blend).
Plant your cannabis in raised beds alongside vegetables for a stealthier approach. Keep in mind you’ll have to water your plants daily. If you’re planting far from your own property, try to plant near a water source.
The downside to clones is that you can inherit pests from the original plant. Clones lack a long taproot and instead have a secondary system of roots, which many believe make the plant less stable. Depending on your region, you might not find the strain you want available in cloned plants. Starting with clones shaves roughly 3-4 weeks off the growth timeline. [11] X Research source Sativa grows taller and is better suited to outdoor growing than indica. [12] X Research source
From seed to harvest, the growth cycle will take roughly 5 months. [15] X Research source Germinate your seeds on a moist paper towel in a plastic bag. Let the bag sit in a sunny spot for a few days. Once you see a root come out of the seed, poke a hole in the soil of a 2 inch (5. 1 cm) container. Put the seed in with the taproot facing down and lightly cover it with soil. [16] X Research source
Squeeze the container sides if you’re having a tough time getting the plant out.
Buy T-posts that are 6–10 feet (1. 8–3. 0 m) tall, depending on the eventual height of your plant. Use heavy-duty, vinyl-coated wire caging with 4–6 inch (10–15 cm) square holes for the caging. The caging walls should sit 1 foot (0. 30 m) above the ground or container.
Consider setting up drip irrigation on a timer to make your life easier. [20] X Research source
Standard fertilizer is often called NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium). The ideal NPK ratio for the vegetative period is 6-3-9. For the flowering period, change the NPK to 3-6-9. [22] X Research source When you buy commercial fertilizer from your local garden store, it’s regulated and shouldn’t affect the safety of your buds. Just wear gloves and rinse off after applying it to avoid burns from the concentrated nutrients. [23] X Research source Mixing your own nutrients might result in a nutrient imbalance or deficiency. However, if you’d like to try an organic fertilizer, you can try manure, compost, fish emulsion, or worm castings.
Stop pruning by mid-summer or you’ll interfere with bud production. Pruning increases airflow and light exposure. [26] X Research source Always remove any yellowing, dead, or dying leaves where disease could take hold.
Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around your plant to ward off hard-shelled pests like cicadas. [28] X Research source Plant rosemary, marigold, and basil around your weed, as these act as natural insect repellents.
Hang the buds by their stems to dry for a week. Cut the buds off the stems and save them in a glass jar. They’re now ready to use!
