Apart from needing appropriate sunlight and soil to grow in, cannabis plants need plenty of water
After the release of the Maltese government white paper, people in Malta will be allowed to cultivate up to four weed plants for their own personal, exclusive, and recreational use. These plants will have to be grown in a space that is not visible to the public and can be made use of by people residing in that same household.
After you go through the initial set-up costs, growing your own weed plants can be a way to save money. You can choose the strains that you wish to cultivate, and you can also set up your own grow room to keep yourself fully stocked, all year round.
Besides needing sunlight daily and nutritious soil to grow in, weed plants also need a fair amount of watering. They need water for photosynthesis, which is vital to produce robust, healthy plants bursting with cannabinoids. Having said that, too much water can cause your plant distress, causing it not to produce well, or even die.
Having an organised watering schedule for your plants is key to cultivating the best weed plants and producing optimal growth. Here are some tips on how to set up the ultimate watering schedule for your plants.
Check Your Weed Plants PH Balance
Tap water seems to be fine when watering your cannabis plants. However, it is vital to let your tap water settle for, at least, 24 hours before using it. This will allow the PH levels to settle so there is little chance that the water will shock or distress your plant.
Once the 24-hour mark is over, test the PH levels using test strips. If you are growing your weed plants in soil, a PH level of 6.0 and 6.8 is desirable. When growing in other mediums, a lower PH level, between 5.5 and 6.0, is preferable.
Don’t Forget Your Nutrients
If your weed plants are in the growing stage, it is important that you give them nutrients. These are best to be added with water but be careful how much to add. It is recommended that you start adding ¾ of the dose slowly to the plant until you reach the ideal dose.
How Frequent Should You Water the Plants?
Seedlings require the most attention and need watering twice per day. You can allow larger plants to dry slightly but do not overdo it. Allowing the soil to dry a little allows the roots to expand so that they seek more water.
Larger plants should be watered every two to three days, ideally in the morning. To check if plants need watering, stick your finger, up to the knuckle, into the soil. If it is dry, then it is time to water your plants. If the soil is still moist, you can hold off watering for a day or two.
How Much Water is Enough?
The amount of water needed for cannabis plants depends on the following factors:
- Size of the plant
- Whether the plants are indoor or outdoor due to their temperature
- Stage of growth
- The overall health of the plant
Make sure that all of your pots have drainage holes at the bottom and that when you are watering, water should pool over the surface of the soil, but it should not linger for too long there. If your plant is very thirsty, allow the water to run through the drainage holes. Go back to the plant after around 10 minutes and check if it needs more water.
As your plants start to grow, they will need more water. If you have more than one plant, take note of its watering needs so that you can plan your schedule for other plants when they reach different growing stages.
A Note Before Harvesting
Two weeks before you plan to harvest your marijuana plants, flush your plants with room-temperature, PH-balanced water as this will remove any unnecessary nutrients which will eventually improve the taste of your buds.
Conclusion
If your plant is not doing too well, check the PH balance of your water and its nutrient levels. Once you make sure that the water is not the issue, move on to the other culprits.
Keep checking out our blog for more tips and updates on cannabis plants!Â