Pay attention that growing marijuana may be subject to special restrictions and regulation in your country or state. Please contact your attorney to obtain advice before cultivating cannabis.
Disclaimer
Pay attention that growing marijuana may be subject to special restrictions and regulation in your country or state. Please contact your attorney to obtain advice before cultivating cannabis.
Although the open ground is a natural habitat for cannabis, it cannot be assumed that plants will develop well without proper care. One of the main concerns is watering. Indeed, for most varieties of cannabis, the optimal frequency of watering is from 2 to 4 days, but of course, there are a lot of details that are worth knowing. Stay tuned to learn everything about watering cannabis - both outdoors and indoors.
What should be considered to determine the frequency and amount of watering?
Several factors affect the frequency of watering. The main ones include:
- The climatic conditions of the region;
- The number of sunny days in the warm season;
- Stage of development;
- Average humidity indicators;
- Strain of the plant;
- Planting method - whether you are growing cannabis in pots or outdoors.
Watering at different stages of development
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Vegetative period
The seeds must be initially planted in moist soil. This is necessary to make them feel more comfortable for the first few days. After sprouting, it is recommended to water frequently - 2 times a day. But the amount of water should be small - about 200 ml. The fact is that at this time, the root system of marijuana is still very poorly developed and simply cannot extract moisture from the soil.
Flowering stage
During the flowering stage, the root system is already sufficiently developed. Even though it can receive a certain amount of water from the soil at this stage, this is not enough for proper plant development, especially in regions without frequent rains. At this time, it is recommended to water the bushes at least once every 3-4 days. On average, you need to take water up to 4 liters. You can check the need for watering by probing the soil to a depth of 10 cm. If it is wet, you can postpone watering for a day.
Harvest
Approximately two to three weeks before harvest, it is necessary to decrease the frequency of watering. This will protect cannabis from mold, which is formed precisely due to the high humidity.
Watering marijuana outdoors
If you grow cannabis outdoors directly in the soil, the main factors to consider are the level of acid-base balance and the electrical conductivity of the soil. The optimal pH level is considered to be from 6 to 6.5. If the index is too low, the grower can increase the pH by adding a little citric acid to the water.
There are some more helpful watering tips:
If you pour cannabis with tap water, it is recommended to use a filtration system to purify it. However, if this option is too pricey, just let the water sit out for at least 24 hours before using it. This easy step can remove harmful chemicals, for example, chlorine compounds.
When using river water, you need to ensure that no nearby enterprises pour their waste into the reservoir. Ideally, the pH level should be closely monitored.
The grower cannot do anything about natural rainfall. Therefore, everything here depends on mother nature. Keep in mind that the acidity level in rainwater can vary significantly, so it is recommended to measure it from time to time and acidify it if necessary.
Ideally, bottled spring water should be used - it includes all the nutrients needed for the proper development of the plants, and it is free from any harmful substances.
As for the optimal watering time, it is necessary to focus on the degree of drying of the surface layer. Many experienced growers agree that the best time to water the cannabis is around 9 a.m. or in the evening. If you water cannabis at lunchtime, the sun simply evaporates a significant part of the moisture even before it completely penetrates the soil and feeds the root system.
Watering marijuana indoors
If you choose to grow marijuana in pots, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, bottled spring water remains the most favorable choice for watering any plants. However, ordinary tap water can also be used - just don’t forget to let it sit for at least a day.
To select the right amount of water for irrigation, you need to know the volume of the pot. The volume of liquid required for full watering is ¼ of the volume of the pot. So for cannabis in a 4-liter pot, the optimal amount of water is 1 liter. The calculation is simple, so even an inexperienced grower can handle it. To determine how many times to water the hemp, you can check the moisture deep into the soil.
Many growers also recommend that you loosen the soil at least once a week along with regular watering. This can significantly reduce the level of evaporation of the liquid and increase the absorbency. In this way, the root system receives more moisture and nourishes better.
Of course, the cannabis strain plays a huge role in the amount and frequency of watering. While some hybrids need regular and abundant watering for normal growth, others can develop normally even with minimal effort. Thus, it is always better to check the detailed information on each strain you decide to grow.
Final thoughts
An excess of moisture is just as destructive as its lack, so the best advice for watering is to keep the balance. If you overwater cannabis plants, they can suffer from mold and not give the desired yield.
In addition to all of the above tips, we recommend following the guidelines of seed banks regarding specific strains of cannabis. Strain descriptions usually contain all the requirements for specific hybrids for care. Also, visit thematic forums where growers are always ready to help newbies. In any case, it should be remembered that watering is a responsible task; the quantity and quality of the harvest directly depend on it.
