Classic beginner mistakes when growing cannabis – and how to avoid them
The cannabis cultivation set – setup
Before you start growing, your entire cannabis cultivation kit should be ready for use. A well-thought-out setup ensures optimal growing conditions and prevents problems later on.
Home Grow Pro System – an example of a complete all-in-one solution for indoor cannabis cultivation
outdoor cultivation
If you grow in the garden or on the balcony, you need:
- High-quality soil
- pots & coasters
- nutrients / fertilizers
- A sunny location
indoor cultivation
An indoor cannabis cultivation kit includes:
- grow tent
- LED lamp with height-adjustable suspension
- exhaust air system with activated carbon filter
- circulating fan for air circulation
- Thermo-hygrometer for monitoring temperature & humidity
- soil , nutrients / fertilizer
- Pots, coasters & spray bottle
Testing the right setup
Before you plant the first plants, your setup should be tested. The ideal temperature is between 18-28°C. Cellars that are too cold or attics that are too hot are unsuitable. A window for fresh air is essential - a poorly ventilated storage room only works to a limited extent.
With the right cannabis cultivation kit you lay the foundation for a successful harvest!
Cannabis Soil: The Basis for a Successful Grow
A successful grow starts with the right cannabis soil . It should be loose and allow for optimal water and air exchange. Special grow soils are perfectly tailored to the needs of cannabis plants.
Regular potting soil is often not ideal as it does not provide the right nutrients and properties for cannabis, so it is advisable to choose a high-quality cannabis soil to maximize growth and yields.
Alternatively, cannabis can also be grown in hydroponic systems or on coconut fiber. However, these methods require more experience and are less beginner-friendly than growing cannabis in soil.
The right pot size for hemp plants
Choosing the right pot size for cannabis plants is crucial for the growth and health of your plants. The pot not only affects the maximum size of the plant, but also the water storage.
Small vs. large pots
Small pots under 3 liters require daily watering as they dry out quickly. Larger pots store more water, but can cause waterlogging if watered too much. In addition, a lot of soil is used up unnecessarily.
What pot size is ideal?
For indoor cultivation, 6-12 liters is optimal, while outdoor plants thrive best in 10-20 liter pots. With the right pot size for cannabis plants , you can ensure that your plants grow healthily and are optimally supplied with water.
Cannabis Fertilizer: The Right Nutrient Supply for Healthy Plants
Choosing the right cannabis fertilizer is crucial for a successful grow. Your plants need a balanced supply of nutrients to thrive optimally. You have two main options: mineral or organic fertilizer .
Organic Cannabis Fertilizer: The Simple and Natural Solution
The combination of soil and organic cannabis fertilizer is particularly beginner-friendly. Soil serves as a natural buffer for water and nutrients and protects your plants from over-fertilization. If you fertilize too little, the plant can fall back on the soil's nutrient reserves.
Less is more: The right dosage
A common mistake when fertilizing is over-fertilizing. Your plants will cope better with a slightly reduced amount of cannabis fertilizer than with over-fertilizing. If necessary, you can always add more fertilizer - removing excess nutrients, however, is much more difficult.
Our tip: Don't panic – grow organically!
Use organic cannabis fertilizer to provide your plants with a natural and sustainable supply of nutrients. This will help them grow healthy and resilient.
Manufacturers often write fertilization schedules in which the dosages and the correct times of use are described very clearly. You can find some of them in our downloads .
Where to buy cannabis plants? Tips for the best start
Anyone who wants to buy cannabis plants has a choice: cuttings or seedlings ? Both options have their advantages, but beginners in particular should know exactly what is important.
Why young plants instead of seeds?
The first few weeks after germination are crucial. A healthy start means a strong plant. However, growing from seed can be risky and time-consuming, so it's worth buying young plants straight away.
Cuttings or seedlings – which is better?
Cuttings :
Clones of a mother plant, uniform in growth and ideal for larger cultivation.
Seedlings: More robust, grow bushier and are perfect for beginners.
Our recommendation: If you want to buy cannabis plants for the first time, you should go for seedlings. They are more resilient and easier to handle.
Cannabis Growth Phase: Optimal Conditions for Healthy Plant Growth
The cannabis growth phase is crucial to the success of your plants. During this phase, it is important to create the right conditions to encourage growth. Here's how to create the ideal environment for your plants.
Optimally adjust humidity
During the cannabis growth phase , the plants like the humidity to be a little higher. A humidity of 50-60% is ideal. To achieve this, you can regularly spray water into the tent with a spray bottle or place a wet towel or a shallow bowl of water in the tent. If that is not enough, you can use a humidifier, which is relatively inexpensive to buy.
Adjusting the exhaust fan
During this phase, the exhaust fan is often throttled down to half power to give the air more time to stay warm and moist before being replaced. This supports the growth of your cannabis plants.
The right lighting
Sanlight EVO 5-120 LED plant lamp
The lamp should be about 40 cm from the top of the plant and, if possible, throttled down to half power. The rule of thumb for LED lamps is: 100-200 W per square meter is ideal during the cannabis growth phase . In the flowering phase, it should be 200-400 W per square meter.
plant protection products in the growth phase
The cannabis growth phase is also the last opportunity to apply pesticides . If you discover pests such as small mosquitoes or thrips, now is the right time to react with a spray treatment. Use Neem oil for the treatment:
- Light infestation: 5 ml/L Neem oil in water
- Severe infestation: 10 ml/L Neem oil in water
Spray the plants thoroughly from all sides, including from below. Repeat this treatment at least 2-3 times at intervals of a few days. Remember to pull the lamp all the way up or reduce the power before spraying to avoid stressing and burning the plants. After 30 minutes, normal operation can be resumed.
yellow and blue boards in the grow tent
If you don't already have yellow and/or blue panels in your tent, now is the perfect time to add them. These panels not only help control the pest population, but also show you if and which pests are present in your tent. This is important to apply the right treatment and ensure the growth of your plants.
The flowering phase of cannabis
During the flowering phase of cannabis (12 hours of light per day), proper care is crucial. If you have healthy and strong plants, you are well on your way to a successful harvest. But what if your plants are not yet in top shape?
Preparing healthy plants for the flowering phase
Before you start the flowering phase of cannabis , make sure your plants are healthy. If they are not growing optimally, take a few extra days to properly care for them before changing the timer .
growth in the flowering phase
In the first two weeks after switching to flowering, your plant will continue to grow and double or even increase in size. Make sure to leave enough room in the tent for the plants to develop. Don't wait too long to switch the light to ensure there is enough room for growth.
Patience and proper fertilization
From this point on, patience is key. Plants need to be fed regularly and in the right dose. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for your fertilizer and never exceed the recommended amount. This way, you'll give your plants exactly what they need without overloading them.
adjust lighting
The power of the lamp can now be steadily increased until it reaches its full power. Make sure that the lamp is not set too high too early to avoid damaging the plants.
Optimal humidity during the flowering phase
Humidity should be around 40-50% during the flowering phase of cannabis , which is slightly lower than during the vegetative phase. These values prevent mold growth and support healthy flower development.
ventilation and air circulation
The exhaust air should run (almost) at full power to remove the additional heat from the lamp and reduce the humidity in the tent. If the humidity is above 60%, problems can arise as the flowers can become moldy from the inside.
The circulating fan: an indispensable tool
A circulating fan will help dry out small water pockets and prevent wet spots on the flowers and leaves, keeping the environment dry and healthy, which is essential for a successful cannabis flowering phase .
Drying Cannabis: How to do it perfectly
Drying cannabis is a crucial step in obtaining high-quality flowers . Patience is key here. After you have harvested your cannabis plants, you should hang them carefully to achieve the best possible drying. Whether you hang the hemp plants whole or cut into individual branches is up to you - a hanging drying net is a practical solution here.
It is important that you turn off the lamp during the drying phase. The exhaust air in the tent should be reduced to about half or even less, while the recirculation air remains on but only works indirectly. Avoid letting direct wind blow onto the plants to be dried , as this could affect the quality.
For ideal cannabis drying , aim for a humidity of 50-60% and cool temperatures between 18-22°C. This slow process usually takes about a week. If you try to do it faster, you risk compromising the quality of the flowers. If drying takes a few days longer, it's not a problem and is actually beneficial for the end result.
Proper storage of cannabis flowers
After drying the cannabis flowers, the next step is proper storage to preserve the quality. First, the flowers are trimmed by removing all the leaves so that only the flowers remain. These should then be stored in an airtight container , such as a swing top jar.
It is important for the correct storage of cannabis flowers that the jars are aired daily or almost daily for the first two weeks after packaging. This helps to regulate the humidity in the jar and prevents the flowers from becoming too moist. Adequate humidity is crucial to maintaining the quality and freshness of the flowers.
If you want to avoid this daily work, you should definitely use a Boveda Bag or a similar product. These bags contain a gel with salt and water that naturally regulates the humidity and maintains a constant level of humidity. This ensures that cannabis flowers are stored correctly without any problems.
Setting a timer for cannabis cultivation: Avoid classic mistakes
Setting the timer correctly for cannabis cultivation is crucial. A common mistake is setting the timer incorrectly or running it in "always on" mode instead of "timed" mode.
Overwatered Cannabis Plants: Causes and Solutions
Too much water is a common cause of unhappiness for cannabis plants. If overwatered cannabis plants do not receive enough oxygen to the roots, they cannot thrive properly. To avoid this, you should regularly lift the pots. This will give you a feel for how heavy they are at different water levels. Make sure the soil is always moist, but never wet. You can also stick your finger in the soil to check the moisture level.
How often should you water your cannabis plants?
Watering every 2-4 days is best. Watering daily can harm your plants. Rotating your watering regularly is crucial to avoid overwatering cannabis plants .
What to do if the hemp plant gets too big?
Don't panic! If your cannabis plant gets too big , there are simple solutions to control its growth.
1. Cut back the hemp plant
Sometimes it is necessary to prune the cannabis plant to control its size. Targeted pruning helps to keep the plant in shape and optimize the harvest.
2. Use net for the grow tent
If you prefer a milder solution, you can use a grow tent net . This will help to better manage the height of the cannabis plant and distribute the growth evenly.
If you follow all the tips, you have a good chance of a bountiful harvest.
If you have specific questions about your setup, please contact us at: plants@bushdoctor.at