One of the most important aspects of gardening, especially indoors, is the environment. It can be the difference between having amazing end results and mediocre.
Maintaining consistent temperature and humidity, having the right amount of light and the proper distance from the plants, not over or under watering, and more all play a major factor in end results.
Investing in instruments brings power to your knowledge!!
Tip #1 - Buy a digital thermometer Hygrometer
One of the most effective tools an indoor/Greenhouse gardener can have is a thermometer/Hygrometer that measures the temps and humidity of your area. It cost $20 for good digital one.
Tip #2 - Environment is such a broad term but doesn't need to feel infinite.
Start basic and expand. Invest in a good PH tester, a thermometer/hygrometer, and a spray bottle. Cannabis wants a neutral PH level or slightly acidic, 5.8-6.5 PH is a good level. This allows cannabis to take in all the nutrients it needs at the appropriate levels. In a more alkaline water, above 7.0 PH or in a more acidic water, lower than 5.5 PH can run the risk of nutrient deficiency or toxicity. The temp should be between 60 degrees and 85 degrees at all times. Lower or higher can cause the plant to stress in different ways, causing undesired results like stretching or stunting growth for days. 73-78 degrees is ideal during the "daytime" when the lights are on. At "night" in the darkness the temp should be roughly 10 degrees colder than the daytime.
Tip #3 - Humidity is equally important
As cannabis grows and changes stages, so do its needs. Clones like a minimum of 70% humidity. Veg stage 60-75% is a good for fast growth. And in flowering you want to be around 40-50% into late flowering as low as 30-50%. This delicate balance is how you achieve maximum growth and results.
Tip #4 - stagnant air is the enemy!
Oscillating fans, wall mounted or on the floor are excellent inexpensive ways to move air around the cannabis plant. This serves multiple purposes including general air movement which "exercises" the plants, creates a hostile environment for molds/mildews and pests increases the chances they do not infest your plants while circulating CO2 around the plants leaves.
Air exchange is the process of removing the old air in the room/greenhouse with new fresh air. This is typically done with an inline exhaust fan. In extreme cases a smaller air intake fan may also be necessary.
Tip #5 - Invest in a PPM meter
A PPM or parts per million meter tests the total disolved solids in the water. It tells you how many minerals are already in your soil. It will allow you to have more control over your water and nutrients, increasing parts per million of which minerals are important in that particular feeding. One of my favorite things to do int he garden is to be mad scientist with nutrients! This takes a mild understanding of what the nutrients are and what percentages. When you know what your plant wants and able to increase those specific nutrients to the perfect maximum level, the results can be incredible!
Read your plants!
All plants are different and want a variation of the same things, light, water, nutrients, etc. Cannabis is a particularly unique growing plant, especially when you factor in all the different strains and that they all grow slightly different. Cannabis can handle high stress situations and recover. You can abuse the plant and still get semi-acceptable results. Sometimes, you can stress the cannabis plant to make desirable affects! More of that in another blog!
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