Key Takeaways:
- Organically grown weed is cannabis that is cultivated without the use of any synthetic chemicals or pesticides.
- This type of growing cannabis plants is not only more environmentally friendly but also produces a higher quality product.
- Many people believe that organic weed cultivation is better for your health as it does not contain harmful chemicals.
You’ve been thinking about how to grow your own weed for a while now. Maybe you don’t like the quality of the weed you can buy, or you’re tired of paying high prices for something you could easily grow yourself.
Or, perhaps, you’re just interested in trying something new. Whatever your reasons, you’ve decided that you want to learn how to grow organic cannabis.
Organic growing is more environmentally friendly and produces a higher quality product. Plus, growing weed organically is very easy as all you need to do is get the soil, check the pH balance, and ensure your plants are getting the nutrition they need.
Join us as we take you through the ultimate guide to growing weed, giving you all the insight you need to determine if organic cannabis cultivation is going to be right for you.
How to Grow Organic Weed
The whole organic weed vs non-organic battle can feel overwhelming, but the truth is that it’s actually worth looking into. Organic weed can TASTE BETTER, smell better, and is free from the artificial chemicals that are often found in commercially produced soil and fertilizer.
The organic weed definition is that the cannabis is grown in natural soil and fertilizer, meaning there is NOTHING artificial in the growing process. This often means cannabis growers will make their own soil and compost for the best results.
Let’s take you through the process for growing organic bud, giving you the opportunity to decide if organic growth is going to be the RIGHT path for you.
Choosing the Soil
The first step is to get the RIGHT soil. This can be done by mixing together perlite, vermiculite, coco coir, and compost.
When it comes to getting the best results, we recommend using a HOMEMADE organic soil or potting mix as your base. This is because it’s a nutrient-rich soil with no harmful chemicals.
Organic nutrients are PURER and have not been exposed to anything that might drain this, making them superior in the soil food web as they contain beneficial microbes to help grow cannabis organically.
Pro Tip: You can also opt for an all-natural potting mix that is bought from your local garden center. These are premium potting mixes that are perfect for organic growing.
If you want to make your own soil, you’ll need to add some ORGANIC MATTER. This can be done by composting kitchen scraps, using worm castings, or adding in some bat guano.
Once you’ve mixed your soil, it’s time to start planting your seeds.
Choosing Beds or Containers
The next step is to choose HOW you’re going to grow your organic weed. You can either grow in raised beds or containers. Both of these organic methods are excellent and help plant growth.
If you’re growing in raised beds, you’ll need to make sure the beds are AT LEAST 6 inches deep. This will give the roots plenty of room to grow.
If you’re growing in containers, you’ll need to make sure the containers are AT LEAST 12 inches deep. This will also give the roots plenty of room to grow.
The TYPE of container you choose is up to you, but we recommend using plastic or ceramic pots for growing organic marijuana.
Transplanting Your Seedlings
The next step is to TRANSPLANT your seedlings. This can be done by carefully digging a hole in the soil and then transplanting the seedling into the hole.
Make sure you give the seedling PLENTY of room to grow. Once you’ve transplanted the seedling, water it well.
Balancing Macronutrients and Micronutrients
The next step is to make sure you’re giving your plants the RIGHT nutrients. This can be done by using an organic fertilizer.
There are two types of nutrients that plants need: macronutrients and micronutrients.
Macronutrients are the BIG three nutrients that plants need
- nitrogen
- phosphorus
- potassium
Micronutrients are the TRACE nutrients that plants need
- iron
- zinc
- copper
- manganese
- boron
- molybdenum
- chlorine
You can get BOTH macronutrients and micronutrients from organic fertilizer. The best organic fertilizers are made from compost, worm castings, bat guano, and kelp meal. These fertilizers will give your plants the nutrients they NEED to grow strong and healthy.
Maintaining Plant Nutrition
The final step is to make sure you’re maintaining plant NUTRITION. This can be done by watering your plants with compost tea or using an organic liquid fertilizer.
Compost tea is made by STEEPING compost in water for 24 hours. This will give the water a nutrient-rich tea that you can use to water your plants.
Organic liquid fertilizer is made by MIXING organic matter with water. This will give the water a nutrient-rich solution that you can use to water your plants.
Pro Tip: Both compost tea and organic liquid fertilizer will give your plants the NUTRIENTS they need to grow. You can also use an online organic nutrient chart to monitor your plant’s nutrition.
How pH Works in Organic Weed Growing
The final step is to ensure your soil’s pH is BALANCED. This can be done by using a pH test kit.
The pH scale goes from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. Organic weed grows best in soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.0.
If your soil is too acidic, you can add lime to raise the pH. On the other hand, if your soil is too alkaline, you can add sulfur to lower the pH.
Pro Tip: You should test the pH of your soil every two weeks to ensure it’s balanced.
How Composting Works
Composting is an IMPORTANT part of your organic grow, and you need to make sure you get it right if you want your plants to thrive. Here’s a quick look at the TWO main types of composting.
Slow Composting
Slow composting is the BEST way to compost kitchen scraps and other organic matter.
To slow compost, you’ll need to add organic matter to your compost bin and then cover it with a layer of BROWN material. Brown materials include things like dead leaves, twigs, and paper.
After you’ve added the organic matter and brown material, you’ll need to add a layer of GREEN material. Green materials include things like grass clippings and fruit peels.
Once you’ve added the green material, you’ll need to add ANOTHER layer of brown material.
You’ll need to repeat this process until your compost bin is FULL. It can take anywhere from two weeks to two months for your compost to break down.
Worm Composting
Worm composting is a type of composting that uses WORMS to break down organic matter.
To worm compost, you’ll need to add organic matter and WORMS to your compost bin. The worms will eat the organic matter and then excrete it as castings.
After a few weeks, you’ll have nutrient-rich compost that’s PERFECT for your plants.
How to Use Compost
Compost can be used in a number of ways, but the most common way is to use it as a top dressing.
A top dressing is a layer of compost that’s added to the top of your soil. To use compost as a top dressing, simply spread a layer of compost over the top of your soil and then WATER it in.
You can also use compost to make compost tea. Compost tea is made by STEEPING compost in water for 24 hours. This will give the water a nutrient-rich tea that you can use to water your plants.
Pro Tip: You can also use compost to make worm castings tea.
What About Manure?
Manure is another great way to add nutrients to your soil. However, you need to be CAREFUL with manure because it can contain harmful bacteria.
To avoid harming your plants, you should only use manure that’s been COMPOSTED. This will kill any harmful bacteria and make the manure safe to use.
Manure can be used in a number of ways, but the most common way is to add it to your compost bin.
Pro Tip: You can also use manure to make manure tea.
What Makes Chemical Fertilizer Bad?
Chemical fertilizer is made from SYNTHETIC chemicals. These chemicals can be Harmful to your plants and the environment.
Synthetic chemicals can damage your plant’s roots, and they can also POLLUTE the air and water. Chemical fertilizer is also bad for the environment because it can run off into waterways and pollute them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Organic Weed Better?
Many believe that organic weed is better for your health as it does not contain harmful chemicals. Organically grown weed is also believed to be more POTENT than weed that’s grown with synthetic chemicals.
Can You Grow Organically Indoors?
Yes, you can grow weed indoors organically. However, it’s important to note that growing weed indoors is more challenging than growing it outdoors. If you want your indoor organic grow to thrive, you will need to put in a lot of work.
To Conclude
Growing weed organically is the BEST way to grow it if you want to produce a high-quality product. It’s also more environmentally friendly and can be better for your health.
If you decide to grow weed organically, you’ll need to COMPOST and use manure to add nutrients to your soil. You can also use chemical fertilizer, but it’s important to be careful as it can harm your plants and the environment.
We hope this guide has helped you decide if growing weed organically is going to be the right option for you. Make sure you check out the rest of our cannabis-growing guides.
Sources:
https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/blog-organic-marijuana-how-and-why-to-cultivate-it-n679
https://www.leafly.com/news/growing/growing-organic-cannabis