Growing cannabis is a highly rewarding hobby that also requires a certain level of basic, but detailed, care that can sometimes lead to mistakes. These mistakes, as explained by Royal Queen Seeds, a company that specializes in growing cannabis from seed, can prevent the plants from growing properly, or even cause them to not germinate at all. Since these seeds have very unique characteristics, many beginner growers get started without the necessary expertise or the minimum required preparation.
What are the most common mistakes? How can they be avoided? We asked for masters in this field.
They explain that the learning curve for growing cannabis requires a significant amount of patience and practice. As such, they highlight the importance of being properly prepared and also being aware that even the most expert growers can make mistakes.
They point out that the most important thing is to take note of each action you take during the cultivation process, to understand how the plant reacts, what works, and what doesn’t work. You should also take care when you begin growing cannabis as, depending on where you live, it may be a complex issue from a legal perspective. This makes it a hobby that you should enjoy quite discreetly, at least at the beginning.
5 big mistakes that beginner growers make
Aside from discretion, it is also essential that you educate yourself and prepare your space before you get started if you want to avoid the majority of common mistakes made by beginner cannabis growers.
1. Doing enough research before starting
Choosing the right materials and space is key if you want to be successful. This doesn’t necessarily mean spending a great deal of money, it just means making smart choices. Before just embarking on growing for the sake of growing, it’s a good idea to do some in-depth research into which varieties are most suitable for your region, what kind of care they need and how they germinate, so you can plan what materials you will need to grow them successfully.
2. Choosing the right seeds and following safety guidelines
Expert growers stress that an essential factor for growing cannabis successfully is choosing the right type of seed according to the land, climate, and level of intended dedication. It’s not always easy for a beginner to recognize good quality feminized seeds, so specialists recommend always going to trustworthy distributors to buy your seeds, as they will be able to give amateur growers advice based on their own experience. This transfer of knowledge will make successful cultivation and germination that bit more likely.
Another key element is safety in your growing space. Cannabis requires specific artificial environmental conditions that could be hazardous to you and the surrounding environment if you don’t plan properly and follow the minimum required safety guidelines, particularly in regard to managing irrigation and producing the greenhouse effect.
3. Preparing the growing space
Preparing your growing space is as important as choosing the correct type of seeds. It’s important to bear in mind that how you should prepare for growing cannabis will depend on whether you’re doing it indoors or outdoors. If you’re growing indoors, you’ll need to obtain and set up specific equipment, most importantly a suitable ventilation system. However, if you decide to plant your cannabis seeds outdoors, you will need to consider and measure the amount of sunlight they will receive, the humidity of the environment and also where you’re going to plant them away from prying eyes.
Furthermore, the type of plant you choose will determine the level of exponential growth, which in turn will determine the amount of space it will need to grow properly.
4. Caring for the plants: pH level and irrigation
Another common mistake that beginner cannabis growers make is not properly managing pH levels, irrigation and the substrate type required by the plants.
In regard to the latter, the correct choice will directly depend on the type of growing technique you plan on using, in terms of choosing between substrate or hydroponics. In any case, this will have a direct impact on the budget you will need to allocate, which is another element that is often not properly evaluated, particularly with early plantations.
The pH level of the substrate is an essential factor to ensure the plant grows properly. Specialists point out that many amateur growers underestimate the importance of this factor in their plantations. The balance between acid and alkaline will have a direct effect on the environment where you’re growing your plants.
If you don’t manage it properly, you risk losing this balance, which will cause the plants to stop being productive, and possibly even die.
The pH level will determine the precise level of nutrients, which the plant roots need to absorb in order to grow.
Specialists also highlight another common area where people make serious mistakes when beginning to grow plants like cannabis: irrigation.
Cannabis plants require very specific conditions when it comes to humidity and irrigation, as they do with nutrients and substrates. No guidelines are suitable for every type of plant, so it isn’t a good idea to just follow the general instructions on gardening products, you should instead go to specialist stores or e-grow shops.
Another common area where beginner growers have issues is related to flushing the plants. This should only be done before a harvest, or earlier if there is an excessive buildup of the substrate.
5. The moment of harvest
Finally, there is one more risk that all cannabis growers should be careful to avoid when they start out: getting overexcited when the plants start to flower and harvesting too much too soon. Growing these types of plants requires a lot of patience if you want to obtain a high-quality product. If you pick the buds too early, you won’t get the maximum potency from your plants, and the quality will also be lower.
