Growing marijuana can be a rewarding and enjoyable hobby, but it also requires some knowledge and skills. There are many common mistakes that can affect the health and yield of your plants, such as overwatering, overfeeding, improper lighting, poor ventilation, and pest infestation. Here are some tips on how to avoid these mistakes and grow your cannabis successfully:
- Overwatering: Overwatering is one of the most common mistakes to avoid when growing marijuana. It can cause root rot, nutrient lockout, mold, and other problems. To prevent overwatering, you should only water your plants when the top inch or two of the soil feels dry to the touch. You should also use pots with drainage holes and avoid letting the pots sit in water¹. A good way to check if your plants need water is to lift the pots and feel their weight. If they are light, they need water. If they are heavy, they don't².
- Overfeeding: Overfeeding is another common mistake that can harm your plants. It can cause nutrient burn, nutrient lockout, leaf curling, and reduced bud quality. To prevent overfeeding, you should follow the instructions on the nutrient bottles and start with a low dose. You should also monitor the pH level of your water and soil, as pH imbalances can affect nutrient uptake. The ideal pH range for cannabis is between 6.0 and 7.0³. You can use a pH meter or strips to test the pH level before watering or feeding your plants.
- Improper lighting: Lighting is one of the most important factors for growing marijuana. It affects the growth, health, and potency of your plants. To provide proper lighting, you should choose the right type of lights for your grow space and budget. There are different types of lights available, such as LED, HID, CFL, and CMH⁴. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of cost, efficiency, heat output, and spectrum. You should also adjust the height and intensity of your lights according to the growth stage and needs of your plants. Generally, cannabis plants need more light during the vegetative stage than the flowering stage⁵.
- Poor ventilation: Ventilation is another important factor for growing marijuana. It helps regulate the temperature and humidity of your grow area, as well as prevent mold, pests, and diseases. To ensure proper ventilation, you should use fans, ducts, filters, and vents to create an airflow system that circulates fresh air in and out of your grow space. You should also keep the temperature and humidity within a comfortable range for your plants, usually between 20°C and 30°C and between 40% and 60%.
- Pest infestation: Pest infestation is a common problem that can ruin your crop if not treated quickly and effectively. There are many types of pests that can attack your plants, such as spider mites, aphids, thrips, fungus gnats, caterpillars, and whiteflies. To prevent pest infestation, you should keep your grow area clean and sanitized, inspect your plants regularly for signs of damage or webbing, and use organic or natural methods to control pests. Some examples of organic or natural pest control methods are neem oil, diatomaceous earth, insecticidal soap, sticky traps, and predatory insects.
I hope these tips help you avoid some common mistakes when growing marijuana. Do you have any questions or feedback ? 😊
Source: 2023-08-07
(1) 9 Common Marijuana Growing Mistakes and How to Fix Them. https://howtogrowmarijuana.com/9-common-marijuana-growing-mistakes/.
(2) Troubleshooting common cannabis plant problems | Leafly. https://www.leafly.com/learn/growing/troubleshooting.
(3) The Top 7 Most Common Mistakes in Growing Marijuana. https://softsecrets.com/en-US/article/top-7-most-common-mistakes-growing-marijuana.
(4) Top 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Growing Cannabis. https://percysgrowroom.com/forum/grow-guides/top-5-common-mistakes-to-avoid-when-growing-cannabis/.
(5) Common Cannabis Growing Mistakes | Avoid These 5 | CannaCon. https://cannacon.org/common-cannabis-growing-mistakes/.
