Organic cannabis is becoming more and more popular, but what exactly is it? And more importantly, is it worth it? The short answer — yes, it is totally worth it. But, things get a bit complicated the more you delve into it, especially if you are buying cannabis instead of growing it.
In this article, we'll dive into organic cannabis and its benefits. What are some steps you can take to grow organic cannabis? We'll also explore the issues with storebought cannabis that is marketed as organic and how you can avoid falling for marketing jargon.
What is Organic Cannabis?
One may think it is fairly easy to define organic cannabis. Many people even believe that any kind of cannabis that is grown in soil is organic. That's hardly the case, though. Even soil-grown cannabis plants are inorganic if you start using chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
So, what makes cannabis organic? Essentially, it is when you use natural fertilizers and pest control methods. What you use shouldn't have an impact on the environment. Heck, some growers even believe that to grow true organic weed, you shouldn't use any nutrients or pesticides.
Some examples of such natural or organic nutrients or fertilizers include bat guano, worm castings, bone meal, manure, and compost. On the other hand, natural pesticides include things like capsaicin, neem oil, tobacco, and pyrethrum.
We'll go into the semantics of it later, but for now, you should note that even these organic nutrients may have come from inorganic sources, thereby making your plant inorganic.
Benefits of Organic Cannabis
But why is there such a push for growing organic cannabis in the community? There are many reasons for this. Let's delve a bit into the primary reasons why you should consider growing cannabis organically.
Most of us want one thing from our plants — a massive yield. Thankfully, organic cultivation practices can help you get much higher yields if you use the right techniques and methods. For years, people shied away from organic cultivation practices because they produced fewer yields, but with even organic fertilizers working as well as synthetic ones now, there's no reason why you should compromise on the yields.
For example, you should check out super soil, which contains so many ingredients that it improves your organic cultivation by bringing nutrient-rich soil for your cannabis plant. This super soil reduces your reliance on fertilizers entirely.
So, what is this super soil? It's a mix of organic soil with plenty of nutrients that your cannabis plant will require for its growth. You can either buy this at a horticultural store or DIY it at home. It's very customizable too!
Another benefit of going organic is that you get to enjoy your cannabis in all its glory. In other words, your cannabis yield will be much more potent this time around if you use organic cultivation methods.
Essentially, with organic cultivation techniques, you're allowing the complex nutrients to be broken down at a microbial stage — this optimizes your plant's growth. Organic nutrient systems include trace elements not always found in conventional fertilizers, like nickel, cobalt, chlorine, and sodium, which contribute to the superior effect and potency of your cannabis buds.
Cannabis grown organically is also often superior in aroma and flavor. This is thanks to the optimized micro-environment that enhances the production of flavonoids, cannabinoids, and terpenes.
These compounds are responsible for the plant's fragrance and taste. Additionally, the absence of synthetic pesticides and insecticides enhances the natural flavor and aroma of the buds.
Organic cannabis practices also benefit from a rich soil microbiome, including fungi, bacteria, and other microorganisms. Such a complex ecosystem helps support nitrogen fixing, retaining water, stimulating growth, and preventing diseases.
As a result, it makes super soil and compost tea maintain a healthy microbiome, which is essential for excellent plant growth.
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Lower Environmental Impact
Organic cannabis also leaves a lighter footprint on the environment, especially when you cultivate it outdoors using natural sunlight. This reduces your reliance on electricity.
Additionally, organic nutrients and fertilizers are less processed and more environmentally friendly than conventional ones. There's also the aspect of organic pest-control methods, like ladybugs, which are less harmful to the environment compared to chemical pesticides.
Challenges and Disadvantages of Organic Cannabis
Despite the increasing popularity and advantages of using organic cannabis, there are a number of challenges and downsides associated with it. These can impact both consumers and growers, so you must understand these factors before you purchase or grow organic cannabis.
One major drawback of organic cannabis is its cost in comparison to conventionally cultivated cannabis. Now, there are several reasons for this. For one, organic farming often demands more manual labor due to the absence of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. This includes tasks like hand weeding and soil amendments.
Also, acquiring and upholding certification entails inspections and adherence to organic cultivation standards, which can be expensive. These costs are frequently transferred to consumers through pricing.
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Availability and Accessibility
Organic cannabis is not available everywhere due to the costs and complexities involved in cultivating it. This scarcity can make it harder for you to purchase it even if you reside in a region with fewer regulations.
Plus, not all areas offer access to cannabis, so while you may see some stores in urban areas, it can be limited in the local ones. Some dispensaries and stores may not carry cannabis and those that do might offer a small range.
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Potential Labeling Issues and Fraud
Concerns regarding mislabeling and fraud are high when it comes to organic cannabis. Unlike food items that are strictly regulated, there is no accepted set of standards for certifying cannabis as organic across all regions. This lack of consistency can result in differing interpretations of what constitutes "organic."
Another issue is that certain producers might inaccurately label their goods as organic to take advantage of market prices and consumer interest. Without supervision these dishonest behaviors can slip through easily, so it's a bit challenging to identify and purchase organic cannabis. Due to these potential problems, you must be more vigilant when you buy organic cannabis.
As you can see, while organic marijuana offers advantages, the higher prices, limited availability, and risks of mislabeling and deception pose a few challenges.
Comparing Conventional and Organic Marijuana
To understand the difference between organic and conventional cannabis, we must first compare the two. There are quite a few differences, such as cultivation methods, nutrient compositions, and consumer perceptions. Understanding these distinctions can help you make better decisions.
Organic Marijuana
Cultivating organic cannabis depends on using natural inputs to support plant growth and maintain ecosystem health to enhance sustainability and reduce negative impacts. Key practices include:
Compost: Abundant in nutrients, compost serves as a great element to enhance soil quality, fertility levels, and moisture retention capacity. Composting transforms waste into an asset for marijuana plants.
Manure: Aged animal manure offers various nutrients and boosts the activity of soil microbes. However, you can never use fresh manure as it's full of pathogens. Use well-rotted aged manure instead.
Organic Soil Enhancements: Ingredients like bone meal, blood meal, fish emulsion, and kelp are utilized to enrich the soil with nutrients. These additions gradually release nutrients supporting plant growth.
Avoidance of Artificial Chemicals: Organic farmers steer clear of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides that can negatively impact soil health, beneficial organisms, and the environment.
Organic fertilizers release nutrients slowly and ensure that plants receive a consistent nutrient supply throughout their lifecycle. This can prevent excessive nutrients or fluctuations, so the plants won't experience nutrient burn when you feed too much.
Maintaining and enhancing soil quality is an important aspect of cannabis farming. Healthy soil fosters plant growth and elevates the end product's quality. Cultivators typically practice companion planting and even crop rotation whenever possible to prevent soil depletion and interrupt pest and disease cycles.
Growers introduce microbes and mycorrhizal fungi into the soil as part of their practices. They create symbiotic relationships with plant roots and improve the absorption of nutrients supporting plant well-being and enhancing resilience, against pests and diseases.
Organic cannabis cultivators give importance to eco-natural approaches in handling pests and diseases. Integrated pest management (IPM) plays a big role, which includes:
Beneficial Predators: Bringing in insects like ladybugs, predatory mites and parasitic wasps aids in naturally managing pest populations. These predators target insects such as aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies.
Traps: Pheromone traps and yellow sticky traps are deployed to monitor and trap pests. These traps offer indications of pest invasions and help diminish pest numbers without resorting to chemicals.
Eco-friendly Pest Control Methods: When needed, organic growers use eco-friendly substances such as neem oil, insecticidal soaps, and diatomaceous earth that effectively combat pests while being safe for other beneficial organisms in the soil.
As you can understand, the primary goal of organic cultivators centers around sustainability, environmental consciousness, and producing high-quality cannabis. By incorporating natural inputs to preserve soil health and utilizing pest management strategies, organic cannabis producers strive to nurture plants in alignment with nature.
These methods not only lead to a more robust final product but they also support the overall well-being of the environment and agricultural ecosystems in the long run.
Also, many consumers prefer organic cannabis as they believe that it offers quality due to its natural cultivation methods and soil health resulting in richer flavors and aromas. Health-conscious consumers simply don't like using cannabis products sprayed with chemicals and pesticides. Think of it like the food you eat, for instance. Just like you'd prefer vegetables that aren't laden with pesticides, many people prefer smoking cannabis that doesn't have pesticides too.
Traditional Cannabis Farming
- Precise Nutrient Management
Traditional cannabis farming often incorporates methods to enhance efficiency and productivity. One key technique used in cannabis cultivation is the regulation of nutrient supply using artificial fertilizers. This approach offers many advantages, such as:
Enhanced Plant Growth: Mineral fertilizers offer an accessible source of essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that help the plant in various stages of growth from the seedling to its flowering stage.
Tailored Nutrient Blends: You can customize solutions to address the requirements of cannabis plants at various growth phases. For example, the plant needs more nitrogen during the vegetative stage while phosphorus and potassium are more important during the blooming stage. You can adjust the quantities as required.
Hydroponics and Aeroponics: These soil-free or soilless growing systems are widely used by cannabis growers as they deliver a precise amount of nutrients and water to the plant roots, eventually leading to dramatic yields. Another advantage is that these techniques can help conserve more water compared to soil-based cultivation methods.
- Potential Risks of Excessive Fertilization
While synthetic fertilizers have their advantages, you have to be careful not to over-fertilize the plants since it can disrupt the balance of nutrients causing some nutrients to block the absorption of others. This imbalance can lead to deficiencies or toxicities impacting the health and growth of plants.
Excessive use of fertilizers can also harm soil quality over time by reducing its water-retention capacity and disrupting microbial communities. This can result in soil that relies more on chemical supplements.
One key advantage of using synthetic fertilizers or regular cultivation methods is the ability to maintain product quality and potency by carefully delivering nutrients. If you pair this with controlling environmental factors like humidity, temperature, and light when you grow in greenhouses or indoors, you have a great setup that can give you better returns.
This way, you can anticipate reliable growth cycles and harvest schedules. This is especially advantageous for businesses aiming to meet market demands and production timetables. Inevitably, this also leads to a steady production of terpenes and cannabinoids which is what the consumers want at the end of the day.
Traditional methods of cultivating cannabis prioritize efficiency, control, and scalability. Through advanced growing technology and precise nutrient delivery, you can get increased yields, making it an appealing choice for both home gardeners and commercial cultivators. However, you need to make sure that you don't over-fertilize the plants and also be mindful of the environment when growing cannabis.
Organic substances like compost and manure supply important macronutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium along with various micronutrients like iron, zinc, and manganese that are crucial for plant well-being.
Synthetic fertilizers provide even trace or micronutrients accurately. Organic cultivators make up for this by using humic acids, fulvic acids, and other beneficial compounds that boost nutrient absorption and enhance plant resilience.
Tips on Growing Organic Cannabis
Growing organic cannabis can be a rewarding journey if you understand the essentials and follow some practical tips. Here's how you can get started.
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Use the Right Growing Medium
For organic cannabis, the soil is your best friend. Unlike hydroponic systems, the soil is rich in the organic nutrients and microorganisms your plants need. If you're growing indoors, managing this in pots is easier.
You can create your organic soil by composting food scraps and natural materials like leaves, coffee grounds, and manure for about six months. This composting process enriches the soil, making it perfect for your cannabis plants.
Homemade organic fertilizer is a great way to ensure your plants get the nutrients they need. Start with a base of potting mix, then add coco fiber and mycorrhizae. Mix in rock phosphate, Epsom salts, Azomite, Dolomite, humic acid, bat guano, blood meal, and bone meal.
Then, spread this mixture on a tarp and let it "cook" in the sun for a while. This process encourages beneficial bacteria and fungi to grow, turning your mixture into a nutrient-rich soil that supports your plants throughout their growth cycle.
The healthiest way to protect your plants from pests is by maintaining a clean and tidy growing environment. Regularly check your plants and keep the area around them clean to prevent infestations.
If you do face pest issues, choose organic methods to address them. Healthy plants are naturally more resistant to pests, so focus on keeping your plants in optimal condition.
When pest control is necessary, pyrethrum is a solid organic choice. Derived from chrysanthemum flowers, pyrethrum is effective against common cannabis pests like spider mites and aphids. It's non-toxic to mammals and breaks down quickly in the environment, making it a safe and effective option for managing pests organically.
Companion planting is a fantastic method to naturally deter pests. Planting certain herbs and flowers alongside your cannabis can help keep pests at bay and improve the overall health of your garden.
For example, basil deters aphids and whiteflies, dill keeps spider mites away, and yarrow attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs. Additionally, some companion plants can enhance the flavor and aroma of your cannabis by boosting terpene levels.
When Buying Cannabis, Be Wary of Fake Organic Weed
Not everyone has the time to grow weed. If you're one of those and are looking for organic cannabis, you're taking the right steps. Many of the benefits of organic weed still apply to you. For instance, organic weed tastes better and cleaner, may be more potent, and, most importantly, has a smaller carbon footprint. But you need to be careful where you source your cannabis from.
Vox put out an awesome article that highlights the organic cannabis scam. The article features Van Hook, whose Clean Green Certified Program has gained a lot of popularity for certifying organic cannabis. Essentially, this program offers something that the government and industry association does not — a true standard for organic cannabis.
According to Hook, fake organic cannabis is EVERYWHERE as many growers falsely market their cannabis products as organic when they are not. Usually, the marketing in itself is preparatory. The article even lists out some examples where “organic” cannabis turned out to be not so organic.
Sometimes, the same issue can occur despite the growers' best intentions. Even some organic products are not eco-friendly, which goes against the idea of being organic. The article is worth the read for anyone wanting to explore organic cannabis products.
So, what constitutes organic cannabis if you're buying it? It's complicated. Many supplements can still be not so eco-friendly. So, what you need to look for is the steps taken by the grower to ensure organic cultivation.
This is a vast subject, so we'll give you a couple of examples. An indoor grower can use solar energy instead of coal, the water can be recycled and reused, and the soil shouldn't be discarded after every season (it can be donated to community gardens).
You should also explore various certifications and third-party lab tests that reputable growers showcase with their products. These certifications can give you a hint into how organic the products are.
Is it Worth Purchasing Organic Marijuana?
Deciding between conventionally grown and organically grown cannabis is completely up to you, but we will summarize a few points so you can get the best value for your money:
Organic marijuana typically comes with a price tag compared to conventionally grown weed due to increased production expenses including labor, and certification fees. In addition, cultivating organic marijuana demands time and resources for maintaining soil health, managing pests naturally, and providing nutrients that don't work as fast as synthetic ones. These additional requirements can drive up costs for growers. And, don't forget that since very few growers cultivate organic cannabis, the supply is often restricted, further pushing up prices in the market.
That said, you have to remember the benefits when it comes to using organic weed. Since it's cultivated without pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers, it's appealing to medical marijuana users who rely on toxic-free weed for their health. This is why many consumers opt for organic weed as they are concerned about the synthetic chemicals used in traditional farming practices. They appreciate the natural cultivation methods and the perceived purity of the product. Others who are allergic to residues of synthetic fertilizers also take the same route.
Organic farming techniques support soil health and encourage biodiversity. Moreover, many users point out that organic marijuana may possess a richer terpene profile and potentially greater cannabinoid content resulting in improved taste, scent, and overall satisfaction.
So, is it worth it? Should you go for organic weed? Definitely! If you have the option, you should certainly try some and see whether you like it. As mentioned earlier, think of it in the same way you purchase food. If you're very health conscious and use cannabis regularly, organic cannabis can be a great treat despite the high costs. Better yet, you can start growing it yourself. Not only will you be satisfied that the product is safe to use, but you'll also cut down on the costs dramatically.
Summary: What is Organic Cannabis and is it Worth it?
At the end of the day, growing cannabis organically means you must steer clear of anything that's manufactured in a non-eco-friendly manner. At the same time, you must avoid using chemical pesticides and fertilizers that are usually concentrated and can affect the local environment drastically.
Instead, you need to focus on taking a more organic approach to growing cannabis. For example, use DIY organic pesticides, super soil for the growing medium, and recycle your water and soil regularly.
Remember, organic cultivation is as much an art form as it is science. If you play your cards right, you'll be rewarded with an excellent yield that is flavorful and potent without the environmental downsides.
