More and more countries are legalizing the use and cultivation of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Many medical organizations, such as the American College of Physicians, promote the use of marijuana when prescribed by a doctor. There are many places in the world where marijuana use is legal (ex: Holland) or semi-legal (United States - legal at the state level in some states, but illegal at the federal level. If you have a prescription for marijuana at your disposal. medicine, but you can't get it, e whether cultivating it is legal in your jurisdiction, you can grow it yourself.
Steps
Step 1. Get a prescription from a doctor
Step 2. Choose seeds suitable for the treatment of the medical condition to be treated
The Indica strain has relaxing properties, and is typically used to relieve the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, for muscle spasms, tremors, mobility problems and pain management. The Sativa strain has stimulating properties, more appropriate for stimulating appetite, for migraines, pains, nausea and commonly used by HIV and cancer patients. You can also choose hybrid plants to get the benefits of both strains.
Step 3. Find a place that is lit enough
If you grow your plants outdoors or in a greenhouse, you need at least 6 hours of light. If you want to grow them indoors, make sure the plant leaves get plenty of it. You will need a high pressure sodium bulb for initial growth, and you will need to adjust the light-dark cycle according to the stage of the plant: 18 hours of light and 6 of dark for the vegetative state and 12 / 12 during flowering.
Step 4. Germinate the seeds
There are many ways to do this. One is to fill a cup with warm water and put the seeds in it. Keep them in a dark place for about 1-3 days. When you see a white root coming out of the seed, it's time to plant. Another way is to wet a paper handkerchief, put the seeds in the handkerchief, fold it and store it in a dark place for 1-3 days. Or the best way is to use Grodan cubes. You don't have to germinate the seeds by force, but if you do, the likelihood that they will generate a plant will be higher.
Step 5. Decide whether to grow marijuana organically or with chemical fertilizers
The plant will need to be smoked, so it will be healthier to use only natural ingredients. Chemical fertilizers can give the sprout an unpleasant taste, but they are cheaper and it is easier to use precise dosages.
Step 6. Plant the seeds in starter medium in a small pot
You should generally plant the seeds in starter or unfertilized soil, as fertilizers can harm the young plant. The seeds have a reserve of nutrients within them for initial growth. You can use pure peat or very lightly fertilized peat. Mix in some perlite so that the soil remains soft and well ventilated, as the roots need oxygen and can be choked by too dense soil. Water the soil well, then make a 1.5 cm hole and place the seeds in it, with the roots facing down. Cover the seeds and keep the soil wet until the plant appears and starts growing. Let the plant grow in this pot for about two weeks. Provide the plant with 18 to 24 hours of light per day. If you use artificial light, use fluorescent lamps. Don't use more powerful types of grow lights. Don't let the plant's temperature rise or fall too much. Ensure good ventilation with a small fan.
Step 7. Prepare the fertilized soil in a larger pot
Take a 20-liter jar and clean it thoroughly. It may be helpful to fill the bottom of the pot with about 2.5 cm of peat. You can find it in all garden stores. In this way the plant drains will be drained very well. Then fill the pot to the brim with potting soil. Use a variety of organic soil. Some more complex methods, which can ensure higher quality plants, involve mixing soil and fertilizer together in a separate container, and then placing them in the pot. Organic soil mixes can consist of 1 part perlite, 1 part humus and 1 part peat. Also add a small amount of fertilizer, such as bat guano. Use a high nitrogen fertilizer initially, as it promotes vegetative growth. Make sure you read the fertilizer instructions and don't add too much, as it will kill the plant.
Step 8. Transfer the young plant
Dig a hole in the larger pot and carefully remove the young plant from the smaller one. To do this you will need to turn the plant and the small pot upside down, holding your hand above the soil, until the plant and soil slip into your hands. The soil will be held together by the plant's roots. Gently lay the soil in the hole and fill it in, being careful not to compact the soil. Water the plant, without overdoing it.
Step 9. Watch it grow
The plant should receive at least 3 hours of direct sunlight per day and should be watered whenever the soil appears dry. The maximum growth rate will be achieved if the plant receives 16-20 hours of light. Never keep the plant lit for 24 hours a day. He would never have time to rest before the next stage of growth. By providing so many hours of light, the plant will stay in the vegetative stage, and will not produce sprouts until you reduce the daily lighting to 12 hours or less. Flowering will occur naturally if the plant is grown outdoors. However, if it has been planted too late in the summer, it will not have enough time to produce quality sprouts.
Step 10. Induce flowering if desired
Consider the sex of the plants. Female plants will produce a hair, and male plants a ball. If in doubt, wait a few days, as it takes a few weeks for the pollen to be produced. If you are growing the plant with artificial lights, induce flowering by limiting the hours of light the plant receives to around 12 per day. During the other 12 hours, the plant must be in total darkness. During flowering you will need to use a fertilizer that is low in nitrogen and high in phosphorus.
Step 11. Measure the air temperature and try to keep the plants at 19.5 ° C
Outdoors you can do this by analyzing the climatic profiles of the seasons. You can do this indoors by measuring the temperature and checking the ventilation. Using an hourly CO2 spray gives great results during flowering. You will get even better results if you use this technique during the transition phase (the first two weeks of lighting 12/12).
Step 12. Identify the sex of the plants
You can tell if your plants are male or female. Male plants do not produce shoots, unlike females. You can spot a male plant by the pollen bags (balls) that form where the main stem connects to the branches. A female plant will have white hairs that grow from those spots. You can use a magnifying glass to look at the plants more closely. Throw away male plants, as they are not a source of clinically important substances. However, they can be used to selectively pollinate a single flower. This way you will get seeds that will have adapted to your soil and the conditions you are using to grow your plants.
Step 13. Harvest
About 8-16 weeks after transitioning, your plant should be ready to harvest when most of the hairs have turned from white to red. NOTE; a late or premature harvest will determine the quality and properties of the shoots. When you decide to harvest, cut the main stem of the mature plant just above the ground, and prune any leaves that do not belong to the flowers. Hang the plant upside down for about 6-7 days at 19-20 ° C, in a place with 50-55% humidity. When the stem is no longer moist and it is possible to break it off, simply remove the shoots from the stem and begin the care process.
Advice
- The level of ripeness of the plant, indicated by the color of the resin crystals (trichomes) on the shoots, can greatly influence the medical value of the plant. A clinically mature plant should have a good amount of reddish or amber-colored trichomes.
- Do not prune the plant during flowering, you will put it under stress and the harvest will take longer.
- Place ladybugs on plants to protect them from dangerous insects.
- Strains rich in cannabidiol can reduce anxiety, while strains rich in THC can increase anxiety. Most strains are high in THC and low in cannabidiol.
- Prune only the large fan leaves that obscure the shoots and leave the others.
- Don't water the plant too much. A good rule of thumb to understand if the plant needs water is to lift the pot. If it weighs much less than the weight it immediately after watering, the plant probably needs water.
- You should only use fertilizers after a month of cultivation. You can then gradually add fertilizer to the soil.
- If you notice any leaves that are darkening or dead, prune them to speed up the growth of the plant.
Warnings
- While the use of marijuana for medical purposes is legal in your jurisdiction, growing it may not be. Be very well informed about the laws in force.
- Let the plant grow as long as necessary. Don't touch it too much. Do this only when necessary.
