Growing your own cannabis flower is easier than ever these days. Online information and forums are abundant, and home setups are advancing. Cultivation materials are widely available, and many states have tons of access to genetics and seeds that meet every grower’s needs.
Here at Premium Seed Market, we specialize in providing you with the finest genetics at a price you can afford — we’ve spent over 30 years researching and testing 100s of strains — subsequently preserving the best possible genetics to offer our customers.
Whether you’re already familiar with the cultivation process, or are a newcomer to this exciting and fulfilling activity, we are here to be your go-to source for the finest seeds as well as relevant educational information.
So, you may be wondering, How do I choose the best cannabis seeds to fit my unique cultivation needs and specific growing setup?
Keep reading as we provide some important factors to consider as you’re getting started in your growing journey.
With Cannabis Cultivation, What You’re Looking For is all About Preference!
When purchasing your new batch of seeds, the first thing to consider is what you want out of your cannabis cultivation experience.
Everything depends on what suits you and your grow.
We’re seeing America embrace home grow in a big way, and we could not be more excited to help you make the most out of your buds.
Here’s a breakdown of some things to keep in mind as you’re thinking about where to begin:
THC & Terpene Preferences
Firstly, as you will discover, the best strains aren’t just about high THC percentages:
More breeders are implementing new strains with terpenes in mind and varied cannabinoid percentages in order to accommodate all types of cannabis lovers.
The above means you can still find tasty and pungent strains with low THC percentages.
Many growers and breeders know that canna-enthusiasts and medical patients alike don’t always react well to high THC levels.
The main difference lies in the fact that photo-flowering seeds take longer to grow and offer zero risk of being a male seed.
Although having long flowering times, some of the best terpene and cannabinoid profiles come from long-flowering varieties.
Photoperiod seeds can also be used for breeding, and clones can be cut off for future grows.
At the end of the day, photoperiods offer maximum potency and the greatest yield possible.
If you’re just starting out and have limited knowledge, experience, space, and time, then autoflower seeds might be the better choice for your particular situation.
Choosing the Best Cannabis Seeds for You at Premium Seed Market
To sum it up, what you want and need is 100% available on the current market.
It is all about preference, or what you want out of it, knowledge, and what your space looks like. If you smoked a strain you loved, or want to try something out you think looks good—go for it!
Before buying seeds, we always recommend trying to find customer reviews and submitted photos.
Satisfied Premium Seed Market clients love to send us photos, so check out our Customer Success Gallery!
With thousands of satisfied customers and successful grows, our decades of grow and customer support experience won’t stray you in the wrong direction!
Regardless of whether the state you live in allows it or not, cannabis is making its place in the U.S. and becoming increasingly more accepted within society.
Although legal cannabis has been around for some time now, the strains available and high prices aren’t for everyone. Cannabis cultivation in the comfort of our homes has come a long way.
With more legal states offering growers certain forms of cultivation provisions along with the wide amount of available information, cannabis continues to work its way into our backyards.
If you live in a state where it is legal, there’s never been a better time to pick up growing and access all of the perks that come with home cultivation.
No matter your skill level, information is more accessible than ever in regards to growing marijuana at your own home.
Follow along with this blog as we lay out some of our favorite reasons why you should consider growing your own cannabis.
Defining Your Home Grow Setup
First and foremost, before starting your own grow, we recommend defining your whole operation or setup: from the layout (such as a tent or greenhouse), to where you’ll grow on your property, all the way to what seeds you’d want to use. Other factors such as how you’ll grow are equally as important.
For example, we recommend getting to know your equipment, what you’ll be feeding your plant(s), what kind of soil or grow medium you’ll use, where the plants are going to live, and what they’ll be transferred to as they grow.
There’s plenty of research to be done before you start but, once you’ve got a method down and a properly researched growth plan—it’ll all go smoothly.
Time Management & Having Full Control of Your Cultivation Project
As the process of growing goes, it takes time to learn, but in the end, you’ll find all worth it once you have a set system that you enjoy working with.
Growing at home allows for complete control over every aspect of the cultivation process. Subsequently, one of the most rewarding things about growing at home is figuring out the specific routine that works best for you.
The possibilities of having control at home are endless. Whether you want to cultivate organically, hydroponically, in containers, or outside in raised beds — there are many specialized systems available and designed to make growing accessible to cater to consumers’ individual preferences.
On the other hand, home growing brings a bigger level of safety to the table for individuals who want to take precautions in order to create a healthier and more organic product to consume.
Questions to Ask to Prepare for Cultivation:
How big is your grow going to be and what’s your goal? How many plants and what type?
What lighting structure will you use? Natural, LED, etc.
Will your grow start in a small room, or will you require a bigger space?
How are you going to circulate air, and work with humidity?
Once you’ve got your materials set up, will it take much effort to maintain?
What will your growing techniques and stages of growth look like?
Thinking About Starting Your First Homegrow?
If this article sparked your imagination to start growing, we invite you to begin your journey here at Premium Seed Market!
With a reliable seed selection that features a variety of legendary strains, and a smooth customer ordering experience, you really can’t go wrong.
Visit our Seed Market or FAQ page to get started as we provide expert-level assistance on all orders for new and existing customers all over the United States!
Growing your own cannabis straight from seed is a fantastic way to get exactly what you want right at your fingertips. State-led legalization is spreading. And now growing at home is no longer such a far-fetched thought.
Whether you’re a totally new grower or an experienced cultivator, knowing the ins and outs of purchasing seeds from a trustworthy source is key. If you’ve never bought cannabis seeds before, you’re sure to have tons of questions:
Are there risks to ordering cannabis seeds online? How do you know which seed banks are reputable? What’s the guaranteed ratio of male-to-female seeds in my order?
All these questions are crucial if you’ve been looking into starting a fresh grow with new seeds. Selecting the right seed bank that ships to your location is the first step.
However, finding legitimate and appropriate seeds takes time and research. And, as you may assume, you can’t trust every brand on the internet.
So, without beating around the bush, let us get straight into it.
Buying the Finest Cannabis Genetics from Premium Seed Market
There are a lot of shady seed bank websites out there. It can be hard to know whether you’re dealing with a trusted, legitimate business with a good product.
To assist with your decision, this article compiles what you should keep an eye out for when selecting a reputable seed bank.
We’ve been operating in Oregon for nearly two decades. Here at Premium Seed Market, we bring years of cultivation experience to the table. We pride ourselves on being one of the best seed banks in the United States.
We aim to go above and beyond these guidelines. Our goals are to deliver the best genetics and uphold our trusted reputation to customers from all over the country.
Superior Experience & Reliable Reputation
Starting off, trustworthy seed banks should protect your identity while ensuring discreet shipment. They should also aim to provide their clients with high-quality cannabis seeds over a large selection of strains.
Fast and discrete shipping is more important than ever in our rapidly changing cannabis sphere. Upholding customer satisfaction is vital to us. Handling changes, updating information, and covering damaged products should all be guaranteed by any trustworthy seed provider.
From beginners to experts alike, we back the idea of providing seeds that anyone can grow, successfully.
Seed banks require the overall team experience of having tested hundreds of strains. Countless hours are spent picking the best varietals, and preserving the strongest genetics in order to breed them year after year.
Wide Selection of Legendary Seeds & Strains
All trustworthy seed banks should offer a great selection of seeds that have been tested and can be grown with ease. Reviews and customer credit are everything.
Our available strains are among the most popular in the country. Their premium quality has been proven time and time again, always leaving our customers satisfied.
Finally, whether the seed bank offers Sativa, Indica, and Landrace dominant seeds is always a great thing to look for. Having guaranteed options that cater to various needs is crucial. It shows a substantial range of versatility regarding the seed bank and its cultivators.
Every one of our seeds is the result of over 30 years of experience producing and testing more than 150 varietals. This includes all the top strains in the Pacific Northwest.
Connect with Premium Seed Market on IG
Looking to find out more about our seeds? We invite you to visit our Instagram page where you can see all our customers’ grows and our seed genetics poppin’!
You might be thinking of starting a fresh cultivation project… Let’s get you going:
When shopping from our selection of premium cannabis seeds — if you buy two or more packets of seeds, you will receive free shipping.
Please check out our FAQ page for more information on Statewide shipping.
Premium Seed Market is a collective of licensed medical marijuana growers. We have been operating in Oregon for over two decades.
We have cultivation experience with 150+ strains. We’ve also selected the absolute best of Indica, Sativa, Hybrid, and CBD cultivars.
We have years of breeding and cultivation experience. Our team believes these seeds represent some of the best strains available anywhere in the United States.
Keep reading to find out why we’re the best U.S. cannabis seed bank.
Our mission is to bring you affordable cannabis seeds!
We pride our business most on being able to provide you top quality seeds at an affordable price. We believe in the organic distribution of cannabis. Therefore we act as the grower and distributor.
We don’t purchase our seeds from any other entity. There’s no middle man involved and everything is grown in-house.
Grow your own cannabis:
We provide some of the world’s most popular varietals. These include several award-winning and legendary strains with trusted genetics.
Our seeds can be grown successfully by anyone!Beginners and experts can do it. We’ve spent countless hours preserving the strongest genetics.
We’ve also perfected our order process. You can be sure our seeds will arrive safe and in great condition, year after year.
Seed Shipping & Storage
Our seed packets are shipped out of a distribution center in the midwest. We are able to expedite orders to all corners of the country. Typically, our seeds can last up to two decades (if stored properly).
Female/Male Ratio
It’s best to assume our packets will contain a female/male ratio of 50:50. (In practice, the natural female/male ratio is more like 65:35.)
This is because this species of plant spreads its pollen through the air. There is no need for pollinating insects. Therefore, it requires fewer males than females.
These are the likely ratios. However, we cannot guarantee any specific number of male or female seeds for purchase.
Featured: Blue Dream Seeds for Sale!
Good grows start with even better seeds. This month we’re excited to feature our premium Blue Dream seeds.
It is the most widely-grown strain on the West Coast. It contains a dense bud structure with trichomes packed in deep. It, therefore, gives off a sparkly glistening type look.
Blue Dream is a cross between Blueberry and original Haze. It is a Sativa dominant heavy-hitting strain worth every ounce put into it.
It has a sweet berry aroma, much like its Blueberry parent. Blue Dream delivers quick symptom relief without a heavy sedative effect.
Our Blue Dream seeds are pest and mold-resistant and do very well in outdoor and indoor environments.
Our Top-Rated Cannabis Seeds
We know that choosing a new strain to grow can be tough. Here are our top-rated cannabis seed selections:
Jager Kush
Jager Kush is named after Jagermeister. It is a potent Indica-dominant strain.
Jager Kush was created and perfected in Oregon. It has a deep setting high and is more suited for nighttime use.
Strawberry Cough
Strawberry Cough is a strongSativa-leaning hybrid. It is known for its distinct strawberry and tropical-like taste.
It is a strain that generally does better indoors (under warmer temperatures). It will keep you alert and focused, yet relaxed.
White Widow
White Widow: this is a Dutch-bred varietal. This strain won the High Times Cup in 1995.
This pearly, “white-trichomed” bud is great because of its high adaptability and easy-going nature.
Original Blueberry
Original Blueberry is a beautiful strain that produces red and purple hues. It finishes with a blueberry-like aroma and an unmistakable blueberry taste.
Premium Seed Market – The Best Cannabis Seeds from Oregon
We pride ourselves on being the best U.S. cannabis seed bank. When you buy two or more packets of our premium seeds–you’ll receive free shipping with every order! Stay tuned for more blog content & be sure to follow us on Instagram!
Animals have found a home and special sanctuary on a very unique weed farm in Colombia.
Despite their mutual love for all things green, cannabis cultivators and environmentalists aren’t always on speaking terms. If left unregulated or badly managed, cannabis farms can take a pretty hefty toll on the surrounding ecosystem. In California, for instance, many rivers run dry during the summertime because trespass growers divert water to their facilities, endangering the state’s salmon and trout populations.
The same goes for foreign countries exporting their weed, like Colombia. Health Europaeditor and Colombia Cannabis investor Matt Youkee wrote that, while the country’s isothermal climate may be optimal for cultivating weed, the quality of its soil is not as good. Anecdotal evidence from growers claims that strains “struggle to adapt to soils tainted by previously unencountered pesticides and tropical pests.”
As the agricultural vice president of Flora Growth and general manager of the corporation’s picturesque weed farm in the Andes-enveloped Colombian town of Bucaramanga, Javier Franco can recite the plant’s ideal growing conditions in his sleep. “It’s 18 degrees Celsius at night, 26 during the day,” he told High Times over Zoom. “About 72 percent humidity, and one-half-mile-per-hour coastal winds.”
As VP and GM, Franco also knows a thing or two about the importance of sustainability for cannabis producers, not to mention the somewhat poor example set by his direct competitors. Within a 20 miles radius from where Franco conducts this Zoom interview, there are about six to seven weed farms, he said, none of which respect the local flora and fauna as much as he does.
Franco’s farm covers some 361 acres. Next door is the forest, whose residents frequently hop, crawl or fly on over for a surprise visit. Every morning, Franco is greeted by sloths (aka the stoner’s spirit animal) that watch him work from the treetops. From 5 to 6 p.m. sharp, a family of porcupines can be found scuttling around the farm’s perimeter and—on a good day—playing with the guards stationed there.
Animals as Friends and Helpers
Franco has also been keeping track of the number of species of snake he’s encountered among the budding flowers. So far, he’s at seven. The species that seems to like his farm the best are the non-venomous but still pretty dangerous boa constrictor, which kills its prey by smothering it with its 10-foot-long body and populates the jungles of many South American countries.
When Franco isn’t on the farm, he asks two environmental engineers stationed there to keep an eye out for the critters. Together, they keep a detailed list of the animals that visit the farm, along with the times at which they usually show up. Franco instructs his growers to be respectful towards the animals, as they are but guests in their world. He also knows that their wellbeing is intimately tied up with the success of Flora Growth’s farm.
“The only thing we want is to provide our customers with a natural, organic product,” Franco explains. “Something that’s actually from nature.” In order to do that, Franco and his growers have to make sure that their cannabis grows in a place that resembles the plant’s natural environment as closely as possible, with little to no interference from man and their tree-killing ways.
Nowadays, cannabis is often grown indoors, where cultivators become chemists, and gardens are turned into labs. Though Franco respects the art and science behind this kind of micromanagement, he doesn’t think it’s the best way to go. “When you grow indoors, you want to have control of everything. But, in doing so, you also take out the symbiotic interactions between the animals and the microbiology.”
At this point in the conversation, Franco made a circle with his index finger and asked me to guess how many microorganisms live in a piece of dirt no wider than an inch. The answer, he revealed, can lie anywhere between 10,000 and 30,000 of unique species, depending on the quality of the soil. Franco likened cannabis to wine in this regard; a fine wine isn’t prepared indoors, but grown in a vineyard under the French sun.
Cannabis is, at the end of the day, a crop and—like with any crop—many of its growers frequently use harmful pesticides to defend plants against unwanted intruders from the outside world. So, these growers guard their precious cargo with rodenticide and carbofuran, a teaspoon of which could take down a bear. To put this issue into perspective: more than 79 percent of dead fishers (a weasel-like animal) found in California during the last five years died after consuming pesticides from weed farms.
Not only is Flora Growth a pesticide-free enterprise, but the farm employs wildlife to keep the flowers safe from pests. Ladybugs (known to Spanish speakers as mariquitas) eat spider mites, which have been the undoing of many a cultivator. Franco calls these bugs his “greatest ally” and a sign that his plants’ glucose levels are where they’re supposed to be. Anteaters, which also roam the farm, eat—you guessed it—ants, making insecticides like Termidor and Taurus obsolete.
Without getting too pedantic, I feel like weed has always helped people become more in tune with Mother Nature. Think about the endless hours you’ve spent watching parades of clouds or nettled treetops blowing in the wind while enjoying a good spliff. It’s only fitting that the cannabis industry should strive to be as green as possible, and Flora Growth’s Franco is leading the way towards a future in which stoners and wildlife can live side-by-side: attracted by the same sweet smell of flower.
Want to know the best way to grow the best marijuana?. Once you find the perfect strain, how do you save those seeds so that you can use them for future plants? It’s not that hard; actually, you just need to keep them cold, dark, and dry. However, there are few other things that you could do to preserve your precious seeds – keep reading to learn more.
When storing cannabis seeds, the first thing to think about is your container. Do not use just any random container that you come across. The ideal container should be made of one material.
Avoid containers with a mixture of materials. An example of this would be a plastic container with a metal lid or a glass container with a plastic cover. Containers made from more than one material react differently to temperature and other changes, and this can create room for undesirable conditions to reach your stored cannabis seeds. For instance, the metal lid on a glass jar will expand at a different rate when the temperature rises, and this may allow some moisture to enter the container.
Many people suggest using plastic containers for long term storage when asked how to store marijuana seeds, but that isn’t a great idea either. Plastic has tiny (microscopic) pores that can let air infiltrate the container and damage your seeds. If you want your seeds to last, don’t store them in a plastic container. Glass is a much better solution.
Chances are you are storing more than one strain of cannabis seeds. Even if you are storing just one variety of seed, you must label the container. Otherwise, if you store the seeds for years, you may forget which strain they are and that they are even marijuana seeds!
This part is simple; germination needs light. If you do not want your seeds to sprout, keep the light out. That’s why the most immediate answer to “how to store cannabis seeds” is “keep the environment light free.”
Want an easy way?
Try using an opaque container. If the glass jars you used aren’t opaque, then place your seeds in something opaque, such as black plastic wrap, then put that in the glass jar. Again, keep in mind, plastic is not the best for long term (years), but if you are purchasing at the end of one grow season in preparation for the next, it should work just fine.
You can also place your cannabis seeds in a fridge that doesn’t get opened much or another dark location.
Keep the Temperature Constant
Another thing that you need to think about when storing cannabis seeds is to maintain a stable temperature. Try and keep the seeds around 40° Fahrenheit. You do not want them to freeze.
Many people do this by keeping their seeds in a fridge or freezer. (Again, do not allow the seeds to freeze.) The most critical thing is keeping that temperature constant. Your marijuana seeds can deteriorate when the temperature fluctuates.
Keep Moisture Out
Moisture is the other condition that is required for germination, so you’ll need to keep your seeds dry as well. Depending on how much moisture your marijuana seeds are exposed to, they could either germinate or even rot while in storage.
For the best results, keep moisture levels between 5% and 9%. An airtight, sealed container is a great way to do this. You could also add something to help absorb any moisture, such as silica packets or even uncooked rice.
If you decide to use one of these methods, make sure you use something food-grade. Remember, this material will be sitting in storage next to your seeds. It’s also a good idea to use some sort of barrier, such as some cotton wool, between your moisture-absorbing packs and the marijuana seeds. This will leave the seeds undisturbed while the moisture problems are addressed.
Keep the Storage Environment Clean
How to store marijuana seeds properly also means keeping the storage environment clean. If you’re not careful, pests can quickly destroy your seeds if they access the storage container and its contents.
A clean environment also keeps other contaminants, such as microbes, from compromising the quality of your seeds. After all, you will eventually plant those seeds, and you don’t want to consume cannabis grown from contaminated seeds.
Nature designed seeds to last until the ideal germination environment occurs. Therefore, if you follow these storage tips and prevent that environment from happening, you could store cannabis seeds indefinitely.
Does it need to be perfect?
No. If you only need to store cannabis seeds for a few months, you don’t need to be that strict. However, if you’d like to keep your seeds for years, plan ahead and take the necessary precautions, and you’ll be delighted that you did.
Growing cannabis is a fun and rewarding experience, but it is also challenging and takes a certain amount of time and money. For a first-time grower with limited resources, an indoor grow is probably too costly of an option.
The good news is that a small outdoor garden can yield plenty of quality cannabis without a large monetary investment. If you have access to a sunny spot in a private yard or even a balcony, terrace, or rooftop, you can successfully grow cannabis.
This guide to outdoor growing will go over all the different factors you need to consider in order to set up your first outdoor marijuana grow.
Benefits of growing weed outdoors
Low costs: Relying on the power of the sun, you won’t need to spend a ton of money on an outdoor grow. You’ll need some soil, fertilizer, seeds or clones, and maybe a small greenhouse to get them started. You won’t need to pay for electricity for lights, AC units, or dehumidifiers, and you can even collect rainwater.
Big yields: The sky’s the limit with outdoor plants—you can let them get as big and tall as you want, as long as they’re manageable. One plant can potentially yield up to a pound of weed! Growing a handful for yourself is plenty. With an indoor grow, your space is a lot more restricted.
Environmentally friendly: Indoor grows can be wasteful, using a ton of electricity to power all those lights, fans, and other equipment. The sun and the wind are free!
It’s fun and relaxing: Don’t underestimate the therapeutic value of gardening. It’s relaxing to spend some time outside, roll up your sleeves, and get your hands dirty for a while. And there’s nothing better than smoking something you grew yourself.
Step 1: Consider the climate
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It’s crucial to have a good understanding of the climate in the area you’re going to grow. Cannabis is highly adaptable to various conditions, but it is susceptible to extreme weather.
Sustained temperatures above 86°F will cause your plants to stop growing, while continued temperatures below 55°F can cause damage and stunting to plants, even death.
Heavy rains and high winds can cause physical damage to plants and reduce yields, and excessive moisture can lead to mold and powdery mildew, especially during the flowering stage.
In addition to weather patterns, you need to understand how the length of day changes throughout the seasons in your area. For example, at 32° N latitude (San Diego), you will experience just over 14 hours of daylight on the summer solstice (the longest day of the year), while at 47° N (Seattle), you will have about 16 hours of daylight on the same day.
Understanding the amount of sunlight throughout the year is crucial to causing plants to “flip” from the vegetative to flowering stage, when they start to produce buds.
It’s good to utilize local resources, as experienced gardeners in your area will have a wealth of knowledge about growing flowers and vegetables, and that information can also be applied to growing cannabis. If you have some experience gardening and growing veggies, you will probably find that growing cannabis outdoors is a fairly easy endeavor.
Step 2: Pick a space for your outdoor grow
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Choosing a space for your outdoor grow is one of the most important decision you’ll make, especially if you’re planting directly in the ground or in large immobile containers.
Your cannabis plants should receive as much direct sunlight as possible, ideally during midday, when the quality of light is best. As the season changes and fall approaches, your plants will get less and less sunlight throughout the day, which will trigger the flowering stage.
Having a constant breeze is good for your plants, and especially in hot climates. But if you live in an area with a lot of high winds, consider planting near a windbreak of some sort, like a wall, fence, or large shrubbery.Finally, you will want to consider privacy and security. A lot of people want to conceal their gardens from judgmental neighbors and potential thieves. Tall fences and large shrubs or trees are your best bet, unless you live in a secluded area. Also, most state laws require that you keep cannabis plants concealed from the street.
Some growers plant in containers on balconies or rooftops that are shielded from view, while some build heavy-gauge wire cages to keep thieves and animals at bay. Whatever you decide, think about how big you want your final plant to be—outdoor cannabis plants can grow to 12 feet tall or more, depending on how much you let them go.
Step 3: Decide on cannabis genetics
The success of your outdoor cannabis grow will also depend on choosing the right strain to grow for your particular climate and location. If you live in an area with a history of cannabis growing, chances are good that many strains will successfully grow there, and some may have even been bred specifically for your climate.
Seeds vs. clones
Plants grown from seed can be more hearty as young plants when compared to clones. You can plant seeds directly into the garden in early spring, even in cool, wet climates.
The main drawback to growing from seed is there is no guarantee as to what you’ll end up with. If your seeds don’t come feminized, you could end up with both males and females, in which case you’ll need to sex them out to get rid of the males (only females produce buds). That being said, regular seeds are not genetically modified or stressed (feminized) so you will most likely get a stronger, healthier plant that is truest to its genetic line. Most experts say go with regular seeds as they are the closest to its vareital’s genetic line and produce the best product on average.
Depending on the legality of cannabis in your state, you may be able to buy clones or seedlings from a local dispensary. Some growers stay away from these because they feel they aren’t as sturdy as growing plants from seed.
Step 4: Acquire some soil
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Soil is made up of three basic components in various ratios:
Clay
Sand
Silt
You can plant directly in the ground or buy soil and put it in pots. Cannabis plants thrive in soil rich with organic matter, and they need good drainage. If you decide to plant directly in the ground, you’ll need to understand your soil composition and amend it accordingly.
Heavy clay soils drain slowly and don’t hold oxygen well, so they will need to be heavily amended. At least a month before you plant, dig large holes where you’ll be placing your cannabis plants and mix in big amounts of compost, manure, worm castings, or other decomposed organic matter. This will provide aeration and drainage, as well as nutrients for the plants.
Sandy soil is easy to work, drains well, and warms quickly, but it doesn’t hold nutrients well, especially in rainy environments. Again, you will want to dig large holes for your plants and add compost, peat moss, or coco coir, which will help bind the soil together. In hot climates, sandy soil should be mulched to help with water retention and to keep roots from getting too hot.
Silty soil is the ideal growing medium. It’s easy to work, warms quickly, holds moisture, has good drainage, and contains a lot of nutrients. The best silty soil is dark crumbly loam—it’s fertile and probably won’t need any amending.
If you really want to ensure good results and minimize headaches, you can get your soil tested, which is easy and relatively inexpensive. A soil testing service will tell you the makeup and pH of your soil, notify you of any contaminants, and recommend materials and fertilizers to amend your soil.
Step 5: Get some fertilizer
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Cannabis plants require a large amount of nutrients over their life cycle, mainly in the form of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. How you choose to feed them will depend on the composition of the soil and your own methods.
Commercial fertilizers aimed at home gardeners can be used if you have a good understanding of how they work and what your plants need. But a first-time grower might want to avoid these, particularly long-release granular fertilizers.
Best nutrients for an outdoor grow
You can purchase nutrient solutions designed specifically for cannabis from your local grow shop, but they are usually expensive and can damage soil bacteria—they are generally composed of synthetic mineral salts and intended for indoor growing.
Organic fertilization takes full advantage of microbial life in soil and minimizes harmful runoff. There are many different natural and organic fertilizers available at local home and garden stores, like blood meal, bone meal, fish meal, bat guano, and kelp meal.
Start off with fertilizers that are inexpensive and readily available. Some of these materials release nutrients quickly and are easily used by the plant, while others take weeks or months to release useable nutrients. If done correctly, you can mix in a few of these products with your soil amendments to provide enough nutrients for the entire life of your plants.
Again, getting your soil tested can be very useful and will tell you how to amend your soil and what types and amounts of fertilizer you should use. If you are unsure how much to use, be conservative—you can always top dress your plants if they start to show deficiencies.
Step 6: Choose your containers
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You may need to put all of your plants in containers if you don’t have great soil. Also, if you’re unable to perform the heavy labor needed to dig holes and amend soil, containers may be the only way for you to grow your own cannabis outdoors.
If you don’t have a suitable patch of earth to make a garden, containers can be placed on decks, patios, rooftops, and many other spots. If needed, you can move them around during the day to take advantage of the sun or to shield them from excessive heat or wind.
You can also use common cannabis nutrients designed for indoor growing because you will be using premixed soil. This will take much of the guesswork out of fertilizing your plants.
However, plants grown in pots, buckets, or barrels will likely be smaller than those planted in the ground because their root growth is restricted to the size of the container. In a broad sense, the size of the pot will determine the size of the plant, although it’s possible to grow large plants in small containers if proper techniques are used.
In general, 5-gallon pots are a good size for small to medium outdoor plants, and 10-gallon pots or larger are recommended for big plants. Regardless of size, you’ll want to protect the roots of your plants from overheating during warm weather, as pots can quickly get hot in direct sunlight. This will severely limit the growth of your plants, so be sure to shade your containers when the sun is high in the sky.
Step 7: Give your cannabis plants water
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While outdoor cannabis gardens have the benefit of utilizing rain and groundwater, you will most likely need to water your plants frequently, especially in the hot summer months. Some giant cannabis plants can use up to 10 gallons of water every day in warm weather.
Growers who live in hot, arid places will often dig down and place clay soil or rocks below their planting holes to slow drainage, or plant in shallow depressions that act to funnel runoff toward other plants. Adding water-absorbing polymer crystals to the soil is another good way to improve water retention. Water your plants deeply in the morning so they have an adequate supply throughout the whole day.
If you live in a particularly rainy climate, you may need to take steps to improve drainage around your garden, as cannabis roots are susceptible to fungal diseases when they become waterlogged. These techniques include:
Planting in raised beds or mounds
Digging ditches that direct water away from the garden
Adding gravel, clay pebbles, or perlite to the soil
If you’re using tap or well water, it’s a good idea to test it first. This water can contain high levels of dissolved minerals which can build up in soil and affect the pH level, or it can have high levels of chlorine which can kill beneficial microorganisms in soil. Many people filter their water.
Plants grown in hot or windy climates will need to be watered more frequently, as high temperatures and winds force plant to transpire at a quicker rate.
Remember that over-watering is a common mistake made by rookie growers—the rule of thumb is to water deeply, then wait until the top inch or two of soil is completely dry before watering again. An inexpensive soil moisture meter is a good tool for a beginner.
Step 8: Protect your cannabis plants
(Eric Limon/AdobeStock)
Without the ability to control the environment as easily as you can indoors, outdoor cannabis growers have to protect their plants from storms and other weather events that could damage or even kill plants.
Temperature changes
Temperatures below 40°F can quickly damage most varieties of cannabis, so if you live in a climate where late spring or early fall frosts are a common occurrence, try using a greenhouse or other protective enclosure.
Wind conditions
High winds can break branches and overly stress your plants. If your garden is located in a particularly windy spot or if you’re expecting a particularly heavy blow, set up a windbreak. This can be as simple as attaching plastic sheeting to garden stakes around your plants.
Rain
While helpful for watering your garden, rain is generally seen as a nuisance by cannabis growers. It can severely damage your crop and cause mold and mildew. You especially don’t want rain on your cannabis plants when they are flowering.
You can construct a DIY greenhouse or even just use plastic sheeting and stakes to build a temporary shelter over your plants when you know rain is on the way.
Pests
Protecting your cannabis garden from pests can be challenging. Depending on where you live, you might have to keep large animals like deer at bay by building a fence around your crop.
But the more difficult challenge is dealing with the vast array of crawling and flying insects that can attack your plants.
The best protection is to simply keep your plants healthy. Strong, vigorous cannabis plants have a natural resistance to pests that makes minor infestations easy to deal with. It’s also a good idea to keep your cannabis plants separate from other flowers, vegetables, and ornamentals, as pests can easily spread between them.
Examine your cannabis plants a few times a week with an eye out for pests. An infestation is far easier to deal with if caught early.
There are many organic pesticides designed for use specifically on cannabis, and beneficial insects are also a great option.
You should now have enough knowledge to successfully start your own outdoor cannabis garden. Cultivating and growing plants is an enjoyable and rewarding pastime, so remember, spend lots of time with your plants, and have fun!
Germination is the process in which a new plant begins to grow from a seed. Also referred to as “popping,” germination is the very first step in starting your cannabis garden.
Cannabis seeds can be acquired from an array of sources and can vary in quality.
When acquiring seeds, you want to make sure they are matured and that they appear dark brown with lighter accents and a hard feel. You don’t want a seed that feels fresh and looks green, which indicates that the seed hasn’t reached full maturity.
Once you have your cannabis seeds, make sure you have the space necessary to allow your plants to grow and be healthy. Don’t pop seeds when you are unsure of your grow space, time availability, or intention with your garden.
What’s the best way to germinate cannabis seeds?
Cannabis seeds require three things to germinate: water, heat, and air. Because of this, there are many methods to germinate your seeds. The most common and simplest method involves the use of paper towels saturated in water.
For this method you will need:
Two clean plates
Paper towels
Seeds
Step 1:
Take four sheets of paper towels and soak them with distilled water. The sheets should be soaked but shouldn’t have excess water running off.
Step 2:
Take two of the paper towels and place them on a plate. Then, place the cannabis seeds at least an inch apart from each other and cover them with the remaining two sheets of water-soaked paper towels.
Step 3:
To create a dark, protected space, take another plate and flip it over to cover the seeds (like a dome).
Step 4:
Make sure the area they’re kept in is warm, somewhere between 70-90°F.
After these steps have been completed, it’s time to wait. You can check the paper towels to make sure they’re still saturated, and if they seem to be losing their moisture, you can apply more water to keep the seeds happy.
Some seeds germinate very rapidly while others can take several days. You know a seed has germinated once the seed splits and a single sprout appears.
This is the taproot, which will become the main stem of the plant, and seeing it is a sign of successful germination. It’s important to keep this area sterile, so don’t touch the seed or taproot as the seed begins to split.
Transplanting germinated cannabis seeds
Once you see the taproot, it’s time to transfer your germinated seed into its growing medium. Small 2-inch pots are a good place to start.
Fill the pots with loose, airy potting soil and poke a hole in the middle about a quarter-inch down using a pen or pencil.
To transfer the seed, use a pair of tweezers to gently pick it up, then drop the seed in the hole with the taproot facing down. Lightly cover it with soil.
Next, you’ll need to water the soil. Initially, use a spray bottle to provide moisture without over-saturating the soil. You want to give the seed water, but over-watering can suffocate and kill the delicate sprout.
Pay attention to the temperature and the moisture level of the soil to keep the seed happy, and within a week or so you should see a seedling begin to grow from the soil.
Germinating seeds doesn’t always go as planned. Some seeds will be duds. Others will be slow and take longer to sprout. But some will pop quickly and grow rapidly.This is the beauty of seeds—often, you can tell which plants or genetics will thrive right from the get-go. This will help you determine which plants you want to take cuttings from for clones and which to breed with other strong plants to create a seed bank of your own.
In the world of plants, reproduction can happen in a variety of ways. Monoecious plants produce two different types of flowers on the same plant, and hermaphrodite plants grow single flowers that have both male and female reproductive organs.
Cannabis is a dioecious plant, meaning male or female reproductive organs appear on different plants.
With cannabis, females are usually isolated away from males—introducing males into a garden will result in pollination, causing females to create seeds.
This is important for a breeder to achieve new genetics, but most growers remove the males to allow females to produce seedless buds, also called sinsemilla. These are the resinous buds that appear on the store shelf; they all come from female plants.
Seeded buds are generally regarded as low-quality cannabis. When seeds are present, the smoke is harsh and unpleasant.
Female genetics can be guaranteed by obtaining clonesand feminized (genetically modified) If, however, you’re working with regular seeds and are unsure of your seed’s sex, knowing how to determine the sex of your plant is vital to developing new genetics, gathering seeds, or growing sinsemilla.
Sexing cannabis plants is easy. Let’s see how to tell.
How to determine the sex of a cannabis plant
Female cannabis pre-flowers grow as tiny bracts with hair-like stigma peeking out. Male plants produce small, round balls at the nodes.
Cannabis plants show their sex by what grows in between their nodes (where leaves and branches extend from the stalk). Pollen sacs will develop on a male plant to spread seeds and stigma will develop on a female to catch pollen. You can see these differences weeks before they actually start serving their purposes in the reproduction cycle. These are known as “pre-flowers.”
Pre-flowers begin to develop four weeks into growth, but they may take a little longer depending on how quickly the sprouting phase occurs. By the sixth week, you should be able to find the pre-flowers and confidently determine the sex of your plant.
Pre-flowers can initially be extremely small and hard to identify with the naked eye, but you can use a magnifying glass to get a better look. Examine the nodes of the plant and look for either the early growth of small sacs on a male, or two bracts on a female, which will eventually produce the hair-like stigma.
Though there are other methods to determine what sex the plant is, examining pre-flower formation is the most reliable.
Removing males early on is important for two reasons: it frees up space in your garden so females can grow bigger and stronger, and it prevents males from pollinating females.
What are hermaphrodite cannabis plants?
Hermaphrodite cannabis can express both sex organs and self-pollinate. (Amy Phung/Leafly)
When a female plant develops both male and female sex organs, it is considered a hermaphrodite. This means your cannabis plant is now capable of producing pollen that can pollinate your entire garden. “Herming out,” as some call it, is something that generally happens when a plant becomes excessively stressed. Some plant stressors include:
Plant damage
Bad weather
Disease
Nutrient deficiencies
There are two types of hermaphrodite plants:
A plant that develops both buds and pollen sacs
A plant that produces anthers, commonly referred to as “bananas” due to their appearance
While both result in pollen production, true hermaphrodites produce sacs that need to rupture, while anthers are exposed, pollen-producing stamen.
The other primary cause of hermaphrodite plants lies in the plant’s genetics. A plant with poor genetics or a history of hermaphrodite development should be avoided to protect your garden. If you notice any pollen sacs or anthers at any point, remove the plant from your garden immediately to prevent pollination of female plants.
If you’re interested in pollinating portions of your crop, remember that pollen is extremely potent and very good at traveling. Keep your males intended for pollination far from your garden space and work carefully with that pollen.
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