Lloyd Johnson - The Beginner's Guide to Growing Marijuana

Some cannabis is considered more potent than others, regardless of how much THC is present in the plant. The reasons for this are not fully known, partly because current research suggests that cannabis has far more distinctly different cannabinoids than originally suspected. Some have been identified, but not all. Keep this in mind as you consider what you want to grow.

Currently, there are sixty-six identified cannabinoids, the class of compounds known to exist only in the cannabis plant. Although American research into the effects of cannabinoids is significantly impacted by the lack of legal availability of cannabis, a few of these compounds have been more widely studied than others.

Unlocking the pharmacological secrets of cannabis relies on scientific understanding of the active ingredients of a chemically distinct family of interrelated molecules. Of the known cannabinoids, there are twelve categorical types:

• Cannabigerol (CBG)

• Cannabichomene (CBC)

• Cannabidiol (CBD)

• D9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (D9-THC)

• D8-Tetrahydrocannabinol (D8-THC)

• Cannabicycol (CBL)

• Cannabielsoin (CBE)

• Cannabinol (CBN)

• Cannabinodiol (CBND)

• Cannabitriol (CBT)

• Miscellaneous Types

• Other Cannabinoids

CBN, or cannabinol, is produced by the oxidation degradation of THC. It is suspected of increasing the power of certain aspects of what recreational users call the high, but probably is more desirable in high quantities only for medical use where it can help treat sleep disorders. Recreational users are more likely to use cannabis for euphoric effect, and cannabis with high CBN is generally reported to make the user more drowsy than high.

THC and cannabidiol (CBD) are the two most abundant naturally occurring cannabinoids in marijuana. CBD has sedative, analgesic, and antibiotic properties, and can induce a psychoactive effect by interacting with THC. Different blends of cannabinoids account for the varying psychoactive effects produced by distinct strains of cannabis. In general, cannabis users now use the term potency to describe the sum effects of the cannabinoids and the overall effects induced, not just THC levels.

Terpenes are a large and varied class of hydrocarbons, produced primarily by plants, like conifers, and insects, though the latter is rare. The name terpene is derived from the word turpentine , which smells like conifer trees. Aromatic kitchen herbs like rosemary contain a particular terpene profile that gives them a distinctive flavor and aroma, as does the herb cannabis.

The Green House Seed Company has started a breeding revolution by providing customers and anyone interested with terpenes profiles of the resin of all its strains. The 2008–2009 seed catalogue contains an example of this analysis, and the Green House Seed Company website has the updated profiles for all strains. Check it out before you grow!

Terpenes function as smell and taste molecules and are the major components of plant resin. The most prevalent terpene in cannabis sativa is known as myrcene. It is also present in high amounts in mangoes, hops, lemongrass, and flowering plants like verbena and mercia. The complexity and variety of cannabis plants allows for great variety in how the terpenes express themselves; cannabis breeders have an almost endless palette of aroma and tastes to breed from and elaborate on.

Trichomes are tiny outgrowths of resin that form on the flower and sugar leaves of the cannabis plant. Although the plant is primarily using this resin to protect itself and its seeds from the environmental dangers, it is also this resin that contains the euphoric properties so attractive to humans.

The trichome’s adhesive resin forms a protective layer against destructive insects, prevents seed desiccation, and inhibits some types of fungal disease. Trichomes also help the plant by acting as a sunscreen that protects against UV-B light, and help the plant stay cooler in the hot sun. Some claim that the resin makes cannabis less palatable to animals. This may be true for some types of mammals, but hungry deer, elk, wild pigs, goats, and sometimes dogs all enjoy eating cannabis and will do so at every opportunity.

Trichomes can come in as many shapes and sizes as there are strains of cannabis. Heavy trichome production is not necessarily an indication of a potent plant; the resins may not hold the THC and other cannabinoids needed for psychoactive effect.

Growers, particularly outdoor growers, use trichomes as indicators of when to harvest their cannabis. Trichomes are very small, so they must be monitored daily, using a jeweler’s loupe—a small, magnifying device—near harvest time. The most desired coloration of the resin will initially be almost clear or only slightly amber. THC levels peak and begin to degrade soon after this coloring is achieved. If you wait much longer to harvest the plant, the trichomes will darken and the psychoactive effect will be weaker, so cultivators must time their harvest very carefully while watching the trichomes.

For survival of the cannabis plant overall, perhaps the most beneficial aspect of trichomes has been their role in the seduction of humans. People have valued and propagated cannabis worldwide for centuries primarily for its recreational use, with medical or industrial purposes taking a back seat. Humans continue to breed many variations into cannabis and spread different strains all over the planet, both activities that will guarantee the widespread survival of this wonderful and versatile plant.

So now that you know a little about what you want to grow, what other decisions do you need to make? Let’s start by taking a look at where you’ll grow your cannabis: indoors or out.

Probably the most important part of this equation is considering what the plants will need. The other part to consider is what you need and actually want to do. A small outdoor grow takes about the same effort as a small, personal-use vegetable garden. If your goal is only a few ounces for the year, a tiny container garden on your deck might suffice. If you are supplying medical cannabis patients, you will need to evaluate their needs and compare those needs to how much you can realistically expect to produce for them.

The first thing to think about is where you live. Your geographic location determines your climate and seasonal growing conditions. These factors will impact how well different strains of cannabis will grow outdoors. Of course, if you are planning on indoor growing, you can dictate climate conditions and manipulate light, thus controlling where the plants think they are growing. This control gives the indoor grower more choice as to different strains. Bear in mind that as an indoor grower you must also balance your choices, as each strain will not have an individual vegetative or flowering room; you will have to keep to a medium range that is acceptable to all the strains growing together.

It is not advisable to have only one strain growing at a time. The risk of a complete crop failure increases as the genetic similarity of the plants will tend to make them uniformly susceptible. If a particular strain is, for example, found to be mold prone, you could lose your whole crop. If your crop has genetic diversity, there is a far greater chance that some strains will be resistant to whatever plague might choose to visit you. Also, if you harvest a crop of genetically identical plants, you will get easily bored using exactly the same cannabis day in and day out; variety is far preferred.