You might be thinking that cultivating your own cannabis is an easy, cost-efficient way to consume your favorite medicine. And this can be true if you are willing to invest the time and money upfront to get there. Here are some things to consider before diving into home cannabis cultivation.
Do Your Research
There are a handful of factors at work when growing cannabis. If you’re cultivating a few plants for medical use, you don’t have to be an expert in marijuana growing. But there is a learning curve and a few fundamentals you’ll want to look into before getting started. Before you buy seeds and planters, read some books, and do a thorough amount of research on the internet.
The Strain Matters
One of the major players in how comfortable your growing experience can be is in selecting and purchasing the seeds of high-quality strains. The genetics of a specific strain can primarily affect how the plant grows. The properties of each strain can determine the length of time between seeding and harvest, how tall the plant will grow, THC levels, and more.
Patience, Patience, Patience
Any green thumb or avid gardener will tell you; it’s all about patience. Knowing just when to harvest, dry, and cure makes all the difference in the quality of the buds. The timeline from seedling to harvest can take anywhere from 3-5 months, and curing can take an additional 3-4 weeks. So before you start, consider things like vacations, school, or work commitments so you can time everything right.
You Get What You Put Into It
Sure, you can make mistakes and still get a decent harvest from a couple of plants for personal medical use. But the more time and effort you put into it, the higher quality buds you’ll harvest, and the more you’ll benefit from each ounce.
Keep a Grow Journal
The best way to learn from your mistakes (and trust us, you’ll make them at first) is to document your plants and any problems that arise. Measuring the speed of growth, nutrients, watering, and lighting is essential to a first-time grower. And since you can’t possibly keep all that information in your head to refer to later, following a grow journal will help. It can be a great old fashioned paper journal, a digital spreadsheet, or even an app on your phone.
If all this sounds exciting and something you might enjoy, then growing your medical cannabis might be the perfect hobby and treatment plan for you.
