Cannabis plants are dependent on their environment for materials and energy. These key inputs, known as the limiting factors, drive photosynthesis and therefore plant growth. As outlined in the Marijuana Grower’s Handbook, the limiting factors are light, carbon dioxide, nutrients, water, and temperature. Through my work to update the book, which is now the Cannabis Grower’s Handbook, I’ve highlighted another critical limiting factor, oxygen.
Read MoreEnriching the air around your plants with CO2 supercharges the photosynthetic process, creating healthier plants and, ultimately, bigger yields. Gaining sufficient carbon from CO2 is important even at the earliest stages of plant development, when the plant prioritizes root development. Like compound interest, these early “investments” in plant structure support the creation of additional biomass as the plant matures. The best results from CO2 enrichment are realized when it’s applied to both the vegetative and flowering stages.
Yield improvements from CO2 enrichment derive from more, larger, and denser buds and can exceed 30-40% … commonly generating 25-30 pounds of additional finished product per 1,000 square feet per harvest. As Ed Rosenthal likes to say, plants evolved when there were greater concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere and they “know” how to use more of it.
Read MoreWhen it comes to seeds, Royal Queen Seeds knows what they are talking about. Here they’ve provided some great tips for starting off your grow with the best seeds possible.
Read MoreThe 2021 cannabis workforce outlook looks toward diversity, inclusion, and social equity. Cannabis legalization is fast outpacing the capacity of licensed businesses to build and retain diverse teams. For companies, the emerging cannabis industry’s future success will depend on effectively implementing social impact plans and inclusive HR practices. This year, job seekers can expect to see hiring at all levels of the supply chain.
Read MoreAs with so many things related to cannabis, ice water hash washing has its roots in Amsterdam. As the legend goes, a man named Sadu Sam determined that the resinous trichomes on the cannabis plant are packed with oil-based compounds. Trichomes are the "mitochondria" of the cannabis plant—the part full of precious cannabinoids. The trichomes' oil results in the compounds sinking in water. Meanwhile, the rest of the plant floats to the top. This is the basis of hash washing, or "Sadu Sam's Secret."
Read MoreBuilding a Wick System: An Easy Way to Grow
This excerpt from my new book “Ask Ed: Marijuana Success” hones in on one of my favorite ways to grow cannabis at home with a wick system.
The wick container system is an easy way to garden because it’s self-watering and removes the uncertainty of when to water. It requires far less care than hand watering, and it’s simple, fast to assemble, and inexpensive to set up. The wick system is based on capillary action. One example of this is a tissue drawing up water from a puddle. The system we set up works on the same principle. Instead of tissue, we use braided nylon rope.
