Air

Marijuana Horticulture

by Jorge Cervantes

Fresh air is essential in all gardens. Indoors, it could be the difference between success and failure. Outdoor air is abundant and packed with carbon dioxide (CO2) necessary for plant life. For example, the level of CO2 in the air over a field of rapidly growing cannabis could be only a third of normal on a very still day. Wind blows in fresh CO2-rich air. Rain washes air and plants of dust pollutants. The outdoor environment is often harsh and unpredictable, but there is always fresh air. Indoor gardens must be meticulously controlled to replicate the outdoor atmosphere.

Carbon dioxide and oxygen provide basic building blocks for plant life. Oxygen is used for respiration – burning carbohydrates and other foods to provide energy. Carbon dioxide must be present during photosynthesis. Without CO2 a plant will die. Carbon dioxide combines light energy and water to produce sugars. These sugars fuel the growth and metabolism of the plant. With reduced levels of CO2, growth slows to a crawl. Except during darkness, a plant releases more oxygen than is used and uses much more carbon dioxide than it releases.

Roots use air, too. Oxygen must be present along with water and nutrients for the roots to be able to absorb nutrients. Compacted, water saturated soil leaves roots little or no air, and nutrient uptake stalls.