The checklist of mistakes in growing marijuana
This is a comprehensive guide to common mistakes often encountered when growing marijuana. It combines insights from experienced growers, compiled through years of cultivation expertise. The aim is to inform people about frequent errors before they experience them, ensuring they are prepared and can respond effectively. This guide is structured and enhanced for clarity and accessibility. Please note that cultivating or consuming marijuana remains illegal in many places; thus, this content, like all others, is intended for informational purposes only.
Common mistakes in marijuana growing
This is a must-read and highly recommended guide before venturing into marijuana cultivation. Not only does it help you avoid numerous headaches and financial losses, but it also aims to entertain and educate both novices and seasoned growers. Even the most experienced cultivators can find new perspectives and useful tips here.
Every crop is unique; each seed’s genetics and the varying external conditions like climate, soil, fertilizers, and surrounding organisms make every growing experience distinct. Cultivation is a fascinating and challenging art, where continuous learning and careful observation are essential for success.
List of the most common mistakes
And without further ado, here are the most common mistakes in marijuana growing, we have organised them by sections to make reading easier and more enjoyable, we hope you enjoy them!
Planning mistakes
Using the typical Chinese soil or the cheapest soil on the market
It is better to spend a little extra money to get a fluffy, sterilised, nutrient-rich substrate that is completely free of pests and grubs. Cheap soils, often found in low-cost shops, are often loaded with impurities, pathogens and poor nutritional quality, which can negatively impact the development of the plants and the final outcome of the harvest. Opting for quality from the start ensures a solid foundation for a healthy and productive crop.
Using seeds without “pedigree”, or seeds you find on the street
Using seeds without “pedigree” or of unknown origin is a mistake that can ruin all the effort and investment made in cultivation. Seeds that are randomly found, either on the street or given by an acquaintance, offer no guarantees about their genetics, stability or production capacity. These seeds may be of poor quality, under-productive or even unstable, resulting in plants that do not live up to expectations, or simply become bird food. In outdoor crops, trying seeds of this type can be less expensive, but indoors the costs are considerably higher, and betting on low-quality seeds can lead to significant losses in time and resources. For this reason, it is essential to ensure genetic quality from the start, using seeds with a guarantee and pedigree that ensure optimal results and avoid unpleasant surprises.
Plant in locations that do not receive a minimum of 4 to 5 hours of direct sunlight per day.
The mistake of choosing locations with insufficient sun exposure can seriously affect the development and yield of the plant, especially in outdoor crops. Although it is possible to harvest with fewer hours of light, the results will not be comparable to those obtained in a location with more than 6 hours of direct sunlight, which favours abundant and healthy flowering.
In indoor cultivation, the minimum standard is a cycle of 18 hours of light and 6 hours of darkness (18/6 cycle) to ensure optimal growth.
Using incandescent or unsuitable lamps for cannabis cultivation
Marijuana needs a specific type of light to grow, not just any light, it must have the right spectrum for each stage of its development, so before using that old lamp that we had abandoned or that halogen bulb to which we did not give any use, we must look at what type of lamps are suitable for growing cannabis. As we have already mentioned, neither the typical incandescent bulb light nor the typical halogen bulb is suitable for this purpose. Here you can learn more about lighting for Cannabis.
Not being informed about the pests and diseases that our plants can contract.
Pests must first of all be known and avoided by maintaining the ideal conditions for their NON-appearance. If pests still appear, the solution is to monitor them, control them and kill them if it is really necessary; outdoors, in some cases it is not, it is worse to use any type of insecticide, however natural it may be, It is worse to use any type of insecticide, however natural it may be, than for four thrips or whiteflies to go around giving us a hard time, what we must do is control the pest, know its weak points, and adapt the crop to combat them, there are also dangerous fungi such as powdery mildew, which we must know about so as not to end up smoking viruses that are really dangerous for our health, being informed is the key.
Use pots that are too small indoors or black pots outdoors.
Plants colonise the substrate little by little, in order to continue growing properly they need progressively more space to colonise and to feed themselves with the nutrients that we add or add to the substrate mix. If the containers are small, the roots will not grow or will even die.
Also, outdoors, it is essential to use light-coloured pots, as black pots absorb too much heat from the sun, overheating the roots and damaging development. Opting for white or light brown pots outdoors will help keep the roots cool and healthy, improving the crop’s performance.
Put the base of the pots in direct contact with the soil.
Big mistake, the heat is much higher in this way and can also lead to water stagnation and consequent rotting. Under a pot you can always put a plate or a piece of wood or two, apart from serving as perfect drainage, the roots are more oxygenated, avoiding fungus and making the yield much higher. In short, greater strength and growth in the vegetative stage and higher yields at harvest time.
Germinating a seed directly into the ground
This should not be done if you are fond of the seed or if it has cost you money or effort to obtain it, as it limits your visibility and control of the germination process. When you place a seed directly into the substrate, you cannot check whether it has germinated properly, which involves a lot of risk. In addition, you lose control over factors such as humidity and temperature, which are essential to ensure that the seed sprouts properly. Using techniques such as the wet paper method or specific germinators allows the process to be observed and controlled to ensure optimal results. Putting a seed in soil is not germinating a seed, germinating is this.
Having newly germinated seeds peeping through the surface of the substrate without light.
At this point they need light, not too strong, but light. Adequate light and at an appropriate distance so that they don’t spike from the first minute is essential. Spiking is when the stem grows upwards without developing new nodes from which new branches and leaves will grow, this reaction is due to the fact that they are looking for light and that is why they climb upwards, in a matter of hours they can grow several centimetres, totally useless and dangerous, as they can cause the stem to bend.
Planting several seeds in one pot
Another very common mistake in the beginnings and not so beginnings, is to put several seeds in a single pot. Note, the plants compete with each other for the same substrate, so they will never all come out well, it is normal that 1 will come out well and the rest will not.
Errors in feeding
Using tap water directly without standing water
Tap water can be used for irrigation, although it is not the best. It usually contains too much chlorine to be properly maintained in the network of pipes through which it runs during its cycle to your water dispenser, which is why it is extremely important to let the water stand in a jug, bucket or whatever, with a large, wide opening, so that the chlorine can be removed by evaporation for about 24 to 36 hours.
Watering with high sodium (Na) bottled water
Bottled water, no matter how good it is, is not suitable for growing plants, as it usually has a high sodium content, but a good water mixture can provide the ideal water. It is all a matter of trying out osmosis water, bottled water, tap water that has been left to stand, every experienced grower can play with the options.
Not controlling the pH of the water for potting plants
The pH should be between 6.3 and 6.5 in the growing phase and between 6.5 and 6.8 in the flowering phase, always talking about crops in organic substrates such as compost, soil, etc, for hydroponic crops the pH value is slightly lower, but here we are not talking about hydroponics or aeroponics. You can visit our article about PH.
Over-fertilisation in irrigation
Over-fertilising plants does not mean that they will grow faster or that their production will be higher. On the contrary, an excess of nutrients in the substrate can cause a blockage of absorption in the roots, which is reflected in the shape of the leaves, the famous cat’s claw. This is a very common mistake, which can be remedied by washing the roots with osmosis water, but it is a useless expense which can be avoided by having a little common sense when fertilising. A good way to guide yourself is to add half the amount of fertiliser recommended by the manufacturer to the nutrient solution, and spacing with watering without fertilizer and with enzymes every two waterings, it is also important, vital I would say the use of enzymes to oxygenate and break any excess salts in our pots, your future buds and their taste will be greatly benefited.
Continuous watering of our plants
Another typical mistake is to water our plants daily, even several times a day, it is very common because we think that our plants will do well to drink more water, but in reality the only thing we get is that our plants stagnate and stop growing temporarily, they can even rot the roots if they do not have cycles of dryness. Plants should be watered when they need it, not when we want them to be watered.
The roots need these cycles of dryness to develop more vigorously, a good method to know if it is time to water is weighing the pot just watered and check the weight before watering, if you notice that the weight has dropped dramatically is time to water again, this can be within 1 day, 2 days or even 3 or 4, depending on the growing conditions and the moisture holding capacity of our substrate, It is not a rule that we have to water every day, so the most normal would be to water every 2 days approximately, another method to know if it is time to water is to insert a finger in the surface of the soil and sink it a few centimetres to see if the substrate is still wet under that layer of dry soil, a consequence of its direct contact with the air and the light of the lamps indoors. Here are some more tips for watering marijuana.
Do not use enzymes to clean the substrate of possible excess salts.
Especially when growing in pots, it is important to bear in mind that plants do not always eat all the fertiliser that we add to them, so some salts can become crystals in the pot, which can slow down and damage the correct development of the plants. Enzymes of the type
Use fresh manure or urine without optimal dilution.
e know the guy who claims to have a big pile of herbivorous animal shit: carnivorous doesn’t work. Fermenting for a long time, that’s the method, but if the very fresh manure is very strong, it can kill plants in a matter of hours.
The same happens with urine, yes, it has nitrogen, but it is extremely strong, to use it it should be diluted with water, that’s why it is better not to make the goose and don’t use it to avoid problems. If it is well composted for weeks or months it is highly recommended, but do not overdo it.
Clueless mistakes
Failure to ensure total darkness during flowering
In case the plants are flowering and you see that they are producing buds, the reason may be that there is a light source that prevents the plants from flowering as they should, it is important to test for this. During flowering the plants should be in complete darkness for 12 hours (except for autoflowering plants of course).
Not controlling the possible presence of males or hermaphrodites in the crop.
Perhaps due to lack of knowledge or lack of enthusiasm, we have in our crop a male or a hermaphrodite that will pollinate the rest of the female plants, thus producing seeds and drastically reducing the potency and production of the crop. We must be aware of these things because if we are growing indoors, the aim is to achieve a sinsemilla crop of exquisite quality.
Watering or spraying the plants in the hottest hours of the day.
This is a very common mistake, the roots can get cooked and this is not very beneficial for our beloved plants, the best time to water is in the early morning or late at night. The same applies to spraying the leaves, spraying water on the leaves during the hours of sunlight or direct light from the bulb can cause serious burns to the leaves and consequent setbacks.
Transplanting in full bloom to a new pot with new substrate
Transplanting should be done before the flowering phase, once in bloom it is counterproductive, as the presence of an excess of nitrogen in the flowering phase partly inhibits growth and the formation of flowers. In the flowering phase we should all be aware that their demand for nutrients is different, especially P and K, in other words, phosphorus and potassium.
In many cases, transplanting during flowering is a waste of time and money, as the roots of the plant will not colonise the new substrate.
Using water that is too cold or too hot
The ideal water temperature for irrigation is between 18 and 21 degrees, so don’t be lazy and when it is cold don’t water with the water directly, or do you take showers with that water? In summer, make sure it is not too hot. Use a meter, they are very cheap, and save the plant a hard time.
Impatient mistakes
Harvesting before time
So much time taking care of the plants, giving them the best care and when we see some resinous and half fat buds we feel like cutting them, stop! First we must make sure that the trichomes have reached the optimum moment of ripening, for this there are microscopes or magnifying glasses with which we can observe the glandular heads of the same, and that will show us according to their tones the moment they are going through, soon more information about this.
Consuming marijuana before it has reached the optimal moment of drying and curing.
It is very typical, probably almost everyone has done it at some time, and it is justified by the desire we have to taste our creation, but friends, it is a big nonsense, it is best to wait for the right time to enjoy in all its delicacy our beloved buds of marijuana.
Leave the plant alone
Do what you have to do and the rest of the time, leave it alone, there is nothing worse than being all the time touching or performing actions with the plant. She goes at her own pace, leave her alone.
Security failures
Proclaiming to the four winds the existence of a crop in our homes or gardens
Unfortunately, growing marijuana is frowned upon in many places. From Natural Experience we ask you to respect the law and only grow if the laws of your place of residence allow it. However, even if it is legal, some people hate marijuana, who knows why? The more reserved we are when it comes to commenting on our little passion, the better.
Consuming buds affected by some kind of fungus or disease.
Seriously, it sucks but it is not worth sacrificing our health for nothing, if we want to enjoy the fruits of nature for a long time, and I am not only referring to Cannabis, we must respect ourselves as part of that wonderful mother nature that gives us sight, touch, hearing, smell, taste and so many sensations that are worth living for.
Even if we are aware of all the shit that global society, puppets of those fat cats who direct our destinies with mortgages and trampling on the most basic human rights, our minds are free, let’s not restrict them from their freedom, because it is the only thing we have, along with our body and our health. Consuming marijuana in a bad state can lead to very harmful and even fatal diseases.
Artist’s passes
Pruning or cutting too many leaves from the plant
Big mistake, leaves are part of the nutrient reserves that plants have to consume when they are short of nutrients. Removing leaves is always foolish, except in two cases. One is during the last days of flowering and the other is to perform an energy-concentrating pruning at the top of the plant. The only pruning that is recommended are those that serve a specific purpose.
Using any type of water to irrigate plants
As crazy as it may seem, these cases happen and they are some of the worst things we can do with our plants, but what these plants need is always good water. The best water you can get is demineralised water, as it allows us to add the minerals that the plant really needs, and not the ones it randomly brings. An osmosis filter is highly recommended.
Watering in a hurry and all at once
This is one of the best pieces of advice that can be given to all of us who have started one day with this pleasant task of self-cultivation for our own consumption, the purchase or use of a pressure sprayer, if it has a vacuum pump, so much the better, as we will not have to hit the nozzle so many times. It is important to water the whole substrate little by little and uniformly, so as not to cause a water shock to the plants, to save as much water as possible and to make sure that the whole substrate has received its ration of the refreshing and life-generating organic matter, the most important matter of our beloved planet, water.
Watering with juices, pouring bolts into the soil in an attempt to obtain iron, etc.
There are many variants of this type of actions, they are myths and urban legends without any criteria, ok, maybe a little juice diluted with water can provide nutrients to the plant, but they can also create adverse reactions, such as the arrival of bugs attracted by the high amount of sugars in the juice, it is not really necessary.
Use chemical insecticides and pesticides.
Never, the worst and most serious mistake is this one. Remember that any product that we add to a plant that is going to be consumed, will end up in our body. All these chemical products become part of the internal “flows” of the plant and do not disappear, so we end up consuming them directly and who knows if with even more adverse reactions for our body, a little head, all insecticides and remedies must be natural or intended for organic and organic farming and approved by the European law that regulates this type of substances.
Spending and spending on products we don’t even know about
This mistake is also very common, why do you want the best seeds on the market at 200 euros if you don’t even know how to grow, why are you going to buy 18 pots of superultramega power fertilizer plus if you still don’t know what your plant needs, you have to go step by step and see what really ends up being basic to carry out a decent crop and for which it is worth dedicating your time.
Conclusions
Growing plants, whatever type they are, is an art. To think that throwing away the seed and doing the minimum is going to work is wrong. There are growers who have been growing plants all their lives and continue to refine and improve each of the techniques involved in cultivation. In this life everything can be done in the most shoddy way or in the most pro way, don’t expect results with the minimum effort.
The list of mistakes when growing marijuana has been extracted mainly from cannabiscafe and other forums, corrected and improved by Natural Experience, original article here. If you want to learn more visit our article about best brands for marijuana nutrition.
Founder of Experiencia Natural, creative and entrepreneur, designer, master in grower and marketing. For a normalization of all plants and substances, giving priority to patients and users.
