Growing Cannabis from Seeds: A Step-by-Step Guide

Growing cannabis from seeds can be a rewarding experience. Follow these steps to ensure a successful harvest.

1. Germinating Your Seeds

1. Materials Needed:
   • Seeds
   • Paper towels
   • Plates
   • Water
2. Germination Steps:
   • Moisten two paper towels with water.
   • Place the seeds on one of the paper towels, then cover them with the other paper towel.
   • Put the paper towels with the seeds between two plates to create a dark, humid environment.
   • Check the seeds daily and keep the paper towels moist. Seeds typically sprout in 2-7 days.

2. Planting the Germinated Seeds

1. Preparation:
   • Prepare small pots with well-draining soil. A pot with a diameter of 10-15 cm (4-6 inches) is ideal.
   • Make a small hole (about 1 cm deep) in the soil.
2. Planting:
   • Carefully place the sprouted seed in the hole, root facing down.
   • Cover lightly with soil and water gently.

3. Light Management

To ensure your seedlings get enough light:

1. Daytime: Place the pots in direct sunlight. Cannabis seedlings need plenty of light.
2. Indoor Lighting: If growing indoors, use a grow light or a household light. Keep the light on for about 18 hours a day.

4. Watering and Nutrients

1. Watering: Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Water when the top 2-3 cm of soil feels dry.
2. Nutrients: Seedlings don’t need much fertilizer. After a few weeks, you can start with a diluted fertilizer suitable for cannabis.

5. Transplanting

As your plants grow:

1. Monitor Growth: When the roots start to outgrow the current pot, it’s time to transplant.
2. Transplanting Steps:
   • Gently remove the plant from its current pot.
   • Place it in a larger pot with fresh soil.
   • Water thoroughly after transplanting.

6. Vegetative Stage

1. Light Cycle: Maintain a light cycle of 18 hours of light and 6 hours of darkness to keep the plant in the vegetative stage.
2. Nutrient Schedule: Use a balanced fertilizer suitable for cannabis. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for dosage.

7. Sexing the Plant

1. Pre-Flowering Signs: Around 4-6 weeks into the vegetative stage, you may start to see pre-flowers. These small structures help identify the plant’s sex.
   • Male Plants: Develop small, round pollen sacs.
   • Female Plants: Develop tiny, white hairs (pistils) at the nodes (where branches meet the stem).
2. Removing Males: If you’re growing for buds, remove male plants as soon as you identify them to prevent pollination, which leads to seed production rather than high-quality buds.

8. Flowering Stage

1. Light Cycle Change: To induce flowering, change the light cycle to 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness. Outdoors, this happens naturally as daylight hours shorten.
2. Monitoring: Keep an eye on your plant for pests and nutrient deficiencies. Adjust care as needed.

9. Harvesting

1. Signs of Maturity: Your plant is ready to harvest when the majority of the pistils have darkened, and trichomes have turned milky white with some amber.
2. Harvesting Process: Cut the plant at the base and trim the leaves. Hang the branches upside down in a cool, dark place to dry.

10. Curing

1. Drying: Dry the buds for about 7-10 days until the stems snap rather than bend.
2. Curing: Place the dried buds in airtight jars, opening them daily for the first week to release moisture. After the first week, open the jars less frequently (once a week) for another 2-3 weeks.

Additional Tips

• Pest Control: Check your plant regularly for pests and treat them promptly with organic pesticides or insecticidal soap.
• Temperature and Humidity: Maintain a stable environment. Cannabis thrives in temperatures between 20-30°C and moderate humidity.

Happy growing! If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.