Many home grow operations use what is called a “grow tent”. These are produced by various brands – or you can even make your own! Growing top shelf weed can be a difficult task, but many individuals have trouble achieving it when using a grow tent. The secret to success when it comes to growing top shelf weed in a grow tent, lies in using a top-shelf process and being aware of these crucial factors.
Strain Genetics
The quality of seeds that you sow in your grow tent will make the difference between whether or not it will blossom into a top-shelf strain (given it is grown in an ideal environment). Some tips to finding the best seeds include avoiding the use of clones or bag seeds and only get your seeds from a trusted source. The seeds should always be feminized and it is a good idea to check for THC potency to provide an estimate on what you can expect.
Soil and Nutrients
The choice of soil as well as nutrition are key aspects when it comes to growing cannabis. If you have the ability, preparing your own soil before the planned season of growth (i.e.: August) and allowing it to fertilize on its own with compost and natural biodegradables. Over-fertilizing or providing too many nutrients can cause plant damage and result in poor quality weed. Testing your soil and ensuring you are feeding the appropriate nutrients in the appropriate amounts during each growth cycle will go a long way to producing top-shelf bud.
Terpene Power
Weed is not just THC, it is dozens of cannabinoids and terpenes working together to produce the strain effects. While some strains are rich in terpenes and have very particular aromatic attributes for this reason, not all strains do. In order to obtain a strong smell and taste with your bud, it is important to maintain an ideal grow environment and ensure your plants are properly fed and looked after. However, if you do find that the strains are somewhat lacking in aroma or flavor you can artificially add terpenes to your plant after harvest to improve these aspects.
pH Levels
Cannabis plants like a moderately acidic environment. Maintaining a pH level of 5.5 to 6.5 is ideal for plant success. Be sure to monitor and test your pH regularly, as pH in the soil will change as plants absorb nutrients. If these levels rise above 7.5, the plant will be unable to process many nutrients including copper, iron, zinc and manganese. On the other hand, if the pH level drops below 5 and stays that way, the plant will fail to absorb calcium, magnesium, or phosphoric acid.
Humidity
The ideal humidity of your grow tent will greatly depend on what growth stage the plants are in. In order to maintain a level humidity to support all your plants, it is a good idea to plant seeds at the same time and choose strains with similar grow cycles. When cannabis plants are in the vegetative stage, humidity should remain around 60%. When they reach the first days of the flowering stage, humidity should be lowered to 45% and then lowered again during the final days of flowering to 35%. Equipment such as dehumidifiers and humidifiers can help you regulate the grow tent environment. If you live in a humid climate, you will most likely only require a dehumidifier and vice versa if you live in very dry climate.
Environment Factors
Cannabis plants are hardy, but they are also very particular. In order to reap the best quality from your plants and grow bigger and denser buds, they will require adequate light and airflow. A good system of fans and lights will strengthen your plants and buds, and ensuring that they are planted far enough apart for proper airflow will improve the bud density.
Harvest Process
Ideally, harvesting buds a few at a time as they mature will result in the best quality bud at harvest. White pistils on the buds are a fair indication that the bud has matured, but it is also a good idea to check the trichomes. Harvesting when the trichomes are 60-70% are dark is a good guideline, however if you want more sedating and relaxing effects wait until 70-90% have darkened. Harvesting and trimming can take time, but using a trimming machine can speed up the process – especially for home growers. The CenturionPro TableTop system is designed for home growers and can process a small grow in an hour or less!
Drying and Curing
curing process is vital to the quality of the finished bud. Ideally, drying is done in a room at 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit and 45-55% humidity. The longer bud is allowed to cure will result in better tasting and more effective bud; quick cured bud will cause degradation and reduce potency.
Be Committed
There are many factors that influence bud quality, as outlined in this post so far, but another important one is the commitment to the grow. Nutrient deficiency or over-feeding, heat stress, over or under-watering and lack of physical support for the plants are just some reasons that can cause a garden to fail. By being committed to your grow and regularly checking your temperatures, humidity, pH and nutrient levels can ensure that your garden remains within the ideal grow conditions for the best success.