Growing Cannabis: What Makes the Best Flower

Cannabis Growing Techniques: How to Improve Your Yield

Growing cannabis has quickly become a common activity at home for lots of people. Do you have experience growing cannabis? How about growing plants in your backyard? If yes, then you have all the expertise you need to grow your own cannabis. 
Though the process can seem unfamiliar, growing cannabis at home can still have some fantastic results. We’ll discuss the best cannabis growing techniques in this article.

​Here are some things to consider when growing the best flower from the comfort of your own home:

It's all about the location.
Do you plan on growing your cannabis indoors or outdoors? It’s crucial to identify where and how big your grow space is. Preparing your indoor growth location is vital as certain areas require specific conditions for cannabis to flourish, such as sunlight. Take into consideration how much sunlight and moisture your indoor garden is exposed to daily.
Finding the balance between natural and artificial light sources will help determine how many other nutrients your plants need.


Warm or not too warm? 
Your grow space’s temperature is imperative regardless if it’s indoor or not. For your plant to properly develop and flower, your area should meet optimum temperatures. Cannabis growing temperatures should be anywhere between 67°F to 77°F. However, the optimum indoor temperature falls within the 72°F to 76°F range.
Cannabis plants can be somewhat picky. If temperatures fall below 67ºF, your plant could get too cold and wither. If temperatures rise above 77ºF, then your plant could be susceptible to dehydration and dryness. 
Maintain a consistent temperature in the room where you choose to keep your cannabis plants and be sure to monitor them using your thermo-hygrometer. 


Light Source
Choosing the correct grow-light source for growing your cannabis is critical, just like any other plant. An artificial UV light source with high wattage is usually ideal as it provides the plant with the required essential nutrients without burning it to a crisp.
If you’re planning on using artificial lights (store-bought UV bulbs), make sure to put them far enough away from your plants so that they don’t fry. For example, placing the plants in a hanger at the bottom of the window works great to position your cannabis to be well lighted. Ensure that your cannabis plants receive the right amount of light as it helps keep them healthy. 


Nutrients
Your cannabis plants need the proper nutrients including water, light, carbon dioxide, food, nitrogen, and phosphorus, which is why you can grow them using hydroponics.
Adding extra hydroponic nutrients such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, copper, boron, zinc, iron, manganese, or magnesium helps increase yields. 
Keep your nutrient levels stable by checking the pH levels in your water every day. You want to maintain your water’s pH level between 5.5 and 6.0 if you are using hydroponics. If not, the water’s pH level should be around 6.0 to 7.0. 
Using natural and artificial light is the best way to ensure that your cannabis plant is getting enough nutrients from sunlight while still getting the right amount of nutrients from hydroponically-grown water.


To prune; or not to prune.
Pruning is an essential part of maintaining your plant’s health. It’s also one of the best cannabis growing techniques available. It’s necessary to prune your plants so they produce higher yields.
At the end of each growing cycle, when the buds are about half as large as they are at their full size around harvest time, you should prune them back to about a quarter of their size. Topping your plant or just simply pruning the plant's stalk is a good practice.
 
Soil mixture
When considering which soil mix to use, remember that organic soil or other more natural alternatives are probably the best options for cannabis plants. A nice, dry soil is suitable for most plants, but for cannabis plants, a mixture of sand, silt, peat moss, or perlite is recommended. 
You can also consider creating a mixture of coconut husks, coconut oil, chalk, and grass fibers to put into your soil. These nutrients provide optimal growth that allows your plants to thrive, even in the driest conditions. This practice results in your plants becoming taller, stronger, healthier, and easier to tend.
There is also a soilless option; instead of using any soil, this method uses strictly all-natural cannabis nutrients in the pot. This practice uses peat or a soilless mix to draw moisture from the air, and the plant soaks up nutrients from the roots. Note that your choice of soil also depends on whether or not you have cannabis seeds or clones.


Train your plant (especially if your grow place is small).
Lollipopping, or plant training, is used to bend the cannabis plant’s lower branches to the ground to receive less light. This method forces them to use energy to grow upwards instead of outwards. Thus, reducing the plant’s size and ensuring all growth occurs in the top colas where you find the main colas.


Manage pests and diseases.
​It’s often frustrating after countless days of tending your cannabis; you still see pests destroying it. Before that happens, you should prepare yourself and act to prevent it right away. 
The proper way of getting rid of pests and diseases in your crop is by using heat, hand-pulling, and insecticides — in that order.
Using heat to kill insects is proven to be effective as long as you apply it correctly. A combination of natural and artificial light will also deter invertebrate pests like spider mites, which feed on the leaves’ underside and cause leaf spots to appear.

Once you’ve mastered the potting and growing stages, you can now start grouping your flowering plants and begin to harvest.

​When your cannabis plants reach the flowering stage, you can separate them into two different groups depending on how you wish to cultivate them. 
The first indoor group contains the cannabis buds that are ready to flower. This group usually has a smaller quantity of buds but produces higher yields. The second group, which is outdoor, contains a more significant number of buds and is generally used for personal consumption.
Growing cannabis plants at home can be straightforward and satisfying if you’ve prepared the right supplies. Doing your initial research, practice, and enough preparation is the key to making it flower. 
These cannabis growing techniques are perfect for anyone thinking of growing their own flower at home. Just remember that growing cannabis is a learning experience, and it requires plenty of time and patience. With enough practice, you'll be able to increase your yields in no time.
If you have any lingering questions or want more information on growing cannabis at home, call or visit your local dispensary. (970) 515-5839