Y2K
Well-Known Member
Greetings all, this guide is a work in progress and will constantly change as the thread progresses.
Before we continue please note I have no affiliation to any of the companies/brands mentioned, they are listed for pure convenience.
So you want to grow Marijuana huh?
Well there is a several things to consider before you begin.
Physical space
No point in trying to grow when you cannot accommodate the plant throughout its life cycle that's just cruel.☹
Depending on the amount of plants you'd like to grow and their genetics you'll need to keep at least 1 meter spacing as the plant grows in size to maximize solar exposure, this applies to pots and planting directly in the ground.
Another thing to consider if you live in an apartment or don't have much space is growing an autoflower. (More on this later)
Time of year
The calendar dates for the seasons are as follows:
Autumn/Fall – 1 March – 31 May
Winter – 1 June – 31 August
Spring – 1 September – 30 November
Summer – 1 December – 28/29 February
Cold weather and excessive can be devastating to a seedling, so it's best to germinate your plant in the last 2 weeks of winter, towards the end of August in the southern hemisphere.
If the weather doesn't pick up you can always start it on a window sill and place it outside for some sunshine D once it has the second/third set of true leaves.
Cost
While it can cost you nothing to grow Cannabis think of it like a fine wine, it starts with the basics, provide a good medium, environment and some TLC will see you smoking high quality bud.
You don't need to spend a ridiculous amount of money unless you plan on growing indoors with lights and or plan on using a hydroponic setup.
Majority of your money will go to seeds and soil these are two things you do not want to skimp on.
If you're a first time grower I would recommend an autoflower strain as these can be grown year round and doesn't require much attention aside from watering when dry, the size of your plant will be determined by the strain, environment and the size of the container if you're growing in a pot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy seeds?
Seeds can be bought online from reputable stores like:
www.trophyseeds.com
www.biltongandbudz.co.za
marijuanasa.co.za
www.capeapeseeds.com
Where can I buy soil?
The two main brands would be Just Cannabis Craft Soil and Freedom Farm, these require no additional nutrients and has a pH of 6.2 - 6.5 depending on the brand which is perfect for Cannabis Cultivation.
just-cannabis.co.za
marijuanasa.co.za
marijuanasa.co.za
If online is not your thing or if you've already germinated your seeds then take a trip to your local nursery and you should be able to find these brands there, else ask them for a Coco-peat medium or starter soil for tomato plants as their needs are almost identical to Cannabis.
Life Cycle of a Cannabis plant
https://www.cannaconnection.com/blog/category/grow
How to germinate your Cannabis seeds?
https://www.leafly.com/news/growing/how-to-germinate-cannabis-seeds
3 things are needed for a Cannabis seed to germinate.
Water, heat and air.
Cannabis seeds can germinate in as little as 24 hours
The methods below serve as a guideline for germinating Cannabis seeds that will be grown in soil, although some of these methods can also be used with other growing mediums.
The 3 methods we'll be discussing today are:
Method 1: Germinating in Soil (Time: 2 - 7 days)
This particular method is as simple as it sounds.
Put your growing medium into a pot/container, fill it up till about 3cm from the lip of the container.
Water the soil till it starts to drip out the bottom then using your index finger/sterilized object about the size of a pencil make a 1cm, the idea is to make the hole deep enough that the seed is covered but no so deep that it doesn't break the surface and stretches for light while underground.
Sprinkle soil on top of the seed but do not pack it down.
Use your spray bottle to moisten the area you just sprinkled dirt over. Not too much otherwise you could end up making the environment too wet which can cause disease/the root to rot before the plant even has a chance to grow.
Put the container on a window sill or outside in the shade, I do not recommend leaving it outside overnight as the cold can lead to slower germination rates.
Cannabis Gender Identification
Early identification during the vegetative state.
After a plant completes the seedling phase it starts majority of its growth in what is known as the vegetative phase, male plants tend to be taller and have less foliage overall, female plants tend to be be shorter compared to the male plant and have a more complex node structure as they progress into the vegetative phase.
The image above shows the preflowers of both genders.
www.leafly.com
Regular/natural Cannabis plants has a 50/50% chance of being male or female, they start showing their sex when they reach maturity (usually 3 - 4 weeks into the vegetative state).
We can identify whether a plant is male or female by looking at the preflowers.
Male: Develops pollen sacs on (looks like testicles lol) the intersecting nodes.
Females: Develop hairy white pistils that eventually grow into buds, these are used to trap pollen which turns into seeds.
What still needs to be done.
Before we continue please note I have no affiliation to any of the companies/brands mentioned, they are listed for pure convenience.
So you want to grow Marijuana huh?
Well there is a several things to consider before you begin.
Physical space
No point in trying to grow when you cannot accommodate the plant throughout its life cycle that's just cruel.☹
Depending on the amount of plants you'd like to grow and their genetics you'll need to keep at least 1 meter spacing as the plant grows in size to maximize solar exposure, this applies to pots and planting directly in the ground.
Another thing to consider if you live in an apartment or don't have much space is growing an autoflower. (More on this later)
Time of year
The calendar dates for the seasons are as follows:
Autumn/Fall – 1 March – 31 May
Winter – 1 June – 31 August
Spring – 1 September – 30 November
Summer – 1 December – 28/29 February
Cold weather and excessive can be devastating to a seedling, so it's best to germinate your plant in the last 2 weeks of winter, towards the end of August in the southern hemisphere.
If the weather doesn't pick up you can always start it on a window sill and place it outside for some sunshine D once it has the second/third set of true leaves.
Cost
While it can cost you nothing to grow Cannabis think of it like a fine wine, it starts with the basics, provide a good medium, environment and some TLC will see you smoking high quality bud.
You don't need to spend a ridiculous amount of money unless you plan on growing indoors with lights and or plan on using a hydroponic setup.
Majority of your money will go to seeds and soil these are two things you do not want to skimp on.
If you're a first time grower I would recommend an autoflower strain as these can be grown year round and doesn't require much attention aside from watering when dry, the size of your plant will be determined by the strain, environment and the size of the container if you're growing in a pot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy seeds?
Seeds can be bought online from reputable stores like:
Cannabis Seeds South Africa from leading international brands
Cannabis Seeds in South Africa from leading international breeders available at Trophy Seeds. Delivery available across South Africa.
www.trophyseeds.com
South Africa's Trusted Cannabis Seed Retailer - Biltong & Budz
South Africa's leading cannabis seeds bank, offering price match guarantees. Explore our diverse selection of high-quality strains
www.biltongandbudz.co.za
Marijuana Seeds Online South Africa - Marijuana SA
View our broad range of premium imported marijuana seeds available in South Africa. Autoflower, regular and feminized marijuana seeds available now.
marijuanasa.co.za
Marijuana Seeds | South Africa | Cape Ape Seeds
Buy top quality cannabis seeds in South Africa! 100% safe and discreet with free Shipping anywhere in SA. Cape Ape Seeds Deliver within 1 -3 days via trusted courier.
www.capeapeseeds.com
Where can I buy soil?
The two main brands would be Just Cannabis Craft Soil and Freedom Farm, these require no additional nutrients and has a pH of 6.2 - 6.5 depending on the brand which is perfect for Cannabis Cultivation.
Craft Cannabis Soil – Just Cannabis
just-cannabis.co.za
Just Cannabis Craft Cannabis Cocopeat Medium- 30L - Marijuana SA
Just cannabis craft soil is Locally made and formulated for cannabis cultivation and is a coco-coir based substrate.
marijuanasa.co.za
Cannabis Growing Soil - Organic Classic Craft Soil (30L) - Marijuana SA
The creator of this soil has a masters degree in soil science. A truly South African product with insane science behind it. Perfect for your CBD harvest.
marijuanasa.co.za
If online is not your thing or if you've already germinated your seeds then take a trip to your local nursery and you should be able to find these brands there, else ask them for a Coco-peat medium or starter soil for tomato plants as their needs are almost identical to Cannabis.
Life Cycle of a Cannabis plant
https://www.cannaconnection.com/blog/category/grow
How to germinate your Cannabis seeds?
https://www.leafly.com/news/growing/how-to-germinate-cannabis-seeds
3 things are needed for a Cannabis seed to germinate.
Water, heat and air.
Cannabis seeds can germinate in as little as 24 hours
The methods below serve as a guideline for germinating Cannabis seeds that will be grown in soil, although some of these methods can also be used with other growing mediums.
The 3 methods we'll be discussing today are:
- Germinating in soil method.
- Germinating in water method.
- Paper Towel method.
Method 1: Germinating in Soil (Time: 2 - 7 days)
This particular method is as simple as it sounds.
Put your growing medium into a pot/container, fill it up till about 3cm from the lip of the container.
Water the soil till it starts to drip out the bottom then using your index finger/sterilized object about the size of a pencil make a 1cm, the idea is to make the hole deep enough that the seed is covered but no so deep that it doesn't break the surface and stretches for light while underground.
Sprinkle soil on top of the seed but do not pack it down.
Use your spray bottle to moisten the area you just sprinkled dirt over. Not too much otherwise you could end up making the environment too wet which can cause disease/the root to rot before the plant even has a chance to grow.
Put the container on a window sill or outside in the shade, I do not recommend leaving it outside overnight as the cold can lead to slower germination rates.
Cannabis Gender Identification
Early identification during the vegetative state.
After a plant completes the seedling phase it starts majority of its growth in what is known as the vegetative phase, male plants tend to be taller and have less foliage overall, female plants tend to be be shorter compared to the male plant and have a more complex node structure as they progress into the vegetative phase.
The image above shows the preflowers of both genders.
Marijuana plant anatomy
Knowing the anatomy of a marijuana plant is important for any grower. Learn to identify the different parts of a cannabis plant from the experts at Leafly.
www.leafly.com
Regular/natural Cannabis plants has a 50/50% chance of being male or female, they start showing their sex when they reach maturity (usually 3 - 4 weeks into the vegetative state).
We can identify whether a plant is male or female by looking at the preflowers.
Male: Develops pollen sacs on (looks like testicles lol) the intersecting nodes.
Females: Develop hairy white pistils that eventually grow into buds, these are used to trap pollen which turns into seeds.
What still needs to be done.
Life Cycle of a Cannabis plant.How to germinate a cannabis seed.Cannabis gender identification(19/09/2021)- Diagnosing, pest control and root health.
- How to measure pH, moisture and additive content ie: NPK (Nitrogen - Potassium - Phosphorus)
- Trimming, training and topping
- When to harvest your Cannabis plants
- Trichome Production
- Drying and curing
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