Cannabis cultivation is divided into two basic cycles: vegetation and flowering. Plants during vegetative growth have different nutritional needs than during flowering. Development priorities are also different - during vegetation, the plant builds a root system and gains green mass in order to generate as many inflorescences as possible in the next stage. Here is the most important information about the vegetation of hemp plants.
Growing hemp - the life cycle of the plant: Vegetation
When hemp plants germinate and show their first leaves, the plant's vegetative period, also known as the growth phase, begins. Hemp is a short-day plant, meaning that it blooms when the day becomes short enough. And to be precise, it should be added that it is the length of the night that defines flowering, not the shortness of the day. This is because the hormones responsible for flowering, the plant produces on average after about 8 hours of darkness. Therefore, as long as the plant receives light for min. 16 hours a day - it will not bloom.
Vegetation of cannabis plants - characteristics
Vegetation is primarily the acquisition of green mass, the plant grows generating more lateral offshoots, which in the next phase will be covered with flowers. During this period, just as much happens in the part of the plant that is invisible to the human eye - its root. It is during this phase (and the first days of flowering) that the plant develops the plant's root system, which you will learn more about in T U T A J.
Vegetation: development of the above-ground part of the plant
During vegetation, cannabis plants primarily need nitrogen (N) and Silicon (Si). When growing outdoors, it is a good idea to add DOLOMIT to meet the plant's need for Cal-Mag. In indoor cultivation, too, of course, it can be added at a rate of 1 tablespoon per liter of substrate.
During vegetative growth, plants do not need much, just a basic growth fertilizer and the aforementioned silicon.
The discussed phase of plant development is also the moment to start or carry out training on the plants, aimed at increasing the final yield. You can read about plant training in T U T A J.
Substrate
If the substrate in which the plants will grow is poor in life such as soil bacteria or mycorrhizal fungi - you can and even should introduce some life into it, so that the bushes will develop better, be healthier and more resistant to any pathogens. It will also definitely improve the quality of the final product. In the case of coconut substrate, enrichment with live cultures of bacteria and fungi is even necessary if the final product is to be of good quality.
In this regard, products such as Startrex from BioTabs and Voodoo Juice, Tarantula and Piranha from Advanced Nutrients are excellent.
To keep soil life high, it's worth alternating between CarboLoad and Orgatrex for watering.
To create the best possible conditions in the rhizosphere (root zone), Rhizotonic can also be added during the vegetative growth period.
The vegetative growth period is when plants are much more "forgiving" of certain mistakes by the gardener, and if anything, the damage caused by disease or pests can still be mitigated. This is a relatively easy growing period for the gardener.
In the next material we will discuss flowering - a stage of development much more demanding in terms of the amount of work and feeding the plants.
