Indoor cannabis growing -

How to germinate cannabis seeds in hydroponic and aeroponic systems

The germination of cannabis seeds for hydroponic and aeroponic systems has some peculiarities that must be taken into account. The most important thing will be to carry out the germination process in some inert substrate, preferably in blocks of rockwool or some similar material that cannot release residues. We must bear in mind that when we want to grow hydro/aero from seeds, germination in soil, jiffy pellets, or coco coir is totally inadvisable since we will fill the system with particles that can easily clog the drippers of the system. For this reason, the cleanest and most advisable thing to do is to germinate or transplant our seeds or cuttings directly into a hydro system or start them in rock wool. They should never be germinated in soil, since organic matter, being in direct and continuous contact with humidity, would cause diseases of cryptogamic origin such as botrytis, which may cause rotting of the roots and the base of the stem of small seedlings.

Emerson effect, red light and cannabis

In cannabis cultivation, every detail counts when it comes to maximizing plant health and performance. If you are a regular reader of our Blog you will have seen how we have discussed the topic of ultraviolet (UV) light several times; Well, today we want to explain to you a less-known but equally important aspect when using red light lamps, the Emerson effect, a fascinating interaction between light and plants that has been gaining attention in recent years due to its impact on growth. , flowering, and the production of cannabinoids and terpenes in cannabis plants. In this article, we will explore in depth the Emerson effect and how it can influence the development of cannabis plants, offering new perspectives for growers in search of better results. If you want to maximize the yield of your crops and enhance the development of your plants to the maximum, keep reading!

Cannabis crops gone wrong

Welcome to the dark side of cannabis cultivation! In this "journey of horrors" that we propose to you in today's article we are going to explore some of the mistakes or problems that have led some growers to experience cannabis crops that could be called, so to speak, less than ideal. From experiments with fertilizers to disasters of epic proportions in the grow room or outdoors, today we will look at several examples of true, sometimes even baffling, nonsense from the world of cannabis cultivation. Get ready to laugh, learn, and perhaps feel a little empathy for those who have faced the vicissitudes of growing our beloved plant!

Indoor cultivation and waste, a problem to face

Let's be honest; Growing cannabis indoors is not exactly an environmentally friendly activity, especially when in many cases (if legality allowed it), the plants could be grown in sunlight without any problem. Both the type of cultivation, the practices during it, and the management of the waste generated should be something taken into consideration by the grower since we believe that the fact of generating waste should be understood as a responsibility and not a right. As you surely know if you follow us, at Alchimia we advocate home-growing, as we believe that it is a right and the best possible solution for the consumer. However, we also understand that it is an activity that must be accompanied by good practices to generate the minimum possible pollution and waste, like any other daily action. Today we invite you to reflect on this question and see what you can do so that your indoor grow causes the minimum possible impact on your environment.

Frozen water or ice when watering cannabis

In the world of cannabis cultivation, innovation often gives way to techniques that challenge established conventions and are not always backed by scientific studies demonstrating their effectiveness. A practice that has sparked debate and conflicting opinions in recent years is to use ice water for irrigation or to add ice cubes into the substrate at the end of flowering, which would achieve a series of hypothetical benefits. This controversial technique, which goes beyond traditional methods, has been endorsed by some growers, while others assure that it does not achieve a significant change in the plants, thus being the subject of skepticism and various questions. In this article, we will tell you the theoretical benefits of adding ice to the substrate in the final stages of growing your plants, as well as the possible risks, all this taking into account both the positive testimonies that surround this practice and the divergent opinions that have made it on such a debated topic.

Quick guide to assemble your cannabis grow tent

How to get your cannabis grow tent ready to grow: In this post we'll tell you how to properly assemble and install all the necessary devices in your grow tent to start your indoor grow. This step-by-step guide basically explains how to install your air extraction fan and activated carbon filter, how to mount your grow light and how to program your timers. Let's get started then!

The SCROG cannabis growing system

The English denomination SCROG (Screen of Green) would come to be translated as green netting, and the name comes from the fact that with this cultivation system, the plants are literally made to grow by means of a support mesh that serves as support and guide, so that this method allows you to optimize the production of your garden with the least number of plants, something that in many cases can be a great advantage. We are talking about a cultivation technique used since ancient times in agriculture, today and for decades applied to marijuana. SCROG is a technique widely used in indoor crops, but it has increasingly taken center stage in outdoor gardens, where discretion must be greater every day and this method offers obvious advantages.

How to maximize indoor cannabis yields

Many clients ask us how to maximize indoor production to make it more profitable since the price of electricity does not stop increasing, and we want to optimize production to always have a full pantry. There are many factors to take into account that we will discuss in detail to explain as best as possible how to turn a normal crop into a high-yielding crop.

How to save on power consumption in your marijuana grow room

As you surely know if you know us, at Alchimia we have always advocated home-growing because we believe, for several reasons, that it is the best decision if you are a cannabis user. Without a doubt, the main one is that it is the only way to know 100% of the product you are going to consume, since of the different "alternatives" that the black market offers you do not usually know the practices and products that have been used during cultivation, and many of them can be highly harmful to your health. Furthermore, and if it is not possible to grow outdoors, with a small indoor you can cover your marijuana needs without a problem, although the cost of electricity can be a problem. Well, in this article we will see a few tips to substantially reduce your electricity bill because we think that home-growing, in addition to offering you quality buds and being a therapy, should also be economical, so we are going to give you some brief tips that you can easily implement in your crop and save good money.

UVC light and disinfection in marijuana cultivation

If you are a regular reader of our Growing Guide, you will know that a few weeks ago we published an article on the use of ultraviolet or UV lights in cannabis cultivation, in which we detailed which types of UV lights are the most used in this area and which are the main characteristics of each of the types of UV light, which are UV-A, UV-B and UV-C. Well, today we want to delve deeper into one of these three types of ultraviolet light, UV-C, and tell you about one of its most interesting applications in cultivation and also, as you will see, in post-harvest; the disinfection or elimination of microorganisms harmful to plants such as fungi, bacteria and even some viruses. As you will see, it is a remedy that, used well, is as effective as it is easy to use, in addition to providing other benefits to your plants.

RDWC growing systems

In the panorama of hydroponic growing systems, you have surely heard of the DWC or Deep Water Culture system, which at the time was established as an innovative and efficient cultivation methodology in which the roots of the plants are submerged in a nutrient solution inside a bucket. Challenging the conventions of traditional soil growing, the DWC technique fuses simplicity with effectiveness, offering growers exceptional results, especially in terms of final plant performance. Well, today we want to present you a variant of this system called RDWC or Recirculating DWC, that is, a DWC cultivation method that includes the recirculation of the nutrient solution between the different containers that house the plants and a central nutrient reservoir. Get ready to fully immerse yourself in the world of hydroponic cultivation with this interesting technique!

UV light and cannabis

In the exciting world of indoor cannabis cultivation, the search for new methods and technologies that boost the quality and efficiency of our crops never stops. One of the lesser-known innovations in this field is the use of ultraviolet light, a technology that promises to revolutionize the way we grow and harvest our beloved plant while opening new doors for quality control and potency. In this article, we invite you to discover how this technology works, its advantages and challenges, and how it is transforming the art and science of cannabis cultivation. From stimulating trichome production to protecting against pests, discover how UV light is illuminating the future of marijuana cultivation and laying the foundation for smarter, more sustainable...and more potent flower production!

Learn to grow cannabis in 10 minutes

The number of people turning to cannabis home-growing is increasing, with more and more people growing their own plants at home to provide themselves with quality flowers. This brief article wants to be a guide so that the first steps in this wonderful world of cultivation are much easier for all of you who are starting out. We will clarify many of the things that you may have heard of, in addition to recommending products whose quality is more than proven and pointing you toward several other articles that will help you deepen your new hobby, whether you opt for indoor cultivation as a outdoors.

Uses for your activated carbon filter

Activated carbon filters are a very common tool in indoor cannabis facilities, where the intense smell of the plants can often become a problem that is no longer of a domestic nature, but directly in the neighborhood. And it is that these fragrant buds that you like so much can be smelled from tens of meters away, something that you do not want to happen both for safety and, simply, out of respect...smelling fresh marijuana all day can be really annoying even for the most passionate smoker! In this way, in most cases, the carbon filter is usually installed inside the grow tent or room, so that the air passes through the filter before going through the exhaust fan and being evacuated outside the growing area, normally outdoors and free of telltale aromas. Well, today we come up with several ideas to give your activated carbon filter other uses that can be really useful and avoid some other problems.

Introduction to growing cannabis with LED

LED lamps for growing marijuana In this post we will focus on the newest LED lighting systems available in our shop. These systems use the energy emitted by light-emitting diodes, hence their name. These diodes do not lose energy when producing light, thus making the most of their power. As single LEDs do not have enough power on their own, manufacturers design the so-called Led Panels or Led Lamps, these may contain more or fewer units depending on the surface to be cultivated, and available with different configurations. We can highlight that the light spectrum of the LEDs can be adapted according to the user's needs, blue for growth and red for flowering or a mixture of both for the two periods. Modern full-spectrum lamps often produce the best results. LEDs do not lose power during use, they have a very long life. Besides, the light they emit is continuous and does not cause any stress to the plants.

Nutrients and additives for mother plants

Cannabis cultivation and fertilization are two closely linked activities since the improvement in terms of crop yield is more than evident with the use of fertilizers. For this reason, and for decades, fertilizer and additive brands have been striving to create new formulations that are more efficient and cheaper than the previous ones. From rooting products to the most powerful PK boosters for the flowering phase, the offer in this type of product is as wide as it is complete. Normally, fertilizers are developed for a specific stage of the plant, that is, either growth or flowering. However, how should mother plants that spend months in a vegetative state be fertilized? Do they have the same needs as plants that will only grow a few weeks before flowering? Today we tell you everything you need to know to keep your mother plants in good condition and which products are the best for this purpose.