Finding the Right Soil For Your Plants: Autoflowering vs. Feminized

Posted on May 31, 2022December 9, 2022 by admin-rocket-seeds

Finding the Right Soil for Your Plants: Autoflowering vs. Feminized

Having the best soil is a critical component of your cannabis growing season. If you have the wrong soil, you may have considerable problems.

That said, finding the best soil for cannabis growth is never straightforward; there are hundreds of soil products on the market. So, if you don’t know what to look for, you may have a difficult time finding the best soil.

But don’t worry; in this grow guide, we will help you find the best soil possible for your cannabis plants.

Autoflowering Seeds Vs. Feminized Seeds

Many new cultivators wonder whether they should source different soils for autoflowering and feminized seeds. Although the best cannabis soils work well with either seed, there are some exemptions.

Autoflowers prefer a light mixture with fewer added nutrients. Therefore, keep autoflowering seeds away from heavily fertilized soils, such as clay.

Also, you should start photoperiod plants in small pots with soil that has little nutrients and replant them after a few weeks. More mature plants can tolerate more nutrients than seedlings.

Having said that, a good soil can work well with both autoflowering seeds and feminized seeds. So much so, that many growers will use the same soil with either seed.

Common Traits Among Good Cannabis Soils

Unfortunately, not every soil is suitable for growing cannabis. What’s more, not all cannabis requires the same soil type. Choosing the best soil depends on the climate, the cannabis you’re growing, and whether you’re growing it in the wild or at home. However, there are some common traits among all cannabis soils:

Texture: Cannabis often likes a loose and light soil texture because a light texture ensures more oxygen reaches the roots.
Drainage ability: Cannabis soil must have tremendous drainage ability. If not, your plants will become sick and provide poor yields. The water should not pool on top of your plants.
Water retention: Although drainage ability is critical, water retention is also essential. Excellent cannabis soil has the perfect balance of both.
pH value: The ideal soil for cannabis has a pH level of around 6.0, or a pH of 5.8–6.3. If your pH level fluctuates outside this range, you’ll have poorer yields, and your cannabis plants may die.
Nutrients: Like all plants, cannabis plants require plenty of nutrients from the soil. Thankfully, most soils are already nutrient-dense. However, these nutrients only last for up to one month. You should begin to add nutrients after this. Your soil will need organic substances—such as compost, worm castings, or guano—if you’re growing without additional nutrients.

Which Soil Mixture Works Best for Cannabis Seeds?

1. Sandy Soil

Sandy soil works well with all Cannabis Seeds because it’s coarse and offers excellent drainage. However, it does have poor water retention. When you water sandy soil, various nutrients—including nitrogen—wash away. Despite that, sandy soil offers low pH, keeps your soil airy, has high oxygen levels, and is easy to use.

2. Silty Soil

If you’re looking for soil rich in minerals and organic particles, silty soil is your best friend. Silty soil has incredible water retention, yet it also offers superb drainage. Silty soils are also simple to use and medium-coarse.

3. Loamy Soil

Loamy soil is one of the best soil types for growing cannabis because it provides maximum drainage and water retention. It’s also high in oxygen and nutrients. However, loamy soil is often expensive, so it’s not ideal if you’re on a strict budget.

4. Clay Soil

Although clay is a heavy soil that’s not always easy to work with, it’s superb for most Cannabis Seeds because it’s very rich in minerals and nutrients. However, although clay soil holds water well, it has poor drainage.

What Are the Signs of a Good Soil?

A good soil will have perlite and coco already added to it.
If your soil has worms, this is a good thing because worms aerate the soil.
A good soil brand will state its N-P-K values, such as amount of compost, perlite, trace elements, etc.

What Are the Signs of a Bad Soil?

Bad soil will have an unpleasant smell; this means bacteria is likely present. Keep this away from your cannabis.
The soil will feel dense and heavy because the drainage is poor.

Making Your Own Soil Mixture

If you’ve just started growing cannabis, getting ready-made soil from the grow store might be the best choice. Top-quality cannabis soil—from a reputable store—often has everything your plants require in perfect ratios.

Yet, in some cases, it’s an excellent idea to make your own soil mix instead of purchasing a mixture from stores. Some ready-mixed soil may be too high in nutrients, such as nitrogen.

This soil mixture contains adequate nutrients and can boost the aeration of the soil medium:

3 parts compost
3 parts peat moss
2 parts perlite, pre-wet
1 part vermiculite, pre-wet

However, it’s important to go easy on the fertilizer when using autoflowering seeds because they are compact and short. As a result, they don’t require additional nutrients. Autoflowering seeds, however, need aerated soils for optimum root oxygenation.

Soil Substrates To Add to Your Cannabis Soil

1. Coco

If you add a 25-50% ratio of coco coir to your cannabis soil, your soil will become lightweight and airy, which is perfect for autoflowering seeds. By adding coco to soil, you’ll enhance the air pockets and encourage a mass expansion in the rhizosphere. The best advantage of adding coco is it’s an inert growing medium.

2. Biochar

Biochar is excellent for autoflowering seeds because it offers incredible water-holding capabilities, has a massive surface area, and it’s a pure carbon source. You can make biochar by heating wood to very high temperatures, whereby you begin to see a small, charcoal-black crystalline substrate. Organic farmers love using biochar because it’s 100% carbon and has a shelf-life of thousands of years.

3. Perlite

Perlite is popular for cannabis growers because it improves drainage while holding a specific amount of water. If your soil is too heavy for your preference, adding perlite is an excellent way to improve aeration and drainage. Many growers find perlite-rich mediums superb for cannabis seed germination or cuttings.

4. Vermiculite

Vermiculite is a natural mineral made from magnesium, aluminum, and silicates. Many growers will use vermiculite to keep their roots moist for longer. Thankfully, vermiculite is simple to blend with soil and other additives if you’re making a soil mixture.

5. Clay Pebbles

Although many cannabis cultivators are familiar with clay pebbles as part of a hydroponic setup, they aren’t aware you can also use them to improve soil quality. By adding clay pebbles to the bottom of your raised beds and containers, they can assist with drainage and prevent water from pooling.

Final Thoughts

Although cannabis soil may seem complicated on the surface, with this guide, you can find the best soil to match your requirements. Remember, your soil is incredibly important; without good soil, it’s hard to grow good cannabis.

Tips for Growing Cannabis In the Summer

Posted on May 24, 2022February 15, 2023 by admin-rocket-seeds

Do you want to grow cannabis in the summer months? Summer comes around fast every year; it’s an excellent time to grow marijuana.

However, growing cannabis during summer requires specific knowledge. In this article, we will give you essential tips on growing cannabis during summer.

When Is The Weed Season?

Cannabis cultivators often call the cannabis growth season the weed season. In the United States, the weed growing season—depending on your state—can start in April, when gardeners and farmers may start seedlings indoors. Then, the cannabis plants will grow and produce buds in the summer months.

Cannabis plants typically flower in late summer to the fall months; in fact, the season can run until mid-November. Of course, this varies from region to region. Sunny California has warmer and longer growing seasons than New York. Still—regardless of where you’re growing—you need to maximize your light during the summer months before fall starts.

In addition, your plants determine the quality of your growing season. Timing is everything for photoperiod plants; their growth starts during the fall months when hours of darkness hit twelve hours per night. Autoflower plants, however, will automatically flower on their own because they aren’t light-sensitive.

The Main Growth Phases Throughout The Summer Season

1. Early Phase: The Germination Stage

Many cultivators, especially experienced growers, will grow their cannabis directly from the seeds. If so, the germination phase is the first step to growing cannabis. Once you see the seed has sprouted, the plant will grow two round leaves called cotyledon leaves; these leaves are responsible for offering energy to the seedling until it grows.

The best time to start growing your seed is on or around the Spring Equinox. However, if you’re buying clones, they’re already in the seedling stage. Therefore, you don’t need to worry about the germination stage, which is an excellent bonus if you lack experience.

2. The Seedling Phase: Spring to Early Summer

Once spring and early summer begin—typically between April and June, depending on the state—you should start to see seedlings if you’ve sprouted your own seeds or bought clones. However, this is a very early stage of your plant’s growth, and your plants will be delicate and sensitive. So it’s the right time to take the most precaution.

If you live in cooler climates, you should avoid putting your plants in the ground until all of your environment’s overnight frosts have ended. You’ll also need plenty of sunshine, too. If you put your cannabis plants in the ground and frost arrives—you’ll likely kill your cannabis. Sure, that’s expensive and frustrating, but it’s also completely avoidable.

Most importantly, consider growing your cannabis in pots. Most outdoor growers use pots and other containers because they provide the added benefit of bringing the cannabis inside if you witness unseasonal cool overnight temperatures in the summer. In some U.S. climates, frost may strike unexpectedly, even in the early summer months.

3. The Vegetative Stage: Summer to Early Fall

The vegetative stage is arguably the most crucial growing stage of the summer; it’s where your cannabis plants will take off. Consider training and topping your plants during the vegetative stage to encourage outward growth. As a result, you’ll provide more light distribution to your leaves while maintaining the overall plant height.

You’ll also require more water during the vegetative stage; this is especially important if you’re growing in a hot climate, such as Arizona. Also, consider using additional nutrients, such as nitrogen, as the plants start to mature.

If you aren’t using female-only plants—which most cannabis experts recommend if you’re new to growing cannabis—you’ll need to remove the male plants before they grow large during the summer. Remember, even feminized seeds can grow some male plants, so ensure you monitor your overall growth.

A photoperiod plant, however, will continue to live a vegetative life until the day-to-night ratio tips in favor of nighttime. Once photoperiod plants witness 12 hours of darkness daily, they will move into their final flowering stage, which is often in the late summer.

4. The Final Flowering Stage: Fall

So now you’re entering the fall months and the all-important flowering stage. During the final stage of a female cannabis plant’s life, it will use most of its energy to produce flowers. The flowering stage often occurs in three phases:

Flower Initiation: During the flower initiation, you’ll begin to see white pistils developing. The plant will continue to grow, yet the growth will slow down.
Mid-flowering: The buds will begin to take shape.
Late-flowering: The flowers will become sticky and covered in trichomes. You can now start to think about harvesting.

Tips For Growing Your Cannabis In the Summer Heat

Although the sunlight will help your cannabis grow during the summer season, various tools can help you improve the weed season:

1. Use Water-Cooled Heat Exchangers

Water-cooled heat exchanges are essentially like radiators. If you have access to a cool stream of water, a water-cooled heat exchanger is superb for ensuring your grow room or greenhouse stays cold during the blisteringly hot summer months. However, ensure your water supply is cold and plentiful; a water-cooled heat exchanger is dependent on the water coming in to work effectively.

2. Use Fan Cooling Methods

Fan cooling options—including exhaust fans for indoor grow rooms, greenhouses, and tents—are superb for cooling in the summer months. However, this largely depends on where you live and the climate. You’ll need about a 15°F difference between the outdoor air temperature and the ideal indoor temperature to have the best range for growing cannabis.

3. Use Hydroponic Crop Cooling

Water-culture hydroponic methods—such as recirculating deep-water culture (RDWC), nutrient-film technique (NFT), and deep-water culture (DWC)—are superb ways of keeping your cannabis plants cool without changing the air temperature. Water-culture hydroponic methods are efficient and cost-effective. Remember, you only need to keep the plants cool; you don’t always need to cool the air.

The Best Budget Options:

Indoor and greenhouse lighting: Although they aren’t super affordable, air-cooled HID light reflectors are a superb way of removing warmth from grow lamps before the heat hits your cannabis plants.
Use specific plant genetics: Some cannabis strains handle warmth more efficiently than others; this is key if you’re growing in a hot summer environment without much equipment. Exotic sativas—such as Cambodian varieties and Afghanis—are excellent at handling the heat. However, they may not cope with high humidity.
Watering: When all else fails, watering your plants is the best method to avoid heat damage. However, cut back on your fertilizer levels if you start watering your plants more during the summer months.
Feeding: Ensure you’re feeding your plants during the summer months. Cannabis plants typically require more potassium during these months. Potassium is excellent for protecting your cannabis plants from excessive moisture loss and stress during the summer months.

Final Thoughts

The summer months are crucial for growing the best cannabis. If you follow the tips in this article, you’ll grow the best cannabis during the summer with very few issues along the way.

Making The Most of Your Cannabis Growing Space: A Full Guide

Posted on May 17, 2022December 9, 2022 by admin-rocket-seeds

Making the Most of Your Cannabis Growing Space: A Full Guide

Although most people have enough space to grow cannabis, many growers are limited to small indoor spaces. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t grow excellent cannabis; it’s quite the opposite. You can maximize your growing space and create incredible cannabis from small areas with the correct techniques.

In this article, we will give you 11 key tips to make your cannabis growing space more efficient.

1. Choose the Right Strain

Choosing the right strain is paramount to maximizing your growing space (especially in a small growing space). Typically, ruderalis strains or indica strains offer more advantages over sativas because of their lack of stretch during the flowering period, compact size and short internodes.

With that said, that doesn’t mean you can’t use sativa strains in small growing spaces. If you have the right vegetative period and training, you can achieve incredible results with sativa, even if you’re a hobbyist.

2. Maximize the Size and Density of the Plants

Each strain comes with specific properties and behaviors; these can offer clues to the grower to bring the best out of the plants. For example, if a certain cannabis strain continues to branch after the switch to flowering, you may require more space per plant.

Most importantly, finding the best balance between the size and density of your preferred strains allows your plants to achieve healthy, strong and dense buds. If you get the balance wrong, you’ll likely end up with underdeveloped buds which fall short of their maximum yield.

3. Make Sure Your Light Distribution Is Maximized

You must ensure you get the maximum possible light on your floor space, regardless of how small. More importantly, you need to distribute the light evenly around the growth space. Therefore, you need the right lighting system built around your growth space.

4. Regulate the Temperature

You’ll need to ensure the room’s temperature stays between 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit when the lights are on and 58 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit when the lights are off. However, the room’s temperature should depend on the cannabis strain.

For example, sativas are more tolerant of high temperatures, whereas indicas prefer colder temperatures. There are three primary tools to measure and regulate temperature:

A thermometer
A hygrometer
An infrared thermometer

You can also control the temperature through lighting, airflow, ACs and heaters. In addition, you can control the humidity through dehumidifiers, airflow, water, and humidifiers.

5. Use Vertical Space

If you have limited floor space, you should grow upwards. Indoor tent technology is improving all the time. As a result, there are increasing options for tents that divide vertically. However, if the high price tag puts you off, you could create your own vertical compartments.

But if you choose the DIY option, ensure the floors of your compartments and the side supports can withstand the weight of mature cannabis plants.

6. Use Compact Lighting

Compact lighting is key to achieving excellent cannabis growth. Many small growing spaces—especially indoor ones—struggle to use high-wattage lighting. That’s often because of heat issues and the size of the lights.

However, if you have small tents—such as less than a meter squared—you should use LED lighting systems or CFL because they’re often small and compact. In addition, they also include built-in reflectors, which offer unidirectional light without requiring reflectors.

7. Optimize Your Equipment

There’s no point buying expensive equipment if you’re not going to optimize it. If you have a small grow space, the equipment you choose and how you use it will hugely impact your cannabis growth.

If you’re using HPS lighting, you could use a cool-running ballast, such as the ReVolt. It claims to run 15% cooler than other ballasts, which ensures the room temperature doesn’t spiral out of control and ruin your cannabis.

Another superb option is the fans that you can place on the sides of your tent; this will ensure you save floor space.

8. Apply the SCROG Technique

The SCROG technique is essential for smaller growing spaces because it promotes the neat growth of flowers and enables light to penetrate equally across the flower sites. The SCROG process is straightforward. You place a screen between the plants and the light source. As the plants grow toward the light, the branches will grow through the screen, and you can tie them with a string or twine. As a result, you can maximize light penetration by training the branches to fill out.

9. Use Hydroponics

Hydroponics can preserve enormous amounts of space compared with classic container grows if you have the ideal setup. For example, when you use containers, you’ll need substantial space for the roots to grow freely and access the required number of nutrients.

However, when you use hydroponics, the roots can occupy a much smaller space because nutrient-rich water is continually renewed, which helps the roots to grow in a smaller area.

10. Discourage Stretching

Stretching is a complete nightmare for any grower because it often results in loose and light buds—which can reduce yield and waste money. However, stretching is even worse for small-scale growers; it can result in your plants growing beyond their light source. If you’re using hot lights, you can badly burn your plants.

The best way to minimize stretching is to ensure your light source is at the perfect distance from the plants. For example, the further away your plants are from the lights, the better it is when growing in a small space. However, if all else fails, use topping and training techniques to prevent stretching.

11. Find the Right Cannabis Soil

First-time growers need quality potting soil to provide their plants with enough nutrients. The cannabis industry regularly calls this soil “super soil” because it can grow a cannabis plant from start to finish without any issues. You can make this soil yourself by using worm castings, bat guano and other components mixed with good soil.

However, you’ll likely feel overwhelmed when you look for soil in a store. You may find words like biochar, compost, plant food, bone meal, etc. Many companies will offer a superb structure with basic nutrients; they allow you to fill in the nutritional gaps.

In Summary

Having a small space to grow cannabis doesn’t mean you can’t grow superb marijuana. If you follow the tips above, you’ll maximize your growing space, regardless of how small it is.

Top 10 Spring Strains: Best Outdoor Growing Strains

Posted on May 13, 2022January 24, 2023 by admin-rocket-seeds

When planning your outdoor grow, be sure to invest in the right seeds for the best flowers and harvest. Whether you want to specialize in a particular type or want to try for a great variety, take time to research your marijuana seed collection to result in a great season and product. Breeders have created some high-performing weed seeds with ideal capabilities that make them tailor-made for medical and recreational usage.

White Widow Feminized

A mellow hybrid, White Widow mixes the euphoria of a Brazilian sativa with the relaxation of a South Indian indica. One of the most recognized strains in the world, add White Widow feminized seeds to your outdoor grow for an amazing season. It will reach heights up to eight feet and complete a grow season in about 3 months. White Widow grows best in warmer climates, but you can plant them from Mexico and Canada and anywhere in between.

Using these feminized seeds helps you get the best value and bushiest nugs, as every plant will be female. Bred by a legendary Dutchman named Shantibaba, it’s won numerous awards, including the Cannabis Cup in 1995.

Girl Scout Cookies Auto

Autoflowering seeds are a great tool for consistent harvests, fast. They also start flowering depending on the growth and development of the plant instead of light cycles or seasonal photoperiod, meaning you might be able to fit in multiple grows in the time it normally takes you to do one.

After about 9 weeks, you’ll start to see crystally, dense buds with the proper care. Girl Scout Cookies Auto is a cross between OG Kush and Durban Poison and is one of the most recognized strains in the world. Indica forward, it grows into characteristic dense bushes that can yield as much as 600 grams per square meter.

This hybrid has strong genetics and produces large, resinous buds. Girl Scout Cookies Auto can be grown outdoors in warm and temperate climates. It’s a good choice for first-time growers, as it’s relatively easy to cultivate.

Purple Haze

Growing Purple Haze Cannabis Seeds is a goal for marijuana enthusiasts alike. Popularized by the 1967 hit by Hendrix, it delivers an uplifting and energizing high. The iconic purple buds are 80% sativa dominant and are a pungent cross of a Haze variety and Purple Thai. These feminine seeds grow to maturity outdoors after a 65-day flowering season. Relatively small plants, you’ll be able to grow more in one space.

The THC level is higher, at around 20%. The smoke is smooth with a lemony aftertaste. The buzz is cerebral and creative, perfect for enjoying music or getting lost in a good book. If you’re looking to bring some of that magic purple haze into your garden, then consider growing Purple Haze Cannabis Seeds.

Durban Poison

Durban Poison is a strain imported in the ’90s from Durban, South Africa and it is one of the most popular types of bud in the world. Resilient in many types of weather, it’s relatively maintenance-free and produces strong buds with more than 20% THC content. The ideal temperatures are between 65- and 85-degrees Fahrenheit.

It has a distinct smell that’s slightly fruity, and it produces more resin than most other buds. These feminized seeds will deliver amazing quality flowers, with up to 350 grams per square meter.

Super Silver Haze

Our premium autoflower Super Silver Haze seeds gives quality buds for your outdoor grow after only 7 to 9 weeks. This cross of Northern Lights and Haze does well in hot and humid climates between 70 and 80 degrees. Super Silver Haze is sativa dominant and actually requires minimum feeding for best results.

It grows to a medium size and contains 17% THC. Invigorating and light, our Super Silver Haze seeds grow like a dream.

OG Kush

Choose from 5 seed packets, 10 seeds packets, or 25 seeds packet when buying your OG Kush seeds. This autoflower strain produces big, sunny buds with premium OG Kush genetics. It also does its best when growing outdoors, in mostly dry conditions. If you increase its nutrition and CO2 uptake with a good fertilizing regimen, you can increase yields by up to 20%.

Northern Lights

Experience growing the legendary Northern Lights strain with an autoflower cross for faster, more reliable buds. The indica strain grows resinous, purple-hued buds with an earthy, dank aroma. They are dense and tightly packed, with spacious nodes for maximum growth. Some of its noticed effects are fast-acting pain relief and euphoria.

Gorilla Glue #4

Gorilla Glue #4 is a power-packed strain bred from Chem Sis, Sour Dub, and Diesel Chocolate. It’s also one of our most popular strains and it was the winner of the Cannabis Cup in 2014. You can get more than 100 grams per plant when grown outdoors. It’s a heavy feeder and its ideal temperature sits at 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and you’ll be rewarded with chunky buds.

Blue Dream

Blue Dream is a hardy strain that’s ideal for outdoor grows. They create beautiful, heady buds, and the plants can also grow enormously tall. Our feminized seed stock is a great pick because the blue-tinged nugs are guaranteed. Blue Dream in particular has a high among of alpha-pinene, which helps to reduce inflammation.

Alaskan Thunder Fuck

This fruity-forward sativa is rumored to have originated in the valleys of the Alaskan wilderness. Due to it being from Alaska, it favors colder climates, but it is crossed with an Afghani indica so it can still produce high yields in warmer climates. It grows frosty buds that help promote creativity and relaxation. Careful growing techniques, like cropping, help prevent it from growing too tall and can help increase the yield.