Start Clones or Seedlings Indoors

Marijuana Horticulture

by Jorge Cervantes

Get a jump on the season by starting clones and seedlings under lights indoors. Move small containerized plants into heated greenhouses to start hardening-off. Transplant to a backyard or secure guerilla patch once they have become hardened-off and are more resistant to environmental stress.

Beat the cold; start seedlings and cuttings indoors and move them into a heated greenhouse in March or April. A 400-watt HP sodium lamp on a timer can augment the less-intense natural light of early spring. Seedlings and clones will need at least 14 hours of artificial and natural light per day until plants are transplanted outdoors.

Alpine mountain climates are cold much of the year. Freezing temperatures, mineral heavy acidic soil, and wind top the list of grower concerns.

Summer temperatures in the mountains can dip to 30F or lower in the summer, at as low as 2000 feet elevation. Temperatures below 50F virtually stop growth, and temperatures below 40F can cause foliage tissue damage in many strains. Low temperatures cause stress in plants and a reduction in harvest weight. On the other hand, plants in high alpine climates tend to produce more resin and 10-20 percent more THC than those in lower gardens.

You can help your plants deal with mountain stress by backfilling planting holes with a mix of peat moss, soil , polymer crystals, and slow-acting layers of organic fertilizer.

Cold wind causes moisture loss, and plants dry out quickly. This causes stress which can weaken pants and leave them open to attack by disease and insects.

Col mountain environments, like those in Switzerland or the Rocky Mountains of North America, usually experience first frost in September and last frost during May.

Spring and fall months are rainy with a dry period in July and August. Cold rains in the fall can cause mold. Planting early-maturing strains helps avoid weather problems.

tropical climates are generally warm to hot and humid. Rainy and dry seasons vary by location. Most jungle and tropical climates have daily rains. Protecting flowering females from rain with a greenhouse will help avoid bud mold and other problems. The closer to the equator, the less deviation there is between the length of days and nights. Extra hours of artificial light are necessary to keep plants in the vegetative growth stage. Tropical sativa strains are often favored in these regions because they are acclimated and require little special care.

Nighttime temperatures and humidity are often high. In fact, extended nighttime temperatures above 85F will cause plants to stop growing. Nighttime cooling could be necessary to keep pants growing well.