HOW TO GROW MEDICAL MARIJUANA
easy step-by-step instructions for those of you who don't have a green thumb

Step One:  If at all possible, start with a clone rather than try to grow your own from seed.  There are two big advantages to clones.  First, they've already overcome the most difficult growth period (that two week period from seed germination to first growth shoot).  Secondly, and at least as important is that starting with a clone will guarantee your plant is a female.  There's nothing worse than spending a couple of months nuturing your plants only to find out they are males.

Step Two: Plant your clones in your hydroponic system.  If your clones were started in rock wool cubes, plant the whole cube but make sure you take off the wrapper that surrounds fours sides of the cube first.  I recommend putting some black plastic over the top of the rock wool cube to eliminate the possibility of algae forming.  (see our hydroponics blog for more details.)

Cautionary Warning One:  Don't get greedy.  There are six mesh grow pots in the Bubbleponics system.  That does not mean you should grow six plants at once.  I like to start with at least four clones to see which ones do the best.  As soon as I can, I eliminate two of the plants, leaving me with two healthy plants to grow to fruition.

Step Three:  Add water.  Tap water is fine and it's usually already adjusted to the optimum pH level of 6.5.  It's a good idea to let the water set for a few minutes before introducing it to your system.

Step Four:  Turn your system on.  For the first few weeks you'll be using lighting that is predominately 6500° K and leave the lights on 24 hours a day.
      
Cautionary Warning Two:  Be Patient.  Wait at least a week to ten days before you add any nutrients.  Any earlier with the nutrients and you run the risk of 'burning' your plants.

Step Five:  Add vegetatative state nutrients.  Every two weeks drain your system completely and add a new batch of nutrients.

Step Six: Determine when to go into the flowering stage.  It's important not to get greedy here.  Your natural tendancy will be to grow  your plant as tall as you can.  Here's the kicker...once you switch from vegatative growth cycle to flowering growth cycle your plant is going to continue to grow taller--anywhere from 18" to 24" high and if you don't have the height in your grow cabinet/closet/tent, you're going to end up with plants that grow higher than the lights.  And easy way to determine when to go into flowering stage is to take the height of your grow area and subtract three feet from it.  The balance is the maximum height you should allow your plants to reach before switching to flowering mode.  So, if your grow tent is around five feet tall, you'll want to make sure you start flowering mode when your plants reach two feet in height.

Step Seven: Six to eight weeks after going into flowering cycle (which is accomplished by changing the light to mostly 2700° K, going into a 12 hour lights on, 12 hour lights off cycle, and switching to flowering nutrients) your plants are going to be ready to harvest.  I usually harvest one main branch at a time and clip off as many of the leaves I can.  Then hang the trimmed branch upside down in a dark, well ventilated space for about a week.  Again, patience is a virtue....leave your plant drying until the branch breaks, rather than folds, when you bend it.  Cut all the buds off and place them in a cardboard box or paper bag and let them dry another two to three days.  All that's left is to enjoy your crop.

A Few Tips For Black Thumb Gardeners:  The first thing to remember is that marijuana is a weed.  This means you have to work at killing it.  A lot of experts will tell you to wear surgical gloves when handling your plants, to carefully balance your water's pH levels, to have ventilation fans in place and make sure the temperature falls between 70° and 80° F.

Well, let me tell you: I've never worn gloves, don't test my water's pH levels, keep the front of my grow tent open during lights-on periods for ventilation, and have successfully grown crops in temperatures ranging from 65° to 110° F.  For more practical tips and misconceptions, read our hydroponics blog.