Growing Dream… plants?!

Introduction

The key to successful indoor cannabis cultivation

is to understand how cannabis produces

food and grows. Cannabis, whether cultivated

indoors or out, has the same requirements for

growth. It needs light, air, water, nutrients, a

growing medium, and heat to manufacture food

and to grow. Without any one of these essentials,

growth stops and death soon results.

Indoors, the light must be of the proper spectrum

and intensity; air must be warm, arid, and

rich in carbon dioxide; water must be abundant

but not excessive, and the growing medium

must contain the proper levels of nutrients for

vigorous growth. When all these needs are met

consistently at optimum levels, optimum growth

is the result.

Cannabis is normally grown as an annual

plant, completing its life cycle within one year. A

Strong healthy ‘Chronic’ seeds from Serious Seeds

germinated after being soaked in water overnight.

Sweet Purple (Paradise) seedling shows perfect symmetrical

growth. Leaflets will increase from three to

as many as eleven during vegetative growth.

Strong healthy seedling emerges from a Jiffy™ cube.

The sprouted seed was carefully inserted into a hole

with the taproot pointing down.

seed that is planted in the spring will grow

strong and tall through the summer and flower

in the fall, producing more seeds. The annual

cycle starts all over again when the new seeds

sprout the following year. In nature, cannabis

goes through distinct growth stages. The chart

below delineates each stage of growth.

Life Cycle of Cannabis

After 3-7 days of germination, plants enter the

seedling growth stage which lasts about a

month. During the first growth stage the seed

germinates or sprouts, establishes a root system,

and grows a stem and a few leaves.

Germination

During germination moisture, heat, and air activate

hormones (cytokinins, gibberellins, and auxins)

within the durable outer coating of the seed.

Cytokinins signal more cells to form and gib3

Chapter ONE MARIJUNANA HORTICULTURE

This `Marley’s Collie’ (Sensi Seeds) is planted in a 5-

gallon (19L) bucket and was grown in a greenhouse.

MIDDLE: Strong healthy roots are vibrant white.

Feeder roots are fuzzy white. This

rooted clone is ready to transplant.

LEFT: Male pre-flowers (a small nub above the fourth

internode) develop on plants after about four weeks of

vegetative growth.

berellins to increase cell size. The embryo

expands, nourished by a supply of stored food

within the seed. Soon, the seed’s coating splits, a

rootlet grows downward, and a sprout with seed

leaves pushes upwards in search of light.

Seedling Growth

The single root from the seed grows down and

branches out, similar to the way the stem

branches up and out above ground. Tiny

rootlets draw in water and nutrients (chemical

substances needed for life). Roots also serve to

anchor a plant in the growing medium.

Seedling should receive 16-18 hours of light to

maintain strong healthy growth.

Vegetative Growth

Vegetative growth is maintained by giving

plants 16-24 hours of light every day. As the

plant matures, the roots take on specialized

functions. The center and old, mature portions

contain a water transport system and may also

store food. The tips of the roots produce elongating

cells that continue to push farther and farther

into the soil in search of more water and

food. The single-celled root hairs are the parts

of the root that actually absorb water and nutri4

MARIJUANA HORTICULTURE The Indoor/Outdoor MEDICAL GROWER’S BIBLE

This close-up shows female pre-flowers, white pistils

growing from newly formed green calyx. Female preflowers

usually sprout after male pre-flowers.

This large mother plant is growing in a 10-gallon (38 L)

container. She can provide more than a hundred

clones every month.

ents. Without water, frail root hairs will dry up

and die. They are very delicate and are easily

damaged by light, air, and klutzy hands if moved

or exposed. Extreme care must be exercised

during transplanting.

Like the roots, the stem grows through elongation,

also producing new buds along the stem.

The central or terminal bud carries growth

upward; side or lateral buds turn into branches

or leaves. The stem functions by transmitting

water and nutrients from the delicate root hairs

to the growing buds, leaves, and flowers. Sugars

and starches manufactured in the leaves are distributed

through the plant via the stem. This

fluid flow takes place near the surface of the

stem. If the stem is bound too tightly by string

or other tie downs, it will cut the flow of life-giving

fluids, thereby strangling and killing the

plant. The stem also supports the plant with stiff

cellulose, located within the inner walls.

Outdoors, rain and wind push a plant around,

causing much stiff cellulose production to keep

the plant supported upright. Indoors, with no

natural wind or rain present, stiff cellulose production

is minimal, so plants develop weak

stems and may need to be staked up, especially

during flowering.

Once the leaves expand, they start to manufacture

food (carbohydrates). Chlorophyll (the substance

that gives plants their green color) converts

carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air, water,

and light energy into carbohydrates and oxygen.

This process is called photosynthesis. It requires

water drawn up from the roots, through the

stem, into the leaves where it encounters carbon

dioxide. Tiny breathing pores called stomata are

located on the underside of the leaf and funnel

CO2 into contact with the water. In order for

photosynthesis to occur, the leaf’s interior tissue

must be kept moist. The stomata open and

close to regulate the flow of moisture, preventing

dehydration. Marijuana leaves are also protected

from drying out by an outer skin. The

stomata also permit the outflow of water vapor

and waste oxygen. The stomata are very important

to the plant’s well being and must be kept