A step-by-step guide to start growing marijuana at home

With the constitutional court ruling last year declaring that growing cannabis at home fell under the right to privacy, we’ve started to see a change in tides for cannabis culture in South Africa.

Nowhere has it been more evident than the competition Stark Ayres is running to see who can grow the biggest dagga plant.

The legalization has aided in normalizing the practice of growing, as well as allowing the more experienced growers to come out of the woodwork with less fear of legal recourse.

It is worth mentioning that while cannabis is legal to grow for personal use, it remains illegal to sell. There have also been reports of people getting arrested for “possession” despite the order by the ConCourt.

Growing cannabis is a highly rewarding activity, and whether you’re growing for personal use or simply the horticultural interest, you’ll be sure to find fulfillment with your growing practices.

The final stages of flower development bring with it varied fragrances from the terpenes of the strain you’re growing.

Different strains will not only have different medicinal properties to them, but will also have their own set of unique flavours and aromas, depending on which terpene profiles are found within that strain. These various strains also come with their own set of physical differences with the flowers of some cannabis plants looking extremely different from the next.

How to get started with growing weed at home

Despite being called ‘weed’, growing cannabis can be challenging to master. The plants require specific nutrient schedules which change throughout their life cycle. For outdoor growers, it can sometimes be easier to cultivate, depending on how fertile the land is and some growers may even find that their plants do all the hard work by themselves.

For most however, you will need to show your plant keen attention throughout its life cycle, as pests, nutritional deficiencies and excessive humidity can all create challenges in the growing process.

It is important that your plants receive as much sunlight as possible, as the process of photosynthesis is what is going to drive your plant forward and bring you that harvest that you’re after.

Cannabis plants are typically photoperiod plants (with the exception of ruderalis bred autoflowers), this means that the plant will begin its flowering phase based off when the light cycle approaches 12 hours of sunlight and 12 hours of darkness.

Getting growing conditions right in South Africa

The implication of this is that for South African growers, you’re going to want to plant your seeds in Spring or early Summer, in order to give them enough time in their vegetative growth period before they begin flowering, typically around March. The flowering period then lasts for another 6 to 13 weeks, depending on the lineage of the strain.

What you need to get started

Indoor cultivation is expensive and complex, so for this article, we’ll focus on growing your plants outdoors. Outdoor grows have far lower initial investment costs and can be done on a fairly tight budget. Or, if you live in Cape Town, you can get the growing kit from Stark Ayres.

Here’s what you’ll need to get started on your first outdoor cannabis plant

How to get started with growing cannabis at home

1. Seeds

   

   
   When buying seeds, there are a number of local distributors offering seeds online for purchase. Seeds are sold as souvenirs only, as required by the current laws. When buying seeds, you’ll find that most offers are feminized, this allows you to know that your plant won’t be a male (which doesn’t produce buds). You can use your bag seeds to grow, though there is the chance that your plant may end up becoming a male, which can result in weeks of nutrients being wasted.

2. Get the right soil
   

   

   
   If you are growing outdoors, your home soil may be fertile enough for cultivation without any additional soil additives in the early stages. For those growing in outdoor pots, you can look at acquiring a good soil medium. Watch out for your typical garden store mixes, as these are often too nitrogen heavy for your young plants. Freedom Farms are providing extremely high quality soil mixes that are favoured by many cannabis growers in the country.

3. Take care of the nutrients

   
   You will need nutrients for your plants in most cases, and organic is becoming the favoured choice with growers. There are several horticultural stores who stock organic lines of nutrients, who will be happy to advise you with what you need for your plant. This will typically include four types of nutrients, a micro which caters to all stages of life, a vegetative option which provides the nitrogen needed for the plant’s main growth phase, a flowering nutrient that is high in phosphorous and potassium in order to aid in bud development, and then finally there are bud boosters which get used in the late flowering stage.

4. pH Testing Kit & adjustments 

   
   Cannabis uptakes different nutrients at different pH levels, so it is important to ensure that your pH is in the correct range when watering. You can mix your water and nutrients together, then test your pH levels. You’ll want to get your water to around 6.0 – 6.5 for soil grows. Calibration of pH can be done with PH up and PH down products.

5. Control pests

   

   
   Almost every outdoor grower will have to deal with pests at some point or another. These pests tend to come in the form of Aphids, Spider Mites and Leaf-Footed Bugs, most commonly. Neem Oil and Pyrol are common pest control methods, however, even these aren’t without controversy and some prefer going with mixes of spices as a first attempt.

6. Pick the right pot

   

   
   No, not that kind of pot. If you are going to be using a pot to grow instead of planting directly in the ground, you should consider the size you’d like the plant to get. For smaller plants you can use a 15 to 20 litre pot, while if you’re going for a large plant that is to grow through summer, you may want to opt for a 50 litre pot, or even larger.

Now that you have an understanding of what is required to get your first grow started, we can look at the process required to get your seeds germinated and beginning their journey to providing you beautiful buds in the later part of its life.