Feminized cannabis seeds have an efficient growth cycle, unlike regular seeds, because they produce only the desired female plants. That means you don’t have to be on the lookout to eliminate the male plants. For many growers, that might be enough to let their guard down, but you still have to be keen when cultivating your plants so that you get the most yields. Keep in mind that growing feminized seeds comes with its challenges, too but worry not. Here is a comprehensive guide about everything you need to know about cultivating feminized cannabis plants.
Indoor or outdoor growing?
Indoor cultivation
You can grow your feminized seeds from i49 cannabis seeds either indoors or outdoors. They have two main growth phases, which you control with the light cycle. When cultivating feminized photoperiod seeds indoors, keep in mind that adjusting the light cycle is necessary when they get to a certain age.
When growing feminized photoperiod seeds with 18+ hours of light, they grow into the vegetative phase. Then you have to induce the flowering stage by switching to 12hours light and 12hours dark. Many growers do it when the plants reach about half of the desired final height.
But if you are growing feminized auto flower seeds, they need 20hours of light daily, and they flower automatically upon reaching a certain age. That is why they are recommended for beginner growers because you don’t have to adjust the light cycle.
Outdoor cultivation
When growing feminized cannabis outdoors, you have to time-optimal climate to cultivate during the right time. This is becasue sunlight hours adjust depending on the season, and your feminized plants require a specific schedule to thrive. Therefore it is best to plant them during spring when there is usually no frost to harvest during fall.
The soil you need to use
Feminized seeds do well in well-aerated soil that is nutrient-rich with good drainage. Many growers prefer to buy the store soil that is already optimized to give the feminized seeds a good start in life. However, you can amend natural soil with compost, worm castings, perlite, and coco to make it suitable for growing healthy cannabis seeds.
If you are a beginner, use a growing system you understand. After growing a few times and understanding the basics of growing healthy cannabis, you can experiment with other grow systems.
Optimal temperature and humidity are needed.
Feminized cannabis plants require an optimal temperature of 21degrees delicious to thrive. Extreme temperatures can cause stunted growth and other problems. That is why it is best to cultivate them indoors in an environment you can control if you are not in a region with an optimal climate. You can use a heating and cooling system to control the temperatures.
The optimal humidity your female plants require depends on the phase they are in. But generally, seedlings in their germinative phase going into their vegetative stage require a more humid environment. As they head to the flowering phase, you should reduce the humidity levels to 40-50% to minimize the probability of mold growth which can be detrimental to your flowers.
Nutrients to use
Your feminized seeds will need various nutrients to thrive and produce the most yields. During the growth stage, feed your plants with the three primary nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. You may also need to top up with micronutrients such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and copper.
Also, note that the nutrients come in two growth types: the vegetative stage and flowering stage. Ensure you feed your cannabis plants in the recommended dosages or less to avoid overfeeding them, which is a common mistake many growers make. When you overfeed the pants, chances of nutrient burn whereby the leaves turn brown and crispy are high. They can also remain stunted, failing to recover afterward.
Generally, start with low nutrient concentrations and increase gradually while monitoring the way the plants behave. Also, avoid overwatering the plants as the roots need oxygen to thrive. Overwatering can lead to waterlogged soil, which can cause fungi growth on the roots. Allow more time for the soil to dry between waterings.
Is plant training necessary?
Plant training is the process of keeping the cannabis plants to the desired shape and size. Growers use various techniques such as topping, pruning, pinching, super cropping, and defoliating the plants. The reason for plant training is usually to optimize the growing space and maximize yields.
Note that plant training can also stress out the plants and halt their growth. Therefore some types of plant training are not suitable for feminized auto flower plants because they have a limited lifespan. But if you are growing feminized photoperiod plants, you can plant train them if you know how to.
What is the growth cycle for growing feminized seeds?
The growth cycle of feminized cannabis seeds depends on the strain and type of seed, whether auto flower or photoperiod. Some strains, especially cannabis indica, grow fast and take as little as six to seven weeks to flower. Photoperiod varieties can take longer. So if you want to harvest your cannabis fast, go for feminized auto flower seeds as some can even be ready within 2months after germination.
How to obtain high THC with indoor growing for feminized seeds
It would be best to mix good quality feminized seeds with the best optimized growing environment to get high THC female buds. According to recent research, feminized plants grown under high-intensity LED lights produce higher THC levels than those that have utilized HPS.
You can also increase THC levels by growing your plants under UVA and UVB supplemental light such as solar system UVB, especially during flowering. The advantage of using LED grow lights is that they use less energy and produce less heat than HPS lights hence the most preferred choice for indoor growers.
The conclusion
As you can see, growing feminized cannabis plants is relatively easy as long as you follow the proper steps. You need to be keen not to overfeed or overwater the plants, which can lead to stunted growth, and adhere to the correct light cycles if cultivating photoperiod seeds.