When it comes to professional cannabis cultivation, there are many different roles that have a hand in the overall planning, production, development, and quality of cannabis products that are grown, made, and distributed. Operating a commercial cannabis business requires time, passion, dedication, and the ability to pay close attention to detail.
Those in charge of cultivation facilities have to understand each aspect of the business, including its design, equipment requirements, development of standard operating procedures, along with hiring and effectively managing staff. Inventory, managing budget restrictions, meeting sales goals, and resolving plant issues are also extremely important aspects to master when professionally cultivating cannabis.
Whether you are a head or lead grower, cultivation manager, or director of cultivation, you and your team have a shared responsibility to ensure that the company operates smoothly and produces the best possible end-product.
From planting, trimming, and harvesting to identifying and protecting crops from grow room threats, it is crucial to become an expert of each element to achieve the highest quality yields.
It is also important to establish facility compliance — there are state and local policies and procedures that must be met, such as developing and submitting odor mitigation plans and implementing pest and mold management with equipment like air filtration systems.
Don't assume that only novice growers research how to maximize bud growth and improve quality. Knowledgeable growers may have the skillset to produce large amounts of cannabis and still struggle with quality. Instead of focusing on the size of a plant or its growth rate turn your attention to the colas, after all, they are the most important part of the plant — here are 6 useful tips!
It's difficult to get top-shelf buds by using mid-grade seeds, clones, or bagseed. You can use the best growing techniques but if you're dealing with seed that has bad genes you won't get the effects, appearance, or quality you're looking for.
It's recommended to use a seed bank or reputable strain breeder where you can choose the exact strain you want allowing you to consistently produce high-quality buds. Buying seed through a bank will cost more than bagseed but the results are worth it. Don't be afraid to do your research.
Before adding any nutrients or supplements you must ensure you're giving your plant the correct base nutrients in the flowering stage. Overwatering and overfeeding are two of the most common mistakes.
Low Nitrogen is needed in the vegetative stage for growth but needs to be reduced to rather low levels in the flowering stage, especially in the second half when the buds are bulking up and there's not as much foliage from vegetation. If you give your plant too much nitrogen at this stage of maturity it can actually decrease bud production.
| Nutrients | Supplements |
|---|---|
| A good deal of Phosphorus is important in the flowering stage to increase the number of flowers your plant produces. | Sugar/carbohydrates will improve the taste and smell while increasing bulk. The formula you use may also include terpenes and esters that give bud unique subtle flavors like berry or grape. |
| Phosphorous is known as a bud enhancer but that doesn't mean you should overlook Potassium. | You can also use blackstrap molasses in the last few weeks to help plants grow bigger and smell and taste better. Blackstrap molasses is not actually made for plants but can be found at the grocery store. |
| A satisfying source of Potassium will increase the size and density of each individual flower. | Bloom enhancers provide plants with a variety of non-nutrient ingredients to aid in the growth of a plant by improving its natural processes. |
| When you're in the second half of your flowering stage it's important to not overfeed plants as it will affect the taste of your final buds. | Humic acid improves soil health and plant growth and fulvic acid allows plants to better absorb and use nutrients. |
Strong light is crucial for the highest bud density, potency, and yields, think of it as food for your plants. LED lights can help grow better weed but make sure you do your research.
4. Proper Temperature and Humidity
Temperature
| Seedling: Temperature of 65-75 °F with 60° humidity until the plant is 2-3 weeks old. | Flowering: Temperature between 65-80°F unless you're using CO2 which works best at around 80-90°F. Even with the use of CO2, it's suggested to bring temps to 65-80°F for the last 2 weeks before harvest. During the flowering period, plants prefer humidity levels of 40-50%. |
| Adult, lights on: Temperature no higher than 80°F. Work humidity down by 5% each week after the seedling stage until you get to 40%. | Adult, lights off: Temperature between 62-72°F, it's important to avoid major swings in temp. from the daytime to night. |
| Nighttime temperatures should be around 68-75°F, if the temperature is too cold it can damage plants and will increase the chance of bud rot. | If you're growing a strain that changes colors, some will only show their color when the night temp. is a few degrees cooler than the day temp. during the flowering stage. |
Humidity
| Lower humidity accounts for the sparkle you see on buds. |
| If your humidity levels are too high or too low, you can make a simple change to drastically improve your plants. |
|
Use a dehumidifier to drop the humidity down as low as possible for the last 2-3 weeks of flowering. This amount of dryness inspires buds to seal and protect themselves using additional resin and because they've released some of their moisture, they are less likely to get moldy in the drying process. |
Substantial spacing is required around the buds to ensure they reach their full potential without being constrained. Implement low-stress training by bending branches or leaves that may be preventing buds from receiving fresh air or light.
Great air quality is a huge contributor to quality buds. Grow Room Air filtration and ventilation are fundamental to create ideal airflow and quality.
Grow room air filtration and ventilation are often generalized as the same thing or referred to interchangeably, but they are actually different.
While grow room air filtration is distributed through a hanging or mounted system, ventilation is established via open windows and doors or by using ventilation systems that exhaust air with a blower that connects to the central exhaust point and is ducted to other rooms or areas.
The big differences between air filtration and ventilation are airflow and the quality of air that they produce. Grow room air filtration systems are designed to capture fumes, smoke, bacteria, and other submicron-sized particulate, while ventilation systems filter larger and less dangerous contaminants.
When the air in a grow room becomes stagnant, air contaminants such as, mildew, mold, bacteria, and dust begin to collect and present plant health risks if not remedied. When combined, air filtration and ventilation work together to effectively maximize capture capability and generate high quality, clean air.
It happens too often that growers stop paying attention to what happens after harvest but with detailed drying and curing practices, you can increase the smell and potency of your bud.
Fun Fact: drying and curing make up almost 50% of the final appearance of your buds.
Dry buds slowly and cure them in mason jars for 1 to 3 weeks. Don't pack the jars tightly and make sure you open them briefly on a daily basis to release gas buildup and introduce fresh air. Curing allows buds to tighten so that they become denser.
By following the guidelines of each of the six tips we have provide above, you can guarantee to maximize bud growth and generate better yields. Sourcing seeds from reputable breeders is the first place to start. Ensuring that plants have the correct levels of nutrients and supplements will prevent the risks of overfeeding and overwatering.
Providing adequate light is crucial to achieveing the highest bud density, potency, and yields possible. Monitoring the proper temperature and humidity throughout the growing stage will improve plant health. Properly planning air flow and spacing enable buds to reach their full potential and protect plants from common grow room threats. And lastly, paying close attention to the drying and curing process will result in beautiful and denser buds.
To learn more about how you can improve your cultivation practice, visit the CleanLeaf Clean Air Learning Center, where we share a collection of stories, research, guides and advice that we hope inspires you to achieve your best possible yield.
If you have any additional questions about the six tips to maximize bud growth, or if you would like to talk to an expert about how CleanLeaf Air Filtration Systems can take your growing facility to the next level, get in touch with our specialists. We look forward to working with you to eliminate your grow room threats and provide your crop with the ultimate in clean air.
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