Plant growth requires a suitable grow light, CO 2, and nutrient supply. In a completely enclosed environment, plant planting techniques are used to provide plants with suitable growth requirements, and plants can thrive in a confined environment.
Seedlings
Cannabis seeds are more expensive, and the correct germination method can greatly increase the rate of emergence and save the cost of purchasing seeds.
Breeding method 1: Put the cannabis seeds in a clean container and soak for 12-16 hours at room temperature to make the seeds fully absorb water. Soaking the seeds allows the seeds to start to absorb water. Water absorption is the first step in seed germination and is essential for seed germination. After soaking for 12 hours, the water-softened seeds were placed in a seedling substrate prepared in advance, covered with a small amount of substrate, and the substrate was poured through, waiting for the seeds to break out of the substrate.
Breeding method 2: Put the folded wet tissue into the tray, spread the seeds evenly on the wet paper towel, cover the tray with a cover or plastic wrap to keep the inside of the tray moist, but leave a small hole for ventilation. Place the tray in a dark environment at 21-26 ° C, waiting for the seeds to absorb water and white. The seeds grow white new roots and are immersed in a wet tissue to absorb moisture. Keep the paper towel moist but do not allow moisture to flow out, allowing the seed to grow thick roots and stems. Prepare the seedling tray with the seedling substrate, lightly press a small pit of about 0.5cm on the surface of the substrate, and after the roots are grown, place the root of the seed down into the hole and expose the soil to the soil surface, and cover the seed with the matrix soil. Water through, waiting for the seedlings to thrive in the matrix soil.
After the seedlings are placed in the substrate soil, the plant growth lamp can be turned on for illumination, and the appropriate LED grow light scheme is beneficial for the plant to grow the leaves and the developed root system rapidly.
Transplanting
When the seedlings grow 2-3 new leaves, they can start transplanting. Before transplanting, prepare a planting basin of more than 3 gallons, filled with planting soil. The planting soil requires water and air permeability, and it is better to use mixed soil of peat, perlite and vermiculite. Dig a pit of similar volume to the surface of the planting soil, and spread a thin layer of rooting powder in the pit. The seedling soil in the plug is fully wetted, and the base of the stem of the seedling is held, and the seedlings are taken out together with the seedling soil, and placed in a pit dug in advance in the planting pot. Pour the planting soil in the planting pot. The transplanting work is best carried out in the evening, because the roots of the plants are damaged after transplanting, and after a night of buffering, the plants will recover.
Vegetative growth
After the plants are transplanted, they enter the vegetative growth stage. At this stage, the plants undergo photosynthesis, absorb nutrients, and the plants grow a large number of leaves and branches. The vegetative growth period of cannabis is about 4 weeks.
Illumination: Seedlings have an illumination range of 20-35 watts per square foot. If the luminaire is too close to the plant, it may burn the leaves of the plant. If it is too far away from the plant, it will cause the plant to grow into a “high-footed seedling”, which is a weaker performance of the plant. The distance between the light and the leaves of the plant is about 4 inches. Different plants have different light growth cycles. The illumination time of cannabis vegetative growth period is at least 18 hours/day. Long-term illumination can promote the faster growth of plants. The time controller in the planting package can effectively control the illumination period of the lamps.
Soil: A good soil environment is conducive to the growth of plants into large roots to support the lush superstructure. The basic demand for cannabis is a nutrient-rich, well-drained soil, and the substrate soil in this plant can meet the needs of cannabis growth. In general, marijuana prefers slightly acidic soils of 6.5 degrees. The pH of the soil will determine the ability of the plant to absorb nutrients. If the pH is outside the normal range, the growth rate of the plant will slow down or even stop. The pH tester in the kit allows you to monitor the pH of the soil in real time, avoiding excessive or too low pH values that can stress or destroy plants. Watering the soil requires a different rhythm depending on the weather (especially hot, or windy, or rainy and cool). Put your fingers into the soil near the roots of the plants to see if the soil is too dry or too wet. Water the plants according to different soil conditions to keep the soil from being too wet or too dry.
Nutrient solution: Cannabis is a fast-growing plant and therefore requires continuous supply of nutrient solution for plant growth. The concentrated nutrient solution in the planting bag can be diluted in the water tank, the pump of the drip irrigation system is put into the nutrient solution, the drip irrigation needle hole of the drip irrigation system is inserted into the matrix, the time controller is used to control the time, and the nutrition is drip every hour. Liquid to ensure the nutritional supply of plants. At the same time, the optimum pH of the nutrient solution is in the range of 6.0-6.5. If it is too low, 40% nitric acid can be used to regulate the pH.
Air: After the plants grow out of the leaves, they begin to photosynthesize under the light, absorb carbon dioxide, and release oxygen, thus requiring circulating air circulation. The extraction system and fan in the planting bag can give plants a better air environment. At the same time, the temperature and humidity in the tent can be monitored in real time by the thermometer and hygrometer, keeping the temperature at 22 °C-30 °C and the humidity at 40%-80%.
Pruning: In the later stages of vegetative growth, the plants need to be trimmed due to the prosperous foliage. On the one hand, the pruning of the top bud of the plant: when the plant grows the lateral bud, the use of pruning scissors to reduce the shoots at the top of the plant will promote the growth of the lateral buds in the lower part of the plant, which is conducive to planting branches and leaves, and ingesting more light. On the other hand, the pruning of the old leaves and long branches of the lower part of the plant: after the plant reaches a certain height, the lower leaves of the old leaves have no photosynthesis, and on the contrary, they absorb some of the nutrients. Therefore, trimming the lower leaves and long branches is beneficial to the plants. The nutrients are concentrated in the upper part of the plant and facilitate the ventilation of the branches of the plant.
Flowering period
After the end of the vegetative growth period of cannabis, the reproductive growth period is about 7 weeks. At this time, the photoperiod was adjusted to 12 hours/day, and the artificial short-light period induced cannabis flowering. During this period, the plants began to grow some flower buds. The luminaire is kept 0.6 m above the plant. To avoid stalk bending, bamboo rods can be used to support the top female flowers with heavy yield.
After the flowering of the cannabis, it will emit a strong and unique smell. The air filtration circulation system can be turned on, and the air is filtered and discharged to keep the air in the planting environment fresh.
Harvest period
When 70%-80% of the pistils of the plant turn brown, the inflorescences mature and the plants can be harvested. Cut from the bottom of the main stem of the plant, then hang the plant upside down, dry it in the dark for 10 days, or put it in a 30 ° C oven to dry. Turn on the fan when it is dry. The fan should be placed around the hanging plant to avoid direct blowing to the plant. The fan position should not be too low, otherwise dust may be blown.
