How to know when you're ready to start growing cannabis

Cultivation is a craft that can be mastered by anyone who puts their mind to it. It’s a unique experience that can teach us a lot about what goes into creating the highest quality cannabis products on the marketplace today. The trouble is that far too many people go into it unprepared for what’s to come, leading to disappointing results that make some think they just aren’t cut out for the job.

Luckily, it isn’t expensive or difficult to equip yourself with all of the things you’ll need, but it sure does help when you have some idea of where to start.

Here, we’ll discuss some of the most integral aspects to consider before deciding whether or not you’re ready to try growing cannabis.

Tools

To begin, you’re definitely going to need the right tools for the job. Whether that means stocking up on the best energy-efficient grow lights or investing in high-quality pots and shovels, every grower should have an arsenal that includes anything they could possibly require to give their crop the best chance at a bright and bountiful future.

A good space

Depending on where you’d like to bring this experience to life, you may need a proper grow room complete with good airflow, filtration systems (to reduce smell), and humidity controls, or you might just want to dig a big plot outdoors. Perhaps you’re considering raised bed gardening or a greenhouse instead. All of these places are sufficient for cultivation, but if you don’t have one at all, then you could run into some serious problems down the line. Due to the sanitation and health requirements of these fragile cultivars, growers should have a place dedicated to this task.

Knowledge

You don’t necessarily need the experience to succeed at growing cannabis, but you should have a good foundation of knowledge to draw from, in case any problems should arise. Familiarity with growing phases, light and nutrient requirements, organic practices, pests, common diseases, and of course, harvesting, drying, and curing will improve your chances of producing the biggest crop possible.

Assistance

It isn’t always possible to get help from someone with more experience growing cannabis. Still, it’s certainly a massive benefit in times when you run into problems or situations that don’t quite make sense. Plants not quite reaching as high as you’d like? Perhaps a friend with unique insight and perspective could assist by offering up tips and tricks that have worked for them in the past, or maybe they know of less popular techniques to get you the results you want. In many cases, you might just need some assurance that you’re handling this whole task appropriately, or someone to water those babies when you’re out of town so it really can be amazing to have help from a friend.

The time it takes

We often think about the tools and accessories we might need at some point to make growing cannabis easier, but very few consider how much time it could take out of your day-to-day life to truly nurture a crop. Without full automation, you’ll need to have enough time to water, feed, and constantly monitor your plants to keep things like starvation, disease, pests, and dehydration at bay. Leaving for a week at a time is not an option, so if you’re away a lot for work or leisure, then you may not be ready to grow just yet.

Access to good genetics

Though some growers may enjoy the craft enough to forgo this essential, and if you’re doing this for the flower, then you’re definitely going to need to have access to a variety of good genetics. This one small thing could make the difference between harvesting a few grams or pulling in a whole pound, so it’s more than worth the investment. Professional cultivators wouldn’t ever have it any other way because this healthy beginning is always a game changer.

Dedication

At the end of the day, you can have all the right tools, the most professional grow room, knowledge, help, time, and good genetics, but if you aren’t dedicated to making this magic happen then it could all be for nothing. Losing interest partway through or slacking on daily care could kill your dream of having a generous harvest, so make sure you’re ready to commit to seeing this thing through before stocking up on all the essentials and wasting your time.