Growing cannabis in Vermont is now legal for individuals who are at least 21 years of age. With this change, many people are looking to learn how to grow cannabis, which is understandable. While growing cannabis may seem intimidating, a successful home-grow of your two legally allowed plants is not difficult with a little guidance. Take a look at a step-by-step guide on how to grow cannabis below to get you started.
Waiting on your Harvest?
1. Setting Up Your Growing Space
You can set up your growing space either indoors or out. VT allows residents to grow cannabis outdoors as long as it is in an enclosed location and out of public view. However, if you prefer indoor growing where you have more control over the elements and your crop, a little preparation may be in order. In general, you will need a good temperature-controllable growing space with ample ventilation, indoor grow lights, and no windows.
2. Selecting the Right Strain
Selecting the best strain for home cultivation involves considering factors like THC/CBD levels, yield potential, growth difficulty, and desired effects. Beginners may be best to opt for easy-to-grow strains, such as Indica-dominant hybrids that tend to have a shorter stature and not so lengthy flowering cycle. Take your time with seed/clone selection to make sure you pick plants you are confident you can grow. Additionally, be sure to source cannabis seeds from a reliable source, so you know what you’re getting.
3. Germination and Seedling Stage
You can germinate seeds in several ways: with a paper towel, water glass, or directly in soil. For the paper towel method, place seeds between moist paper towels in a warm, dark place until they sprout. Alternatively, soak seeds in a glass of water until they sink, then transfer to a damp paper towel. You can also simply plant germinated seeds in soil and give them a moist environment until they sprout.
If you directly planted seeds in the soil, you don’t have to do anything but wait for your plants to grow. However, if you use paper towels for germination, the little spouts will need to be moved to pots of soil to continue growing.
4. Vegetative Stage
During the vegetative stage, cannabis plants focus on leaf and stem production rather than flower development. During this stage, home growers must provide ample light, nutrients, and water to support growth, and the plant can grow quite a bit during this time. Techniques like topping or low-stress training (LST) can be employed at this point as well to shape plants and maximize the end yields.
5. Flowering Stage
During the flower stage, your plants transition to reproductive mode, which means one of the most exciting processes: bud development. Depending on the strain, you may need to adjust light schedules to simulate shorter days, which works for triggering flowering. Plants require careful monitoring of nutrient levels and environmental conditions at this stage, and the full flowering process can take several weeks to reach completion.
6. Harvesting, Drying, and Curing
Harvesting, drying, and curing is a more hands-on process, but worth every step. Determining the optimal harvest time for cannabis buds involves closely observing trichome development. When trichomes appear cloudy or milky with some amber hues, and the pistils have darkened and curled in, buds are usually ripe for harvest. This is a sign the buds are at their peak in terms of flavor and potency. From here, several steps take place:
- Harvest mature buds by trimming them from the plant.
- Hang trimmed buds upside down in a cool, dark, well-ventilated space to dry.
- Monitor the drying process, and aim for a relative humidity in the space of around 55 to 65%.
- Once buds are dry on the outside but still slightly moist inside (typically 2 or 3 days), transfer them to airtight containers.
- Cure buds in containers for 2 to 4 weeks, opening them periodically to release excess moisture (burping).
- Aim for RH levels in your containers at around 60-65%.
Quick Tips for Success from Somewhere on the Mountain
While growing cannabis is a relatively straightforward process, a few tips can further the chances that you have a successful grow, such as:
- Educating yourself about how to grow cannabis before getting started
- Maintaining a consistent watering schedule and monitoring pH levels
- Using organic nutrients and supplements to enhance plant health
- Keeping a grow journal to track progress
Another important step toward overall success is to make sure you have access to a good supply store for your growing supplies. Don’t forget, we have a grow store right next door where you can pick up all the supplies you need.
Looking for high-quality cannabis to enjoy while waiting for your plants to grow? Stop by and see us at Somewhere on the Mountain to find fine examples of well-cultivated cannabis on the menu.
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