Potting Your Pot
Every stoner that has found a seed in their weed has probably tossed it out onto the ground and laughed about what if it grew into a pot plant. When I do this, I am usually in front of a government building, police station, or other place where the anti-cannabis sentiment runs high. The reality of tossing a seed out the window is that there is a very good possibility that the seed will germinate and grow eventually. While plants natively grow in the soil, outside in the elements, growing cannabis requires a little more attention when it comes to growing quality medicine.
The grow cycle starts with the container that you grow your plant in. You can germinate your seed any way that you choose, but when you actually concentrate on growing your plant, you can choose a few methods to pot your pot. I have used many different containers to grow over the years and my favorite by far are fabric pots. For home grows, I try to find the easiest methods for you to grow with minimal issues.
Remember: Your cannabis plant will thrive in any container as long as you have drainage. Plants waste (or go poo if you want to get simple) and it goes to the top soil. Every time you water your plants, you should over water by 10-20% to see that drainage out of the bottom. If you are using living or organic soil, this may not apply because the ecosystem works together in the soil to keep the plant healthy.
After germination, you can plant your germinated seed a few ways:
Rockwool Cubes
These cubes do not have any pH value and retain water. I have started plants in rockwool but then when the roots popped out of the bottom, I transferred to soil or coco. Some grows only use rockwool cubes with an auto water drip and a drain pan for the roots. These grows are similar to hydroponic grows. Check out Sea Of Green in Phoenix for hydroponic solutions.
Plastic Pots
From Solo cups to coffee cans and various sized pots you can find at the grow store, your plant will grow. Ensure that if you are using a closed bottom container that you cut drainage holes in the bottom. One issue that I have found with using plastic pots was that the roots coil up and can become root bound in the pot. As a novice grower, I would have the problem of over watering and then root rot would develop. Cannabis grows easily, however you have to be careful with how you water in quantity and frequency.
Fabric Pots
These containers allow air flow to all sides and bottom of the pot (make sure that you are using a riser in your water tray). Aeration is a word that is often associated with fabric pots. In order to achieve optimal flowers, you have to have healthy root growth and because the fabric pots are porous, air flow is max for the roots. No root coil in fabric pots because as the roots hit the sides of the pot, they auto prune. In all of the years that I have used fabric pots I have never encountered root rot.
I use fabric pots exclusively in my busy life because I want something that is effective with minimal maintenance. For this grow series, I was very fortunate to team up with Eric Olsen from High Caliper Growing to secure some Smart Pots. Smart Pots come either fully formed or with a slit down the back for easy transplant. Not all fabric pots are the same and poor construction can hinder your ability to reuse the pot. Smart Pots are constructed with high quality fabric and stitching so that you can wash them and then reuse for your next cycle.
You can grow cannabis in the ground, in a plastic or fabric container, or you can choose to grow hydroponically. It doesn’t matter what you choose to grow in, just GROW! This series is simply to help the brand new grower get started. There is so much to learn out there and many amazing people in our community that will help you learn. Happy Growing!
See the whole cultivation series to keep reading and learning.