Growing Marijuana: Tips at a Glance
To grow marijuana successfully, monitor levels of light, water, humidity, and soil nutrients closely throughout the annual flowering herb's life cycle, which can vary depending on variety to from three to six months from seed to maturity.
- Type Flowering herb
- Lifespan Annual
- USDA Zones All
- Sun 12 hours
- Soil Well-drained
- Water When soil is dry
- Design Tip Grow lights
- Companions Yarrow, chamomile
- Days to Maturity 90-plus
Marijuana: A Field Guide
Flowering herb marijuana and its cousin, hemp, are members of the Cannabis family. Grown for centuries for their medicinal and hallucinogenic properties (or, in the case of hemp, for fiber), marijuana plants like warm temperatures and consistent amounts of sunlight and darkness to produce high yields.
Botanists are debating whether Cannabis has more than one species or whether different varieties–such as indica and sativa marijuana varieties with different traits–are subspecies of Cannabis sativa.
Despite being nicknamed Weed, marijuana can be a fussy plant to grow (for optimal harvest). Among the factors growers need to monitor are light, water, fertilizer, and humidity (moist air can make buds rot before they are harvested). Plant with herbs companions such as dill, basil, and chamomile to deter pests.
The legality of growing marijuana varies greatly. Throughout Canada it is legal to grow marijuana for recreational purposes. In the UK, only medicinal marijuana may be grown in a home garden. In the US, laws vary by state.