Growing a good marijuana bush and getting a large amount of decent harvest is the dream and task of any grower. How long hemp can grow depends on various factors: soil, lighting conditions, ventilation of the grow box, fertilizing, fertilizer used. For this reason, knowing the growth process of bushes and the stages of development of hemp is the responsibility of everyone who wants to breed these plants.
We warn you that growing marijuana is prohibited in Ukraine. The presented article is for informational purposes only and is not a call to action.
Life periods of hemp: 5 stages
Growers distinguish 5 stages of growth and development of cannabis:
1. germination from seed and shoots;
2. vegetation;
3. bloom;
4. ripening of inflorescence;
5. harvesting (this stage is also called harvest).
How long hemp grows depends on the specific variety. Each species has a certain difference in the duration of flowering and ripening. During cultivation, you need to create optimal conditions, taking into account the characteristics of the cannabis variety. In addition, there are special ways to accelerate the growth of cannabis so that the bushes grow faster, brought in the harvest.
Germination and germination stage
A big harvest begins with a small seed. Often, hemp is not planted in open ground. If you decide to do this, you should first soak the seeds in a mineral solution. But most typically, marijuana is sprouted at home, and then planted in a substrate or open ground. At this stage, there is no point in using top dressing or fertilizer. But at the same time, it is worth ensuring high soil moisture, minimal lighting is needed, and the air temperature should be in the range from 21 to 32 degrees C.
Vegetation
During the growing season, cannabis develops from the first shoot until the formation of inflorescence. At this moment, the plant becomes a bush, firmly establishes itself in the soil, and lush leaves appear on the stems. At this time, it is necessary to provide the cannabis with a sufficient amount of organic and mineral substances, create optimal lighting and ventilation. By the way, in this situation, you can use ways to speed up the growth of cannabis so that the plant starts flowering faster.
Hemp flowering
When hemp stops growing, the flowering process begins. It also consists of several stages. In the natural environment, cannabis flowering starts with 12 hours of daylight. If the bushes are grown in open areas, then the flowering phase begins as soon as the plant sprouts. Thus, the number of inflorescence increases, which leads to an increase in harvest. At the same time, the flowering phase consists of several stages:
- formation of buds;
- blooming;
- ripening of inflorescence.
Compared to all other stages, flowering takes the longest. In this case, the duration depends directly on the variety of cannabis. Indica flowers bloom the fastest - up to 10 weeks (there are also some hybrids that bloom for only 2 weeks). The duration of flowering is most affected by lighting. Indica produces small but heavy buds. Please note that at this stage it is worth ensuring proper feeding of the bush and creating optimal humidity, since at this time the hemp is most prone to the appearance of mold and mildew.
Sativa can bloom for up to 12 weeks - if grown in its natural environment. The light balance should be 12 to 12. Thus, it is possible to significantly improve the quality of the crop. It is worth adding fertilizer during flowering and before the crop ripens. In this situation, formulations with phosphorus are best suited.
Hemp harvesting stage
This is the moment when the grower reaps the fruits of his work. If everything was done correctly, the harvesting process should be enjoyable. It is worth noting that this stage takes the least time compared to all the previous ones.
