Growing the best-tasting cannabis requires a basic understanding of photosynthesis, as well as good genes and plenty of patience. To that end, we’ve compiled some tips to improve the flavor, scent and even potency of your pot. So whether you’re trying to win a High Times Cannabis Cup or just impress your friends with the quality of your home-grown nugs, keep these six factors in mind for successful marijuana cultivation.
1. Acquire Elite Seeds Or Clones
No matter how skilled you are at cannabis cultivation, you simply can’t produce perfect pot from inferior strains. Even with everything dialed in perfectly, you’ll find your biggest limitation is the genetic potential of the variety you’ve chosen to plant.
Source your seeds or clones from reputable sources to ensure that they are what they say they are. If you find that you’re growing something that doesn’t live up to your standards, don’t hesitate to kill off any inferior strains in favor of some grade-A, connoisseur-quality bud.
2. Feed Lightly
Overfeeding runs rampant among many marijuana grows. Nutrient companies tend to recommend using high levels of plant food (hoping that you’ll empty the bottles quickly and buy more). Burnt tips on leaves are a sure sign of an overabundance of salts and minerals in your plants.
Err on the side of caution and feed at half the recommended strength unless, or until, you see signs of deficiency (slight yellowing of leaves etc.). You can always bump up nute levels, but it’s much harder to reduce them after over-application. The less you feed throughout the grow cycle, the less you’ll need to flush at the end, and the better your finished buds will burn, smell and taste.