Ultimate Guide to Growing Cannabis According to the Moon Cycle

You must’ve read all there is about the importance of sunlight for your cannabis plants. 

However, we often forget the other half of the day which is mostly lit by moonlight. Guess what? Moon can play an important role in growing cannabis too. 

If you want to take your cannabis cultivation to the next level, you can try growing cannabis according to the moon cycle.

But, to do that, you need to understand the lunar calendar, along with a few other things. Don't worry — it’s nothing too difficult to understand. And if you adore the stars or the moon, this is an excellent activity to get to know the dark sky a little closer.

Here is your ultimate guide to growing cannabis according to the moon cycle along with a lunar calendar.

What is Moon Gardening?

Or, how do you grow cannabis according to the moon cycle? Moon gardening is not a new concept and has been in use across the world for centuries! It is as ancient as navigating the rough seas using the stars.

The practice dates back to the native people of America, where gardeners followed the moon cycle and studied how it affects the plant’s growth, development, and harvest. Moon gardening, since then, follows a particular calendar to maximize the health and yield of crops.

And in recent years, it is quickly gaining traction in the cannabis community as well. According to moon gardening practitioners, this technique can help your plant grow big and produce resinous buds every time.

Moon gardening is a practice where the grower (you) follows the lunar calendar and moon cycles to grow cannabis (or any other plant, for that matter). And, you do so by synchronizing your gardening timeline with the lunar phases.

Yes, this may seem like pseudoscience to many, but moon gardening has been in use for centuries with terrific success. This technique has helped many growers improve their yield in all corners of the world.

There is a scientific basis to this practice that experts have discovered in the past century. A moon is a massive object orbiting the earth, and it affects life on earth in many ways. For instance, the light produced by the moon during some days accelerates foliage growth during the night.

Plus, just like the rising tides, the moon’s gravity also pulls up the sap so it reaches the leaves and flowers more efficiently. And when the gravity of our beloved satellite is weak, the nutrients flow underground and nourish the root system. 

The Moon cycle also doubles up as a super reliable grow calendar — the waxing and waning of the moon act as a natural timetable that you can follow to grow cannabis. Additionally, the ascending and descending of the moon also marks certain gardening tasks. 

For example, you can transplant cannabis into the soil when the moon is descending to give your plant a good start. As mentioned earlier, when the moon is far, the nutrition flows better into the root zone, leading to better root development, which is crucial after transplanting.

Lunar Terminologies for Moon Gardening Cannabis

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of growing cannabis according to the moon cycle, it is best to learn some terminologies that you'll come across later in the article. Here are some of the lunar terminologies:

Moon Cycles

The first factor that comes into play in moon gardening, where the moon affects cannabis growth, is the moon cycle. The moon’s distance from Earth is never the same, it keeps varying, which is visible in the ascension and dissension of the satellite. 

This distance differs by the days, affecting the moisture levels within the plant, where the moisture moves either up or down in the plant, depending on the distance.

Moon Phases

On the other hand, you need to understand the moon phases, meaning the changing appearance of the moon throughout the 28 days. Growing cannabis as per the moon phases also influences its growth.

Tidal Effects

Tidal effects are the effect of the moon’s gravitational pull on Earth. This is responsible for the high tides when the moon is closer and low tides when it is afar. Each day, there are two high tides and two low tides, alternating every six hours. 

When you want to grow cannabis according to the moon cycle, you need to also consider the tidal effects.

Zodiac Constellations

During its journey, the moon transcends various constellations in the sky. Many moon gardeners believe that each constellation’s energies can influence various parts of cannabis. So, you can also try planting cannabis according to the zodiac to make a difference in your plant’s health and yield.

How Does the Moon Cycle Affect Cannabis Growth?

The Moon cycle is perhaps the most important aspect of growing cannabis with moon gardening. Here, you have to track the moon’s distance from Earth, i.e., its ascension and descension — you don’t have to use any scientific formulas, don’t worry.

The moon’s ascension and descension are not affected by its waxing or waning; it ascends or descends in a cyclic manner over a course of 27 days, 7 hours, and 43 minutes. 

When the moon is moving up, it is in ascension, and when it is moving down, it is in descension. This affects the movement of fluids within cannabis. Here’s how.

Ascending Moon

Ascension of the moon occurs when it is closer to Earth. During this time, the moisture in the plant rises to the upper parts of the canopy, saturating it. This is the perfect time to cut clones from a healthy plant but you should avoid harvesting at this time because the excess moisture will need to be dried out in the later stages.

Descending Moon

On the contrary, a descending moon is when the moon is further away from Earth. During the descension, the moisture within the plant flows to the bottom, making this the ideal time for germinating seeds, aiding root development, and enriching the growing medium. This is also a good time to harvest the plant because the buds won’t be so saturated with moisture.

When growing cannabis with moon gardening, you should consider the moon’s location in the sky as it affects various essential aspects of the cultivation, which can eventually lead to better health and improved yield of cannabis. 

Remember that both the Northern and Southern hemispheres are opposite to each other. 

How Do the Moon’s Phases Affect Cannabis Growth?

Like the distance of the moon, the moon’s phases also affect the plant’s growth. The moon phases include the full moon, waning moon, new moon, and waxing moon, and these are flipped depending on the horizon you are in.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the moon illuminates from right to left during waxing, and this occurs from left to right in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Let’s look at the phases of the moon in more detail.

New Moon

The new moon is when the moon is not visible in the night sky, and this lasts until half of the moon is illuminated. When the moon is new, moon gardeners don’t recommend gardening other than slight maintenance tasks like pruning or defoliation. 

Waxing Moon

A waxing moon is what follows the new moon, and it is also known as the crescent moon. Waxing means growing, so here, the moon waxes (or seems to grow) until it becomes full. 

According to the moon gardening principles, cannabis plants experience a drastic increase in activity during this time and become more resistant to pests and diseases. But this is not the right time to trim plants in any way. 

Full Moon

After waxing moon follows the full moon when the moon is fully illuminated. This is a brief stage. During this time, the sap is concentrated with moisture and nutrients, making it not the best time to prune or harvest. But this is a terrific time to germinate seeds because the full moon helps the seeds sprout better. Additionally, the full moon is bright, so its light also plays a key role in cannabis development. 

Waning Moon

The final part of the moon cycle is waning, where the moon gradually loses its illumination until the next new moon. This process takes around two weeks, give or take a day. 

During this time, the plant’s sap starts moving down towards the lower tiers, making this an ideal time for harvest. When the moon is waning, the flowers won’t be weighed down by excess moisture, making it easier to harvest and cure them in the coming weeks. 

How Do Tides Affect the Cannabis Plant?

As mentioned earlier, tides also play a crucial role when growing cannabis according to the moon cycle. But unlike moon phases and ascension/descension, tides come and go more frequently — around six times a day. But when you factor in the tides along with the moon phases or cycle, your plant can benefit in a few ways, such as the following.

High Tide’s Effect on Cannabis Plant

Depending on what growth cycle stage your plants are in, you can care for your plant in multiple ways during a high tide. Moon gardeners believe that, during high tides, you can clone your cannabis plants with higher success rates. 

High tides are also an ideal time to harvest your plants or compost, especially if the high tide is accompanied by a waning moon.

Low Tide’s Effect on Cannabis Plant

As the ebbs of the oceans lower, moon gardeners believe that it is the right time to sow seeds, especially if the moon is ascending too. During this time, you can fertilize your plants, improve the soil, or even transplant your plants to another location. 

How do the Constellations Affect Moon Gardening?

The fourth part of the moon gardening practice is the constellations. When the moon makes its way across the sky, it crosses various constellations. Many growers believe that the moon’s passage through the zodiac constellations can also benefit the plant’s growth and harvest.

According to the believers, the constellations’ elemental energies (like air, earth, water, and fire) can affect the corresponding parts of the cannabis plants.

If you are new to constellations, then the right starting point is zodiac constellations — there are 12 of them, each of them associated with a zodiac sign. These 12 constellations are further classified into four groups — air, water, earth, and fire — and each of the constellation groups has its own element coinciding with nature.

When the moon passes through a constellation, growers believe that the element of the plant that resonates with the constellation becomes more active, and they carry out their gardening tasks accordingly.

Here’s more on each constellation group with respect to growing cannabis according to the moon cycle.

Air Constellations

Air constellations make up Aquarius, Gemini, and Libra. When the moon is glazing through the air constellations, developing cannabis plants can benefit since these constellations enhance the development of the plant and flowers. 

Moon gardeners who factor in constellations plan their grow calendar to ensure the plant’s flowering stage occurs when the moon passes through any of these air constellations for improved yields. 

Fire Constellations

Fire constellations include Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. According to moon gardeners, it is best to focus on cannabis seeds when the moon passes through any of these fire constellations. This is because the germination process can be aided due to the moon’s relation to the fire signs.

Water Constellations

Next comes the water constellations, namely Cancer, Pisces, and Scorpio. When the moon is in these water constellations, the plant’s structural growth blooms. Here, the leaves, branches, and stems grow strong and vigorous, leading to an overall healthy cannabis plant. 

Earth Constellations

The last group of constellations includes Capricon, Taurus, and Virgo. These constellations help the cannabis plant grow a strong root network. This is why when the moon is in these constellations, you should be attentive to the root zone, which will lead to a healthier cannabis plant.

Grow Calendar for Cannabis According to the Moon Cycles

Now, let’s bring all of the above sections together and see how you need to plan and grow your cannabis plants based on the moon cycles. Here’s a brief calendar that you can follow.

• Germinate When the Moon is in the Fire Constellation of Leo

When growing cannabis according to the moon cycle, you should begin germinating the seeds indoors around mid-February, when the moon is passing through the fire constellation of Leo. This is because this time gives a kickstart to your seeds’ growth.

• Prepare the Soil When the Waning Moon is in Virgo

High-quality soil is an essential element of growing healthy cannabis plants, and you should focus on maintaining a healthy soil environment just as much as your plant’s health. The soil should be abundant with beneficial microbes, organic matter, and worms so that the roots form a synergistic relationship. 

The best time to prepare the soil is on March 18, when the waning moon sits in Virgo, an earth constellation. This will help your soil turn healthier. 

• Transplant When the Waxing Moon is in one of the Water Signs

Once the weather warms up, you need to transplant your seedlings into the final location, be it an outdoor bed or a container. This is essential so that the roots can expand and establish their network, so when the plant starts vegetative growth, it can get all the nutrients to grow tall and wide.

To transplant your cannabis according to the moon cycle, do so on March 13, April 9, or June 3, depending on your local region. During these dates, the waxing moon will be in Cancer, Pisces, and Scorpio, which are water signs.

• Train Your Plants When the Waxing Moon is in a Water Sign

You need to train your plants throughout their growth cycle to keep the canopy managed, improve light and airflow, and encourage faster growth. The best time to train your plants is when the waxing moon is passing through a water sign, on March 4, April 10, May 7, or June 4. 

• Prune Cannabis When the Waxing Moon Enters a Water Constellation

Pruning is vital to keep the canopy tidy and free of diseases. The best time to prune your cannabis is on July 1, July 30, August 6, or September 3, when your plant begins to mature. During these dates, the waxing moon will enter one of the water constellations.

• Fertilize Your Plants When the Descending Waning Moon is in a Water Constellation

Fertilizing your plant at the right time can dramatically improve the effects of nutrients and organic matter in the soil. The dates when the descending waning moon enters a water constellation are March 23, April 19, April 28, May 25, June 21, July 19, August 15, August 25, September 21, October 18, and November 15. 

• Harvest Your Cannabis During a Full Moon in Air Constellation

You need to harvest your cannabis plants when the full moon enters any of the air constellations. During this time, the full moon pulls precious energy into the cannabis flowers, and the air constellation ensures the moisture is low in the buds, lowering the risk of mold. 

Full moon dates are June 14, July 13, August 12, September 10, October 9, and November 8, and the air constellation dates are June 11, July 8, September 9, October 7, and November 4. 

Do note that opinions vary on the right time of harvest. Some moon gardeners recommend against harvesting the buds during a full moon since the moon pulls water higher in the plant, which will make your drying and curing time longer and perhaps more complex.

On the other hand, other moon gardeners swear by harvesting cannabis during a full moon because, during this time, the sap is also higher in the plant, leading to riper flowers with rich terpene and cannabinoid profiles. 

Summary: Ultimate Guide to Growing Cannabis According to the Moon Cycle

Here is a summary of the moon cycles, along with other essential aspects, of growing your cannabis according to the moon cycles:

• Cloning is best done when the moon is ascending
• Carry out seed germination, soil management, and harvest when the moon is descending
• A new moon is an ideal time to prune and harvest cannabis
• When the moon is waxing, you should focus on germination, repotting, and fertilization
• During a full moon, focus on germination and pest control
• When the moon is waning, focus on cloning, training, root care, and harvest
• A high tide is also an excellent time to harvest your plant, especially if it is accompanied by a waning moon
• And a low tide, especially with an ascending moon, is when you should germinate or sow seeds of cannabis
• Additionally, fire signs are best for seed germination
• Water signs aid the vegetative growth of the plant
• Earth signs encourage root health and development
• And air signs enhance the flowering stage of the plant

Growing cannabis according to the moon cycle may seem strange at first — isn’t growing plants all about science, not zodiac signs? Practices like these are often dismissed by the masses as outdated or pseudoscience. 

But moon gardening has been followed for centuries around the world with great success and consistent results. Countless gardeners still swear by growing cannabis (or any other plant) with moon cycles. 

And while it may seem superstitious at first, some principles of this practice have scientific backing. Here are a few books you can check out on the same:

1. Biodynamic Calendar by Maria Thun
2. Evidence for Lunar-Sidereal Rhythms in Crop Yield: A Review by Nicholas Kollerstorm and Gerhard Staudenmaier
3. The Lunar Garden: Planting by the Moon Phases by EA Crawford

But if you still don’t buy the concept, you should at least give it a go. If you find it to be helpful, you will be growing bigger, bushier buds easily. But if it doesn’t, you still have an easy calendar to follow. 

If you want to go further and test this practice for yourself, grow two seeds of the same strain (clones would be even better) at the same time. Grow one cannabis plant with a moon cycle calendar and the other with a regular calendar and see the results. The results may surprise you!