Top Tips for Growing Hydroponic Cannabis

Create A Grow Space

If you want to grow hydroponic cannabis, you’ll need a suitable space to grow it. Many people create a grow room decked out with the equipment they need to control the conditions their plants are exposed to. Alternatively, you can do this all within a grow tent – this is often easier as it takes less space and still gives you control over the plant’s conditions.

You’ll also need the right equipment to control the heating, lighting, and humidity of your grow space. Most growers use 250W, 400W, or 600W HPS grow lights for growing hydroponic cannabis. It also helps to use fans to control the temperature. You should also have a dehumidifier to help with humidity.

Setting all of this up and getting it to work as smoothly as possible can be tricky. Fortunately, you can also buy indoor grow tents that are designed specifically for hydroponic growing. Buying one of these can save you a lot of time and effort and also enhance the success of your hydroponic growing project.

Pick A Suitable Hydroponic Growing Medium

Hydroponic growing involves suspending your cannabis plants above a reservoir of water. The roots feed from the water and this helps the plants grow. However, you’ll need a suitable growing medium to hold your plants in place. Soil isn’t ideal for hydroponic growing, but there are a few growing mediums that work especially well.

Coco coir (or coconut fiber) is commonly used for growing hydroponic cannabis. It’s perfect for holding your plants in place while offering the ideal levels of aeration and moisture retention. It can also protect the roots of your cannabis plants from infection. On top of that, it’s very affordable and easy to find either online or in gardening stores.

You might also want to consider other growing mediums. For instance, some people use perlite, vermiculite, or rockwool for hydroponic growing. These materials are also good for providing aeration and moisture while holding your plants above a reservoir of water. The best approach is often to mix multiple mediums – such as perlite and vermiculite.

Choose Your Cannabis Seeds

No matter what method you use to grow cannabis, choosing the best seeds for the job is important. You can find cannabis seeds in seed banks and occasionally also at dispensaries or cannabis stores. However, with many different types and strains to choose from, it can be difficult to know which one to use for hydroponic growing.

There are three main labels you’ll notice on cannabis seeds – regular, feminized, and auto-flowering. Regular seeds have an equal chance to be male or female. However, since only female plants produce marijuana, you should always opt for feminized seeds instead. Auto-flowering seeds are enhanced seeds that grow faster. They’re more expensive, but you may want to use auto-flowering feminized seeds for speedy growth.

You should also consider which strain to grow carefully. Hydroponic growing is often less forgiving than traditional methods of growing cannabis, so it’s best to choose a strain that’s easy to grow. Some seed banks will have a collection of seeds that are ideal for hydroponic growing. Some of the best strains for hydroponic growing include Blue Dream, Northern Lights, and Gorilla Glue #4.

Set Up A Reservoir

When you grow cannabis plants using soil, they feed from nutrients in the soil to spur their growth. However, with hydroponic growing, they feed from a body of nutrient-enriched water. As such, you need to set up a reservoir of water for your plants. This will feed the roots of your cannabis plants and you can also add nutrients to help them grow successfully.

You can find guides online on how to build a D.I.Y. hydroponic reservoir using equipment such as a bucket with pumps and spaces in the lid for plant containers. However, you might also want to invest in a pre-made hydroponic growing reservoir to ensure everything goes smoothly.

You’ll also need the right nutrients for your plants. You can usually find bottles of nutrients designed for hydroponic growing, such as GH Flora Trio and Calmagic. You’ll need to remove and replace the nutrient mixture every one or two weeks to ensure your plants grow as smoothly as possible. You’ll also need to ensure your water has a pH level between 5.5 and 6.5 by testing it first.

Germinate Your Seeds First

If you want to grow hydroponic marijuana plants, you’ll need to germinate your seeds first. Germinating involves helping your seeds sprout before transplanting them to your hydroponic growing system. Not only does this ensure your plants will grow successfully, but it also gives you time to set up your system before adding your plants.

Fortunately, germinating your seeds isn’t difficult. The most common way to germinate your cannabis seeds is to place them between two damp paper towels and sandwich the towels between two dishes to shield them from the light. You should then leave the seeds at room temperature and check on them a few times each day, adding a little water if the towels become dry.

You’ll know that your seeds have sprouted once you see a white taproot emerge from the shell. Once your seeds sprout, you can transplant them to your hydroponic growing medium. Seeds often sprout at different times, so some might sprout overnight whereas others can take a few days.

Conclusion

Growing hydroponic cannabis is a good way to enhance the growth of your cannabis plants. Although you’ll need to invest in the right equipment and create the right conditions for your plants, it’s an excellent project for fans of growing cannabis. You can find out more about growing cannabis and even how to start a cannabis business at Cannabis Promotions.