Growing Organic vs. Conventional Marijuana
Marijuana or popularly known as Cannabis is basically a psychoactive drug found in the Cannabis weed. They are primarily used for the medical and recreational activities.
There has always been a debate on the legalization of the growth of Cannabis plant as they are amongst the most used “drugs” across the world. There exists confusion between the medical uses of the drug vs. the veil of myth surrounding the drug. Recently the growth of Cannabis plant has been legalized in some states. It has a long-term effect on the body despite its excellent pain-management content.
Marijuana is found in Indian hemp plant. The buds of the Cannabis plant contain marijuana, however, it is sold in the dried form of leaves, stem, flowers, and seeds. You will find it in green, brown or gray in color. Marijuana along with hashish is dried and rolled on to form sticks or balls. When marijuana is smoked, it gives off a distinguishing odor. Both of them together contain over 400 chemicals that cause intoxication. The chemical Tetrahydrocannabinol has some mind-altering effects which is the primary why marijuana is considered as a drug.
Growing this high-quality drug is no joke as it requires the right supplies, patience, and in-depth exhaustive marijuana-specific knowledge.
Use of chemicals and fertilizers for both outdoor and indoor Cannabis
You need to be well aware of the nutrients that are required to nourish the Cannabis either they are grown indoors or outdoors. We will help you brush up your knowledge on the proper fertilization of the soil to grow high-quality marijuana. The grower of Cannabis is particularly worried about the usage of chemicals on the soil. They often face confusion in using chemicals or going the organic way. The answer lies in finding out the cost vs. yield.
You can either choose to go ahead with in-store fertilizers or decide to prepare organic compost. Throw in the cannabis seeds on the soil and wait for it to grow. Put in a lot of effort for preparing compost, nourishing the soil and harvesting in a conventional way. Your effort will be handsomely rewarded as you harvest an improved quality of marijuana.
In case you are not in a position to put in so much effort, go for the ready-made fertilizers available in the market. Follow the instructions on the printed label. Chemical fertilizers work well for marijuana grown in containers. Keep on checking the pH value of your soil as they are capable of changing the soil quality frequently.
How to take care of your Marijuana plants
Lack of knowledge may land up in wrong mixing of the standard fertilizers which will eventually lead to the death of marijuana plants.
All you need to prepare a correct mix of fertilizer requires 4 parts of cottonseed meal, 2 parts of phosphate, 2 parts of wood ash, 1 part of limestone, and 1 part of kelp meal.
Steer clear of watering your plants too often. There is a specific way to water your plants.
- Prepare the best quality soil either using fertilizers or organic compost.
- Add nutrients to the water and pour it on plants once every two weeks.
- Make sure to keep adding 20% of water at the bottom of the container.
Disadvantages of using chemical fertilizers
Using chemical fertilizers have some disadvantages:
- Chemical fertilizers having high concentration leaves behind too much salt in the soil.
- The roots of the cannabis plant absorb the excess salt and may die down within a short period of time.
- Certain nutrients create a deficiency of other nutrients leading to death and dehydration of the cannabis.
When supplied with organic nutrients, the cannabis plants take the amount of nourishment they need from the compost and leave behind the rest in the soil.
How to prepare organic compost
Throw in all your wastes to prepare organic compost instead of disposing them. It is a simple process which is also a highly cost-effective option. Organic compost can be made from vegetables, plant clippings, or animal manure. Do not make the mistake of including animal meat or fat as that would attract maggots and parasites. Stay away from including your animal wastes and pine needles as they lower the pH balance of the soil. Make sure you break down the components to form compost into small parts. It will speed up the process of breakdown of the compost mixture.
Urine as a fertilizer
Urine of human species contains a large amount of nitrogen that is highly recommended for nourishing the cannabis plant. It is a healthy fertilizer for marijuana. Do not jump into action by urinating over the plants directly. Mix one full bladder of urine to one gallon of water added with commercial plant food. Water the plant immediately with this liquid to avoid the formation of toxic ammonia.
Chicken manure
This can prove to be an excellent foundation for preparing compost. The yield is higher with chicken manure.
Wood ashes
Using wood ashes in the right amounts removes the excess toxicity from the soil. Mix the wood ashes to 5 gallons of water and water the plant with the mixed liquid to promote healthy growth of the plant in acidic soil.
Carbon-dioxide
To promote a comfortable atmosphere for carbon-dioxide drip, make sure it is prepared in a confined space. This ensures the smell of vinegar used in breaking down the components of composts, does not bring undesirable attention to marijuana growth.
Few points to remember while going ahead with organic compost
- Make sure to pile your composts in layers so that the airflow is not blocked.
- Check the pH balance of the compost frequently as you do with your soil.
- If the compost is too much acidic or alkaline, throw in some lime or bonemeal to adjust the pH balance.
- The compost fertilizer is a time-consuming process in case you do not own a large farmland. Have patience to build your compost as that contains more nutrients than the chemical fertilizers available in the market.
Disadvantages of using organic cannabis
Using organic compost is not free from disadvantages:
- You have to start preparing the compost several months before throwing in the cannabis seed.
- Carrying the compost to the area of cannabis farmland can be a difficult task. You might prepare the compost in a place quite distant from the cannabis farmland.
- Good fertile soil attracts microorganisms that nourish the soil and makes it more fertile by simply living in it. Compost speeds up the process of regaining natural fertility of the soil.
Stop fertilizing one week prior to harvest. The debate of organic vs. conventional harvest of marijuana continues, however, an organic fertilization yields high-quality healthy cannabis plant compared to plants grown with chemical fertilizers.