Growing stages of marijuana: outside the weed seed
After the baby plant has sprouted out of the taut small room sealed with waxy cuticle, it is all set to see the outside world and lay itself open to the pleasant air, fresh moisture, revitalizing warmth and light cycles. The complicated part is now over and further proceedings can somehow be witnessed more ardently than how we could expect within a small seed.
Seedling stage
Seedling refers to the petite plant which will progressively grow into huge bushy foliage. After the plant has left the enclosing seed and started to grow as an independent crop, it takes 5-7 days for it to become a seedling. Seedling is a stable root system. From here the growth has to diversify and spread in all possible directions. This beta version is a tiny replica of the mature cannabis plant which this will gradually expand out as.
The duration of seedling stage can range between 3-6 weeks depending upon the strain and the environmental factors in which the plant is grown. Artificial CFL lights maybe used to provide sufficient light and minimal heat to cannabis as it might require.
Vegetative stage
As the seedling passes the adolescence, it rushes to pursuing adulthood i.e. the vegetative state. Cannabis now becomes capable of absorbing more nutrients and carbon dioxide with its growing size. This is the phase where maximum growth of as much as 2 inches per day has been noted in some cannabis strains. Cannabis develops the shape and size with its leaves spreading in specific directions profiling the overall foliage. At this stage one should be able differentiate between many common cannabis varieties looking at the structure of the plant.
Nitrogen rich nutrient, moderate temperature of around 70 degrees, 50-70% dampness and a consistent light of 18 hours a day helps the bush flourish better and greener.
Flowering stage
This is the final stage that every grower awaits from the very first moment of plunging a seed into the ground. When this plant incurs the flowering stage the sticky resins start to develop on the leaves centered at the reproductive parts that we call buds. This newly formed sticky pigment is rich in THC which is the active ingredient responsible for weed high.
The duration of flowering determines the concentration of cannabinoids in cannabis which is also known as potency of the plant. Pollination and fertilization will also modify their amounts. The plant becomes more resinous and odoriferous when it’s nurtured in appropriate atmospheric conditions and NPK proportions.
The flowering phase can last up to 10 weeks depending upon the strain you are producing. Its cultivation and harvesting at this stage will determine the ultimate quality of the produce.
