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How To Grow Cannabis Organically

There is nothing more disappointing than smoking a well-dried flower, only to find out after lighting the taste is harsh, the ash burns charcoal black and your lungs won't stop coughing. This is a sign of a chemically grown flower that lacks vigor, flavor, and overall experience. Below is better explained how organic farming works, what you need to consider as well as top tips to help steer you on the way to becoming a master of organics.

 

What Does Organic Growing Mean?

Basically this means any organic matter that is in a form of compost. As organic material breaks down, beneficial bacteria and fungi perform the task of breaking down the substrate into a ready to absorb nutrient for the plants. 

As Mother Nature depends on beneficial microorganisms to speed up the decomposing process, there is a symbiotic relationship formed between plant life and the living soil. When a grower refers to a flower being produced using organics, they will be referring to a living soil food web. Below is a list of various organic substrates that can be used to grow Cannabis.

Worm Castings - Produced by worms that live in the soil or worm bin, worm castings are a rich source of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium, as well as trace elements. As the worm excretes the soil it has eaten, they will leave behind a source of beneficial bacteria that roots will begin a harmonious relationship with.

Compost - Organic matter that has been collected and left to break down into a brown state. This indicates the compost has high Carbon levels, as well as being an excellent slow release of trace element Magnesium.

Forest Floor - Sourced from a local forest, and an excellent way to take home an organic growing medium, enriched with indigenous microorganisms. 

Basic Soil - Usually bought from the local garden center, in the form of a living soil with perlite or coco mixed in. The quality and beneficial bacteria and fungi counts of some products may drastically vary, so be extra careful when investing in cheap commercial soil.

Liquid nutrients are another way to ensure your Cannabis plants stay well fed. Adding just plain water from start to finish will produce great results, however adding an organic bottled nutrient will really help you pack on the pounds, and keep the soil food web supercharged.

Fish Emulsion - We are all familiar with the thick, shiny and aromatic nature of fish emulsion. Many growers will swear by the stuff, whilst others will testify it leaves a harsh spicy taste if flushing is not done correctly. These types of nutrients will usually measure at 5-1-4 and are excellent for the vegetative stage.

Black Strap Molasses - You will know if you have a nutrient that is molasses-based by feeling the weight and having a smell. Normally a dense, thick dark brown or black shiny liquid, with a caramel sweet pungency. Molasses serve a high mineral feed including a rich source of sugar.

Worm Castings Extract - Created by taking fresh worm castings and making basic cold water extracts, producing your own worm tea, or buying one from the grow shop will really improve vigor, vitality and keep your soil in optimum condition.

Bat Guano Extract - In the same fashion worm tea is made using a cold-water extract, bat guano is used to create a powerful bloom booster that is naturally high in Phosphorus. Using bat guano nutrients in flowers will seriously enhance the flavor and aroma of your buds.

 

Skill Level and Start-Up Costs

One of the very best things about growing is the initial start-up costs are not expensive, and not very demanding skill-wise. It is possible to create a good quality organic growing medium without breaking the bank and to source all your materials locally.

This is normally why growers start off with a living soil complete with organic liquid nutrients, and a feed chart. There will be a 72-hour buffering period where your organic medium will break down the nutrients before, allowing you to react accordingly in case of a deficiency.

There is no need to check the E.C (Electric Conductivity) of your nutrient solution as done in hydroponics, and as long as your pH is in the ideal zone, then mother nature will take care of the rest.

 

The Advantages Associated

 

The Taste Factor

On top of all the advantages associated with growing Cannabis organically, is the final taste of the flower. You cannot beat organic grown buds, especially when treated with compost tea, worm tea, enzymes, and other flavor-enhancing natural products.

The downsides to organic grown flowers are the yield factor, however, this is only in comparison to hydroponic farming which is designed for a commercial-scale farming model. Yield is extremely important to some growers, but when you are growing for yourself it is preferred to have the best experience possible and to smoke clean, organic buds and extracts.

 

5 Top Tips On Growing Organic Cannabis

  1. Do your research before buying your custom organic mix, and make sure what you're buying is fresh and teaming with the beneficial bacteria and fungi your soil food web heavily relies on.
  2. If you are going to take back soil cultures from your local forest, be extra careful not to bring insects and bugs back to your garden. Some may be predatory insects that can benefit the garden, but you may be inviting a world of problems in.
  3. When buying worm castings, always ask for a freshly made bag and avoid anything that seems dry, crushed and has no immediate smell.
  4. Using bat guano during the blooming phase will really bring out the terpenes, resulting in a delicious tasting flower. Many growers enjoy using organic compost tea that has been brewed for a minimum of 24 hours.
  5. Recycling your growing medium is a wonderful way to cut down on costs, be efficient as possible and do your bit for the planet. Simply supercharge the medium with bacteria and fungi or an organic compost tea.

 

Conclusion

Growing with organics is the cleanest and safest way to enjoy good quality flowers. Hydroponics will always produce superior yields, however, they lack on taste and are grown with hitting targets in mind. Beginner growers will find organics a stress free, low maintenance way of life allowing them to grow the tastiest buds in town.






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raptor65
raptor65
Total gone organic with this years grow with My own compost and soil mix , plants are responding just beautifully 😉
TheBelgian
TheBelgian
Good article, would be nice to find some dedicated articles on here, on how to create and dosage certain Nutrients from a "do it yourself" perspective from your kitchen/garden (for example Nitrogen).
uzgojorg
uzgojorg
@TheBelgian, https://sites.google.com/view/organicgrowingcannabis/home
deFharo
deFharo
@TheBelgian, visita mis diarios, tengo varios tips para la creación de fertilizantes líquidos orgánicos y otros productos interesantes.
Paulc88
Paulc88
Totally agree 100% when growing with chemicals there's always that harshness when you smoke it. When using Organic nutrients you can tell the taste right away , I reckon if you took 10 seasoned stoners and blind test them , using both and I bet you 10 out 10 will pick the organic guaranteed. But I suppose big business will have the fingers in there somehow with the amount of completely useless stuff for e.g The Purplenator makes your plants purple now why would you want to make your weed purple lol and it's expensive. And there's a million other nutes , contraptions you don't really need so don't be daft keep your money in your pocket.Thats my opinion on it let me no what you think on this subject of selling products that aren't necessary Thanks Grow diaries.
CRiSPrGrow
CRiSPrGrow
Nice write up 👍🏻 go organic !
deFharo
deFharo
Buen artículo para iniciarse, aunque falta incluir el aporte de minerales al sustrato en forma de harina de rocas. Los MM ayudarán a hacer asimilables por la planta estos minerales. También es interesante relacionar el abonado en superficie con las fases de la luna. Viva orgánico!!
raptor65
raptor65
Total gone organic with this years grow with My own compost and soil mix , plants are responding just beautifully 😉
eMJay
eMJay
Hands down my top pick for personal growing. Can’t beat organic! Compost teas are like smoothies for your girls mm mm mm
GreenHouseLab
GreenHouseLab
Great article!
user78235
user78235
My solution for a low maintenance organic grow: I only use solid organic nutrients mixed to the soil at the beginning, and none afterwards. Automatic watering with AutoPot and tap water, 270W LED lights&ventilation with 18/6 timer. No monitoring, no PH or EC measuring, no mixing of nutrients, no flushing - minimum maintenance! Just raise the lights from time to time, and I do some Topping and maybe some LST because my tent is not very tall. Up to now this gives me ca. 20-30g per plant (85-140g freshly harvested), with minimum investments. Perfect for integration in family and work routine. Grow medium per plant: 4L BB Light Mix + 3L Perlite + 150ml Flo Organics mixed in lower half of soil.
Hellishjam
Hellishjam
NO sulphur molasses for organics.
removed_36152
removed_36152
Check out my page or my insta , my plants are 💯 organic everything fed to my plants was sourced in my hometown and water