July 30, 2020
Medicinal plants grow times vary from variety to variety, as well as being fully dependent on the approach you take to growing. There are many factors will affect the total time until you have ‘ready’ buds, by days, weeks or even months. This includes your strain, your setup, and how big you plan to grow your plants.
But what to Consider Before You Start Growing medicinal plants?
Prior to starting a medicinal plants grow, one has to have knowledge of the basics of the plant itself. While one doesn’t need to know all of the ins and outs of medicinal plants, having an understanding of its structure, nutrient requirements and life cycle will come in handy. Reading a comprehensive medicinal plants grow book is an essential step that one can take to further get educated on the basics of medicinal plants.
One of the most essential parts of growing medicinal plants is picking the right grow space. Even before one can think of planting GDP seeds, choosing a grow space should be the main priority. There are two options when it comes to growing medicinal plants: indoors or outdoors. Both have their share of pros and cons.
Growing outdoors is ideal for growers who want to save up on expenses. They’ll have all the space that they’ll need outdoors and can rely on natural sunlight to nourish their plants. However, they won’t have control over the climate and the light exposure of their medicinal plants. Another downfall of growing medicinal plants outdoors is the unwanted attention it can attract. This is a problem for growers who live in areas where cultivating medicinal plants is illegal.
Growing indoors or indoor grow tent is great for growers who want to keep their activities out of sight. They will also have complete control over the light and climate of their grow space/medicinal plants grow tent, thereby allowing them to make any adjustments when necessary. The biggest drawback to growing indoors is the costs of purchasing and maintaining equipment, as well as the cost of electricity for the lights( the most commonly choosed to use HPS grow light and LED grow lights). Space restrictions are another negative aspect of indoor growing.
First, there is the germination process. This is usually the process that people give least importance to, but, it is of vital importance because if we do not do it correctly we can spoil the seeds. The techniques for germination are very diverse, from the typical technique that uses a napkin or wet paper, to the use of stimulators or planting the seed directly in soil, on a jiffy disc or in a glass with water.
The best thing to do is to use the napkin or wet paper and, as for the time, to re-emphasize that it is relative. It will not only depend on the conditions of water, humidity or oxygenation, we will also have to consider the quality of the seed, its fertility, the variety or strain in question. However, the seeds usually take between 24 and 72 hours to germinate.
This is your cannabis plants’ last period. When it starts will depend obviously on the growth period, but the plant must also have the necessary characteristics developed to allow it to grow buds.
This means that sometimes, a month after germination your plant might still look weak or small, which means that you’ll have to let it continue its growth period for more time.
It’s also important to note that autoflowering strains will flower at their own whim; you’ll need to change the light period once they start showing signs. However, seasonal seeds will need to be helped into the flowering phase by a change in light period. To be exact, you’ll need to switch them to a 12/12h light period which induces your plants into the flowering phase.
I know we said that the growth phase’s timing was relative, but true relative is how long a flowering period can take. There really are no rules apart from certain ones preached by seed banks about their strains, although in most cases these rules are simply guidelines.
The important thing to keep in mind when trying to figure out when the flowering period is coming to an end and you need to wash out the roots is how the buds look. Although times stated by seed banks can give you a general idea, the best way to find out is to watch your bud grow until they’re buried in pistils.
Once they’ve developed that fair, the harvest time will be indicated by the maturity and oxidization of the pistils and trichomes, which become that nice amber/honey color.
Indoors, autoflowering strains will generally finish up at around 8 weeks of flowering, and feminized versions can take longer depending on the growth period, and it’s normal for them to take anywhere between 10 to 12 weeks, and in a lot of cases even more.
The vegetative stage of cannabis is where the plant’s growth truly takes off. This stage can last anywhere from 3–16 weeks. As long as the plant has more than 12 hours of light (Preferably 16–18 because light = happy strong plants), it will stay in the vegetative phase and NOT flower. This is when the plant will start to grow taller, more leaves will start growing, and the plant will ultimately get the majority of potential.
Indoor grown cannabis plants have a bit of an advantage here, as they can stay in the vegetative phase for longer, because YOU control the light. If you want to leave your cannabis plant in the vegetative phase for 20 weeks, as long as you maintain it and keep it healthy, it will keep growing. Outdoor grows will be much more dependent on the season and schedule of the sun. If you are starting a grow early in the season, you’ll have more light time before the amount of sun time will inevitably cause flowering.
This is your cannabis plants’ last period. When it starts will depend obviously on the growth period, but the plant must also have the necessary characteristics developed to allow it to grow buds.
This means that sometimes, a month after germination your plant might still look weak or small, which means that you’ll have to let it continue its growth period for more time.
It’s also important to note that autoflowering strains will flower at their own whim; you’ll need to change the light period once they start showing signs. However, seasonal seeds will need to be helped into the flowering phase by a change in light period. To be exact, you’ll need to switch them to a 12/12h light period which induces your plants into the flowering phase.
I know we said that the growth phase’s timing was relative, but true relative is how long a flowering period can take. There really are no rules apart from certain ones preached by seed banks about their strains, although in most cases these rules are simply guidelines.
The important thing to keep in mind when trying to figure out when the flowering period is coming to an end and you need to wash out the roots is how the buds look. Although times stated by seed banks can give you a general idea, the best way to find out is to watch your bud grow until they’re buried in pistils.
Once they’ve developed that fair, the harvest time will be indicated by the maturity and oxidization of the pistils and trichomes, which become that nice amber/honey color.
Indoors, autoflowering strains will generally finish up at around 8 weeks of flowering, and feminized versions can take longer depending on the growth period, and it’s normal for them to take anywhere between 10 to 12 weeks, and in a lot of cases even more.
And last, but not least ...
Don't forget about the time it takes to dry your buds. A decent drying process takes at least 10-14 days and is crucial for the end quality of your medicinal plants. You can mess up a great grow if you don't dry your medicinal plants correctly.
And if you have the time, you also should give them a full month of curing. You will certainly thank yourself for that!
August 19, 2020
August 19, 2020