How To Grow Cannabis
Tips For Growing Cannabis Hydroponically.
Growing Cannabis Hydroponically is popular for many people, growing Cannabis often begins with simple pot culture. A reasonably sized pot, filled with soil, often cultivated outdoors. After a couple of successful harvests, many look for ways to improve the yield and quality of the buds they produce. One of the most common ways, is by growing Cannabis hydroponically.
Hydroponics is defined as ‘The science of growing plants without using soil, feeding them on mineral nutrient salts dissolved in water’. It is more complex to master that growing in soil, but can seriously improve the quality and quantity, your plants yield.
There are a number of different types of hydroponic systems available, all are based upon the same principle. Plants are grown in a neutral, inert medium and nutrients are fed directly to the roots. The two most common are;
Flood and Drain Systems – Nutrient solution is pumped from a reservoir, flooding the growing medium. This is allowed a period of time to drain through the medium, feeding the roots, before returning to the reservoir and the cycle is repeated at regular intervals.
Nutrient Film Technique – A constant cycle of nutrient solution is supplied across the roots, recycled from a separate reservoir. Pots are often smaller, standing on matting for the roots to spread across. Requires almost constant running time.
Find the right hydroponic method to suit your needs and number of plants. Single-plant systems can produce incredible per-plant yields when combined with the Screen-of-Green technique. While commercial and ‘cash-crop’ growers can incorporate multiple systems, to whatever size is required.
Learn to improve and increase, the size and quality of your harvests. Read our tips for growing Cannabis hydroponically and grow like a Pro!
Top Tips For Growing Cannabis Hydroponically.
Clean and Maintain Your Equipment.
When you first purchase your hydroponic equipment, it should be clean and in prime, working condition. The pump should be of sufficient power to deliver the required amount of water to each pot, with clean delivery tubes and sterilized growing medium.
After each successful harvest it’s important to thoroughly clean and sterilize all of the equipment. If you’re using hydroponic pebbles, ensure these are washed, removing the salts that build-up around the roots. These build-up’s will also affect the pump and delivery system if they are left unchecked, over time.
Regular Checks and Adjustments.
Apart from the potential increased yield, one of the major advantages of growing Cannabis hydroponically is the ability to automate the set-up. Using timers, flood and drain systems can be set to operate at regular intervals. While NFT systems usually run constantly. Ensure your nutrient solution is correct at regular intervals.
Both the Ph levels and strength of your solution must be checked regularly. Both of these levels can alter over a period of days. If you find your levels are out of balance, adjust them accordingly. Running with too high, or low concentrations, will have a very quick and dramatic effect on the health of your plants.
Temperature and Oxygen Levels.
Many new growers, moving to hydroponics from soil, forget about the plants need for oxygen. This isn’t taken in through the leaves, only Carbon Dioxide is absorbed from the air. Instead, the plant intakes oxygen from its rooting system, which can be an issue when growing in water.
Oxygen must be incorporated into the nutrient solution. This can be achieved with an aerator, a small pump delivering air directly into the tank. A tank or reservoir heater is another optional piece of equipment, ensuring the nutrient solution remains at an ideal temperature. Although not completely necessary, both can increase nutrient uptake and the size of your buds.
Monitor the Humidity.
Growing in a tent or confined space can significantly increase the humidity around your plants. The addition of large volumes of water, when using hydroponics, can increase these levels further. High humidity is perfect for fast, substantial growth during the vegetative cycle, but needs to be reduced as your plants begin to flower.
Ensure you have adequate ventilation within your growing area. Both air intake and extraction fans should be fitted, as well as additional fans for circulation and movement. Monitor the levels and fit dehumidifiers if they go above 40% humidity. Failure to reduce this, can result in bud rot and mold attacking your biggest, most prized buds first, then ultimately, your entire crop.
Learn All You Can.
Growing Cannabis hydroponically can produce the biggest yields. However, it’s not without its dangers. Pump, timer or unnoticed equipment failure will quickly result in damaged plants. Incorrect Ph or nutrient strengths, will quickly result in damaged plants. Lack of oxygen, fresh air or sufficient lighting…… Yep, damaged plants!
There is no ‘buffer’ no soil to absorb any mistakes. Growing Cannabis hydroponically is a science. Like all science, study and learning, increases your understanding and knowledge. Ensure the nutrients you use are specifically designed for growing Cannabis, containing all the micro and macro nutrients the plants require.
Choose The Right Cannabis Seeds.
Choose the right Cannabis seeds for your hydroponic set-up and growing style. NFT systems often grow several plants in a small area. Indica-dominant strains are preferred for their squat, dense growing characteristics. Single pot, flood and drain systems work well with Sativa-dominant varieties, producing taller plants that require more space or training.
One of the hardest things to control when your growing Cannabis hydroponically is the humidity levels. Even with dehumidifiers, maintaining low-levels during flowering can be very difficult. Buy mold-resistant Cannabis seeds to increase your chances of success. There are several strains, specifically created for hydroponic set-ups.
Buy Cannabis Seeds Online.
Find the widest choice of Cannabis seeds for sale online. All our recommended Cannabis seeds are dispatched directly by I Love Growing Marijuana, one of the USA’s biggest, most-trusted seed banks.
Discover all the most popular varieties, from modern hybrids, to classic, Cannabis Cup winners. Learn how easy and satisfying growing Cannabis can be, with the very best seeds and biggest yielding strains. Many varieties available, choose feminized, or autoflowering format. All guaranteed female, perfect for growing indoors and hydroponically.
Read customer comments, strain reviews and growing guides, helping you choose the best strain for your needs. Enjoy soaring Sativa’s and relaxing Indica varieties, flavor-filled buds and aromatic aromas. Whether your growing for personal use or profit, recreational or medical. We have a wealth of Cannabis seeds for sale, perfect for all needs.
To help increase your knowledge and improve your yields, download the Marijuana Grow Guide, the world’s most downloaded PDF, dedicated to Cannabis and Marijuana cultivation. Written by Robert Bergman, learn the secrets of professional growers and maximize your harvests.
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