Due to lack of space, many growers often start growing marijuana in garages, attics, loggias and balconies. In these places, temperatures can drop to critical levels during the off-season. Growing hemp in winter requires a special approach, since this plant loves light and warmth. Cold can lead to a halt in the development of the bush, problems with transportation and absorption of nutrients. In the most extreme case, the plant may even die.
In this article we will look in more detail at how to plant hemp at home in winter, and what conditions must be created for cannabis to produce a good harvest.
Please note that we do not encourage the cultivation of cannabis. This is illegal in Ukraine. This article was created for informational purposes for growers who are engaged in growing marijuana in areas where it is legal.
Provide warmth to the root system
Experienced growers know that outdoor varieties are more cold-tolerant. This is partly due to the hardening of the plants, since planting hemp outside in the winter from the first days of life forces them to adapt to changeable weather. In addition, in open ground the root system grows much deeper into the ground, so the roots are protected from significant daily temperature fluctuations. If you grow bushes in pots with wet soil mixture, it will cool down very quickly.
If you are going to grow bushes in pots indoors in winter, then the first thing you should worry about is the cold floor. This problem can be solved in different ways:
- make a small stand for pots from boards or cardboard boxes;
- lift pots onto plastic crates or foam sheets.
The most important thing is that the material should conduct heat poorly and act as an excellent barrier that will protect the root system of the bushes from daily temperature fluctuations.
Some growers create special pot stands that are wrapped in insulating material. As a result, contact between the soil and the environment is minimal, and the temperature of the root system remains stable. Most often, penofol is used for insulation.
During the growing season the optimal temperature of the soil mixture is 18-20 degrees C. When the plant begins to bloom, then the soil temperature should be a maximum of 24-26 degrees C. If the roots are cold, the nutrients are much less absorbed, so the growth of the above-ground part of the bush slows down.
Correct lighting
Most often, growers use marijuana growbox to ensure optimal conditions. In any case, another important aspect of growing is the correct light regime. Even in an unheated room, it is imperative to provide the plants with a sufficient amount of light rays. Photoperiod plants are very sensitive to the created light regime. The simplest option is if there are windows in the room, then you should move the bushes closer to them. You can also use lamps, flashlights on batteries or a battery (if you do not have access to constant electricity).
Use autoflowers for growing in winter
Autoflowers are able to bloom at 18-20 hours of daylight. Some growers generally leave the lights on for these plants throughout the entire growing period, creating optimal conditions.
Autoflowers begin to bloom when they reach a certain age. Most often, the growing season is 2-4 weeks, after which, regardless of growing conditions, marijuana shows its gender and forms inflorescences. The total life cycle is 7-10 weeks. Moreover, this fact does not depend on the lighting mode.
Autoflowers also by their nature tolerate cold well. In addition, certain varieties of photoperiod plants (most often indica-based hybrids) tolerate low temperatures well and produce good yields.
To sum up, we can conclude that hemp and frost are incompatible things, but if you correctly create optimal conditions, then it is quite possible to get a good harvest in cold weather.
