The Different Stages of Growing Cannabis
by Cortland Cronk December 24, 2021
The Growth Cycle of Cannabis
Cronk Grow Nutrients is committed to helping cannabis growers find success. We've put together an introduction to the different stages of growing cannabis - from seedlings, through vegetative cycle and budding, all the way up to harvesting your crop. This guide includes information on what nutrients are best for each stage, how much light (and heat) you need in order to provide optimal conditions for healthy growth, and when it's time to harvest!
The cannabis plant demands diverse amounts of nutrients as it develops. The three most important minerals for a cannabis grower are nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. NPK is a term used to describe these major three components, which are often labeled as such on nutrient packages. There's also a trio of additional secondary elements to consider: magnesium, calcium, and sulfur. Finally, marijuana needs a wide range of micronutrients that may be found in soil naturally. Zinc, manganese, iron, boron, chloride, cobalt, and silicon are just a few of the micronutrients required by cannabis.
Duration: 24 hours to 2 weeks
The cannabis plant's germination stage is the first in the process. As a grower, you should attempt to maintain a large number of female plants because they are concentrated in trichomes, which are the white crystals that contain the sought-after cannabinoids CBD and THC.
Male marijuana plants, on the other hand, are less useful and could even harm your female plants. As a result, you'll want to buy feminized seeds and germinate them yourself. Finding feminized seeds at an online seed bank is a good way to get started. For more information on our recommended seed banks, click here!
Duration: 2 to 3 weeks
At this period of the plant's life cycle, it is still a seed. Your plants are now full-fledged seedlings, not just seeds. You will notice your cannabis plant emerging from the earth and developing a pair of leaves that fan out from the stem during this stage.While the seed is sprouting, new leaves will develop from the top of the plant and a root system will form simultaneously. While it's possible for the seedling stage to extend to six weeks, a timeline of two to three weeks is much more typical.
Place the seedlings in a warm, humid environment of approximately 77 degrees Fahrenheit with 60% humidity for care. During the seedling stage, proper fertilizer and light are essential. Look up the strain you're growing in order to figure out what's ideal for your plant. Your plants will have outgrown their tiny pots by the time this step is finished.
Vegetative Stage
The vegetative stage is also known as the veg phase, and it's when your seedlings' growth skyrockets. You'll need to transplant them into larger pots at this time. The vegetative stage is characterized by rapid growth, particularly in the vertical dimension. Can you believe that your plant could grow two inches taller in only 24 hours? It's entirely feasible!
By now, your plants should have taken on a distinct shape. A sativa plant, for example, will grow long and thin while an indica will be shorter, bushier, and greener in appearance. The sexual features of your plants will become apparent, allowing you to tell apart the males and females. Female plants will have two white pistils at the end of the vegetative stage, whereas male plants will develop pollen sacs. Remove the males from your grow area to avoid pollinating the females.
A slightly lower temperature is best during this phase. You kept a temperature of 77 degrees Fahrenheit when your plants were seeds, but you may now adjust it to a 68-77 degree range. Humidity levels may vary considerably, with 50 to 70 percent acceptable. Give your plants enough light; give them 16 or more hours of light each day and 24 or more continuous hours at night. Finally, maintain a high nitrogen diet for your cannabis plants.
The flowering stage is one of the most critical of the four growth stages, and it's when you'll see which strain has taken hold. Look for sticky resin on the leaves and clusters of trichomes to determine which strain has taken hold. The more trichomes there are on your marijuana plant, the stronger it will be. Finally, after the plant has finished blooming, potency also depends on how much time it spends in the flowering stage. If it stays past the 8-week mark, you may be pleasantly surprised at harvest.
The plant's flowering period is the end of its growth process. You will want to switch your lights to 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark at this stage. This will encourage your plants to enter into bloom.
A temperature range of 68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit, as well as a humidity level of 50 percent, is advised for your marijuana flowers. Instead of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous are now the most important nutrients for your cannabis plant. Cronk Grow Nutrients Bud Booster gives your plants the extra boost they need!
When your trichomes start to amber, your plants are ready for harvest!
Harvesting Stage
Duration: Depending on the plant species and variety, harvesting takes place in late fall for outdoor plants but at any time of year for indoor plants. Curing time can take up to 30 days for an optimal smoke!
All you have to do now is enjoy your cannabis crop. It's a good thing you've made it this far! You're going to be rewarded for your hard work in the end. I'm sure glad that I didn't give up after my first few attempts at growing marijuana indoors because now I know how much fun it is and how rewarding it is!
How do you know when the harvesting process has begun? Your plants will provide you with several indicators to help you determine this. Take a look at your female plants' pistils, for example. If the pistils are mostly brown, it's likely that harvest time has arrived. If all of the pistils are brown, you may have missed the optimum moment for harvesting and the cannabis will be rated as "overripe." Likewise, observe the color of the leaves. If the leaves are yellow, rather than green, then don't delay the start of your harvest.
Is it ever too late to harvest a cannabis plant? If the stem is engorged and all of the yellow leaves have fallen off, it's too late to pick the bud. Cannabis at this stage will most likely have an unpleasant taste and scent, perhaps pungent. As a general guideline, it is better to harvest sooner rather than later. Weed that has been harvested too early will not have attained its maximum potency, but it will undoubtedly be more appealing than overripe weed.
Cultivating marijuana at home
The first step toward producing a healthy crop of cannabis is to understand the various phases of development. Keep track of your plants' progress throughout the process and consider keeping a journal of their growth. As you experiment with your crops, you'll be able to determine which procedures are most effective in producing the desired results. You'll also be able to enjoy the process from seed to maturity as a cannabis plant when it's ready to smoke, eat, and enjoy. If you want an easy fertilizer system to follow for your home grow check out our Big Bud Kit which will give you everything you need to grown amazing crop!
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