Every once in a while, cannabis growers are bound to commit some common mistakes in their gardens that could potentially affect the quality of their marijuana buds. No matter how long you have been doing it, you are never going to be immune to making some beginner mistakes. Don’t worry, though! Anything that you do by mistake could most probably be fixed as long as you spot the symptoms at an early stage. Leaving these mistakes to establish themselves in your weed crop, however, can eventually lead to their deteriorating health.
Now, marijuana buds are generally some pretty demanding babies that will require growers to pay close attention to their cultivation areas! As such, it is quite common for them to display various symptoms every now and then. What exactly are you going to have to look out for? Here, we have some of the most common grower mistakes which could potentially affect your marijuana buds and their growth. Check them out!
Constantly talking about your marijuana buds.
To kick things off, here’s something that won’t exactly affect the marijuana buds physically. However, it is one of the most common grower mistakes that can lead to unwarranted attention and even getting into trouble with law and enforcement agencies!
Cultivating weed seeds and producing weed buds is something that is always best done in private and away from the sights of the public. Since growing, let alone using, marijuana buds is something that is still widely recognized as an illegal activity around the world, growers should always know when to set their limits when talking about their cannabis gardens. If they don’t, they may very well see their marijuana buds get confiscated!
Overfeeding/overwatering your cannabis plants.
Because growers might get too cautious about whether their plants are staying healthy or not, they tend to give them too much of the essentials such as nutrients and water. This, of course, will lead to overfeeding and overwatering. Mistakes like this are much more common compared to giving them too little of the same. While it is never wrong to err on the side of caution, growers should also be careful not to overdo things!
Overfeeding your plants will typically result in them experiencing what is known as a nutrient lockout. When they ingest too much mineral and salt contents that come with nutrient solutions, their systems would have a difficult time absorbing what you give them. It eventually leads to the discoloration of your leaves, a halted growth of marijuana buds, and dying branches and stems.
Overwatering, on the other hand, is when growers, well….overwater their plants. In cases where we growers, most especially amateurs, attempt to keep our plants fresh and hydrated, we tend to give them too much water! This will lead to the roots suffocating due to the excess water content in them, blocking out any other minerals that they need. Overwatering often leads to the swelling up of the leaves which makes them look sloppy and sluggish. The roots and branches will also feel a bit mushy and soft.
Improper maintenance of the pH levels.
This mistake is a lot more common for cultivators (including even the most experienced ones). The pH levels are something that can be easily overlooked as not many people are familiar with it! However, it is not overselling it to say that the pH levels will directly affect how potent and healthy your marijuana buds turn out to be!
The neutral and safest level of pH in your gardening soils is usually measured at around 6.0. Anything higher (alkalinity) or lower (acidity) than this average level can lead to the improper absorption of nutrients, which can hinder the marijuana buds from growing and becoming a lot less potent than they can become. Additionally, fluctuating pH levels can lead to your plants drying up and dying.
Failing to germinate the cannabis seeds properly.
If you do not succeed in the very first step of the whole cannabis cultivation process, then low quality marijuana buds are sure to follow. But how exactly do growers mess up the germination of their weed seeds? Well, the Internet is packed with all kinds of different germination methods that people insist is the “best method of them all”. However, it is more likely than not for these experimented germination methods to fail in sprouting your seeds!
In order to avoid these, you should only deal with germination methods that are tested and proven to be effective. The most common and widely used method of germination is the Paper Towel Method. Germinating weed seeds in rockwool or directly into the soil are also effective and efficient.
Harvesting marijuana buds at the wrong time.
Lastly, growers should always know when the right time to harvest their marijuana buds is! Prematurely harvesting these marijuana buds will cause them to lose significant amounts of potency and flavor. This pretty much leaves you with a stale batch of harvested marijuana buds that won’t be as enjoyable to smoke. On the other hand, leaving the marijuana buds hanging too long from the plants can also cause them to develop too much potency and flavor. These concentrated properties might make the buds unfit for consumption!
Basing your harvests on the development of trichomes and pistils is the best way to go. If around 75% to 90% of the pistils and trichomes look matured enough, then they are good to harvest.
Growing marijuana buds is rewarding but it will definitely come with the risks of committing some common mistakes. While they might seem like a scary occurrence in your gardens, you should not be intimidated by them! They are perfectly normal and can help boost your overall experience in cannabis cultivation.
For the most potent and premium cannabis seeds in the market, shop at SunWest Genetics. They have loads of different marijuana strains that will fit the tastes of any grower out there! With their guarantee of high-quality marijuana buds from each seed that they ship out, you will find yourself wanting more each and every time!