Growing CBD hemp flowers in your house have been made entirely possible with the development of technology and the ever-growing recourse online. Here are some of the tips from the professionals on how to grow hemp (through a vegetative state), and how to ensure the proper conditions to grow flowers to get CBD.
What Is Hemp?
Hemp is a member of the Cannabis sativa L. plant species, which has enjoyed popularity because one of the more famous members is marijuana. While both hemp and marijuana come from the same species they contain very unique biological structures which make them two very different plants. Marijuana plants produce dense, thick buds and grow very bushy, hemp plants are very thin and tall, and don’t produce the buds that marijuana is famous for. If you take a closer look at both plants in a side-by-side comparison, there is no mistaking one from the other.
Ultimately, the difference that is of the biggest interest is in the amount of the cannabinoid that each contains – marijuana can contain up to 30% of THC, while hemp plants contain less than 1% THC. This raises the question – what is hemp used for? Hemp was usually grown for industrial purposes (for making fibers), nutritional seeds used to make hemp seed oil, but most recently it’s grown for CBD (cannabidiol). The CBD industry has exploded in recent years and is estimated to be worth over $20 billion by the year 2022, and with the recent legal changes in the US, there are plenty of parties interested in growing CBD hemp flowers. Let’s take a look at how to make this possible in your own house.
Setting Up The Cultivation Site
Since both hemp and marijuana are different forms of cannabis, the principles for growing each plant are essentially the same. First and foremost, seed selection is a crucial step that will give your crop the best (genetic) advantage. Once you have reliable seeds in your hand, it’s time to start growing the hemp in a very controlled environment. Even though it’s usually been grown outdoors, there are many ways to make this possible within the realm of your own house. This has also become a preferred method since it can be cultivated year-round and won’t face the limitations of a defined growing season.
Firstly you should define the area where you wish to grow hemp (the square footage). Next, you should purchase the appropriate number of grow lights such as HID lights (High-intensity discharge) which are most commonly used. As the creators of The Premium Difference note, two of the most common models of HID lights are HPS (high-pressure sodium) or MH (metal halide) models, both of which should have appropriate reflective hoods and ballasts. Other popular options are LED lights since they are usually cheaper than HID lights. Furthermore, they can also lower operating costs since they consume less energy. With these essential elements in place, all you have to do is focus on maintaining the following growing conditions.
How To Grow Hemp Flowers
Six parameters need to be maintained in the proper margins for a hemp flower to grow properly. Firstly, the temperature needs to be maintained between 68-77 degrees F since hemp requires slightly cooler temperatures. Secondly, relative humidity needs to be in the 40-50% range when the plants are flowering and is essential for flower growth. Additional factors include air circulation, light for flowering, water, and feed, which are very important to consider as to not kill the hemp plant or prevent it from flowering. This is something that should be avoided if you’re looking to grow CBD flowers.
Air circulation is necessary to remove fungus gnats and other leaf fungal diseases. In addition to this, the circulating air will cool plants too. As for the lighting conditions, after the vegetative growth, the plants should be triggered to flower by changing the photoperiod – 12 hours on/12 hours off. Two additional aspects are watering and feeding. Do not over-water the plants when they are flowering, but also don’t allow them to keep drying out. A liquid fertilizer needs to be used after the vegetative growth period, which provides less nitrogen and more potassium and phosphorus to support the flowering. Feed weekly, or as needed.
About the Author
Nice tips on growing CBD hemp at home — have you tried any of those methods yourself yet? What part of the process do you think would take the most patience (light setup, nutrients, trimming)? I’ve been looking into different CBD flower experiences and a few growers recommend trying ready-to-use strains before tackling a full grow. If you’re curious about comparing CBD flower profiles to decide what to grow next, CBD Flowers UK https://gethemp.co.uk has quite a few varieties that make that easier to explore.