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Genetics



If its your first time growing you probably didn’t know that little seed you planted will ultimately determine the relative size of your yield.  Certain strains of marijuana are capable of yielding several times more then others. Genetics also determine other important aspects of marijuana plants such as resistance to pests and disease. If you have the option to buy seeds or clones, research the genetics of the strains available then make your decision. Your research will tell you the length of the flowering period and the approximate yield in grams per square meter.  High yielding strains will boast 500-600 g/m2, which you will only obtain if you grow the strain perfectly.

Lights



 If you want to grow medicinal quality marijuana, you’re going to have to spend a little money. Good quality pot is grown under quality lighting, which will be the most expensive part of your grow, but its worth it. During the vegetative stage you will want to use a Metal Halide (MH) bulb, which will emit a bluer spectrum, ideal for this stage of growth. The flowering stage requires a red spectrum, for that a High Pressure Sodium (HPS) is your best choice. These lights require a reflector hood to house the light and a ballast to control the power to the bulb.  To determine how many watts you need, figure out the square footage of your grow space then multiply it by 50 (50 watts per square foot is ideal). Keep plants between 12’’-24’’ away from the light.

Grow Space



You will want your grow room to reflect the light from the bulb so cover your walls around the plants in Mylar or another reflective material. Temperature should be between 72-80 degrees to achieve maximum growth, while humidity should be between 45-55%. Get yourself a combo temp/humidity meter so that you can consistently manage the air in your grow room.  Make sure to properly ventilate your grow space so that you can ensure a good flow of air over the tops of the plants. CO2 can be supplemented but most beginning growers can get by by making sure the air in the grow room is cycled every 10 minutes.

Nutrients



After about a week and a half after planting you will want to start your nutrient feeding schedule. You will want to alternate between feeding and pure water. If you’re a beginner grower I would suggest picking up some nutrients from your local hydroponics shop.  Mix them at ½ strength of the suggested application and test the PH. You’ll also need a PH meter and some PH up and PH down to add to your mixture. PH should be between 6.2-6.8 for soil grows, this will help prevent against burning and salt build up.

Container and Medium



The larger the root system is for your cannabis plant the larger the yield will be. To obtain a large root system you can keep your plants in vegetative growth for longer and/or use a larger or specialized container. SmartPots and AirPots are designed to create a more complex root system then standard pots. Transplant from your small pots to larger ones early on in your grow so you don’t stunt you plants. Follow the rule of 1 gallon of soil per foot of plant height.

Hope this guide helps you beginners out there get some better yield on your grows. Leave any questions in the comments and I will answer them for you guys. Never stop growing!