The cannabis industry has seen an overhaul over the last couple of decades, largely due to the number of states passing laws legalizing the recreational use of marijuana. Many of these laws also allow people to grow their own marijuana plants at home. The result of this has been a substantial increase in the number of people growing cannabis in their own raised bed garden.
A great way to cut the costs of growing cannabis is to grow it outdoors in a garden box and by trying to find cheap cannabis seeds. Indoor growers rely on complex lighting setups, but growing the plants outdoors is a great way to cut the costs down significantly. If growing cannabis plants in a raised bed sounds like something you would like to try, keep reading to find out how to get started.
Setting Up a Raised Bed for Growing Cannabis
The place to start when planning to grow cannabis in a garden box is to figure out the square footage of the available planting area. This helps gardeners get an idea of how much space they can dedicate to cannabis and maximize the space they have. Growers can get high-yielding cannabis plants with minimal space by considering how much square footage is needed for each plant they intend to grow.
It is important to note that cannabis plants can be quite large, especially if the strain being grown is photoperiodic rather than an autoflower variety. Depending on the strain, cannabis plants can take up anywhere between three and six square feet of space. Gardeners should plan for the space they have, so if a smaller plant is a better fit for their garden box, choosing an autoflowering strain could be a better option.
Creating the Ideal Cannabis Garden Box Soil Conditions
Robust, high-yielding marijuana plants require a consistent and heavy amount of nutrients throughout their lifecycle. The average backyard garden soil does not usually supply sufficient nutrients to meet the needs of a cannabis plant. Gardeners will need to invest in high-quality soil that is rich in nutrients, which will help a lot in growing a healthy marijuana plant.
Cannabis plants can adapt easily to different growing situations, which is one of the many reasons why they have earned “weed” as a nickname. However, for best results, gardeners should ensure their cannabis plants are given between four and six gallons of soil. Gardeners do not have to have a garden box that is several feet deep to make this happen. Instead, they can use the square foot gardening method to create a spacing system that provides an appropriate amount of soil over a wider area rather than a deeper one.
Know the Specifics of the Cannabis Strain
Marijuana plants will grow to different sizes and finish at different sizes depending on the strain that is grown. Sativa strains are likely to grow taller and wider, with some reaching over 15 feet tall by the time they are finished. On the other hand, Indica strains tend to be shorter and bushier.
Gardeners should be familiar with the growth tendencies of the strains they choose and plan accordingly. However, even the largest and most unruly cannabis plant can be cultivated in a small space using pruning and low-stress training techniques.
Consider Drainage and Watering
Most cannabis plants that are grown outdoors will require watering every two to three days. Once the plants reach the flowering phase, the water requirements will likely increase. Be sure to keep plants moist throughout their growth cycle, but plan for adequate drainage to avoid root rot.
Final Thoughts on Garden Box Cannabis
As cannabis plants develop buds, their branches will get pulled downward, similar to the way tomato plant branches get stressed when the fruit develops. Cannabis plants will need a support system, such as a tomato cage, to keep the branches from bending too far and breaking.
Gardeners with an established garden box can add cannabis to the lists of plants they grow with just a little extra care and planning. Garden box cannabis is one of the best ways to get high-quality homegrown cannabis without spending a fortune on an indoor grow setup. Start with cheap cannabis seeds and get your cannabis garden started today.
