We've listed a few methods and given you a brief run down on the pros and cons.
Any one of these methods will produce a generous yield with great results for the dedicated cannabis grower. The end results will be determined by what effort and care you have put into it. The cannabis crops' health, survival, and size of the yield are subject to many types of threats, ranging from a lack of water, to under or over-fertilizing, to bugs and animals that will eat it. If you are determined to produce a good quality, high-grade cannabis bud you will have to put in the work and effort regardless of which method you have used.
The very first step is to ensure you get quality cannabis seeds to start growing.
The various growing methods are the following:
- Soil
Using a Soil medium is a traditional method of growing. You simply just plant your cannabis seed in the soil like you would with any other plant. It is important to use good soil. Ensure that you keep the cannabis seedlings watered and fertilized properly.
Advantages:
- This method is easier, advisable for novice growers, and cheaper than any of the other methods.
- You can use any standard fertilizers that you find at nurseries.
Disadvantages:
- You cannot be sure of the quality of soil that you have purchased from the nursery. You could potentially lose your cannabis crop or the end results could possibly be poor due to an imbalance in the minerals and nutrients in the soil.
- The size and quantity of the cannabis yields may not be as great as the other alternative growing methods.
- Coco Fibre
Instead of using soil as your medium for growing and holding your cannabis plant roots, you can use an alternative medium. Coco Fibre does not have the same quality problems found with an ordinary soil medium.
Advantages:
- Coco fiber is just as easy to grow cannabis in as to a plain soil medium.
- Coco fiber produces a better yield than soil.
- Coco fiber is a cost-effective alternative to plain soil.
- The process is generally cleaner and you have fewer bugs, pests, and mess to deal with.
Disadvantages:
- Coco Fibre requires more specialized fertilizers which could potentially be more expensive.
- You need to purchase the coco fiber, although inexpensive, finding it at a local store could be difficult.
- Hydroponics
Hydroponics consists of the growing of cannabis plants in a type of gravel that contains no soil or vegetable matter in the mix. The gravel is contained in pots or in troughs. The Water is mixed with a special fertilizer mix, this will then be poured through the gravel, which is either housed in the pots or the troughs. These will be flooded with the fertilizer mix several times through the course of the day.
If you take a look at the roots of your cannabis plants grown in hydroponics versus those grown in plain soil, you will see a noticeable difference. While the roots of the cannabis plants that were grown in a soil medium will have a big tap root, the cannabis plant roots that were grown in hydroponics will not have a tap root but will consist of a huge bunch of small, clean white hairs.
Advantages
- Hydroponics produces much bigger yields than any of the previous methods.
- Cleaner because no soil is used.
Disadvantages
- The Costs in setting up are a lot more because you need to purchase troughs, pumps, and reservoirs to hold the water/fertilizer mixture.
- Hydroponics requires a lot more labour. You will need to monitor Ph and nutrient levels to ensure they stay within proper limits.
- It consists of more equipment and could take up more room.
- Aeroponics
Aeroponics consists of growing roots in plain air. The cannabis plants are housed in a mesh basket that hangs in the air while water and fertilizer are sprayed continuously over the roots. This method produces cannabis roots that are even more spectacular than hydroponics.
Advantages
- This method of growing produces the fastest growth and the biggest yields out of all the methods mentioned. The end results are spectacular.
Disadvantages
- It's more costly than growing in other mediums because it requires equipment very similar to that used in hydroponics.
- This method is more labor-intensive. To get good results, this must be monitored daily.
- This method of growing is delicate, and it is very susceptible to mistakes. You need to ensure that the nutrients and Ph are kept within a specific range for the best results.
