GROWING INFO

Disclaimer: This page is only listed as a resource to provide information on growing, please act in accordance with your local and state regulations. Hawaiian Budline does not encourage illicit or illegal use in any way. In this section we’ll provide the basics of growing and product recommendations.

How to Grow

Step by Step Guide for Beginners

Step 1: Germination

Simply place seeds in a cup with distilled water. We recommend using distilled water for the best results. Seeds will begin to pop a small white sprout, once they have sprouted, move to step 2.

NOTE: Seeds typically sprout within 1 to 2 days, in some instances, we suggest giving seeds up to 4 days to sprout.

Step 2: Seedlings

Put soil mixture into a small pot, cup or seed tray, dig a one inch by one inch hole in the center. Carefully place the sprouted seed into hole with the sprout side facing up. Cover the seed with soil. Water until the entire surface of soil is moist, ideally you want to keep the first inch of soil moist during this stage. 18 - 24 hours of light. Water similarly every 3 to 5 days. *Product suggestions for soil listed below.

Step 3: Vegetative (“Veg”)

Once a seedling has developed a full leaf (7 points on one leaf) it is in the vegetative stage. At this point you should move the plant to a larger pot, size is up to you and what you have space for. Water daily, 200 ml to 400 ml depending on your plants growth rate. Strict 18 hours of light per day to keep plant in ‘veg’ state. Most growers keep plants in veg state for 4 to 8 weeks.

NOTE: You can keep plants in a vegetative state as long as you want, longer time means larger plant, be mindful of your space if growing in an enclosed space.

Step 4: Fertilizing

The best time to start fertilizing your cannabis plants is during the vegetative stage. However, don't forget that continuous fertilization is necessary to promote growth throughout the entire life-cycle of the plant. *Product suggestions for soil listed below. Make sure to follow the suggested dosage. Pay close attention to how a plant responds, some plants are heavy feeders and may want to be fed more throughout the process. Intuitive understanding will increase as you become more comfortable with the growing process. You will notice certain strains do better with more fertilizer.

Step 5: Topping (Optional)

In vegetative state, once you plant has 5 to 6 nodes and a stable structure, you may want to consider topping the plant. Topping is done to encourage healthy plant structure and increase yield. Simply cut the top of the plant from the main stem. From this two new tops will emerge. This step isn’t necessary, and can be skipped should you not feel confident with your experience level.

Step 6: Pre-Flower / Sexing

When you feel your plant is of ample size and strength reduce the light cycle from 18 hours to 12 hours. This will trigger the plant to enter the flowering stage. At this time the plant will take about 1 to 2 trigger into the flowering stage. Feminized seeds can skip the below info and go to step 6, should you have regular seeds note the below details.

Female: Two pistils will be growing on the buds (flowers grow above these leaves, one cluster on each side)

Male: Small green sacs full of pollen will be seen on the node areas

Step 7: Flowering

The flowering stage occurs when plants receive less than 12 hours of light a day. For cannabis to completely enter the flowering stage it requires periods of 10 to 12 hours of complete darkness. You will know that your plant is ready to be harvested when the colors of the pistils on cola buds turn from white to reddish orange and the trichome heads turn from transparent to milky to opaque and finally amber. Flowering time varies between 7 - 10 weeks, some genetics may take 11 to 12 weeks, or as indicated at the time of purchase.

Step 8: Defoliation (Optional)

The process of removing leaves on your plant, usually only the biggest fan leaves. This might be done in the vegetative stage for various reasons, but the main “technique” is using defoliation in a certain way during the first month of the flowering stage in order to encourage buds to grow bigger. Strategic defoliation exposes all the newly forming buds to light and air right when they’re at their most crucial stage of development Proceed cautiously as to not over stress the plant.

Step 9: Harvesting

Plants should be cut down into smaller branches to ease the drying process. When the plant is cut into small sections, the pieces should be strung and hung upside down in a cool, dark room. Make sure to have a good pair of shears, get ready for trimming.

Step 10: Trimming

Trimming removes buds from plants, cutting off branches, stems, and sugar and fan leaves. All of these are harsh to smoke and don’t contain many trichomes, although they do have a little. When wet trimming, removing all that unnecessary plant matter also reduces the moisture content of buds, allowing for a more even dry. If trimming for washing, you should leave anything with a consistent amount of crystals and primarily focus on removing larger leaves. The cleaner the trip the better the smoke.

Step 11: Drying and Curing

Drying is necessary to prevent fungus and bacteria from growing. Commercial cannabis is typically dried by applying a humidity level of between 40 and 50%. The plants should remain hanging upside down for 7 to 14 days in a cool dry isolated area, running fans along adding or removing moisture can be helpful depending on your environmental conditions.

Post drying, ideal curing temperature is between 50 - 60 degrees F. Cannabis can be cold cured in a secure spot in your fridge in a sealed bag.