Marijuana
Basic Introduction To Growing Marijuana
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Instructions presented on this page will not produce high quality marijuana. They are intended to introduce marijuana growing to the beginner on a budget. Once you raise a crop using these instructions, you will want try a more advanced growing technique like hydroponic marijuana. Do not grow cannabis unless it's legal where you are, or you have legal permission.
Things You Will Need
Lights
Seeds
Soil
Fertilizer
Pots etc
Don't be intimidated by the references to complicated equipment. Dirt and fluorescent lights will grow you buds better than you may have ever had before. This will show you how to get started even if you know nothing about the subject.
First on the list is lights. Try to have at least 25 watts per square foot but 40 is better. A 4 foot two bulb shop light will do a space 1' x 4' very nicely and if it spreads out to 1.5' x 4' it's still acceptable. A one by four foot area like that will grow 3 or 4 plants to maturity and give you enough to last most people 6 months. Your mileage may vary. Two shoplites set up 2' x 4' will about double that.
You will need seeds. If you have no source for reliable seeds, talk to someone you know who grows. They will either be able to supply you with seeds or tell you where to get some.
If you start 5 seeds you will likely get a few females and if you get only one you can take cuttings and have as many plants as you have space for. This is called having a mother plant. Save the other 5 seeds for your second crop unless you have already had experience. If you kill the first five you can start over.
The next thing to consider is soil. Potting soil is good but may be too heavy. Get a bag of potting soil and mix it with equal parts of sand or perlite. Most any potting soil will do but avoid those that have clay in them.
Fertilizer is very important. For soil Peters 20-20-20 is good. Follow the directions and try to resist the temptation to use too much. You can put the fertilizer in the water you use to water with.
If the directions say to use a certain amount every week and you water twice a week, use half the amount of fertilizer each time. After the seedlings are 3" tall let the soil dry out on top before you water again. Over watering and over fertilizing are the two main causes of problems for beginners.
Pots, get the cheapest pots you can find. Plastic is cheapest but clay is fine also. Put a piece of screen over the holes in the bottom so that the soil won't fall out. Other things you may need are a trowel, small stakes to prop up seedlings and a timer for the lights. A moisture meter for the soil is nice but not necessary.
How Do I Start?
Put the seeds in the soil about 1/4 inch down. Water well and put a sheet of plastic over the top until the sprouts pop through. Take the plastic off when you see them starting to come up. One seed per pot.
After they start to come up they need light. The fluorescent lights that you hung should be about 4 inches above the seedlings and when they are a few inches tall you can lower it to 2 inches above.
Suspend your light by rope or chains so that you can lower and raise them easily. One way to do this is to have a pulley system. Seeds usually take from one day to two weeks to sprout. Keep the soil wet until they come up. You can leave the lights on all the time or set the timer for 18 hours on and 6 hours off.
What Does All This Cost Me?
The average cost is as follows;
A) Fluorescent shop light - $20 to $30 each
B) Seeds - the cheapest are about $50 for 10 the cheap ones are often as good as the expensive and are of good quality. If you use seeds you found in a bag you will save money. Bag seeds are fine for beginners
C) Soil - Potting soil and sand or perlite, about $10-$20 to get started
D) Fertilizer - about $10
Books Marijuana Horticulture:
The Indoor/Outdoor Medical Grower's Bible
Over 500 pages with more than 1000 color images. If you were only going to get one book about growing, this book would be the best choice. Describes growing marijuana outdoors and indoors (with hydroponics or soil).
Also provides information that you can refer back to when things go wrong. A very comprehensive reference book for anyone interested in growing marijuana, either indoors or outdoors. Recommended for beginners and more advanced growers.
Marijuana Horticulture The Cannabis Grow Bible:
The Definitive Guide to Growing Marijuana
for Recreational and Medical Use
A very good source of information covering all aspects of growing, from seed selection to harvest, curing and more. Over 300 pages with almost 200 color and black-and-white photographs, charts, and tables. Recommended reference book for indoor and outdoor growers.
A great marijuana growing and breeding guide. Includes chapters on seeds, propagation and germination, growing indoors, growing outdoors, hydroponics, pre-flowering and flowering, predators, pests and plant fungi, breeding, and more.
The Cannabis Grow Bible
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