8 things i learned growing
my own cannabis
Written by Aaryn Indica
When I set out to start growing my own cannabis, I wasn't seeking a divine understanding of the workings behind the buds. In reality, I was just curious (- and trying not to go broke).
I’d been smoking cannabis for years - but never once had I actually seen a cannabis plant in real life. The more I thought about it, the more I became morbidly curious.
Was growing cannabis as easy as they said? How hard could it be to grow an ounce someone would charge me $100+ for?
I questioned whether it was like 90’s grunge kids growing cannabis in their closets, under neon-purple lighting in a tiny bedroom. Or was it the technical and tenuous task that high-tech growers online made it seem like? If 1960’s hippies could do it without running to Reddit for help, I figured it couldn't be all that hard to learn how to grow weed.
Plus best case scenario, I’d have a nice hoard of beautiful buds at the end of it - worst case scenario, at least I’d still have some weed.
So I tested it, and the truth is - it wasn't hard at all. (And no, it doesn’t smell nearly as much as you’d think.)
Any thoroughly stoned festival-goer will be the first to tell you something super cliche: Cannabis is a teacher.
And while that may sound like total metaphysical bullshit, I can attest to that. So here's eight things growing my own cannabis taught me.
1. Cannabis literally grows like weeds.
Cannabis has a lot of weird names, but the most notorious one is ‘weed’, for good reason.
While the world of cannabis cultivation and growing may seem chaotic, don't get overwhelmed. One of the first things I learned while growing is that cannabis really does grow like a weed.
With just a little bit of attention every week you will see your plant blossom seemingly overnight. Many modern grow systems have sensors that monitor and manage temperature and humidity automatically, and apps that can manage the lights, airflow, and fans all from your phone.
Some more advanced systems even come with cameras and live support to help your plant through rough patches.
But even without the fancy stuff, once you get your routine down, growing can really be a ‘set it and (kinda) forget it’ situation. It's miraculous how much THC you can get out of a little TLC.
2. It’s best to keep it simple.
While it's easy to be teased by high-tech growing technology, when first starting out, it's best to remember your roots.
Back in the day, stoners in the 60’s managed to make beautiful buds with barely anything, growing in their bedroom closets. Even now, people manage to grow some great stuff in red, plastic solo cups. So when growing your first plant, it's best to keep it simple. Invest in the basic stuff - particularly your lighting.
Many brands sell complete growing kits - with fans, pruning sheers, a tent, and your lighting - so there’s a lot less guess work in what to get.
Once you’ve got your hands on seeds, all you really need is an enclosed space, good fans and ventilation, soil and nutrients to feed your plant, and one really good light.
3. Mistakes will happen.
Unless you grew up on a farm, chances are you don't have a perfect green thumb. Making out what your plant needs can be hard in the beginning and mistakes will happen. Make peace with that now.
Whatever it may be, mistakes happen. Even I’ll admit to this.
Whether it be overfeeding, weak lights, bad ventilation, or shitty soil - somewhere along the line, you'll be left with a problem (or two) to solve. Once you accept that, the better you can bounce back.
4. Healing is part of the process.
The good thing is, cannabis can keep growing.
When you’re burning through bud all day, it can be easy to forget that cannabis plants are a living thing - but it is. Cannabis isn’t made, it’s grown. Try to understand your plant not as a project, but a living, breathing organism you’re raising.
Your plants are alive. They can get sick, and like all living things - they can recover.
When you experience mistakes in your first few grows, just know most wrongdoings can quickly be undone by with a little research and listening to what your plant needs.
Healing will become a natural part of any growing process.
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Nutrients - and feeding schedules can be a hard thing to nail down. Too little, and your plant might be stunted and die. Too much, and they may experience salt build-up, or nutrient lockout.
A miscalculation in ChEmma The Chem-Dawg Plant ’s nutrients left her leaves curled in what lots call ‘the claw’. While the appearance may be drastic, the fix was simple and quick - all I had to do was run fresh water through her pot a couple of times, and her leaves were lifted and uncurled within days.
5. Don't overthink it too much.
Follow your intuition.
Keep a close eye on the large fan leaves and keep an eye out for any discoloration, wilting, or pest-inflicted damage. Above all else, try and give your plant what it needs.
While it can be easy to become tangled in tons of growing information online oftentimes all you need to know about your plant is right in front of you. While there are many guides to mastery on the internet, overthinking is more often the biggest threat.
Take it slow. And remember, we're not winning any Emerald Cups here. As long as your plant is healthy and blossoming, you're on the right track.
6. Your environment is everything.
Whether it's the place you live or the people you hang out with, one lesson everybody learns is that our environments are everything. That's true for cannabis too.
The environment you grow your cannabis in controls everything about the buds you get in the end. Lighting, soil, and simple nutrients are the holy grails of growing cannabis plants.
Balanced feedings, bright lights and good water are some of the only things you need to grow the best buds. By choosing your soil right and keeping an eye on these three things, your plant will be good to go and all set to grow.
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7. Don't forget to track your progress.
I wasn't joking before when I said cannabis grows like weeds. You'd be shocked how fast your plant can go from seed to flower before you even know it.
Many autoflowers can be harvest-ready in as little as nine or ten weeks. Now that may sound like a lot, but in retrospect the time flies by - especially when you find a solid routine for your feedings.
It can be hard to keep track of just how far your new cannabis plant has come when new leaves are sprouting overnight - but celebrating every step makes smoking the end product even sweeter.
Keep an eye on your plant's height, the number of branches and leaves, the amount of colas you have growing up top and - of course, just how much beautiful flower you get when you finally make it to harvest.
Growing cannabis requires patience, preparation and a little bit of practice, but tracking each step is absolutely the path to mastering it in no time.
(Oh - and for the love of ganja, TAKE PHOTOS. I made the horrible mistake of cutting down Chemma before getting a final photo of her at harvest. I tell you - that’s something that will haunt my stoner soul forever.)
8. Growing is the number one way to connect with cannabis.
Whether you're looking to grow your own medicine or finding a way to save on your weekly ounces - if you're looking to connect with cannabis, growing is best way.
It's crazy how convenient it can be to have a complete stash of your favorite strains without having to cash out. When you're dealing with chronic illnesses or severe pain, having the peace of mind to know where your flower came from is great to have at the end of the day.
Growing your own cannabis means connecting and consuming the plant easier than ever, and you'll begin to understand cannabis in amazing new ways.
Whether you're just looking to save cash or you're out to become a true cannabis connoisseur, growing is the number one way.
Learning how to grow my own weed didn’t take a lot - but it did teach me a bunch.
While growing may seem like a steep investment, I couldn’t recommend it enough. When it comes to growing, cannabis rewards the crafty. If you’re considering growing, or you’re just curious about how the process goes, home-growing your own weed is the cannabis world’s best and quickest way to go.
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