5 Pro Tips For Growing Cannabis In Your Own Backyard

If your state or country allows, you can grow cannabis in your backyard for personal use. A novice cannabis grower can start in a small grow tent and transfer the seedlings to an open space or a greenhouse.

But how do you ensure cultivating healthy marijuana plants in your backyard? The right amount of water, fertilizer, and light are crucial to the health of your cannabis plants. You can learn from expert growers to further hone your skills in proper cannabis cultivation.

Below are some professional tips on how to grow cannabis in your backyard: 

1. Germinate Seeds Indoors

Germination refers to sprouting seeds before planting. While this step isn’t always necessary, it’ll increase the chances of your cannabis plants germinating properly to grow healthy plants. You can germinate cannabis seeds inside a moist paper towel and then wait for a few days until the taproot appears. 

For more controlled germination of marijuana seeds, you can use the best grow tents or mini-greenhouses, which are available in starter pods. They allow the seeds to start rooting before you transplant them into the grow media, providing a safer transition from seed germination to potting. 

2. Choose The Best Medium For Your Cannabis Plants

A growing medium refers to where your marijuana plants grow their root system. Your cannabis plants need to have access to the right amount of nutrients, oxygen, and water to grow regardless of the medium you choose.

Here are the different types of mediums where you can grow your marijuana plants:

• Soil

Growing your marijuana plants in soil is a simple way to nourish them by using high-quality compost. A soil medium is recommended for novice growers because it’s cheaper than other options. 

• Coco And Perlite 

This medium mix provides the ease of a soil medium and the benefits of a hydroponic grow. You have full control over the growth of your plants because you’re responsible for adding nutrients to this medium. 

• Hydroponics

Hydroponic setups come in various types. Some systems hold plants in pots with clay pebbles, rockwool, or perlite. They also have drippers dispensing water and nutrients to cannabis plants.

• Rockwool

This medium is a fiber spun from basalt rock with superior moisture-retention abilities. Rockwool has different shapes such as small blocks, cubes, and large slabs.

3. Water Cannabis Plants Carefully

Like other plants, cannabis needs water to survive and grow healthy. Cannabis seedlings and clones need much less water. Don’t water your marijuana plants with a powerful stream in the early stages because it can disrupt proper root development. 

Here’s how to water marijuana plants properly:

• Test the soil moisture before watering using the chopstick method. Insert a chopstick or any similar tool an inch deep into the soil and pull it out after a few seconds to check if the soil is dry or wet.
• If the soil is dry, you can moist the substrate using a light mister.
• Wait for the water to penetrate the soil deeply and dry out before you repeat the procedure.
• The frequency of watering your plants depends on environmental conditions. In general, you can mist your cannabis plants once every two to three days.
• Make sure the pots have proper drainage and the soil dries out in three to four days. Otherwise, if the soil still appears wet, there’s likely a drainage problem.

4. Fertilize Cannabis Plants Based On Growth Stage

Fertilizing your cannabis plants depend on the stage they belong to. Cannabis plants don’t need nutrients in the first two to three weeks of growth. You can start to give nitrogen after three weeks and growth fertilizers in the vegetative stage. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are recommended during the flowering stage to avoid deficiencies. 

5. Trim Cannabis Plants For Better Bud Quality 

Trim your marijuana plants to remove branches. Leaving branches on can cause harsh smoke because thicker foliage doesn’t wick away moisture. Trimming is important for uniform moisture content and a much flavorful smoking experience. 

To trim the buds, use a solid pair of shears to cut the main stalk of your cannabis plants close to the soil, and then cut the branches to break the plant into smaller pieces.

Conclusion

Growing cannabis in your backyard entails choosing the right cannabis strain, medium, and area. If you’re a beginner, you can start with easy to cultivate strains and soil medium. As you advance your cultivation skills, you can try more sophisticated growing methods to increase your yield and quality of buds. Consider the ideas mentioned here as you grow your plants.