10 top tips

In my work I get to travel the world searching for botanical specimens and seeds, see different cultures and understand why people do and live how they do. In the last 20 years, I have been fortunate enough and trusted enough to be invited into growing operations on all scales all over the world during my travels, which now happens more frequently than it did before.

This is quite amazing to me and touches me deeply but far beyond that it shows me that people who are desperate and sick with limited time left on Earth will still attempt to plant a seed and grow a plant to get what otherwise they could not get . As a consequence it is taking away the black market of cannabis to some extent and replacing it with a sensible and natural medicine regulated and grown by the sufferers to be affordable and to manage pain for the sufferers. This means cultivation is limitless and knows no borders... after all; it is merely a simple herb.

There are numerous books available that detail every facet of cultivation that is not my intention for this article. But since my life's journey has presented me with a lot of opportunities to cultivate, I would like to share the top ten pieces of experience that may be of help to those who are growing, thinking to grow or using cannabis to help their life, as I do.

Beginning with a known seed and its origins rather than using seed that came from some unknown source will reduce the possibility of your garden producing something that does not do the job you had hoped for. Get online and ask fellow growers world wide what seed they tried and where they got it etc. will be time well invested.

Use the K.I.S.S (Keep It Simple Stupid) principle in your approach to making your garden. There are so many different mediums to grow in, so many different foods so many opinions that in the end if you limit yourself to learning one or two facts about cultivation from each growing experience, you will know rather than need to ask. I always advise people to grow on soil from their local garden suppliers using locally made nutrients compatible with growing basic annual herbs and flowers, initially. As you become more confident with more grows you can choose to try other techniques etc. You will make mistakes that is certain, so why invest in anything too technical before it is warranted?

Learn to use ph and ec metres to understand water, not only for the plant but so you know how to identify invisible causes that can be critical in general life. How many people know the ph or Ec of the tap water from where they live? We raise our families on it, cook with it clean ourselves with it, but most of us take it for granted that someone else is doing that. As you understand this point you will see that most of the crucial things we rely on to live are all invisible like air, electricity, gas and vitamins and far too many of us take far too much for granted. Empower yourself and take charge or at least be aware what is around you, it will change how you look at life.

Air flow and air circulation is probably my most important single element in setting up an Indoor room. A very useful tip is to try to create a negative pressure. Making the size of the incoming inlets of air three times smaller than the size of the outgoing air, will force air to flow from one area to another as well as ensure old air is changed regularly. Air flow directly relates to control of temperature, humidity, smell and pressure known collectively as CLIMATE. Controlling the air movement will guarantee plant health on a fundamental level, so spend time and money on this factor.

Prevention is always preferable to problems. Keeping growing areas clean from dead plant matter .Regularly cleaning with peroxide, ammonia or similarly powerful but friendly products used for cleaning will reduce the likelihood that fungi, pests, eggs or bacteria not wanted in a room will not grow there. Remember that an indoor room is a perfect environment for things to grow - both good and bad, so be hygienic and clean on a daily level.

Electricity should begin from your waist and go up while all water and watering devices begin from your hips and go down. In all my rooms all electric cables or sockets are set high up while all water or hoses are set low down, that way your room will remain friendly, not dangerous and avoid inevitable accidents that happen as a result of either overflowing water or fire caused by cabling or accidents that occur when water meets electricity (probably 80% of the reasons people in NL get problems with authorities).

While it is important to have good lights, the importance of pitch black darkness and the consistency/regularity of this pitch black hours of darkness will determine the flowering cycle and density of the flower. When you change your light time from growing (18hrs/6 dark) to flowering(12/12dark) then being consistent and maintaining an uninterrupted 12 hours of dark is the most necessary thing to do to make the flower reach its potential at harvest.

Many people spend too much time on reflection material like myelin etc. a simple method is to use industrial vinyl used to line fish ponds as the base of the room, attached to the walls about 5 metre high making a swimming pool base in case water leaks etc. Then from 5 metre line the walls with a white/ black/ white plastic which will give plenty of reflection to the plants as well as making sure no light escapes. It is easy to clean and help to clearly define water areas and electrical areas for the eye.

The choice of growing/flowering medium should be one that you initially feel confident to use. Do not begin growing in a new room on a new type of medium, as this can cause too many problems to deal with and act to complicate the grow rather than to relax and enjoy the growing.

Finish the room and run it for a few days before you decide to use it for growing. The reason is it is much simpler and less work to make sure all systems of the room like air, exhaust, temperature etc. are checked without plants but run as if plants are in there for a few full day cycles. This factor will allow you to begin the new grow knowing your room is in good order so the only things that can go wrong are with the plants or human error. Inevitably you will reduce the unknown factors and things in growing that do go wrong will be easier to pin point.

If someone sticks to these basic set of principles in setting up a growing room inside then you will be on the right road to becoming a competent and happy gardener. Success in what you do

Shantibaba