The first step in growing any cannabis plant is acquiring the correct seeds. Over the internet one can purchase feminized seeds which promise to render female marijuana plants that yield smokable buds. If you cannot get specialized female seeds, you can use any run-of-the mill seeds which grow to be 50% female and 50% male plants. Marijuana can be grown either indoors or outdoors and there are many different techniques that experienced cannabis growers are familiar with, including hydroponics. The first step in developing your marijuana plant is germination. The most common method is placing the seeds in wet paper towels and leaving them in a dark environment. After 1 to 5 days one should notice a white stem emerging from the seed. After the white stem has grown to be a half inch to a inch long, the seeds will be ready to be transplanted into soil. The soul used should be between 6.0 to 7.0 PH and should contain sufficient nutrients and fundamental elements including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The best environment for marijuana to be grown is between 75 degrees to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. After the seeds have been transplanted into the soil they should remain in an environment that receives 16 to 20 hours of light. The soil should constantly be kept moist and watered every day; however the plants should not be overwatered to avoid drowning of the plant.
After 1 to 4 weeks you should notice your first marijuana seedlings emerging from the soil. After a month you should be able to distinguish between a female and male plant. You will be able to distinguish between male and female plants are your plant develops because males tend to develop buds similar to tiny balls. On the other hand, females will not have any balls but yield small white hairs called “pistils”. When identified male plants are taken away from female plants to make sure the male does not pollenize the female. Pollenization will cause the female plant to contain seeds which will reduce the quality of the herbal bud. Depending on the strain of the plant the marijuana will need at least 2 to 3 months before it starts to flower. Many indoor growers induce flowering by changing the cycle of light to 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness per day. One will know when the marijuana plant is about to flower when sepals begin to form. Sepals are scales, teeth, or ridges used to enclose and protect the more delicate floral areas of the plant. Flowering can last from 45 days to 4 months depending on the strain and environment of the plant. An indicator that your plant is ready to be harvested is when 2/3 of the pistols turn from white to reddish-brown or any other color. If done correctly you should notice many trichomes which can range from completely clear to an amber red coating of the entire marijuana flower.
When the marijuana is harvested it is cut at the bottom and is most normally hung to dry upside down. The leaves are also cut off from the plant to be dried and cured. Drying takes place in a dark environment so that the THC will not deteriorate because of exposure to light. The next process is curing the marijuana. After it is done drying the plant is trimmed of its leaves and cut off from the stems as much as possible. The dried product is then placed into an airtight environment where the bud is checked frequently to make sure it is properly dried and not remoistened. Once the product is dried the marijuana can be sealed off and opened once a week, normally for 2 weeks. The curing process is normally optional. Some growers cure for 6 months while others do not at all. Curing normally makes marijuana more pleasant to smoke.
