There are three stages in the growth cycle of marijuana and each is as important as the next.
The first stage: Seedling
The beginning stages of growing can be very exciting as this is where germination takes places and we watch a simple seed turn into a leafy little juvenile ready to take on the world.
Germination is the process wherein a seed fills with water and produces a single root called a tap root. This can take place between 3 – 7 days in good conditions. Once the root is growing in some soil at a healthy rate and two rounded leaves have popped through the casing of the seed, the plant is considered a seedling.
As a seeding you will soon see the iconic 5-7 fingered fan leaves slowly start forming to help soak in some much needed light rays. In ideal climates seedlings thrive with a good 18-24 hours of light. The roots are still small at this stage so they don’t need much water or nutrients to grow well either.
Don’t be surprised if this whole stage seems to flash before your eyes, because these incredible little plants only remain seedlings for about two to three weeks.
The second stage: Vegetative
You know that cannabis is in its vegetative state when it starts growing out of control! Mainly producing seven fingered leaves and getting taller by the day.
This is typically caused by prolonged exposure to light as would naturally happen during summer months – longer days and shorter nights. The roots are also getting bigger daily and will need more water than the previous cycle. Although, over watering can occur and it is vital for the plant to dry out the soil between waterings.
The vegetative stage is also the best stage for growers to add nutrients to the water. This is also the best stage to fight pests effectively and where topping should take place.
As we get closer to flowering, the vegetative plants will start showing signs of their genders (this is the pre-flowering phase). Male’s produce pollen sacks and need to be separated, whilst females display hair like pistols out of buds that ultimately produce the cannabinoids. As the plants get older they get easier to sex but the risk of pollination increases.
Overall the whole vegetative cycle should range from about four to eight weeks depending on the strain. ck
The third stage: Flowering
Each stage of marijuana growth needs attention in a different way, but they also each have their own rewards. The satisfaction of nurturing a plant through all these stages comes to its peak at flowering when big resin covered buds start to appear.
Flowering plants need lots of room so replant if necessary. If you have separated the males and females in time you will have seedless flowers which are ideal as they have a higher concentration of cannabinoids. As the flowers mature they will become stickier as this resin builds up.
Marijuana enters flowering when its light cycle decreases signaling the end of summer in natural climates. This means longer periods of darkness (10-12 hours of darkness) compensated with a little extra water so the plants don’t dry out while growing their flowers. A little extra soil fertilizer to replenish nutrients is also very beneficial to plants in the flowering stages.
Monitor the plant’s growth for about six to eight weeks. When the little crystals on the flowers; called trichomes, are milky white you are ready for harvest!
There are many ways to determine if you have made the most of the flowering stage but the easiest is to wait for a brown/amber discolouration to start. This signals that the trichomes have produced as much resin as possible and the clock on the THC shelf life has begun to tick.
So cut the pretty lady down and start your harvest.
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