HOW TO GROW MARIJUANA

THE COMPLETE BEGINNERS GUIDE

FROM A TO Z TO CULTIVATE TOP
QUALITY WEED INDOORS OR OUTDOORS
FROM START TO FINISH. LEARN HOW TO
BUILD YOUR PERSONAL GARDEN AT
HOME

JORGE ED COLEMAN
 Copyright © 2020 Jorge Ed Coleman
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1 What Is Marijuana?
Why grow your own cannabis?
Chapter 2 Different Types Of Marijuana
Chapter 3 Effects Of Marijuana
Chapter 4 Life Cycle Of The Marijuana Plant
Chapter 5 How To Grow Marijuana
Outdoor Cultivation
Indoor Cultivation
Chapter 6 Types of Soil To Be Used For Planting Marijuana
Chapter 7 How To Choose Quality Seeds Of Marijuana
Chapter 8 Choosing The Right Container For Your Marijuana Plant
Chapter 9 Getting the Light Right
Chapter 10 Marijuana Growing Calendar
The Vegetative Phase
The Flowering Phase
Chapter 11 How To Clone Marijuana Plants
Chapter 12 How To Protect Your Marijuana Plant
Chapter 13 How To Harvest Marijuana Plant For Maximum Yields?
Drying Cannabis Buds
Curing Cannabis
The Post-Harvesting and Preservation Process
Chapter 14 Legal Risks
Conclusion
 Introduction
It is difficult to recount the history of cannabis with exactitude for the
obvious fact that there was a lack of writing system amongst the earliest
ancestors of the human race, the very first set of people to consume cannabis.
This has therefore made it extremely difficult to say with certainty which
group of people first utilized the healing benefits of the cannabis plant and in
what form and way they made use of it. Despite this shortcoming, however,
we can still attempt some form of reconstruction based on the little evidence
we have with us.
Cannabis is believed by experts to have first grown in Central Asia and the
upper parts of South Asia, particular in Mongolia and Southern Siberia. It
certainly grew on its own before humans intervened to propagate it by
deliberate cultivation. As such, cannabis is considered one of the earliest
cultivated crops by humans. Its discovery was no doubt by our prehistoric
hunter-gatherer ancestors. From what might have been a stroke of luck,
cannabis started its life-long relationship with man.
Very likely, its psychoactive nature was probably first discovered by the
ancient peoples. If this was really the case, it would have constituted an
untapped goldmine of hallucinations. That way, the old folks think it’s a gift
from the gods or their ancestral spirits, a gift to help create a link between the
living and the dead. So, undoubtedly, cannabis would have played a very
important role in the development of religious and spiritual thoughts and
ideas of human society.
Some centuries ago, cannabis was a source of fiber (hemp) for making
clothes and dresses. We are coming to this later. They found it as a good
source of rope for tying things. They soaked the plant in their streams and
extracted from it interwoven hemp to be used as a rope. From this would later
arise the discovery of using the plant for making yarn for clothing materials.
All of this particularly fit China’s history of clothing choices.
If we try to go back and see how long-ago cannabis has been in use, then you
should know that burnt cannabis seeds dating as far back as 3000 BC have
been found in the Jurgan Burial Mounds in Siberia. Equally, mummified
quantities of cannabis have also been found in burial tombs from Siberia and
China, dating back to 2500BC.
The earliest known record of its use for medical purposes dates back to
4000BC when it was used as an anesthetic in surgery. Though according to
some other sources, the earliest written record of its use comes from a
Chinese document dating back to 2727BC, this claim is debated. There is
however, ample evidence to show that the Greeks and the Romans knew the
plant very well, too.
Tracing the pattern of invasions, and migrations, cannabis probably left
China when coastal farmers brought it to Korea in 200BC. Sometime
between 2000BC and 1000BC, cannabis came to South Asia though it had
arrived in the Middle East sometimes around 2000BC to 1400BC. It was
from there, particularly Sythia (now known as Moldova, Ukraine and Eastern
Russia) that it first entered Europe through Russia and Ukraine.
With the Anglo-Saxon invasions, cannabis entered Britain through Germany
possibly in the 5th Century AD. The seeds of the plant have been found in
Viking ships dating back to the mid-9th Century AD. From the Middle East,
it was very likely carried into Africa, particularly North Africa, following the
expansion of Islam from the Arabian Peninsula.
The plant probably first entered the South Americas before North America,
undoubtedly through Mexico. The plant is now ubiquitous, growing on its
own in some areas and being cultivated openly or secretly in others.
Cannabis, no doubt, has come to stay.
 Chapter 1 What Is Marijuana?
In this chapter, we will look at the meaning of cannabis, the various
chemicals that it contains and why growing your own plants is a great idea.
Cannabis is an herb that has remained popular amongst medics since time
immemorial. It contains chemicals beneficial for the entire body including
blood, muscles, and bones and also skin.
Better known as marijuana amongst enthusiasts, the plant’s seeds, leaves, and
flowers are harvested for the medicinal benefits that they provide. As
mentioned earlier, cannabis is a psychoactive, capable of altering a person’s
mindset. It is predominantly rolled into a joint and smoked to avail an outer
worldly experience. The drug imparts its effect for 5 to 6 hours after
consumption.
What’s interesting is, people did not begin using the plant to avail its mind-
altering effects for a long time since its discovery. It was mainly used to
prepare medicines that helped in combating many illnesses and delaying their
occurrences.
Cannabis can also be used in cooking. Right from curries to biscuits and
cakes, it is possible to incorporate canna-oil and canna-butter and enhance its
health benefits. Some people also add in powdered cannabis leaves to the
dishes to avail its full medicinal benefits. We will look at basic canna-oil and
canna-butter recipes later in this book.
Cannabis contains many chemicals that collectively make it an extremely
potent drug. Despite containing hundreds of chemicals, only a few have been
successfully identified. We will look at these chemicals in detail and
understand why they are beneficial for your body.
Chemicals present in marijuana
THC
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC for short) is the most widely present chemical in
cannabis. Tetrahydrocannabinol makes up for about 9% of the overall
chemical content in cannabis. THC binds with the cannabinoids in the central
nervous system and enhances immunity while relaxing physical pain. This
chemical, however, is not much sought after when it comes to preparing
medicines. THC has the maximum psychoactive effects on the mind.
Smokers interested in availing a good trip will always look for yields high in
this chemical.
CBD
CBD stands for cannabidiol. It has almost no psychoactive effect thereby
making it a much safer extract of the plant. Extensively used in the
preparation of medicines, CBD is sought after by those that prepare
traditional medicines. It is predominantly used in the preparation of anti-
epileptic, anti-rheumatic and arthritis medicines. Research is still on to
understand the full effects of this chemical on the body.
CBN
CBN or cannabinol is produced in the plant when the THC content is exposed
to light. It has very little psychoactive and is mostly used in medicines. It is
used for its anti-spasmodic and anti- epileptic effects. It also has a sedative
effect on the mind.
Terpene
Terpene is the molecule that contains these chemicals. They are
predominantly found in the leaves, buds, and flowers of the plant. The
concentration of terpene depends on the quality and variety of the plant. The
best quality plant will have a strong and pungent terpene while a weaker
strain will have mild and sweeter terpene.
These are the well-known and well-researched chemicals present in cannabis.
They are what have maximum medicinal properties.
Why grow your own cannabis?
Cannabis is illegal because of its potential of being abused. High tendency
cannabis is capable of inducing an addiction if not smoked responsibly. Many
governments have therefore banned the substances.
But it is fine to grow your own cannabis if you wish to put it to medicinal
use.
Here are some of the reasons why you should grow your own cannabis.
Time saving
It is quite important for those depending on cannabis for health purposes to
have some at their quick disposal. This is not possible if they rely on others to
bring them the plant. The best thing in such a situation is to grow your own
plants. It is quite easy to do so and will allow you to have plants all in
different stages of growth.
Cost effective
Growing your own cannabis plants will ensure that you save on quite a bit of
money on a monthly basis. You need not have to pay the dealer his fees. The
cost per gram of the product will also considerably reduce.
Peace of mind
Growing your own cannabis plants will ensure that you remain with a
peaceful mind. Forget having to contact a dealer and going through all of that
hassle. All you will have to do is walk over to your balcony or growing room
and snip off some fresh plant to decarboxylate and start using. You do not
have to worry about getting caught for it.
Consistency
Growing your own cannabis plants will ensure you remain with a consistent
supply of the weed. Having different plants growing in different stages can
help in remaining with enough cannabis at all times.
Control
Growing your own plants will allow you to exercise control over its quality.
You might not have the same control over whatever cannabis is given to you
by the dealer. It will be possible for you to enhance the quality output of the
plant by using good quality fertilizers and remain with good yield.
NOTE: Growing your own cannabis means you will have easy access to it
and so must be cautious to use it responsibly.
What to expect after smoking/ consuming cannabis
Whether it is a strong strain or a weak one that you have consumed, cannabis
can have one or all of the following effects on your body.
● You will instantly start feeling great about yourself! Cannabis increases the
dopamine content in your brain thereby increasing the feeling of happiness.
This can continue for some time, as the drug is bioavailable in the body for 5
to 6 hours.
● You will feel like all your aches and pains have disappeared. The herb has
a numbing effect on the body thereby reducing the feeling of pain and
uneasiness.
● You might suffer from short-term memory loss. This is completely fine, as
the mind will be focusing on the release of serotonin and suppression of
cortisol.
● If you were feeling sick before smoking up then the feeling will completely
disappear as and when you start puffing. Cannabis helps in reducing nausea
and combats vomiting sensation.
● Your eyes might dry out, and your skin might turn red. Better known as
baking, the chemicals present in cannabis can impart a reddish glow to the
skin thereby making you appear red.
● Cannabis is also an amazing muscle relaxant. You will feel at ease and not
feel like moving a muscle.
● Some people feel drowsy after consuming cannabis. You might feel quite
sleepy after smoking up, especially after smoking a potent strain.
● You might have dryness in your mouth for some time.
Long-term use
Long-term use of cannabis can have a few side effects, which are as follows
● Long-term use of cannabis can affect your heart health. You might be more
prone to strokes and cardiovascular illnesses
● It can affect your lung health and cause the onset of asthma
● Long term use of cannabis also results in memory loss
● There are high chances of addiction if you do not smoke cannabis
responsibly
It is, therefore, advisable to consume cannabis responsibly and treat as
medicine.
 Chapter 2 Different Types Of Marijuana
Some strains will have stronger pain management effects, for example, while
others will be “headier” and relate to the effects that impact, or impair, the
user’s sense of perception. In this chapter, we’ll see what exactly a strain is
and how the genetics of our plants plays a role in determining the strain.
There are two key categories within which most strains fall: sativa and indica.
We’ll explore what these descriptors mean and the rise of hybrid plants that
combine traits from both types.

Why Do Cannabis Genetics Matter?

We know how important genetics are when it comes to human beings. Our
genes determine whether or not we are susceptible to certain illnesses, what
we’ll look like, and whether we’ll be male or female when we’re born. That
last trait is determined by whether or not we have two X chromosomes
(female) or an X and Y chromosome (male). The X chromosome in a human
has around 800 different genes, while the Y chromosome contains only 70.
The X chromosome contains about 150 MB of information while the Y
chromosome has 3,300 MB. All of this data results in the amazing variety of
human beings that the world sees today.
Cannabis is remarkably similar to humans in many regards when it comes to
genetics. The plant has an X and a Y chromosome as well, though each
chromosome contains between 800-850 MB of genetic information. Every
single part of the plant, from how its leaves looks to the percentage of THC it
has and even how it smells, is entirely determined by which genes the plant
has. Growers work hard to breed plants together to isolate certain genetic
traits they consider to be ideal. However, there are so many possible genes
that cannabis can have that there is now a ton of research being done on
creating a genetic map of cannabis. The goal of this genetic map is to allow
researchers around the world to combine their data on traits and genes. With
research moving in this direction, more and more designer strains will be
popping up in the future.
When it comes to growing marijuana, genetics matter because they determine
how the plant will grow, look, and affect the user. In the world of cannabis,
plants come in male and female varieties just like humans. The female plant
contains the bud, which is what people smoke. To create a hybrid plant, you
take the male plant of one kind and have it fertilize the female of another
kind. The seeds that the female plant produces now have traits from both
types. The traits of the female plant will still be the strongest, but through
multiple iterations you could grow a particularly effective strain that
combines the best of both origin strains.
With that in mind, let’s look a little more at what we mean when we talk
about the various strains of cannabis.
What Are Strains?
The cannabis plant began in Asia but then spread all throughout the world.
Cultivators across the world have had to breed their plants to grow in a
variety of different climates. As these plants grow, develop, and continue to
mate and reproduce, they turn into what is known as strains.
Strains are essentially variations in the genetics from one cannabis plant to
the next. Before, strains arose naturally because of the needs of the individual
growers to acclimatize the plants. Today, however, with the advent of indoor
gardening and the ability to control any plant’s individual environment,
strains have become much more about what genes a particular plant was
grown to have. The global cannabis industry is expected to be worth more
than $31 billion by 2021. This means that there is a lot of money involved in
growing and where the money goes, skill follows. Skilled growers have now
created thousands of strains of marijuana.
There are three general categories that strains fall into: indica, sativa, and
hybrid. Each of these strains tells the user something about the effect that the
strain will have when smoked (and we’ll explore these each more in a
moment). But within each of these categories, the various strains may have
major differences, particularly when it comes to the compounds found in
each strain. We looked at THC and CBD briefly but they are far from the
only cannabinoids found in marijuana.
CBN helps in reducing the effects of neurological conditions such as epilepsy
or seizures. THCA is similar to THC but is most useful in reducing
inflammation and reducing neurological conditions associated with
Parkinson’s or ALS. CBG has been tied to reducing anxiety and other
psychological issues such as OCD, PTSD, or depression. The proportion of
these compounds present in the plant differs between strains.
Another area in which there is a wide variety is in the terpenes that are
present and the quantity of them. Terpenes are a compound that naturally
occurs in the plant and is primarily related to the way the plant smells.
Marijuana is often described as flowery, skunky, or fruity in smell. Clearly,
these descriptions would appear to be contradictory, since who ever heard of
a fruit that smelled like a skunk. But it is the terpenes present in the strain that
determines how the plant smells and creates this variety. It should be noted
that while terpenes are most strongly associated with the smell, they also
have effects on how the strain functions. A quick look at some of the most
common terpenes will help enlighten this point.
Bisabolol is thought to help reduce inflammation and irritation of the body
and has some microbial and pain-reducing effects as well. It also smells like
chamomile. Limonene, on the other hand, smells like citrus and is thought to
improve mood and reduce stress. Eucalyptol smells like eucalyptus, reduces
inflammation, fights bacteria, and leaves the user feeling refreshed. Pinene
smells like pine and helps ease nausea and pain. Linalool smells of flowers
and helps boost mood. These are just a few of the many terpenes that are
found in cannabis, each of which can be found in certain strains and may
even help to give strains their names, such as Sour Diesel, which gets its
name from its pungent aroma.
Let’s take a look at a handful of strains. We cannot even begin to cover them
all—that would easily take a book a dozen times the size of this one—but
we’ll look at some of the most common ones.
Sour diesel is known for its energizing and mood-lifting effects. Depending
on the kind of work at hand, it can help provide a burst of productivity to the
user’s day and has been tied to the reduction of pain. Bubba Kush, on the
other hand, helps relax the user and makes them sleepy. Hence, it is
recommended to help fight insomnia. Bubba Kush is also linked to a
reduction in pain and stress. A similar strain is Granddaddy Purple.
Granddaddy Purple helps to induce sleep as well, but it also increases the
user’s appetite, which can be extremely useful for those whose medical issues
result in a lack of appetite or nausea.
These strains are recommended for certain results because they have been
grown to have the effects they do. Those mentioned above have been around
for a while now, and this means that you can expect a certain level of
consistency when using them. In contrast, newer strains or hybrids will show
more variation between crops. Finding the strain that is right for you may
take some time but sites like weedmaps and leafly compile information on
the strains out there alongside what traits they have and even ratings from
staff and users.
Figuring out what strain is right for you first starts by exploring the categories
that were mentioned above: sativa, indica, and hybrid. Keep in mind,
however, that individual strains of any one category may have effects that are
not associated with that category. For example, indicas are seen as relaxing
but a particular strain may in fact leave the user feeling more energized. The
effects of marijuana should be viewed on a strain by strain basis, with the
categories used to help the individual to narrow down their search for the
right strain.

Sativa
Sativas are known for the “heady” high that they provide when used. They
tend to leave the user feeling invigorated. They’re like the energy drink
version of cannabis, only without all the sugar and dangerously high levels of
vitamins. Many people find that sativas help them feel less anxious. They
have also been linked to an increase in creativity in individuals, with people
reporting that they feel they do some of their best creative work after using a
sativa. Another link that has been seen is an increased ability to focus after
using a sativa.
The sativa family comes from climates that are hot and dry. It prefers longer
days, which means lights needs to be lit longer if growing indoors. Its origins
are traced back to Africa, Central America, and Southeast and Western Asia,
where the climate perfectly fits its needs. The plant itself tends to be tall but
thin, with leaves that almost look like the fingers of a spread hand. They can
pass twelve feet in height with the right conditions, but their height also
means that they grow slower than other varieties. Because sativas are more of
the “heady” experience, it is common for them to have high amounts of THC
but low amounts of CBD.
Since sativas are stimulating, they are best used during the day as users may
find it difficult to sleep after consumption. This makes the sativa most useful
for individuals who work in the creative fields or who want to experience the
psychological effects of cannabis over the physical benefits.
Indica
Indicas are most strongly associated with what is called a “body high.” These
strains are known for their relaxing properties and thus are among the most
popular for battling insomnia, inflammation, nausea, and pain. A common
use for indica is in reducing the side effects of chemotherapy. People
undergoing chemotherapy often are so nauseated that they spend hours after
each session vomiting. Use of an indica before a session has shown great
results in reducing these side effects and helping patients keep their appetites
and improve their mood.
Indicas find their origin from the plants of Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and
Turkey. In doing so, they are particularly well suited for growing in climates
that are harsh or dry. They grow particularly well in the turbulent climate of
the Hindu Kush mountains, after which many strains have been named
(Purple Kush, Granddaddy Kush, Bubblegum Kush, the list goes on and on).
Indica plants are much shorter than sativa plants. They tend to be short,
stocky, and densely covered in bushy greenery. Whereas the leaves of the
sativa are finger-like, the leaves on an indica are quite broad and more in line
with what people think of when they picture a pot leaf. They grow much
faster than sativa does, and they also tend to produce more buds, both of
which make them a favorite amongst those who grow for financial reasons.
Indica is best consumed at night or when you are planning to stay at home
and just relax. There is a common depiction of the cannabis user in the
popular media as being too lazy to get off the couch. This image contrasts the
effects of sativa but perfectly fits those of indica. The indica plant has much
more CBD than the sativa and likewise also a lower ratio of THC, making it
the more effective of the categories for medical purposes. However, this has
begun to change due to the rise in hybrid strains in the last decade.
Hybrids
Hybrids are an interesting category of cannabis. They almost exclusively
need to be created by growers, as the chances of a hybrid forming naturally in
the wild is almost entirely impossible due to sativas and indicas preferring
different climates. However, within a controlled growing operation, such
climate variables can be accounted for to allow these disparate types of
cannabis plants to interact with each other. Hybrids are formed by breeding
an indica with sativa. Which category will be the stronger of the two depends
on which is used to supply the female fruiting plant. The seeds produced are
dominated by the genes of the female but with the genes from the other
(male) brought into place. Because of this, hybrids have an especially large
degree of variety as a category and even within an individual hybrid strain.
The appearance of a hybrid is entirely dependant upon the parent plants
which were used to create it. The amount of THC or CBD they have is also
dependant on this factor. However, hybrids are primarily created in order to
increase the THC percentage of an indica or to increase the CBD percentage
of a sativa, though the exact percentage of THC or CBD that a hybrid will
have is a factor that cannot be accounted for in a generalization. This carries
through to the effects most commonly associated with their use, as well as
when they are best used.
 Chapter 3 Effects Of Marijuana
Cannabis has been utilized as a medicinal plant for centuries. You, as well as
the majority of medical and recreational users, can attest that the use of such
can improve overall feeling of wellness. If you find yourself struggling with
the cultivation later on, try to remember the different medical benefits you
can get from it.
Cannabinoids are the main forces behind the medical benefits of marijuana.
These are also the same compounds that make pot smoking addicting. Unlike
other abused substances though, the body is optimized to receive the said
compounds thanks to the cannabinoid receptors that are already in the human
body even before birth. Even breast milk, which serves as the main source of
nutrients for newborns, are packed with the compounds similar to those from
marijuana. As the name suggests, the aforementioned receptors and the
cannabinoid compounds bind. Their binding brings about a myriad of health
benefits such as:
Mood Improvement
Most people who turn to recreational marijuana are after the high the
substance can provide. Being on high offers a happy and relaxed feeling.
Marijuana indeed has mood stabilizing properties which benefit those who
experience typical to extreme mood swings. Some studies even suggest that
medical marijuana has great potential in controlling violent mood swings of
people with autism.
Pain Management
Marijuana is also popular for the management of different body aches. It can
help alleviate headaches and back pain. In addition, some people who suffer
from chronic pain report less frequent and/or less intense discomfort after
using cannabis derivatives.
Appetite Modulation
Some marijuana strains can trigger the so-called munchies or those sudden
bursts of hunger. This only proves that the consumption of cannabis
derivatives can affect digestion. However, not all strains can cause munchies.
Other strains, as proven in studies, can actually help modulate appetite. The
appetite modulating properties of marijuana are so noteworthy that it is even
being studied and used for the management of anorexia and other eating
disorders.
Weight Loss
It might seem counterintuitive that marijuana use can bring about munchies
and weight loss. After all, plenty of weight loss supplements brag about the
fat-burning and appetite-suppressing properties of their ingredients. However,
the sudden bursts of hunger from marijuana do not seem to make all users
obese. In contrast, majority of users are far from being overweight. There are
different factors that affect the weight of users. These are not just about the
medical properties of the plant but the behavior of users as well. Some go for
pot smoking for comfort while others turn to binge eating.
Sleep Enhancement
Some people regard marijuana as a natural remedy for sleeping problems
such as insomnia and sleep apnea. Using it before bedtime can keep
nightmares at bay. Aged cannabis derivatives provide better sleep than newly
processed ones. It is also helpful to add other natural, complementary
sleeping remedies to marijuana instead of over-the-counter sleeping pills.
However, this is not advisable to young ones who face sleeping difficulties.
Muscle Relaxation
In some studies, marijuana consumption is effective in relieving muscle
spasms and pain for both humans and animals. Some proponents even say
that this natural muscle relaxant is better than the ones manufactured by big
pharmaceutical companies. It is best to combine marijuana with massages
and other remedies that do not involve mass produced pills.
Diabetes Treatment and Risk Reduction
Marijuana use can help improve insulin sensitivity and enhance blood sugar
regulation as some studies proved. These, along with the weight loss benefits,
are especially helpful to those with diabetes or at risk of developing the
chronic condition due to their lifestyle or genetics.
Phobia Management
Some health care professionals warn about the possible paranoia or anxiety
that marijuana consumption can cause. However, many users report that they
are able to feel relief for their anxiety, paranoia and phobia. Some people
have clinical phobias that are so disruptive that they call for medicines to help
them deal with day-to-day living. Many of them turn to marijuana as an
alternative and are satisfied by how their decision turns out.
Neuroprotection
The compounds from marijuana affect the brain in many ways. The
psychoactive effects are the most controversial of all. These are partly the
cause of on-going debates on marijuana legalization. Some antis claim that
the legalization is not worth the risk due to the said effects. Pros, on the other
hand, highlight the neuroprotective properties of cannabis and its potential in
treating Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and other brain conditions.
Depression Management
Medical marijuana is also seen as a good addition to depression management.
It is partly due to its mood stabilizing properties. Aside from mood
improvement, it may alleviate fatigue and disinterest that clinically depressed
individuals tend to suffer from. However, recreational marijuana may only
bring about temporary relief for depression and may trigger addiction instead
to some users.
Glaucoma Treatment
Marijuana has the ability to regulate the pressure in the eye which is
beneficial in the prevention and treatment of glaucoma. The vasodilation and
neuroprotection it offers also helps lower down the risk of vision loss.
Smoking pot may treat glaucoma but it is quite time-consuming and
dangerous for the lungs. Pills and injections are better and safer alternatives
but they require medical expertise.
Cancer Treatment
Cancer patients can benefit from medical marijuana in different ways. Some
proponents believed that it could kill cancer cells. While there are few
conclusive studies to prove so, it is widely recognized that it helps relieve the
side effects of chemotherapy such as pain, nausea, vomiting and appetite loss.
While beneficial in many ways, excessive consumption of marijuana can
bring about some health problems. Chills, heavy limbs, burning eyes,
extreme dry mouth, and severe paranoia are some of the signs and symptoms
of marijuana overdose. The good thing is that the overdosing is not likely to
kill you. Nevertheless, you need to relax, stay hydrated and talk to your
health care provider when you experience the aforementioned signs and
symptoms.
Plenty of medical benefits from marijuana use are yet to be explored, but the
on-going studies are very promising. Before the big pharmaceutical
companies beat you to it, make sure you learn how to cultivate your own
clean and natural remedy.
 Chapter 4 Life Cycle Of The Marijuana Plant
There are probably a thousand varieties of the cannabis plants. Each one is
unique in its cannabinoid composition, its resilience to pests and its preferred
growing conditions.
It is important to learn the uniqueness of the cannabis plant that you get to
makes sure that you can adjust your treatment of the plant accordingly. To
understand cannabis growth outdoors, you should first learn about its life
cycle.
The Cannabis Life Cycle
It is true that a cannabis plant’s lifecycle varies depending on its strain and its
species. However, the ones that have adapted to grow in the upper
hemisphere all follow the same pattern that allows them to survive. To make
the process simple, let’s divide the entire cannabis life cycle into two stages,
the growth stage and the flowering stage.
The growth stage refers to the part of growth characterized by the rapid
increase in size of the plant. For the sativa variety, this period of growth is
where the plant grows tall fast. This is also the period when most of the
leaves of the plant start to grow. This stage starts with the germination stage:

Germination stage
The germination stage refers to the start of the cycle when the new plant
sprouts from the seed. This happens during the spring, when the soil starts to
soften up and the sun is shining to nourish newly sprouted seedlings. For
indoor growers, the germination stage can start anytime. However, because
we are focused on growing cannabis outdoors, we will follow the life cycle of
the plant as it coincides with the weather. By the end of spring, the plant
should already be 2-4 feet in height covered all over with its signature leaves.

Summer Growth Stage

The summer is when the cannabis will grow the fastest. The extended periods
of sunlight will give the cannabis all the light it needs to create the nutrients it
needs for maximum growth. It is by this time when the plant will reach its
maximum height. The height will vary depending on the variety. However,
the Cannabis sativa has been known to grow up to two and a half meters tall.
 Flowering stage
The flowering stage of the cannabis is the beginning of the second part of the
cannabis life cycle. This usually begins when the days begin to become
shorter in the end of the summer months and the beginning of fall.
It is in this stage, when you will first see the sex of the plants. Only the
female flowers will show buds. If you wish to keep your plants from
becoming pollinated, you might want to separate the male flowers at this
point so that you don’t accidentally pollinate the buds that you want to
harvest.
In this stage, female plants need to be pollinated for their flowers to be
fertilized. Only then can they develop seeds. For growers, this is the best time
to harvest the weeds.
At this stage, the buds of the cannabis plan begin to show and develop into
flowers. The buds may start showing early, four months after germination.
Once the buds start to mature, you can now start harvesting them and process
them to create the weed that we all know and love.

Death of the Cannabis plant at the start of winter

When planting outdoors, we cannot prevent the death of the cannabis plant
when winter comes. For this reason, it is important to have at least a few of
your plants pollinated so that you will have more seeds to plant the following
spring. Pollinating your plants also gives you the opportunity to mix and
match different strains of cannabis to create your own strain.
Some types of cannabis that were bred to grow in tropical countries do not
die off in the winter. Instead, they continue to grow as long as there is enough
sun and the temperature does not freeze them. These strains however, are
difficult to cultivate in the northern hemisphere climates.
 Chapter 5 How To Grow Marijuana
Outdoor Cultivation
Cannabis has thrived in the outdoors for hundreds of years. As an aspiring
grower, you should be able to try outdoor cultivation at least once. Perhaps,
the main factors that can stop you from doing so include, the law, the lack of
outdoor space and the thought of kids, pets or someone else messing up your
marijuana plants. If you are allowed and have the space to do so, then try it.
Regarding kids, pets or other persons who might mess up your home
plantation, you can always set up a fence to protect your plants from
intrusion.
There are many benefits to outdoor marijuana cultivation. With this method,
you do not need to buy pots unless you are going to do it in your veranda or
roof deck. You can take advantage of sunlight, rainwater and carbon dioxide
as well. This also allows you to apply organic farming methods that are
organic. All of these make outdoor cultivation less expensive than indoor
cultivation.
Cannabis plants are hardy thanks to their being grown in the wild for years so
the preparation of your planting site should not be that hard. Another good
thing about this is that you can yield more because you can use plants with
better foliage. With such, the leaves can undergo photosynthesis that will
provide the plant with more energy to produce the flowers later on.
Remember that it is called a weed for a reason. It can grow nearly in the most
random of places and sometimes, in the most random of times. The
derivatives from outdoor marijuana plants are also known to have better taste
and aroma.
To reap the benefits of outdoor marijuana cultivation, you have to spend
much time on garden preparation. Getting all your gears ready makes the
latter steps of cultivation easier and quicker.

Garden Preparation
It is best to start your garden preparation during early springtime. Make it a
part of your annual spring cleaning. Instead of just de-cluttering your home,
you should also get rid of the garden waste that the previous season left by on
your yard. Once you are done with a general clean-up of your yard. It is time
to choose a spot for your mini marijuana plantation.
Location
You should pick a location where your marijuana plants will receive sunlight
the most. Therefore, areas near or under the trees or the awnings of your
home are not ideal. Additionally, the location should be away from areas
where there is standing water. The plants will be under high stress if you do
so. Aside from that, standing water may attract pests. You should also
consider the spacing between your plants (3 to 5 feet away from each other).
This is to allow your plants to grow freely and to allow you to move between
them with so much ease. You should plan and set up drainage for your garden
when you are done picking the right location.
If you are setting up your garden in a veranda or roof deck, make sure your
plants will be elevated. The flooring therein, especially if it is tiles, may be
too warm that it may put the roots of your marijuana plants in high stress.
You can elevate your plants by setting a platform using wood since the
material is a good insulator of heat. You can simply create a rectangular box
and drill holes where you will place the pots. Coat your wooden platform
with a water-resistant finish. Make sure there are trays or saucers below the
pots. These are meant to catch run-off water from the potted plants.
Soil
The first thing you need to do is to get rid of grasses or weeds on your
planting location. The sight of these organisms might mean trouble but their
presence actually indicates that the site is good for marijuana plants. If you
have other valued plants in it, transfer it somewhere else. Use a rake to
further remove debris in the area. You do not want the possibility of a
random piece of broken glass blocking or hurting the root of your upcoming
marijuana plants.
Getting your soil ready requires checking its pH level. You can buy a soil
testing kit from most gardening stores to know the pH level of your soil.
There is no such thing as perfect soil for marijuana cultivation but the ideal
pH level of your soil should fall within 5.8 to 6.5.
If the pH level of your soil is not within the said range, you have to improve
it by adding compost and other organic fertilizers such as bone meal, blood
meal, worm castings, aged manure and bat guano. You may add some
biodegradable mulch as well. Chemical fertilizers are more readily available
but they can hurt your soil in the long run, preventing you to plant regularly.
Once your soil gets polluted, you have to let it rest for a while and treat it
with organic soil amendments.
The soil type in your yard matters as well. The soil testing kit you are going
to buy is likely to have a tool that can help you know whether your soil is
clay, sand or loam. You can simply rely on your observation, too. Clay tends
to stick together while sand is too loose. Loamy soil is the most ideal because
it may stick together but it drains well which is highly preferred by marijuana
plants. Loam contains silt, sand, clay and organic matter.
To find out what kind of soil you have, grab a fistful of soil and squeeze it. If
it tends to form a ball, it is probably clay and you might need to boost the
amount of silt, sand and organic matter in your soil. If it tends to crumble, it
is probably sand and you might have to add clay, silt and organic matter to
balance it.
When you are done treating it, pour water in your soil. If it drains well yet
remains moist, you have achieved the type of soil conducive for your
marijuana cultivation.
Water Supply
Marijuana plants require lots of water in order to thrive. You will not have
much problem if you live in a place where it rains a lot. If it rarely rains in
your place even in springtime, you should buy an extensive hose or place a
water faucet nearby. It pays to have a stream or other bodies of water near
your place as well. You can get water from the bodies of water for free but it
takes a lot of time and effort.
Protection
Your outdoor marijuana plants have three main enemies: wind, animals and
humans. There is nothing much you can do to control the wind but if there is
a hilly side in your place, you may use such as a natural shield against wind.
If there are no hills, you have no other choice but to set up a fence. This does
not only protect your plants against wind but possibly against large animals
and humans as well.
That is not enough though. You need to surround your mini marijuana
plantation with thorny bushes to prevent small animals like rabbits from
messing up your garden. You may also plant other taller plants such as maize.
Elderberry and bamboo are both good shields for marijuana plants as well.
Once everything is ready, you can start your hunt for the best strains for
outdoor marijuana cultivation. While waiting for your seeds, decide the
germination methods you have to employ. Pick at least two. For outdoor
cultivation, you might want to germinate some of your seeds directly on the
grounds. If you are opting for starter cubes, purchase them before you buy
seeds.
After germinating some seeds indoors, you can transfer them to pots for a
while. Let them grow indoors first while the outdoor seeds remain. Keep their
soil moist but not too wet or too soaking. For the indoor seedlings, give them
24 hours of light. Transfer them outdoors after 3 to 4 weeks.
Indoor Cultivation
Indoor marijuana cultivation is an ideal option if you are living in an
apartment or condominium, or if you do not have enough space in your yard.
If that is what the law in your area says, then you have no other option but to
grow your marijuana indoors. It must have a lock if you are living with
minors and pets or if you just want to prevent visitors from intruding your
plants as they grow quietly.
Growing marijuana indoors may not be the natural and traditional way but it
still has advantages on its own. In this method, you can provide better
security for your plants against human intrusion, strong wind, heavy rains,
and wild animals. This also allows you to control many aspects of the
cultivation like water and light supply. With such control, you may be able to
influence your plants to flower sooner than their outdoor counterparts may.
You can effectively get rid of male plants and prevent the possibility of
pollination as well. Outdoors, you may not be able to do the job perfectly due
to the possibility of wind carrying pollens from male plants in your area. It is
hygienic to cultivate marijuana plants indoor as well. The cleanliness and
your control make indoor marijuana cultivation a more suitable option than
outdoors for growers who are after the medical benefits of the plants.
However, indoor marijuana cultivation tends to be more expensive than doing
it outdoors. You have to prepare for the costs even if you are just planning to
raise only a handful of plants in pots. Set aside a budget for utility bills since
you will be using electricity and water a lot. Once you have created a
spending plan, it is time to start working on your indoor garden or grow
room.

Garden Preparation
Unlike outdoor cultivation, you do not have to mind the season to kick off
your indoor marijuana cultivation. You are not going to depend too much on
the sunlight and rainwater anyway. Decide the number of plants early on to
determine the size of your grow room.
Room Preparation
Clear out the room you will be using. Take out all of the unnecessary
furniture. Get rid of curtains, clothes, carpet or any other item where mold
may grow.
There should be total darkness during the flowering phase to avoid disrupting
the plants. Therefore, the room where you want to place them should have no
holes where lights may enter. It is important that you set up a room even if
you are planning to place your plants near a windowsill during the vegetative
phase. Any lights that unintentionally enter the room may confuse your
marijuana plants and trigger their hermaphroditism during the flowering
phase. They will have seeded flowers. Overall, the quantity and quality of
your yield will be affected.
Cover windows or any holes with tough materials. Fabric and paper are not
ideal because they might get easily torn and punctured. Paper does not go
well with water spills as well. Fabric may become breeding ground for mold.
You can seal holes with opaque reflective tape.
There should be drainage as well. Standing water can affect the pH level of
your soil when left for a long time. It may attract pests as well.
The grow room should have an area of 1 to 2 square meters. The distance
between the lamps and plants matter, too. Make sure the lights and your
plants are at least 50 centimeters away from each other.
Grow boxes and grow tents are also worth considering. Each one can hold at
least 8 plants. Some can even hold up to 200 plants. Decide the number of
plants you are about to cultivate then choose the appropriate grow box or
grow tent if you do not want to dedicate an entire room for growing them.
A grow box or grow tent is a great space- and time-saver. It often comes with
its own lights and exhaust system. They are also water-proof. You only need
to do a few things to make them ideal for your indoor marijuana cultivation.
The only downside is its price. However, you may reuse it multiple times as
long as you are taking good care of it. It is usable for hydroponic cultivation
as well. The best thing about it is that it does not require excessive
modifications in your home.
Container
You should buy separate pots for the seedlings and vegetative phases. The
right size of the pots depends on the expected height of marijuana plants. For
1- to 2-foot plants, 3 to 5 gallon pots or containers are the most suitable. For
3-foot plants, 5 to 7 gallon pots or containers are the most appropriate while
for those up to 4-foot and beyond, 6 to 8 gallon pots or containers are the best
options. You should also buy saucers or trays that will catch runoff water.
Growing medium
Get organic soil as growing medium. You may also opt for coco-, peat-, or
sphagnum-based mediums. You should make sure that your growing medium
is sterilized. Do not just get random soil from public places as they might
have eggs from pests.
Artificial Lighting
Photoperiod is an important aspect of marijuana cultivation. Photoperiod
refers to the time when the plants receive light. With indoor cultivation, you
can only fulfill this need artificially.
Even if you are placing your plants beside the windowsill, it is still important
to provide them with a more stable source of light. For marijuana grown in a
closet or small area, lights with low wattages (250-400 watts) will suffice.
You may even opt for regular fluorescents for such.
For marijuana cultivated in a more spacious room, lights with high wattages
(600-1000 watts) are recommended. Metal Halide (MH) and High-Pressure
Sodium (HPS) bulbs and ballasts are the ideal lighting equipment for these.
When you shop for lights, always try to find if there are LED lights available.
These ones tend not to heat as much as traditional lights.
LED lights costs more upfront but they are energy efficient and cost less in
the long run. In contrast, HPS and ML are less expensive but their usage
tends to cost more. LED lights also have built-in fan while HPS and ML
requires ballasts that allows cooling. You are going to need an outlet timer as
well because the plants require specific time frames for their photoperiod.
Improve light reflection in your grow room to use the light more efficiently.
For small rooms, emergency blankets are good options because they can
reflect up to 70% of light. These are available in camping stores. White paint
and aluminized mylar are more suitable and more efficient in reflecting light
for sizable grow rooms. White paint is inexpensive and easy to apply. It can
reflect up to 85% of light. Another plus point is its ease of maintenance.
Mylar is the most efficient at 97% light reflection but it is also the most
expensive. Never use aluminum foil. They do not reflect light well. Aside
from that, it is a fire hazard and hard to attach.
Ventilation
There should be fans with ducts providing air for the lights and dragging the
warmth from the said lights out of the grow room. This helps in temperature
control too. This helps tone down the smell from marijuana as well.
When shopping for fans, always keep in mind the level of noise for their
operation and go for something with high CFM rating. Inline fans are worth
considering because they are easy to attach to existing ducts.
Temperature
The ideal temperature range of the grow room is 24 to 30 degrees Celsius.
Buy and install glass casing to prevent the warmth from the lights from
burning your plants. For LED lights, you do not need such glass casing at all.
Install a thermometer to help you manage temperature levels.
Smell
Get rid of the stale odor with the help of a carbon filter. Attach the carbon
filter into your exhaust fan. You may also use ozone generators.
Humidity
Buy a humidifier, dehumidifier and humidity meter for your grow room. The
different growth phases of the marijuana plants require different humidity
levels. This help in managing possible mold infestation as well.
Nutrients
Use sea kelp, bat guano and other organic nutrients. You may purchase these
separately or you can buy them along with the organic soil you buy. Avoid
artificial nutrients due to their high salt content.
The nutrients for indoor marijuana cultivation are the same as the ones for the
outdoors. Buy packs of the macro- and micronutrients from nearby gardening
stores. Refer to the packaging to know the right amount for each phase and
the preparation.
Water
Tap water is already a good option for your plants. However, you want to
know first the pH level of the water. It should be within the range 5.8 to 7.
You may boost the pH level of your water by adding lime slices or wood ash.
You may also buy a pre-mixed solution. Add pH-lowering solution if the pH
level is too high.
Once you are done preparing these things, you may now proceed to seed
selection. Go for strains that are shorter than the traditional cannabis plants.
 Chapter 6 Types of Soil To Be Used For Planting
Marijuana
Cannabis can grow in pretty much anything, depending on the strain. That's
part of the reason it’s called weed. Still, just because you can grow your
plants in almost anything and anywhere, it doesn't mean you should. Let’s be
fair and say that not every soil will allow cannabis plants to thrive and
produce a good yield; neither will look like gold and tastes cool either. The
fact is that the buds and yields will only be as good as where they are grown.
But that’s being said, let's take a look at the basics of what you need to
consider when buying soil for your plants. The main things to consider when
choosing soil for your plants, is water retention, pH, nutrient composition,
ingredient composition, and texture drainage. You should try to find a soil
with a pH level of 6 and 7. Cannabis plants prefer acidic soil, but nothing
lower than the ph level of 6. Pretty much all soils will have the pH written on
the bag. In case you're not sure which one to buy, you should ask someone
knowing where you should buy the soil. Regards to nutrients, the primary
nutrients your plants will need are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Turn
the vegetative stage; your plants will consume roughly twice as many of
nitrogen than phosphorus, but a least three times as much potassium as
nitrogen. In a supplement ratio, this is naturally given as two one six. So, try
to look for this when buying nutrient. Otherwise, during the flowering phase,
plants require far less nitrogen, because this is used to grow stems and leaves
something the plant no longer wants to do as it focuses on growing buds. In
this time, you will need to cut down on nitrogen significantly. Deliver five
times as much phosphorus as the vegetative stage, cut down on potassium
levels by about third. It should look something like a zero five two ratio.
Although if you're growing your plants in a nutrient-rich or super soil, then
need continuously adjust pH and nutrient heights, as well top your soil with
supplemental liquid nutrient distillates, will disappear with the proper soil
formula. And looking at water retention, you want so that will hold water
long enough for the plant to absorb it. You also want to ensure there's enough
drainage in the soil, that it does not get waterlogged and cause root rot, pH
issues or other grow glitches. Regards to the texture, you want to make sure
your soil is light and airy — no woodchips rocks or other substances inside.
An airy soil endorses good air circulation to the roots, and it sanctions the
origins of the plant to grow faster and sturdier without too much
confrontation. Wood chips and other objects in the soil means the soil is not
finished composting, which means that not all

the nutrients are obtainable to the plant.

Lastly, the soil you buy should have some or all of the following elements.
Compost, Sandy loam, biochar, peat moss, cocoa choir, worm castings,
perlite, bat guano, fish meal, crab meal, pumice, kelp, bone meal, and leisure
rock dust. Remember that some of these ingredients are substitutable. Given
that the same or similar benefits for the soil, so it's not essential for them all
to be part of the combination you decide to buy. Well, these are the main
elements you should be looking for. There are some tell signs of good and
bad soil. Good soil should look dark and rich. Should be loosened its texture,
light and airy when you sift your hand through it. It should crumble easily in
your hand. This means it'll be good for drainage, and an airy soil promotes
quick and robust root growth. Good soil should also drain water well without
pooling for too long. But for the presence of perlite in the soil, it looked like
little white rock bottles in the soil. This means the soil was designed for
accurate drainage. Make sure to look for signs the soil is bad when choosing
your soil as well. Look out for the following: woodchips. If there are any
wood chips in the soil, this is a characteristic that the soil is not completely
composted yet, so not all nutrients are available. This will create a harsher
environment for the plant too. You want something fluffy, and light airy.
Nothing hard and full of obstacles for the roots to work around. Secondly,
look for whether the water is muddy when being sprayed. Naturally, this is an
excellent indicator of water retention levels. The matter your soil looks after
water, the higher the retention is. This is not good because it makes it easier
to overwater the plants. Also, beware of thick or heavy soil.
As I said before looking for soil that is airy and light to the touch. The
heavier and thicker the soil is, harder is for air and water to penetrate. This
also means that the roots must fight twice as much to grow as well. Whether
it's trying harder to grow roots, ten nutrients air or water. Heavy soil was
bound to stunt the growth of your plants. Lastly, make sure you are not
buying slow-release nutrients oil. This may be beneficial early in plant
growth, but as your plant switches to the flowering stage, it will require a
different reissue of nutrients to grow and thrive. This means the plant will be
hindered and plagued with issues as it moves into the flowering stage unless
dealt with immediately. Attempting to avoid these issues by repotting plants a
new soil, just before ordering your plants switch to flowering, but
detrimentally shock the plant at a crucial point in their development. It is best
to circumvent slow release nutrients, while altogether. It may seem obvious,
but as one last note here: in case you want to achieve success, do not just use
the soil from your backyard. You're asking for issues by doing this. You'll be
left guessing with pH soil levels, regulation, nutrient breakdown, and will
have issues with texture drainage and water retention. Follow this wasn't
enough of the deterrent, the most passel of a portion of their lifecycle and
soil, so introducing outdoor soil and your indoor garden is bound to invite
unwanted pests as well. Just don't do it. There are plenty of prepackaged
slugs available for purchase, like Foxfarm for instance, well they tend to be
fairly expensive. If the price isn't a choice, I will endorse this possibility.
Those of us who are a bit budget constrained now, there are other selections
to choose from. Several basic potting styles with a few of the previously
listed elements will do the work with the support of some added liquid
nutrient complements. In case you don’t want to add nutrients, water, and pH
soil continuously, then your best option is to make your nutrient-rich soil or
super soil. It'll go into a full description of super soil and a recipe and how to
make your own in a separate section, so for now if you'd like to know
necessary basic ingredients of a good cannabis oil recipe, pay attention. First,
you want to find an appropriate base for your soil. I mean, a decent potting
blend that is light and airy, and has all the components of what I previously
described, is good soil. Next, you want to add some ingredients that will
provide the nutrients that your plan is looking for. Specifically, nitrogen,
phosphorus, and potassium. Most commonly is nitrogen-rich soil additives
are worm casting or station meal. Warm castings are a quick-release addition
providing bacteria and micronutrients for a bio diverse soil. The station mail
is slower to release nutrients but also releases beneficial phosphorous and
calcium nutrients too. Bat Guano provides microbes and bacteria, but it also
provides the most robust levels of nutrients for the plants. Would you choose
to add to your mixture is up to you. When you chose your nitrogen addition,
it's time to choose your phosphorous additive. This usually comes in the form
of Rock dust, chicken manure, or bone meal. Regards to bone meal and rock
dust, they both provide great levels of phosphorous to the soil, but pH level
must be frequently monitored and kept below of 7 if you want this to be
effective enough. Regards to chicken manure are great for providing both
phosphorus and nitrogen to your soil. But make sure it's been fully processed,
and there's no longer cooking before adding it to your mix. Manure is still
cooking if it is still undergoing the decomposition cycle and it's still hot as a
result. Finally, you want to add some potassium-rich nutrients to your soil.
One of the most commonly used ingredients is kelp meal, wood ash and
Campost. Pelt meal provides excellent levels of potassium while introducing
microbes for biodiversity. Regards to Wood ash, it is also a good ingredient,
but be aware of how much you are expanding, as it can often raise the pH
level of the soil. Lastly, homemade compost comprised of rinds and peels can
be a great accumulation. One thing in regards to chicken manure is that you
should ensure that the compost you add, is no longer cooking, and has fully
completed the decomposition cycle. To boost your soil productivity, try
adding other micronutrient-rich components as well, such as gypsum or
azomite. Isn't sure your plants not only get the micronutrients they need but
all other micronutrients as well. So your plants are never left wanting for
anything. By doing this, will surely yield some great tasting and great looking
buds. All your ingredients and ratios, mixing them. Ensure that every corner
of the pot has been upended we leave no section unturned. You should Do
this every day, to ensure that all components make sure the equally
distributed to rope and that there's no residual heat from compost and other
added ingredients. Put your hand in the soil before planting anything to check
the temperature levels and consistency. There's no exact science to creating
your soil mixture. Even the oldest and best scorers still play with the ratios of
their soil blends, adding and subtracting ingredients frequently to test yield
results. My recommendation would be to play with your mixture ratios,
monitor your elements, and how much you use or include in every plant and
harvest. Eventually, find that works best for you and your favorite trade.
Simple tasks like spraying can be detrimental to your soil and plants if not
done appropriately.
The first benefit of super soil is that it is deficient maintenance. There's no
need to adjust the pH level of the soil, as the soil itself is a biodiverse
ecosystem, living and feeding off of itself. It naturally checks its pH, as the
organisms in the soil create a symbiotic relationship with your plant. There's
also no need to add more chemicals or nutrients, which eliminates the need to
Fletcher plants, before harvesting them. A decent super soil also releases the
right nutrients at the exact right time to your plants. Most people believe that
if using super soil, it also makes the look, the taste and the smoothness of
your buds healthier. Well, in general, it does make sense if we aspect the
harshness of buds to the use of biological nutrients and fertilizers during plant
growth. Lastly, the strongest argument for super soil is that it is purely
organic, allowing you to control and know precisely what's going on with
your plants, and what you're putting into them. There is some drawbacks
super soil though. Firstly, it can be costly if you're choosing to make it on
your own, as often recipes and mixes found online are for large Gardens. Not
for those of us who plan to grow only a few plants for personal recreational
use. In this case, it's a good idea to purchase some pre-made bagged stuff out
there. Another disadvantage is that making your super soil, requires some
advanced planning and mixing components and waiting for decomposition
can sometimes take more than 60 days. Finally, while a nutrient-rich soil
eliminates the need for supplemental nutrients, it does grow slightly slower,
so if you want a quick turnover your crop, this may not be the best option for
you. It might be better to go with the traditional potting soil and some
additional nutrients. Now that’s being said; we can begin the section on how
to make your super soil. The first thing you'll need is a tarp, or you might be
able to purchase a small children's pool to do your mixing in. The best size
would be about three feet deep, and three to four feet in diameter. To begin
your mix with a thick layer of organic carbon matter, about three to four
inches high. Make sure that you cover the entire base of your mixing area.
Examples of this ingredient could include peat moss, and cocoa croire, or
something similar. Next, you'll want to add an even layer of compost to your
blend. Make sure the compost you add, has fully composted though and is no
longer cooking. If the compost is made by yourself from organic matter, such
as banana peels, orange peels or something like this, is the best thing that you
can do. Next, add a thin layer of pearl lights in the mix. Do not cover the
entire area and white, but rather look for closely distributed white dots. The
next thing I want to add is your nitrogen layer. About 2 to 3 inches in height.
This can come in the form of manure, bat guano, worm castings, and fish or
shrimp meal. As each of these will release nitrogen at differing heights at
different points during this tie, feel free to do a mix of these or choose only
one of them. While adding a good quantity marker to go by, the blend should
be no more than 5-6% bat guano and no more than 20-22% of worm castings.
Any additional than these percentage and the nutrient overload will begin to
harm the plants. Next, add a thin layer of a phosphorous-rich ingredient.
About half an inch dense. This can come in the form of chicken manure, bone
meal, or rock phosphate. The same thing like with the nitrogen ingredients,
feel free to mix ingredients or choose just one. Next, you can carry on to add
layer upon layer, until the pile has reached about 3 feet in height. Once the
first layers are complete, add one cup of kelp meal. Once the second set is
complete, add about one cup of humic acid. This will upsurge fungal
diversity in your soil. When all the layers are complete, at half a cup of
gypsum or azomite some mix to boost soil complexity and micronutrient
diversity. Cloak the blend in your tarp, or if you are using children's pool,
cover it the with a tarp. The target here is to trap air and heat inside and let
the mixture cook in the Sun, for about 30 and 60 days, turning thoroughly
every five to six days. Try to encapsulate your mixture whenever possible
completely. In case you don't or can't, be sure to keep an eye out for bugs. It
will naturally attempt to join in on the fun inside of your tarp, as you're
essentially generating the perfect atmosphere for them to thrive and breed.
Ensure that your blend remains moist, but not wet through the entire course.
Once the mixture dries, the decomposition procedure comes to a halt, so it is
imperative. Next, add water sparingly as much as desired, which will also
help to cool the manure in the blend that naturally heats up from the
decomposition progression. You'll notice the decomposition process is
finished, once the soil is soft to the touch, crumbles in your hand, and the
color is dark black. Make sure that the blend is no longer hot by burying your
hand in the sand to test the hotness. The whole process should take about 30
and 60 days. You might go ahead and add some worms to the mixture. It will
help the composting procedure and loosen your soil, and the plant can grow
effortlessly. There is no harm if you are adding them to your jars either. This
will only help to loosen the soil. Please note, that this is a very much of a
general blend, and different strains will vary in their liking. However, do not
be afraid to diverge from this procedure, as long as you comprehend the main
macronutrient mechanisms, and why soil complexity is so significant. I've
also provided a layering strategy to the mixture instructions, in the hopes that
it will be easier for beginners to scale down in production size for their
requirements. Every new element adds a new component of microbes and
nutrient distribution to the soil. The more ingredients you increase, the more
complex your soil develops, and the more your plant thrives as a
consequence. This is also the reason why you should never be afraid to
experiment and try new things when collaborating your soils.
 Chapter 7 How To Choose Quality Seeds Of
Marijuana
Choosing Seeds
Here’s probably one of the more exciting parts of growing your Cannabis;
choosing what seeds to plant. Although you’re just talking about one species,
Marijuana has taken such a huge leap in variety when it comes to flavors,
growth mechanics, and even gender control.
Although plenty of seeds are self-explanatory, it’s important to know what’s
in the market before placing in an order for some seeds.
If you’re a consumer starting with zero background knowledge on seeds, it’s
easy to become confused by the many terms and types for seeds out in the
market right now. If you live in an area where Marijuana is legal, you’ll see
that the competition is very stiff and every distributor is aiming to come up
with the most unique product.
But how can you get more unique than a bunch of buds?
SATIVA VS INDICA
It was mentioned earlier that the genus Cannabis is divided further into sub-
species that have mild differences. Two of the more common sub-species are
Cannabis Sativa and Cannabis Indica. While both strains are ideal for
smoking, vaporizing, and ingesting, their mild differences could throw you
off.
The main difference between the two strains lies within their effects on the
body. If you’re looking to get more relaxation from your product, then you’re
going to want to get your hands-on Cannabis Sativa seeds.
On the other hand, a more euphoric and energizing sensation comes from
Cannabis Indica. These strains have a higher amount of CBD compared to
their THC count. Sativa, on the other hand, has more THC. This is the reason
behind their differences.
AUTOFLOWERING SEEDS
As the name implies, these seeds begin flowering after a certain time,
depending on where you get them. Whatever it is that you’ve done in
between the germination stage and the flowering stage, that’s all you’re
reaping.
These seeds are great for beginners in the sense that you know when to
expect your harvest. You can also give yourself a timeline on which you can
make predictable results. You won’t have to see what happens with your pot
plant with these seeds because flowers will bloom regardless of the amount
of sunlight and nutrients you give them.
On top of that, these seeds produce smaller plants that are easier to manage.
They consume less space and allow you to grow batches in different stages of
growth next to each other.
If you want your first batch to be a successful one in the sense that you end
up with something to consume, your best bet is to go with an auto-flowering
seed strain.
FEMINIZED
Male Cannabis seeds do not produce flowers that are rich in THC and CBD,
making them useless for the consumer. Thus, enthusiasts all around the world
struggle with the notion of identifying the gender of their plants and getting
rid of the male specimens in their population.
When it comes to the reproductive cycle of plants, it’s almost impossible to
ensure that 100% of your seeds will all be feminine. Despite that, you can
come statistically close to this margin with the right breeding methods.
Thanks to many years of research and experimentation done by many
seedbanks around the world, you no longer have to worry about weeding out
most of the seeds you buy. You can actually buy seed batches that are already
feminized by default. This is done by chemically-treating the seeds to
produce mostly female plants.
Most feminized packages can guarantee up to 95% female populations of you
plant the entire batch. If you’re a first-time grower that is looking for a good
yield, you will want to look for feminized batches.
Despite that, male seeds also have a purpose, especially for those in the
business of distributing Cannabis. To make seeds of your own, you will be
needing male plants to pollinate your females and created buds that have
seeds.
In those cases, you’re going to want to have a regular batch of seeds that
haven’t been modified to be predominantly female. This is why you have to
be thankful even if your batch of females still produces males. You’re
probably going to want them to start a new batch once you’re consumed your
first harvest.
Since Cannabis can also become hermaphrodites (have male and female
parts), you will still have to inspect all the flowers on your pot plant to make
sure that you only have female flowers. If you miss a male flower by any
chance, it will pollinate the other female flowers in your batch, ruining your
harvest.
OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS
If you’re looking for seeds online, you’ve probably seen some common
names popping up on multiple sales portals:
Super Skunk
AK47
Afghan Skunk
Bubble Gum
Afghan Kush
While these names sound like fancy brand names to attract your attention,
they are actually smaller, more specialized strains of Cannabis that have
specific effects.
There are some strains that help energize you while giving you less down-
times to help you get on with your day. There are other strains that allow you
to ease into your evenings easily.
There are also strains that have particular flavors along with the smoke when
they’re prepared. Others also give off certain scents that some consumers are
very particular with.
This is where seed selection becomes interesting. Here, you’re opened to the
possibility of finding something more specific to your preferences as a
consumer. You can begin by duplicating the kind of product with which
you’re familiar. The best way to do that is to ask your dealer what kind of
Cannabis you’re buying. There’s a good chance the name of the package is
the same name as the seeds you want.
When you’ve successfully grown your first pot plant or batch of plants, you
can start experimenting with other varieties. Mixing seed batches and cross-
pollinating breeds will give you more customization.
ORDERING SEEDS
If you already have a strain that you want to grow, the next step is finding the
best deal for your selection. This can become a bit confusing because global
competition is rather ferocious despite the question of Marijuana legality in
certain parts of the world.
Here, research is the key. Because of the stiff competition, it’s easy to fall
into a scam and get duped into thinking you’ve got a good deal on a shipment
only to be disappointed when the harvest comes. Check these sites to find a
good provider:
Dutch Passion
Nirvana
MSNL
Amsterdam Marijuana Seeds
You can call these organizations “seed banks” in the sense that they store and
ship seeds all over the world. These are just a few examples of the myriad
banks that provide quality shipments to interested enthusiasts.
Of course, you can also go close to home and approach your personal dealer.
If you already have a regular supplier of Cannabis, there is a good chance that
these dealers are also connected to enthusiasts that are willing to sell you
seeds.

SEEDS VERSUS CLONES

Another interesting aspect of growing Cannabis is the possibility of raising a
whole plant from the branches of another plant. These are known as clones.
Since Cannabis is considered as a weed, certain parts of the plant that are left
alone in ideal conditions will also grow roots and become a full plant in its
own regard, just like any other weed when left alone. This is why you can
also opt to grow a clone instead of a seed.
The only advantage you’ll have with growing clones is that you won’t have
to nourish any seeds so that they germinate. It’s already been done. What
you’re doing is you’re taking an amputated part of the plant and helping it
regenerate.
Once the clone has developed roots of its own, the differences in growing
disappear as you already have another new plant that will sprout flowers for
you.
Germinating Your Seeds
Now that you have a growing area, seeds, equipment, and everything else you
could possibly need, it’s time to put your knowledge into practice and have
those seeds germinate.
The word “germinate” refers to the process of plants breaking out of their
seeds and start growing roots. The process of germination is the first sign of a
good yield and is a very delicate process.
THE NATURAL METHOD
For beginners, the best way to germinate a seed is to follow the course of
Mother Nature and bury it about a centimeter deep into you pot and soil.
If you bury too deep, your plant will not get enough sunlight to germinate
properly. If you bury too shallow, your seedling’s roots won’t be able to get
into the soil well enough to establish itself.
As a grower, the next thing you want to see is a small bud protruding from
the surface of your soil. To make that happen, you have to meet a few
conditions:
-Your soil has to be moist, but not flooding. If you’re using nutrient-rich pre-
fertilized soil, then you don’t want to be washing away all those nutrients
with too much water. You also don’t want to drown the seedling.
-The temperature of the soil and its surroundings should be warm, but not too
hot as you might damage your seed. It is advisable that you bring your light
close to the soil to give the plant a good idea in which direction to grow.
If these conditions are met, you should see the first signs of life spring from
the top layer of the soil. As the tap roots of the plant begin to burst from the
coating of the seed, your first few leaves should make their way above soil
where your healthy lighting system is waiting for them.
SEED SOAKING
On top of the natural way of things, you can also try placing the seeds in a
glass of lukewarm water. It’s better if you use a clear glass so that you can
monitor the progress of your seedlings as you soak them.
As simple as this sounds, soaking your seeds is one of the best ways to get
your plants to break their seed coatings. By subjecting the seeds to water, you
change the environment of the seed and induce a softening of their outer
casings.
This works well if you’re using very old seeds that haven’t been planted in a
long time. They’re also great for thick and sturdy seeds that need more time
than usual to germinate.
After a few hours of soaking, you will notice that the seeds that are healthy
will sink to the bottom of your container. Give a few more hours after that
and you’ll notice white spots forming on the seeds.
These spots are the taproots trying to break out of the seed and absorb the
water. This is a sign that the soaking is working. It’s also a sign that means
you will have to take the seeds out soon.
Once the taproots have visibly sprung out from the seed casing, take them out
of the water and transfer them to your soil and pot. There, the seedlings will
not have a complete environment that has everything they need to flourish.
When using this method, it is important to count the hours that you’ve been
soaking your seeds. You cannot leave them in water for more than 24 hours
as this will simply down your seeds and make them unusable.
With that being said, there will still be some seeds that will not germinate
even if they’re left in water for almost a day. When this happens, don’t fret,
simply take the stubborn seeds out and place them in a warm and damp area
to promote germination.
Although this method is fast, it’s a precarious method that could end up
killing your seeds if you’re not careful. When you’re buying seeds, be sure to
consult with your source if your selection has hard seed cases that need to be
soaked. Seeds with soft shells don’t really need the soaking and will do just
fine in regular conditions.
THE PAPER TOWEL
Another way to get your seeds to germinate is to use a damp paper towel
placed on a plate. Make sure that the paper towel isn’t too wet. Run it quickly
through tap, with just the mildest flow, and wait for the water to cover the
whole towel.
When you have your wet towel, place it on a small platter. Place your seeds
on top of the towel and then fold the towel in half. After that, cover the whole
thing with another platter of the same size. That will provide the seeds with
some warmth to stimulate germination.
After about 3 days, check on the paper towel once more. By that time, some
of your seeds should have broken through and you should see some tap roots
coming out into the paper towel for nutrients. From there, you should
immediately transfer your seedlings into their pots and soil.
TRANSFERRING SEEDLINGS
If you’re germinating outside your pot, it’s very important to immediately
transfer your seedlings once they’ve broken through their shells.
This is because your plants are in dire need of nutrients and water and
sunlight in order to garner more building material. If you’ve placed them on a
paper towel or in a glass of water, you’re not going to be able to give them
everything they need.
Once your plant breaks through, it’s done germinating. It’s garnered enough
energy to pass its first hurdle which is to destroy its seed coating. It goes into
the next stage of development which is the vegetative phase.
To get it through that, you’re now going to need proper nutrients and sunlight
which you can only provide in your grow area. Don’t wait for the first few
leaves to pop out. As soon as you see your tap roots, transfer them right
away.
When transferring your seedlings, be sure to imbed them with the roots
facing downward. You already know where the nutrients are and you have to
make sure that your seedling is facing in the right direction.
Another thing to note when transferring your seedlings is not to touch the tap
roots. You can use tweezers or tongs. This is because your seedling’s roots
are very sensitive and hungry at this time. They will absorb almost anything
they can find. You don’t want to be giving them anything else than the stuff
you have for them in your soil.
On top of that, these roots are very tender. You can easily cripple your plant
if you don’t handle them with care. With damaged roots, your plant won’t be
able to get everything it needs to give you a bountiful harvest.
Before transferring your seedlings, make sure their new apartment is all set
up. Create an opening in the soil which is about a centimeter deep and in the
center of the pot. Once you drop your seedlings in, cover up the hole and turn
a light on it.
 Chapter 8 Choosing The Right Container For Your
Marijuana Plant
Soil growing is great for beginners because it is cheap and relatively
forgiving when it comes to neglect and mistreatment. With just a container
and soil you can quickly start growing, both indoors and outside.
The key with container growing is to get the watering schedule right. Growth
will be slowed with both over and under watering, with it being possible to
kill the plants too. Your plants will wilt when they have too much water and
too little, so you need another way of telling when they need water.
The easiest way to do this is to stick your finger into the soil down to the
second knuckle. If the soil feels damp at your fingertip then do not water. If it
feels dry, then water your plants.
Make sure that your containers have drainage holes as your plants will not
like standing in water.
You will start your seedlings off in small containers, perhaps plastic or peat
pots. When the seedling has reached a reasonable size, it has to be
transplanted to a larger container. Some people will say gradually increase
the size of the pot as your plant outgrows them whereas others say put the
plant directly into its final container.
There isn’t a huge difference between the two methods. If you pot a small
plant into a large container you will see it stop growing for a little while as it
grows a strong root system. It will suddenly shoot up and grow into a large
plant once it has established its roots. You also need to be very careful not to
over water a small plant in a large container as the plant will be unable to
absorb the quantity of water you are giving them.
When the plant is flowering, it should not be reported as the plant will stop
directing its energy into forming the flowers and buds you want, instead
concentrating its energy into the root system. The stress of being transplanted
will also negatively impact the yield.
The key to rapid plant growth in containers during the initial vegetative
period is to gradually increase the size of the container whilst encouraging
your plants to fill the container with roots as rapidly as possible.
Avoid your plants getting pot bound, I.e. the roots over fill the pot, become
too tight and grow into each other. This prevents the roots from taking in
oxygen and the plant will stop growing. When you see growth stop it is a
good indication that your plant has become pot bound. You may also notice
the leaves turn yellow, which can also indicate nutrient deficiency. A final
warning will be leaves dropping off the plant which is an indication of a
serious issue.
The size of container you use will depend on how often you want to repot
your plants and how large you want them to grow. For a 12-week growth
cycle you will want to transplant no more than 2 or 3 times. Start your seed
off in a small pot or rockwool cube then transplant into a 10-15cm pot. To
help your plant you can put a plastic bag over it to act as a mini greenhouse,
though be careful this doesn’t make the soil too moist and cause your plant to
rot.
After this you transplant to a larger pot, usually the final container. This will
be anything from 3 to 11 liters in size. To grow larger plants then transplant
again to a larger container for your plant to mature.
How often you repot your plants will depend on your growing strategy. Some
people prefer lots of smaller plants that flower quickly, whilst other people
grower fewer, larger plants. This decision is, in part, influenced by the space
available for you to grow in.
Most growers prefer to use plastic containers because they do not leach any
chemicals into the soil. They are also sturdy and easy to drill additional holes
in for drainage. Although ceramic pots look great, they are heavy difficult to
move and tend to have poor drainage.
Plastic containers are cheap to buy and come in a variety of different colors.
The most common, and the cheapest, is black. This is the best color as it
prevents light getting to the roots. If you clean the containers between plants
these black plastic pots will be good for several grow cycles.
Pots are available in a circular or square shape, with the latter usually being
slightly more expensive. It makes no difference to the plants which you use
but you will find square pots make more efficient use of space because they
can be placed next to each other. Often the largest pots are only available in
the circular shape.
A relatively new development are air pruning pots which increase the root
mass of your plants. These pots have perforated sides which allow the root
tips to be exposed to air and light instead of circling around the inside of the
pot. This stops the root from growing and secondary roots are put out inside
the pot, which builds a stronger root system so your plants can absorb more
nutrients to grow faster.
These are commonly made of fabric which can only be used for a single
growing cycle. These pots also dry out very quickly and will need more
frequent watering.
How to Repot a Plant
Before you put your plant into a new container you need to ensure that there
is plenty of drainage in the pot. Most pots will come with at least one
drainage hole, but you may want to drill some more. A layer of pebbles or
something similar in the bottom which will stop soggy soil sitting at the
bottom of your container.
Firstly, part fill the new container with soil so that when you sit your old
container in the new pot the top of the plant is at the right level.
Then remove the plant from its original container. Place your first two fingers
of one hand around the stalk of the plant at soil level, gently gripping the
stem. Turn the pot at an angle and gently squeeze the sides of the pot and the
plant should come out. If it doesn’t then tap the pot on the bottom and it
should slide out. This is much easier if the plant is dry.
If the root ball is too tight then gently tease out some of the roots otherwise
the roots may continue to grow in a circle and growth will be stunted.
Firm down the soil in the new container and then place the bare root plant on
top of this soil. Holding the plant straight with one hand use the other to add
soil around the plant, firming it down as you go until the firmed soil level is
at the soil level of the original plant. The top of the soil should be about half
an inch below the top of your container.
Water the plant in, but don’t overwater and provide a little fertiliser. Then put
the plant in its final position and let it settle in to its new container.
Growing in containers is a great way to grow your marijuana plants. It is
convenient, cheap and your plants are easily moved. For many people this is
how they get started before moving to other growing methods.
 Chapter 9 Getting the Light Right
Light is one of the most important elements for any plant to grow. Even
humans need light to stay healthy.
But understanding the light cycle is essential for successful growth of your
marijuana plants. It doesn’t just help them to grow; it can make a substantial
difference to how well it grows in different stages of its life.
Look at this way, in nature a plant is told when to start flowering by the
changing light of the day. As the hours of light in the day starts to decrease
the dark hours will increase and your marijuana plant will know it is time to
start flowering.
You generally have little control over this as the plant will respond to the
amount of sunlight each day. However, when you are growing marijuana
plants inside you have more control over how much of the day is light and
how much is dark. You can lengthen or shorten the hours of light your plants
get to trigger flowering when you want it.
The purpose of generating flowers is to create pollen and attract insects to
transfer this pollen to a new location; allowing the plant to continue to live.
This light trigger is essential as it helps seeds to grow.
Here are some methods of lighting.
High Intensity Discharge (HID)
HID grow lights are the most popular grow lights and offer a consistently
great yield.
Metal Halide (MH) creates a blue light that’s great for encouraging growth
in the vegetative stage while
High Pressure Sodium’s (HPS) yellow light encourages more growth in the
flowering stage.
Light Emitting Ceramic (LEC) creates a natural white light that can be used
throughout the grow cycle -from seed to harvest and produces UV rays. It
takes the best of the previous two bulbs and creates an efficient hybrid.
Sample Setup
250W HID yields ~1-2oz per month
400W HID yields ~1.5-3.5oz per month
600W HID yields ~2.5-5oz per month

Fluorescents
Fluorescent lights are great for small spaces and to get plants started. They
don’t burn the plant that’s under it. They can be used until the plants are
about 24inch tall, and at a distance of 1-4inch. Another big benefit of using
fluorescents is the low impact they make on your electricity bill. There are
two types:
T5
CFL
T5 lights are mostly used for small plants and seedlings and causes them to
grow short and wide. In the flowering stage, the T5 lights must be kept close
to the buds to produce a decent yield. Look for High Output (HO) bulbs to
get the most lumens for your bulb.

Sample Setup
For vegetative growth use bulbs that are labeled “Cool” or “Cool White” and
6500K.
For flowering growth use bulbs that are “Warm White” or “Soft White” and
either 2500K or 3000K.
CFLs can also be kept close to the plants allowing you to cut back on the
total amount of space you’ll need. These lights can conveniently be used
from seed to harvest but won’t be able to produce the biggest yields.

Sample Setup
2 x 40W Daylight CFLs
2 x 42W Soft White CFLs
Equals ~1oz of bud for each 150W of CFL
Light Emitting Diode (LED)
LED lights are the latest in lighting technology and are constantly being
developed. They feature excellent yields for the same amount of electricity as
CFLs, a customizable spectrum of light, and they don’t emit too much heat so
you don’t need to invest in an expensive exhaust system. In fact, many LEDs
come with a cooling option like built in fans to push away the heat from
plants to help create and maintain a stable temperature.
As great as their yields can be, it’s been difficult for growers to find the right
light spectrum, size of the diode, and angle configuration for each model to
grow effectively because they can be so different. It’s also important to note
that LEDs must be kept at a distance of about 12”-18” from the tops of plants
to avoid burning. Until the kinks are worked out and the process is
streamlined, there are a lot of unknown risks as much as there are perks to
using LEDs.
You can also consider a combination of LEDs and HPS bulbs to improve the
overall quality of your buds. LEDs are commonly thought to increase the
potency of your strain while HPS bulbs produce better looking buds.

Sample Setup
1x 600W LEDs
Achieving the Best Growth
In fact, it’s not the amount of sunlight that a plant gets which triggers its seed
producing response, it’s actually the amount of darkness it’s subjected to.
The more hours of darkness your plant receives the closer it will think winter
is, this will encourage it to start flowering.
In short, keep it green and bushy by keeping the light to a minimum of 18
hours per day. The key level of darkness is 12 hours, once your plants have
this they will start to flower. There are slight discrepancies depending on the
age of your plant:
Seedlings need 16 – 24 hours of light and no more than 8 hours of darkness.
Clones need 18- 24 hours of light and no more than 6 hours of darkness.
Vegetative plants need 18 hours of light and 6 of dark.
Flowering need a 50 / 50 split, 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark.
Photochrome Red And Far Red
This term relates to the color pigments of your leaves and is actually the light
receptors in your marijuana plant. They are designed to absorb red light and
then react to it, or the lack of it.
Photochrome Far red responds to the red part of the light spectrum. To
manipulate this light receptor, you simply need to use lights with far red color
in them.
This is important, the moment there is no red in the light the far red will start
turning into standard red. Once the red has the advantage over far red the
flowers will start to open!
However, while far red converts to red slowly, the process of converting
standard red back to far red is exceptionally quick; this is why it is essential
to have at least 12 hours of darkness!
How Infrared Works
Infrared operates at the far end of the light spectrum; much of the light
emitted is not visible to the human eye. It does not contain far red. This
means that infrared can be used to make your plants think it is dark;
encouraging flower growth and allowing you to obtain the flowers which you
need for your medicinal marijuana.
In fact, the real benefit of infrared is that it can be put on for 6 hours and your
plants will think they have had 12 hours of darkness! There is a distinct
advantage to this approach; your plants will still be able to get as much as 18
hours of sunlight, allowing them to keep growing while they start flowering.
The result is bigger plants and a better yield.
How UV Fits In

Ultraviolet light is another light range that is invisible to the human eye. This
is at the other end of the spectrum, between visible light and X-ray light.
There are 3 types of UV light:
UV –A (320 – 400nm)
This is the least harmful and is often found in nail lamps and other similar
products.
UV – B ( 290 – 320nm)
Long term exposure to UV-B can cause damage to cells in plants and
humans; the majority of this is absorbed by the ozone layer. This is the same
UV that burns your skin.
UV – C (100 – 290nm)
This can sterilize most things but is fortunately caught by the atmosphere
before it reaches earth.

UV-B is important to plants; it triggers a reaction which makes them grow

towards the light. It is therefore useful to expose your plants to some UV-B.
But, UV-A is far more beneficial. It will increase the yield of your plant,
helping them to grow faster and it will increase the number of nutrients in
your plant, ensuring it tastes better. It can also kill microbes on your plants
which could be harmful to the growth of your marijuana plants.
In short, a UV light will help your plant to grow faster and larger.
To successfully grow your plants inside you need to use UV lights. They
don’t just improve the yield; they allow your plants to have enough light.
Without UV lighting your plant will not grow properly and will flower too
early, making it effectively useless.
Indoor plants will not see enough sunlight to grow; that is why you need UV
light on them for at least 18 hours a day. This will ensure they have strong
roots and produce a good yield.
Atmospheric Conditions
At this stage, things should be starting to come together. You’ve chosen the
type of marijuana you wish to grow, your pot size and the type of system you
wish to use to grow your marijuana. For clarity, if you are a beginner then it
is best to start with a pot, good quality soil and some fertilizer. Providing
you’ve chosen the right light set up and understand the light cycles you’re
nearly ready to start planting.
But first, you need to understand the importance of getting the humidity right,
how to ventilate your crop and, perhaps the most concerning of all, how to
prevent the aroma of marijuana penetrating the air. Even if you have just 6
plants this aroma might be enough to attract others that would like your crop
for their own reasons!
Setting The Humidity Level
You are probably already aware that humidity simply refers to the amount of
moisture there is present in the air. The more there is the more humid the air.
The marijuana plant is not keen on high levels of moisture; this is good as
modern heating systems tend to dry the air in your home. However, nature is
all about balance. Low humidity levels equate to high evaporation pressure.
This is good as it helps your plants to absorb vital nutrients. However, if the
humidity becomes too low then the plant will assume there is a problem with
water and start protecting itself from dehydration.
Unfortunately, this means it will no longer absorb water and will not be able
to grow!
When you have seedlings they need a humidity of 70%.
As each week passes you can reduce this by 5%. This is because the roots are
growing and increasing the plant’s ability to collect water.
After 6 weeks you should be at 40% which is where you should keep the
humidity level for the rest of their growth.
Humidity is partly controlled by the temperature of your grow room. It is
therefore essential to have a humidity meter and consistently monitor the
level; this will ensure you can react appropriately if the humidity levels
change.
How to adjust humidity
You need to know the current humidity rating. It’s best to use a hygrometer
for this (analog or digital).
It is worth noting that the humidity is affected by the temperature outside the
house. For instance, temperatures outside below 15° Fahrenheit your
humidity reading will probably be about 35%. It should increase by 5% every
time the temperature rises by 10°F.
Air-conditioning or a dehumidifier. These are a great way of removing
moisture from a room, allowing you to bring it down to the most appropriate
level for your needs.
Cat litter can be your best friend if the humidity gets too high. Simply spread
some in a tray and leave it in the growing room. It attracts moisture and will
lower the moisture level in the room.
Add moisture by having water in the room in open bowls, it will evaporate
into the room; increasing the humidity levels.
Another option is to use a humidifier which will push moisture into your
room, helping to boost the moisture level.
You can also use a vaporizer; this uses warm water and vaporizes it into the
air, boosting the moisture content, if needed.
Add ventilation, this can reduce the humidity level if the outside air already
has a lower humidity rating. A fan, coupled with an atmospheric controller
can make a huge difference to the ease in which you can control the humidity
levels.
Poor Humidity Side Effects
Unsurprisingly getting the humidity wrong will affect the growth rate of your
plants. But this is not the only sign that there is an issue with humidity:
White powder - This is a fungal disease that only arrives when the
atmosphere is too humid. A good airflow system can help to prevent this.

Bud Rot - If the insides of your buds are white or brown with mold then you
have bud rot and your crop is effectively useless. This is incredibly
frustrating and not something that will be an issue if you monitor the
humidity rating properly.
Nutrition - If your plants start to look like they have yellow or burnt tips then
they are effectively consuming more water than they should be; this is
usually because of low humidity.
Increase the humidity levels immediately.
Don’t forget the right humidity levels will encourage maximum growth!

Plant Stage Humidity level

Seedlings 70 – 80%
Vegetative 40 – 60%
Flowering 40 – 50%
Final flowering Less than 40%
Choosing The Right Ventilation System
Ventilation is often a difficult issue. The basic truth is that no matter how
many or how few the number of plants you are growing; you are likely to be
growing them in confined conditions.
There is good reason for this; you don’t want everyone knowing what you are
doing. Even when growing them for medical reasons many people do not
realize this is an option and are likely to report you. This will give you
unnecessary hassle and highlight to others that you have marijuana.
You need ventilation for several reasons:
Toxin removal - Marijuana is no different to most plants in that it pushes
toxins out of itself through the leaves. Air flow helps to remove these toxins
from the plants. Without this they can stay there, preventing the plant from
pushing more out and even encouraging the growth of mold.
Humidity- We already looked at humidity and understood the importance of
getting this right. However, as we mentioned, air flow can help with
distributing the same humidity level across the room.
A fan can simply move air round your room, helping to decrease the chance
of mold forming on your plants. It can also be used to bring air inside from
outside the building; this can lower the temperature to reduce the humidity
levels. This approach is especially effective if you add a temperature and
humidity control device as the fan can switch on and off automatically.
Creating the Ventilation
The most comprehensive method of creating ventilation is through the use of
several items:
An intake fan, this sucks air in from the outside.
An extractor fan; this pushes the air out of your grow room and into the
outside world.
An interior fan, to move the air across the plants. This might not be necessary
if you only have a few plants.
Some sort of air filter device.
The intake fan does more than just bring air in, it pushes it in at the same rate
the extractor is removing it; this allows the air pressure to remain the same
preventing any disruption to the growing cycle of the plants.
Dealing with the aroma
Of course, if you’ve ever had any experience with growing marijuana then
you’ll know it has a distinctive smell which is relatively easy for others to
detect. While ventilation is essential, this will push the smell of the plant into
your house; not something you are likely to want to risk!
Carbon Filter - This is the perfect addition to your extractor fan. All the air
leaving your room should be pulled through the fan. In the process it will
need to pass through the carbon filter you have fitted.
Negative Ions - A more advanced method is to use a negative ion generator.
This charges the particles in the air and effectively gives these particles the
ability to neutralize the odor
in other particles; eliminating the aroma of marijuana in the process.
A carbon filter is more effective but this is a great alternative.
HEPA - This is an alternative type of filter which can be used in your grow
room. However, it still requires air flow through it. But, the fan does not need
to ventilate outside the grow room; making it an attractive option in some
scenarios.
Controlling Temperature
Like all plants it is important to get the temperature right. In fact, temperature
is the key to controlling humidity and ensuring you have healthy plants. In
basic terms you can simply monitor your growing room by how you feel; if
it’s too cold for you then it’s too cold for you plants. Equally if you think it’s
hot so will your plants.
You’ll then need to take steps to control the temperature. Of course, adding
and removing heat will affect the humidity in the room and this must be
accounted for. This is why most advanced marijuana growers have humidity
and temperature monitors. Controlling these will help to ensure your plants
grow large and healthy.
The best temperature for growing marijuana is between 17 - 30° Celsius (62 –
86° Fahrenheit). To be specific:
Vegetative State – 21 – 30° C (70 – 86°F)
Flowering State – 17 – 27° C (62 – 80°F)
It is worth noting that the temperature should be lower when they are in their
dark stage than the light stage, but still within the range indicated above. This
helps to stimulate the natural conditions they have in the wild and encourages
the best growth.
 Chapter 10 Marijuana Growing Calendar
The Vegetative Phase
In case you are growing outdoors, you need to determine when spring starts
in your area. Growers in California have one of the coldest climates in the
country for growing Outside Marijuana; they can get their seedlings out early
and grow massive sativas without fear that the flowers won’t finish in time.
Other parts of the United States have a long, cold, rainy spring season; the
more northern the area, the shorter the growing season. The beginning of the
cycle is procuring clones or starting your seeds. These little ones will want to
be nurtured until they reach a safe size to be put outside.
The word clone can be a bit unclear. A clone or replica does not have to be
the size of a cutting; this is just while growers generally receive them from
the propagator. Sometimes a clone arrives as a three or four-foot tall plant,
which is a happy bonus, but the downside is that this giant clone is most
likely root-bound and will experience difficulties as it tries to adjust to real
sunlight. The sun is far more powerful than grow lights, so it will take your
flowers a little while to adjust. The first transplant for seedlings is typically
from their small four-inch starter pots to a three or five-gallon container. This
will allow enough room for the flowers to grow while they make their sexual
strength of character. Clones are known females so that the grower can put
them right into their most robust container. In case the clones are still tiny
and will eventually be planted directly into the ground, they will help from a
provisional transplant until they gain enough size to be safely ground fixed.
An excellent source for information on your local microclimate is your local
Farm Extension Service. It tracks information like frost dates and rain levels.
The flowers will be in what is called the vegetative phase of growth; they are
working at growing roots, gaining size, and building strong stalks and lots of
healthy green leaves. Marijuana is light-sensitive and necessitates a light
trigger to begin the phase of flower development desired by Marijuana
growers. During the vegetative stage, the flowers will want plenty of water
and more nitrogen than during the flowering period. In case the grower plans
to make clones from this harvest, now is the time to take cuttings. It is
feasible to clone from a plant, but not advised. It takes the cutting far longer
to root, and the new little plant may attempt to flower right away. An eight-
inch flowering plant is not of much exploit or appropriate in any way.
 The Flowering Phase
The flowers will grow until daylight shortens to twelve hours. This is what
triggers the flowers to begin flowering. The days remaining for reproduction
are dwindling, and the flowers will strive to complete their natural goal of
flowering and seeding. In case the grower plans to breed for seed, he will
have isolated a male or males of preferred lineage and collected and labeled
the pollens. As soon as the female flowers show pistils, the grower can
pollinate selected branches to create new hybrids and fresh seed for next
year.
The grower can continue to breed the females until harvest time, but late
breedings won’t give the flowers enough time to develop mature and viable
seeds. As the flowers grow plants , their vegetative growth will slow and after
stop. They are concentrated on reproduction, and a large array of healthy,
resin-covered plants is their natural way to catch wind-borne pollen. The
grower has mostly frustrated this goal by removing the males and selectively
breeding, but the flowers won’t distinguish this and develop resins as fast as
they can. You could stop feeding the flowers nitrogen at this time and
increase the ratio of phosphorus and potassium that the flowers want for
flowering. During this phase, the cautious grower spends quite a bit of time
grooming the flowers by removing yellowed leaves and clearing any plant
debris that falls to the ground. This will decrease pest infestations and is
essential in preventing different molds that effect Marijuana flowers (and
particularly the plants ).
Different hybrids and even different flowers within a strain will complete
their flowering at different times. Certain strains finish as early as early
September, while others, typically sativa types, take weeks longer to
maximize resin production and finish their cycle. Certain times the Outside
grower is forced to compromise and take the late-finishers in to hang a little
sooner than they would like. This is a trade-off: leaving the flowers out can
Certain times improve the quality of the finished product, but a rainy fall and
late harvest leads to mold and the subsequent loss of ounces of bud.
 Chapter 11 How To Clone Marijuana Plants
In cannabis cultivation, a clone refers to a plant that is a replica of another
plant. While the words “clones” and “cuttings” may be used interchangeably,
it is important to note a slight difference between them. Cuttings refer to the
cut-off parts of a mother plant, intended for rooting. Clones, on the other
hand, are the already rooted cuttings taken from mother plants.
Cannabis clones are products of asexual propagation of a single, female,
mother plant that has been carefully selected and bred for this purpose.
Cannabis clones develop from stem cuttings of a mother plant that is
replanted to redevelop roots and a shoot system, before growing into a new,
healthy plant. With clones, the chances are higher the offspring’s are going to
have an exact chromosomal copy of the parent. That means a precise DNA
material transfer is made and this manifests in the observable traits of clones
such as the ability to resist pests and pathogens, and resilience in case of less-
than-adequate growth conditions.
The most common type of cannabis clone is created via a plant cutting, but
tissue culture is also a viable method used by some commercial researchers.
Why use clones?
There are some reasons why cultivators and home growers alike prefer clones
to seeds.
Cannabis is a heterozygous plant that frequently produces a
wide variety of genetic material in offspring during sexual
propagation. While this may engender variety, it can also cause
unwanted surprises that you will do better to avoid.
Clones take less time to mature. If time is of the essence,
cloning is your best bet. You don't need to wait for your seed to
germinate and then sprout. With clones, you are jumping
directly into the deep end.
Clones also save money and prevent uncertainty. It may take
more than four weeks to determine the sex of a plant developed
from a seed. With clones, however, you can save unnecessary
expenses incurred in caring for plants that may grow to become
unwanted by you. Imagine wanting a female plant only to
 discover the seedling you have been tendering for a month is
male.
Clones also give you the chance to experiment and study the
effects of varying factors on your cannabis garden. That will
give you an edge in subsequent growing seasons.
Importantly, cloning gives you a chance at a repeat experience.
It means you do not have to admire a particular strain once and
then, puff; it goes away. No. you can use cloning to preserve
the best traits possible in your cannabis for as long as you want.
Furthermore, cloning helps keep your cannabis farm self-
renewing. Usually, a cannabis plant dies off at the end of its
flowering cycle. With cloning though, you get to prolong the
lifecycle by stopping development at the vegetative stage. This
also means that you have the base input for your next farming
season. You also get to save cost by not having to spend on
seeds next time around.

Increasing Success Rate of Cloning

From our discussion so far, cloning may look quite simple to you. It is simply
cut a part of the mother plant, plant in the soil and watch it germinate into an
entirely new plant. However, the process can provide some challenges and be
difficult to master. The process itself starts from the selection of the right
mother plant. If your mother plant is sickly, its clones will inherit that
weakness as well. Therefore, you must pay attention and find fortune, to be
able to pick an incredible mother plant, one with all the unique characteristics
you want and less undesirable traits.
Furthermore, the clones to be replanted aren’t always strong. They require
tendering and careful attention if they are to survive. If this isn’t done, then
the chances of a failed cloning process increase.
Here are some other pointers to help you maximize your odds of success in
cloning your cannabis plant.

Avoid cloning sick plants

When you have a mother plant, you're excited about, chances are you'd want
to clone it. But if it's sick at the moment, you might get confused about what
to do. Do you go ahead and try to get a cutting from a clean part of the plant?
Yes, you can give that a try but it is risky, and the chances of succeeding are
narrowed. While this strategy may work, the odds that such a weakened clone
would survive are much dimmer than average. Even if it does survive for a
bit, it will need to fight hard to stand a faint chance of surviving. These
factors significantly increase the odds of failure. Therefore, it is best and
prudent you go for healthy plants instead.

Use sterile instruments for your cuttings.

Infectious agents abound everywhere, even on the shears that you use to
make your cuttings. Therefore, you need to be sure it is sterile before you use
it. If you cannot get a new pair of shears for cutting each time, then at the
very least, distinguish the shears you use to cut clones from the ones you use
to prune other plants.

Stop giving nutrients until you’ve transplanted your cuttings.

Hold off on the nutrients until after your transplant is completed. Do not
overload the fragile cuttings with nutrients they can’t even absorb yet. At the
very least, you need to give them a few hours to two days to develop their
first roots. If you keep pumping nutrients into the soil when they do not even
have the roots to absorb them, then, they may find it hard to thrive when they
do eventually get those roots.
Clones vs. Seeds
One of the first things you'll need to decide on when starting to grow
cannabis is whether to start from seed or clone. One of the first things you'll
need to decide on when starting to grow cannabis is whether to start from
seed or clone. Choosing between clones and seeds is without a doubt a
landmark decision. I will not attempt to announce a clear winner between
clones and seeds; I will rather lay bare the benefits and drawbacks in using
either clones or seeds. You can decide based on the variables and plans you
have for logistics.
Benefits of using cannabis seeds

Seeds sprout plants that possess a taproot. Taproots give rigidity and
 strength to plants.

Since clones are replicas of their mothers, it can be deduced that they
would most likely inherit the bad traits of the mother plants, if any.
Using seeds cuts out this possibility, as each is unique in genetic
composition and chemical architecture.

Seeds provide a wider variety of outcomes than clones.

If for some reason you do procure seeds but don’t want to put them to
use immediately, you could store them guaranteed that they would still
be good by the time you are ready to use them. Seeds have a longer
lifespan in contrast to clones, and can usually be stored safely for a
long time.

Drawbacks of using seeds

Some of the disadvantages of growing cannabis from seeds include:

A grower invests quite a bit of time before they know if the

seed is male or female.

Seeds are very delicate after they pop. It doesn't take much to
kill them. This can be a huge issue for new growers who are
still just trying to figure things out.

Germinating seeds is a skill that not everyone possesses. It

takes experience to master.
 Basic Steps to Cloning
There are several methods of taking cuttings from your selected mother plant.
I will discuss the techniques with the highest success rates in this section.
Successful cloning requires the highest standards of cleanliness, and care.
Clones are sensitive to their environment. Harsh conditions such too much
heat and too much light will increase death rates.
There are several methods of taking cuttings from your selected mother plant.
The techniques with the highest success rate will be outlined in this section.
Successful cloning requires the highest standards of cleanliness, and care.
Clones are sensitive to their environment. Harsh conditions such too much
heat and too much light will increase death rates.
Step 1: As I earlier asserted, the most important step in the cloning process is
to make a choice of the mother plant to take cuttings from. Once this is done,
you are set for work. Get your sharp razor ready (or a pair of scissors,
whatever the case might be). As earlier mentioned, using a razor is
recommended because they exert lower pressure and are less likely to
damage the mother plant. Using the razor, make a clean cut of a branch off
the mother plant. The choice of branch should be made considering factors
such as health and vigor. Only the healthiest branch(es) should be cut. While
making the cut, make sure to cut at an angle, that is, make a diagonal cut of
the branch. The cutting angle could be set to anywhere between 40 and 45
degrees, in order to secure a larger surface area for faster rooting. Care must
be taken while making the cut to ensure that the mother plant is not damaged
in any way. After making the cut, you must immerse the cutting into the
water immediately. This should be done for all cuttings.
Step 2: Now, you have your cuttings ready for planting. The next step is to
examine your cuttings to make sure they are appropriately structured before
proceeding to plant. If there are too many leaves or little branches on your
cuttings, you should remove some of the leaves and cut off the little branches,
so that your cuttings will fit into the planting medium perfectly. Now, apply
the rooting hormone to your cuttings. You must ensure that there are at least
2 to 3 leaves on each cutting above ground level, and 2 sets of trimmed nodes
below ground level.
Step 3: Now that the rooting hormone has been applied to your cuttings, dip
them into wet, treated grow medium. The setting can be achieved with
distilled water. Using an object with a blunt end, make a half inch incision in
the growing medium. This allows for root structures to emerge and grow
optimally.
Step 4: The next step involves watering the rooting medium. Carefully apply
water to the rooting medium until it becomes moist. You must take great care
while watering, to ensure that you do not over-water and damage your baby
clones' roots. Note that you need to keep your clones moist all the time. You
must avoid allowing your clones to get dry at all cost, especially in their
infancy. At this young age, conditions must be kept at optimum so as to
increase the chances of survival and wellbeing of your clones. You might
consider placing them under a humidity dome, in order to keep them moist
always and prevent drying.
Step 5: Like other conditions necessary for optimal development of your
clones, lighting conditions must be strictly controlled and religiously
monitored. It is recommended that you place your clones not more than 24 to
30 centimeters from a fluorescent bulb, while giving them 18 to 24 hours of
daily light consumption.
Step 6: Watch your clones fervently for the next few days. Under excellent
conditions, roots should begin to develop with 7 to 8 days, and by two weeks,
the root architecture should have completely developed. Once this is
achieved, you can begin the transplanting process.
Step 7: Examine the root structure of your clones. Clones that have brown,
damaged roots should be set aside. Clones exhibiting this sign typically grow
very slowly and weakly. However, there have been reports that roots that
developed a brown, wilted presentation early on went on to gain strength and
grow normally. To this end, roots appearing brownish in color may be
allowed 5 to 6 days to restore rigidity. If they fail to normalize after 6 days,
then it is advised that clones with such roots are removed from the garden.
Step 8: You may dip your clones into Vitamin B1 before going on to plant
them, as this substance is proven to help stimulate root development.
As clones are genetic mirror images of their respective mother plants, the act
of cloning allows you to select and maintain certain desirable qualities or
characteristics of a mother plant, at relatively low costs. Cloning is an easier
way of growing cannabis, compared to growing from seeds; this means you
can all the desirable traits you want while sustaining a high yield. However, if
you are new to cloning, the process may not go all smooth and easy the first
time, it takes knowledge and experience to master the art of cloning.
 Chapter 12 How To Protect Your Marijuana
Plant
I will help you define all the equipment, space, yield, strain and time
concerns before you plant your seeds. Growing indoors can be as relaxed or
as rough as you wish it to be. With that being said, it does require space and
as well a few specific equipment before you begin to grow. Deciding what
suits your requirements can be puzzling if you're starting, and this is why I'll
explain all the things you should consider before planting your seeds.
I have been advising many people before, and most of them have a huge
success rate. Therefore, I can genuinely state that your best bet on clarifying
all complicated tools, and considerations, is to finish reading this book. If
you do that, I will teach you how to grow cannabis indoors, as nobody else
does.
All right, We will cover a few broad topics that each could easily take up
their dedicated books. I propose to skim over these topics, mainly because
once you purchase the equipment I recommend, all you need to worry about
is to order them so that you can grow some great plants. The objectives of
this section are to get you thinking about space lighting, increase medium
strain, and time concerns before planting the seeds. The first thing you'll need
to consider when growing indoors is space.
In terms of space, you should ask yourself the following questions:

Where will you put the plants?

Do you have enough space to grow full-sized flowers?
Do you high ceiling to cover a meter or more in size?
What are the dimensions of your area, and how much can you
allocate?
And of course: ventilation and air flow?
These inquiries are a good start because they will help you determine how big
your gross space, how many plants you can grow at the same time, and the
lighting you'll need, to cover the entire grow area effectively. Moreover,
you'll need to choose lighting gear. You might already have some lighting,
but in case you don’t, you should think about what will you be using. Will it
be CFL, LED, or HID lighting?
In terms of considerations when selecting your Lighting, is how much space
you have to cover. What scope of yield you are planning to achieve.
Additionally, would you like proper ventilation, unless you already have, and
how much cash you're willing and able to put towards this project. When you
begin to build your space, you should consider both: setup costs as well as
monthly electricity bills. Another thing to contemplate is what medium you
use to grow your plants. Will you use soil hydroponics or a soilless medium?
This could be very easy to decide, but even within these subjects, you need to
know what type of soil is most beneficial, and which hydroponic setup is the
most suitable for your requirements.
This alternative here is which is the easiest to maintain, but if you're hesitant
about hydroponics or else, this is your first-time hearing about soilless
developing medium, you should finish this book first. The next consideration
is what strain best suits your desires. Some things to consider when choosing
a strain type are whether they are feminized or not unless you buy feminized
seeds, you should know that about half of your flowers will be female and
produce buds. If you do notice male plants, it's best to terminate them
instantly before they pollinate your female plants. They also take up lights for
no reason, and your female plants could use that. Also, the area you will grow
should be considered when you are selecting a strain. You can find strain in
numerous different types, such as short, medium and high selections. You
sure don’t want to have, is a plant that grows way too big for your small grow
space, right? Furthermore, do you want an auto-flowering strain, because
some strains have been taught to otto flower, so there's no need for you to
adjust your lighting schedule to prompt the plant's flowering cycle.
You should also have to think about if you might want to grow different
strains in the same area because some strain toning might be required. In case
you not heard of strain toning before, what it means is that you'll need to pair
the growing styles of your flowers, so they have a similar canopy level, and
they won’t overshadow each other. Last but not least, you want to choose a
strain that best suits the goals of your medical and recreational serving.
Are you handling pain, dealing with ticks, having trouble sleeping, or looking
for some couch lock? Diverse strains will cater to each of these
circumstances, so choosing an appropriate pressure is essential. One more
thing to note before planting your seeds is how much time you're willing to
put into looking after your flowers. So that you know if you are using CFL
lighting with soil in a growing medium usually is much more time-
consuming. Instead, if you use a LED light with a hydroponic system is
rather low maintenance, so you should think about how much time will you
have daily because it will have a significant impact on your choice of
equipment.
I certainly hope you have taken some notes on what you should consider
according to your requirements and purchased the equipment you want to
work with, so now it's time to make sure you set it all up in a professional
manner.
The primary learning objectives of this Section for you to learn:
-Learn what tools and equipment required to grow indoors,
-Learn how to set up your grow space properly.
An average growing area should have a grow tent or some enclosed area with
light reflective walls, and lights, such as CFL, LED, or HID. Additionally,
you should have at least one carbon filter, one fan, and pots for a hydroponic
system.
Some other tools recommended for basic maintenance of your plants are pH
testing kit, a thermal hygrometer, a nutrient kit, an automatic timer for your
lighting grow pods, but for seed germination you will need soil as well,
unless you're using a hydroponic system for plant training and a power bar
with a surge shield.
Once you begin to set up your gear, the first step is to set up the tent in a way,
that will allow a full expanse of airflow. If possible, you should have a
smooth flow of air from one side of the intake of the tent. Regards to the
carbon filter on the other hand, put your fan near the input, as it creates
proper airflow. Moreover, you should remember as your plants grow, you'll
need to adjust the fan in a way that is continuously wrestling the leaves at the
top of your plants. Also, make sure you don't point your fan directly at your
plants. This could cause windburn. Place your pots in a hydroponic system at
the bottom of your tent. Preferably in some waterproof drip tray, so any
spilled soil, water or nutrient solution can be easily washed up.
Additionally, make sure that you clean your drip tray frequently to keep your
grow environment free of bacteria, and make sure that your plants are
healthy. Next, you must hang your lighting from the top of your grow tent.
The average LED light should hang about 18 inches from your plant canopy.
The light strength varies by manufacturer, so if you're not sure, contact the
manufacturer, or see the description of the equipment.
If you're using CFL lights, this setup will need continuous alteration, so
please ensure that the bulbs are about six inches away from your plants. In
case you have an HID lighting, the distance from your plant will depend on
the wattage of the light uses.
Respectfully, the fastest resolution to figure out the right distance even is to
test it by hand. What it tells you, is that you should put your hand just above
the plant canopy for about 10 seconds, and if you feel that your hands are
about to burn, your light is too close to your plants.
All right. So, one of the first things you must do is to ensure that your seeds
are fertile. They should be a dark brown color, but if they are light tanned or
white color, there is a good chance they are probably not developed enough
to be fertile. Regardless, try to germinate them anyway. There are several
ways to grow seeds, like the one called; Damp paper towel method or you
might go ahead and start soaking the seeds, creating a germination station, or
plant them directly in their growing medium. Some of these techniques could
become very expensive, and for this reason, I will teach you the best
approach with the highest proven rate of success.
Germination pot technique:
That’s right! To germinate seeds, the best way to go by is to plant as a
minimum twice as many seeds as you want to harvest, especially if you are
not using feminized seeds. This is because only about 50% of your plants will
be female and produce buds. Likewise, it is super easy to make mistakes, and
some of your plants could die at your first few attempts of growing.
When you are ready, take your seeds and place them into the whole of the
germination pod. Next, water it as your pod manufacturer label directs. A
quick word of caution: you should test your water’s ph level and adjust it as
necessary before every single time you are watering.
This is because you don’t want something as simple as water ph levels to
disrupt your plant's growth. Furthermore, make sure that you keep the pods in
a warm dark place until you see a sprawl comes out from the top of the
whole.
Next, place them under an LED light with intensity. Regards to the light
settings, I suggest you grow your buds as follows:
- 30% of Blue light intensity
- 15% of Red light intensity
- 15% of Infrared light energy
- 30% of UV and White light intensity
Make sure you keep the lights at least 18-19 inches away from the top of the
plants at all times. In case you are using CFL lights, use a 150 Watts worth of
CFL lighting between 18 to 24 hours a day.
Be sure that the germinations are spring leg, which means they are kept wet,
between 22 to 24 degree Celsius, or 72 to 75 Fahrenheit. Afterward about
five to seven days in the pod, the seed will spread tall enough, so you have to
transfer the soil. Generally speaking, transfer the pod into another bigger pod,
which is about the size of a plastic solo cup. This is where it will spend its
time as a seedling.
 Chapter 13 How To Harvest Marijuana Plant
For Maximum Yields?
The main concern here is when to harvest your plants and how to determine
the right time for harvesting.
Materials Required
1) String and nails: You may also use a drying rack; it depends on your
harvest size.
2) Clippers: You can use pruning shears, scissors, or a sharp garden knife.
3) Paper bags
4) Large size canning jars
How to Harvest:
Starting with the stem, cut off the main branches of your plants. Cut as big as
you can. Your cutting depends on the space you have for the next step of
drying. If you don’t have a large space, cut the branches into smaller pieces.
You may cut the leaves off, or you can keep them as is. You can let the
leaves remain on the branches as you dry the buds. You can use a tumbler to
pluck the leaves the moment they are fully dried.
Drying Cannabis Buds
You are almost done preparing marijuana for medicinal or personal use. You
can start using your buds right after drying them. Another option is to cure
them for the best taste, smell, and smoothness.
In order to dry your buds, trim them first. When you cut down all the peaks
along with the part of the stem, it is time to cut off all the leaves, and trim the
leaves that are close to the peaks.
You can also decide to trim after drying. The drying process is very simple.
Just take the buds, make a series of flower peaks on the rope and hang them
upside-down in a cool, dry, dark place. Make sure that the area is well-
ventilated. Dry your buds slowly and in a natural way. After a few days of
drying (depending on the humidity level and room temperature), peaks will
become completely dry. Ensure that tops of the flowers are not touching each
other. Inspect them regularly to look out for mold and signs for over drying.
Image: Drying Cannabis
You can also dry them in a well-ventilated box, making sure that the tops do
not directly touch the fan. You will recognize dried peaks as the stems will
become easy to break.
Curing Cannabis
If you want to smoke your marijuana for medicinal purposes, you can opt to
cure the buds. After your buds have dried up completely, when you can easily
snap thin stems but thick stems are still a little flexible), it’s time to cure the
buds.
The process of curing is very easy.

A few days after harvesting, you buds will develop a crispy

texture. At this time, put them in paper bags, which should be
kept open.
Shake them several times a day; it will ensure dryness. Do it
for the next 2-3 days.
Take mason jars and fill them about 70% with the dried buds.
Close them tightly with top lid.
For the next 14 days, open the jars daily for a few seconds, and
then close again.
If you feel any sign of moisture, keep the jar open so that the
buds can dry out.
After 14 days, you can open the jars after every 5 to 7 days for
a few seconds (provided there is no sign of moisture.
Most people cure their cannabis for 2-3 weeks, while others cure them for 1-2
months. You can stop curing your harvest if you feel they have been cured
enough. About 30-35 days of curing should be enough. You should then store
the cured buds in cool, dry, airtight containers for long term storage and
usage. If you get a moldy smell from the jars, get rid of the crop.
Curing requires a lot of attention or your yield could get ruined. After the
curing process is complete, your buds should smell like a pleasant Christmas.
Your cannabis buds are now ready to use for medicinal or personal usage.
You can use them for smoking or you can process the cured buds to prepare
canna-butter, canna-oil, tincture, or liniment.
 The Post-Harvesting and Preservation Process
Depending on how much marijuana you plan on growing, you may or may
not have a lot of marijuana sitting around for an elongated period of time.
Wouldn’t it be best to know that you’re preserving your plant properly, rather
than allowing it to lose it potency?
When Does Weed Go Bad?
There is no set timeline to exactly when weed goes bad; rather, it will go bad
depending on the conditions that you keep it in. This can be contributed
mostly to a process known as oxidization. During oxidization, the THC that
has been growing into the biology of the plant is broken down and degraded.
This means that instead of providing a high that can be described as
enjoyable and euphoric, the high is going to simply make a person sleepy and
will last for much less time. The best way to tell whether or not your pot has
lost its potency is to smell it. If it doesn’t have that dank smell that is
characteristic to any good marijuana, then you know that it’s gone bad.
How to Properly Preserve Your Weed
You definitely do not want your weed to go bad, especially not the weed that
you’ve grown yourself. It’s going to take a lot of work to get your weed to
grow in the first place, so the less that it can go bad the better for you. This
being the case, it’s safe to say that the best method for preserving your
marijuana after you’ve harvested it would be to keep it in some kind of
airtight container. This container should be made of either glass, ceramic, or
another type of material that is largely non-reactive. Once your marijuana is
in this type of container, your next step is to store it in a cool, dry, and dark
location. It is ill-advised to place marijuana into a refrigerator because this
will likely result in it losing its potency due to the refrigerator light that will
be going on and off frequently. Additionally, the temperature of a refrigerator
is often too cold for proper marijuana preservation. Keeping your marijuana
in an airtight sealed container and following the environmental tips that were
outlined above will allow you to preserve your marijuana for months or even
years.
The Consistency of Your Marijuana
When you’re looking to store your marijuana, it’s best if the consistency of it
is moist, but not wet. We all have probably felt sticky weed at some point in
our lives, and this is the best consistency for your weed to have while you’re
storing it. Additionally, it’s advised that you not get caught up in worrying
about storing your pot in some kind of commercially safe device such as a
nitrous can or purchasing a humidor that has been specifically designed for
the purpose of preservation. The simple fact of the matter is that marijuana is
a natural plant and is going to die the same as any plant would once it’s been
removed from its source of life.
Marijuana and Mold
While marijuana losing its consistency is unfortunate, this marijuana can still
be smoked when you’re in a desperate situation. On the other hand,
marijuana that has developed mold on its leaves is nothing short of foul. It’s
safe to say that you will want to avoid this situation from occurring whenever
it’s possible. Mold is typically going to grow on marijuana when the weed is
being stored in an extremely moist environment. Additionally, you are also
likely going to see mold developing on the marijuana if the marijuana is wet
when you store it. While moisture and wetness can negatively influence your
marijuana, other factors such as poor soil and poor airflow can also degrade
the quality of your weed through the development of mold.
In addition to mold being able to completely ruin the crop that you’ve worked
hard on to produce, another reason why it’s important to keep your marijuana
stored in a moist yet dry environment with some airflow is because selling
weed that has mold on it will also develop a reputation for yourself that is just
as poor as the weed that you’re selling. When marijuana is smoked that has
mold on it, the person who is smoking it will not die or have any debilitating
after-effects; however, the weed itself is going to taste gross. Additionally, in
a small number of cases mold that has grown on marijuana has ended up
rooting itself into people’s lungs. It’s safe to say that you do not want to
make a reputation for yourself as the person who distributes the bud with the
mold growing on it.
 Chapter 14 Legal Risks
Depending with your state laws, growing cannabis might turn to be an illegal
business that can send you behind bars if you’re not careful. There are many
benefits which come with growing cannabis indoors and outdoors. However,
when it comes to stealth, indoor growing becomes the best method to
consider. All in all, we will review some of the many different ways you can
grow marijuana both indoors and outdoors and never get caught by the
authorities.

Don’t be this guy

When growing indoors
Smell: during the vegetative stage of your marijuana growth, the strains tend
to make a clean faint smell that’s hard to distinguish. However, as it
approaches the flowering stage, the smell changes leaving everyone asking
“What’s that smell?” Therefore, to deal with the issue of odor, you’ll need to
install carbon filters or odor neutralizers in your grow room to suck or
neutralize the cannabis smell preventing it from going into your living room.
Sound: buying low quality electrical equipment such as fans, air pumps or
lights can produce a lot of noise that can leak multiple walls thus raising
questions. To avoid this problem, buy high quality fans which are less
powerful and less noisy when operating. Hung the exhaust fans inside the tent
with ropes, ensure that the air intake holes are large enough and be aware of
exactly where the noise is going.
Sight: your outside appearance to the public tells more about you. When
growing cannabis, ensure that you stay decent so that anyone who sees you
doing growing related activities may not get suspicious of you. To maintain
high quality decency:

Always move your equipment at night

Always check the kind of garbage you through away in your

garbage can.

Always walk around your house/compound on different times

of the day to ensure that nothing stands out as suspicious.

Maintain a good relationship with your neighbors as they’re the

first people to report you in case they notice questionable
activities going on.

When growing outdoors

Although outdoor growing results in healthy marijuana strains in the long
run, it’s very difficult to maintain stealth. However, there are a number of
methods you can rely on to hide your strains from the authorities or nosy
neighbors.

Plant your marijuana next to trees and bushes in locations

where other people can’t notice. Once your secret spot is
discovered do not go back to recover your harvest because the
authorities may have setup a camera trap.

Try and change the disguise of your plants as much as possible.

Some people can prune the leaves to give them another shape
while other may pin different flowers on the cannabis to help in
the disguise.

Finally, plant the cannabis strains between other weeds that

look exactly the same in terms of color, size and shape. This
method creates a kind of camouflage to your marijuana making
it difficult to distinguish at first sight.
 Conclusion
Evidence have shown that marijuana contains medical value that helps in the
treatment of certain ailments in patients where other medical treatment have
failed. Still, excessive intake of marijuana can lead to violence and other
criminal acts which have made marijuana illegal drug under the law in almost
every country.
It was recorded in the United State in 2015, that over 11 million young adults
about 18-25, years of age used marijuana and the side effects of it reflected
on majority of them psychologically. The Medicine Control Council (MCC)
was authorized by Medicines Related Substances Act 1965 to create an
application standard that will allow medical practitioners apply for the use of
cannabis in treating severe conditions when no other drugs can actually treat
the patients.
Hence, marijuana is seen as an illegal drug, and anybody found with illegal
possession of marijuana will undergo the punishment of the law for illegal
possession of marijuana. However, in 2012 Colorado and Washington was
the first State to legalize cannabis for its recreational use, while in 2016
majority of States legalized medical cannabis for the purpose of treating
patients.
In life, we have the good and the bad. For instance water is good as well as
bad. In the sense that water is very essential for the functioning of human
system, likewise excessive intake of water can lead to debilitating health
issues such as coma, seizures and even death. In the same way, Marijuana
can be good as well as bad.
If taken cautiously under medical care as a means of treatment to the sick for
instance Cancer patients, Aids patients, Epilepsy sufferers etc. it is regarded
as being good because it can help alleviate the pains those patients feels. But
when it's taken excessively for the purpose of getting high, it could lead to
violent act or other criminal acts. An excessive intake of marijuana can lead
to a brain disorder which is as a result of a chemical in marijuana known as
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Act prudently and respect the law !