How to Grow Cannabis Like a Pro: Step-by-step Guide
Our full guide from selecting the right strains to pick the right grow tent and grow light...
Grow Light Spectrum : The Basics
The role of each color of the spectrum explained, and how to pick the grow light with the best ratio.
DIY LED Grow Lights : The Complete Guide
Building your own DIY light is the best way to save money while building a lighting system perfectly adapted to your growth needs.
CO2 Boost Buckets Reviewed
CO2 BOOST BUCKET Reviewed
CO2 Boost Bucket
Bottom line – Co2 boost bucket won’t hurt your plants, but probably won’t help much either unless you have a sealed location or big grow operation with limited airflow.
There has been a bit of conversation recently about the need and levels of CO2 for growing great buds during the flowering stage, so we did a bit of investigating of need and options and especially the CO2 Boost bucket, to give you the info you need.
CO2 levels are an important aspect of growing the best cannabis buds. The plant requires CO2 to generate food and grow. The real question is how much CO2 and how important is it. We have reviewed numerous grow setups and tracked the quantity and quality of the plants and buds produced by each in an effort to identify the important variables when working on the very best plant outcomes.
Our verdict
Our conclusion is that there is a definite list of things to get right and they have very different levels of impact and therefore importance in getting you the outcome you want. The level of CO2 falls in this order at number 5, so invest accordingly. Each of these must be done right, or your plants will struggle, but their relative “order of importance” in your plant bud quality is:
- The DNA of your seeds or clone
- The light
- The nutrition – including ph
- The care – trim, temp, pests
- The air (CO2)
Can be useful in certain situations
The other thing we discovered about CO2 was that as long as your plants were getting fresh air the CO2 issue does not appear to be a big plus or minus. On the other hand, if you have a large crop that is not getting air movement. Or a sealed location that cannot get air flow, it will then become an issue you need to manage.
In our opinion, most all small crop growers will be better off using fans to move fresh air. Rather than trying to use a CO2 boost bucket to boost the amount of CO2 in the air. However, if airflow is not an option consider a CO2 Boost Bucket, available here.
Six Keys to Strong Yields
Six Keys to Strong Yields
Understanding the six keys to strong yields. I am often asked what the most important factor is in making sure that you get a great crop from all your growing effort and investment, and what are my main keys to strong yields. Tough question!! It is tough to answer. Because the correct answering to this question is that you must improve your actions in whatever area or areas you are doing poorly. Fix the equipment or process you are using that is failing your plants.
So, rather than avoiding the question entirely. I will outline what I see as the six most important areas to manage well and keys to strong yields. This article will give you a quick outline of the six. And then I will be writing about each area in more depth over the next 6 weeks.
Genetics are number 1
The pot hybrid business has exploded with the development of seeds that are easier to grow and produce much stronger and larger yields than those that were available just 10 years ago. Make sure you spend the time and money to start with the right plants for your grow room setup. And for the type of high you are trying to produce. I will write more on this in two weeks with some specific recommendations on strains and places to get them.
Great Quality Lighting is number 2
If you do not have the right spectrum and intensity of lighting for each growth phase your plants will not produce the results you want. No matter what else you do right (or wrong). If you mess up on seeds or lighting you are on the road to disappointment. On the other hand, if you start with the right seeds and put them under the right light, you are on the road to success and the rest will be up to you.
Plant Management and Training is number 3
This will increase your yield without spending a penny. The technique is referred to as Low Stress Training (LST). And the basic idea behind LST plant training is that bigger, wider plants with many evenly spaced colas produce bigger yields. Great yield is all about the quantity and quality of the buds your plants produce in the flowering stage. But the training of your plants in the vegetative stage is the path to enabling the most buds later in their growth.
Plants that have the right genetics, the right light, and are managed (LST) well, will give great results. If you don’t mess up on the other three key areas:
Feed your plants correctly
Use a great nutrient mix and use it in the right amount. The two biggest reasons for failure in this area is that growers mix formulas. Hence, they don’t know what the final mix is, or they overfeed. We will discuss the various brands in the next article, but the best formula is to use a variation of the Lucas formula and just adjust for the plant phases.
Manage the environment
This is not tough. I’m just talking about making sure the temperature, humidity, and air are maintained in a reasonable range for your plants. Check them and make adjustments whenever needed. The biggest enemy here is heat. So go with LED lighting and the danger of a mistake from high temperature is way down.
Harvest at the right time
Many growers get too excited and too impatient once they see the flowers and buds developing and they cannot wait to sample the product. PATIENCE!! The last two weeks of bud development will often produce up to 25% of the bud mass, so wait!
Spectrum King LED Review (Propogation LED Grow Lights)
Spectrum King LED Review (Propogation LED Grow Lights)
The Brand
Recently the Spectrum King LED Review (propagation lights) came across our radar as a revolutionary product promising to impact/improve the cloning process. Although you have probably never heard of the Spectrum King folks in any of your research about LED Grow lights and manufacturers. They seldom get a mention in growing publications and sites. However, based on their pricing and light size they are better known at the commercial level of LED grow companies.
All Spectrum King LED Grow lights use CREE LED lights that consistently produce spectrums from 380-779nm. This means that not only virtually every visible color is present in the light, but also ones you can’t see. Finally, the Spectrum King Series 300 and Series 400 LED Grow Lights truly mimic sunlight with intensities of over 100,000Lux that they sell at between $995 and $1400, and will manufacture any light solution you need.
Opinions
There are several very mixed reviews of the Spectrum King LED Grow lights. At this price we would expect glowing product reviews and great customer service. However, perhaps the most interesting and exciting product Spectrum offers is the LED Propagation light. Finally, we all agree the best plant source is the cloning of a healthy and known strain of cannabis, and the team at Spectrum developed a pair of lights to support the cloning process.
Cheaper Alternatives
They offer the Propagator 12 watt light at around $60 and the Propagator 38 Watt grow light sells for around $100. The lights are:
- Optimized for Clones and Seedlings
- Indoor / Outdoor IP62 Rating
- Patented Passive Air-Flow Convection® System designed to minimize heat
- PROPAGATOR is designed to last 60,000 hours @ 70% Lumen
Grow Light Spectrum Basics
Grow Light Spectrum Basics
Natural sunlight is the basis for identifying the various spectrums of lighting that plants require. And it includes both visible and invisible light spectrum. This is at the core of understanding grow light spectrum basics. When manufacturers develop artificial LED lighting they are able to use different kinds of Light Emitting Diodes. Each provide the specific colors your plants require. When discussing the lighting needs of indoor cannabis plants and therefore the best grow lights to use, we want to look at four different color bands, including a discussion of what the best combination is for your grow operation.
Colors Basics
- Blue – LED lights, in the 420-480nm range, or Blue spectrum, are ideal for vegetative growth and create tall, leafy plants. Strong Blue light is not very helpful during the flowering phase and can cause bushy plants without many buds.
- Red – LEDs in the 600-6800 nm range are important during the flowering phase and will encourage budding anering. Much like the way that blue light doesn’t help with flowering, too much red light will not help with vegetative phase.
- White. White LEDs are a source of disagreement among growers as to their benifit during each phase. But if nothing else they help you see inside the grow room and identify any problems that are not visible under red and blue..
- Ultraviolet. Ultraviolet light spectrum is not available in many LED lights, but it may be worth adding as many growers believe it assists in bud development and potency . Research has found that it could beneficial to use ultraviolet light in short bursts when you are looking to increase THC production.
The Best Ratio
Proper growth and plant health results from making sure your plants get the right blend of light spectrum during the right phase of their growth. Understanding grow light spectrum basics is paramount in succeeding in your growth. Natural outdoor plants have the benefit of living in a world where all of the wavelengths are provided to them during all growth phases and the natural alignment of the earth and seasonal changes provide the right changes for each of their growth phases. Indoor plants need the light provided in a similar manner. So they can sprout, grow and flower the right amount at the right time
For the optimum ratio of spectrum colors, you should have the approximately the following ratio of LEDs in the panel that you are using:
- *50% Red LEDs rated at 660 nm
- *20% Red LEDs rated at 630 nm
- *20% Blue LEDs rated at 470 nm
- *10% Blue LEDs rated at 425 nm
Light Cycle Basics
Light Cycle Basics for Growing Weed
Light Cycle Basics
There are articles and tips everywhere on the web giving advice on the right light cycle basics. Understanding lighting spectrum for your plants during each growth phase. And also on the right amount of light to give your plants during each growth phase. Unfortunately, many of these articles seem to disagree with each other or proving a conflicting answer. So, what is the right answer? First it is important to make sure you have the light cycle basics correct.
Four Light Basics Rules
- Buy good quality LED grow lights, not cheap spots
- Use full spectrum lights that also have the right red and blue spectrum
- Make sure your lights deliver enough Lumens for the size of your room
- Mount them so you can keep them the right level above your plants
Without these basics you will not succeed, no matter what lighting cycle you set!!
Once you have the right equipment in place and set up correctly. There are basically three growth phases that each require slight adjustments in the lighting cycle:
Seedlings
The lighting intensity is not as important during this phase as the plants are building their root system and as long as they are getting 16 hours of light daily and 8 hours of darkness they will grow fine and the light cycle during this phase is not critical in determining the quality of your plants during the flowering stage.
Vegetative
During this phase, your plants are growing fast and developing the strong stems and leaves that they need to develop the buds your are aiming for. You want to deliver full spectrum lighting for your plants, but blue lighting in the 400-500 nm range is critical to support the plants photosynthesis process. During this phase you can maintain 18-24 hours of lighting daily, for at least 4-6 weeks depending on your setup. Eighteen hours is fine for a few plants,but you may want to go to 24 hour lighting for a “screen of green” setup. As long as you maintain that consistent 18-24 hours of light daily your plants will continue to think it is summer and continue to grow strong and large leaves and stems. This will be great for the mother plant you are cloning from but will be a problem for the plants you want to develop great buds.
Flowering
Once your plants show signs of being ready for flowering you will need to modify the light cycle to initiate the flowering phase. Go to twelve hours of light and twelve hours of darkness for the entire flowering phase. Also, make sure your red light spectrum is strong and if available this is when ultraviolet lighting is sometimes added. The lighting quality and spectrum is most important during this phase as this is the phase when the buds you are growing develop and mature.
Summary:
Seedling – 16 hours of full spectrum light
Vegetative – 18-24 hours of full spectrum with strong blue spectrum
Flowering – 12 hours of full spectrum with strong red spectrum
KIND LED Grow Lights Review
KIND LED Grow Lights Review
Kind has been in the growing business for years and has used that vast experience to develop a great series of KIND LED Grow Lights review that are aimed at the very serious and very demanding growers. These lights have gone through several years of testing and development and are designed and manufactured to be the best. The biggest issue with KIND LED lights is that products designed to be the best usually cost the most!
On the other hand, as my dad used to say, “you usually get exactly what you paid for”.
KIND LED offers 6 lights in two different formats. The KIND K3 series used 3 watt LEDS and comes in the 300 through 600 watt configurations. The KIND K5 LEDS come in 750 and 1000 watt versions and uses a 3 and 5 watt LED diode configuration. They also deliver a unique 12 spectrum band of light that includes both IR and UR band lighting.
KIND K3 Lights:
- Firstly, uses a proprietary 12 bandwidth spectrum comprised of 3 watt diodes that run at 650mA. Lesser LED grow lights run at 500mA with only a 6 bandwidth spectrum.
- Secondly, has a thick, heavy duty 2 CM aluminum heat sinks that dissipate heat much more efficiently than other LED lights. Making Kind LED lights run more effectively and cooler leading to longer life spans and increased performance.
- Also revolutionary “Secondary Optical Lens” for maximum photosynthetic penetration from plant top to base. Considerably increasing “under canopy” production and yield.
- Finally, according to the folks at KIND these K3 LED lights will match or outperform any other 3 watt LED grow light. Including much higher priced brands. GUARANTEED
KIND K5 LED Grow Light:
- Firstly, KIND uses a proprietary 12 bandwidth spectrum that covers the entire photosynthetic growing spectrum (visible and invisible). Designed to maximize fruit, flower, and oil production.
- Secondly, utilizes a thick, heavy duty 2 CM aluminum heat sinks that dissipate heat much more effectively. Making Kind LED grow lights review run smoothly throughout many, many harvests.
- Also offers complete adjustable control of the spectra. Individually tune each primary range of the photosynthetic spectrum to suit the needs of any plant, at any stage of growth, all from the convenience of remote control.
- Features an extra large footprint which produces 33% – 100% more output on the periphery, as well as evenly covering more area per watt than any other LED grow light.
- Finally, Kind LED Exclusive “Mother Earth” timing function allows user to mimic an ideal day in the great outdoors by slowly waking plants at sunrise, providing peak intensity for the perfect length of time throughout the day, and tucking them in at sunset with slow dimming diodes. 8 timing stages for each of the three primary ranges of the photosynthetic spectrum.
These KIND LED grow lights are premium lights at a premium price, for the serious grower.
G8LED 90 Watt LED RED Flowering BOOST Grow Light
G8LED 90 Watt LED RED Flowering Boost Review
G8LED has a new flowering LED booster light available that does a great job of pushing your plant flowering phase to a new “high”. The G8LED 90 Watt LED RED Flowering Boost Review boosts flowering in any indoor garden, no matter what your basic lighting set-up is. It uses 630nm and 660nm red wavelengths to dramatically increase flowering size and quantity. One G8-90RR is sufficient for 12 sq. ft. of growing bed. This light is rated for 110-240VAC input, so it works worldwide. At the time of ordering, specify the power plug style that fits your region. It comes with hanging wires and G8LED’s standard 2-year warranty.
Additional Information
Model/SKU: G8-90RR (Flowering Boost)/g8led-red (G8LED 90 Watt LED RED Flowering Boost Review
Power output: 82 watts
LEDs: 90 x 1 watt BridgeLux LEDs; 50,000 hour lifespan
Spectrum: Red (630-660); for flowering
Coverage area: 10 sq ft (38” x 38”)
Thermal management: 3 internal cooling fans
Dimensions: 10.5″ (diameter) x 2.25″ (tall)
Operating/input voltage: 110-240v AC
Product weight: 3.5 lbs
Recommended height above plants: At least 12”
Product includes: Power supply (US, UK, EU, or AU); Hangers
Spotlight LED Grow Lights Reviews
Spotlight LED Grow Lights Reviews
Spotlight LED Grow Lights : TaoTronics E26 LED Bulb, our top pick!
After receiving numerous requests to evaluate the large number of standard spotlight LED Grow Lights available on the market, we decided to conduct a review of four of the most visible and available.
Spotlight LED grow lights advantages
The main advantage of using spotlight LED Grow lights is the low cost of purchase and operation, and the ease of setup. These spotlight LED Grow lights are built in the standard format of a spotlight. Also, they fit in a standard E27/E29 screw-in type light socket. They are very easy to put into service right out of the box. Since you do not need any additional equipment. Finally, they have internal heat-sinks, use standard house volt/amp power. They also fit in any standard (E-27) screw lamp socket.
We took at look at four of these spotlight LED grow lights offered for sale. The four main brands are TaoTronics, Litom, Pot Wizard, and Divine. All the lights are offered for sale on Amazon and are priced under $40.00 each.
Top Spotlight LED grow lights comparison
Spotlight LED Grow Light Reviews
| Seller | Watts | LEDs | Spectrum | Life | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TaoTronics | 12 | 1W x 12 | 3 Band | 50,000 hr | $27 |
| Pot Wizard | 12 | 1W x 12 | 3 Band | 50,000 hr | $30 |
| Litom | 36 | 3W x 12 | 3 Band | 50,000 hr | $40 |
| Divine | 12 | 1W x 12 | 3 Band | 50,000 hr | $22 |
If you look up and read through the specs and information on each of these lights you will get the impression there are four different lights offered. However, the reality is there are two lights to pick from. The selection of the right one for you, or whether you should select a different format, is fairly simple.
12 Watt LED Bulb
The 12 watt light could be a good selection for a new grower who is only going to grow one plant. If you are operating on a limited budget, and isn’t sure that indoor growing is a long-term commitment. People often have a limited space to grow in or a location that does not get enough direct and reflected light to grow the plant they want in that location. The 12 watt light is a great one plant grow light for those situations. The limitation is you will need to keep the lamp fairly close to the plant (18”). It will also not be able to cover more than one plant. There are three 12 watt lights ai the above table and if this LED bulb sounds like the right selection for you we recommend buying the TaoTronics lamp. They are an established company with great reviews and a good customer service program.
Litom LED Bulb
The other light in this format is the Litom LED grow bulb which is the same general format, but uses 3 watt LED diodes. This difference results in 36 watts of lighting, or triple the light delivered by the other three E27 format bulbs. As you may imagine this difference will result in a significantly better delivery of lighting lumens to the plant you are growing, for slightly higher price. This will be a better choice for growing applications where the light may have to be higher above the plant canopy, where the plant canopy will spread out wider, and when the light needs to penetrate deeper. This light is also better choice for plants that need stronger lighting during their bloom phase.
Disadvantage of the E27 format
The main disadvantage of the E27 format LED light is two-fold.
- There is limited lighting power and spectrum per fixture when setting up a grow room or tent type setup.
- The E27 format requires you provide a mounting base for each bulb. Also, they do not come with suspension equipment and power cords.
Roleadro Galaxyhydro 300W LED Grow Light Review
Roleadro Galaxyhydro 300W LED Grow Light Review
Roleadro Galaxyhydro 300w LED Grow Light Review
Overall, the best LED grow light value on the market today in this price range is the Roleadro Galaxyhydro 300w LED Grow Light.
The price has fallen, but the performance remains outstanding !
See below, the specs for the Roleadro Galaxyhydro 300w LED Grow Light speak for themselves:
100 High power 3w Branded Epileds
9 bands of red and blue spectrum with UV(ultraviolet) and IR(infrared)
430~440nm, 450~460nm, 610~615nm, 620~630nm, 650~660nm,
IR(730nm) & UV 380~400nm, 470nm & white
Revolutionary Aluminium Heat PCB, runs 80% cooler than HID lights
Zener capacitor, 99 LEDs keep working if there’s one LED out
The brand has 6 years’ experience in designing and manufacturing lights.
One switch, two plugs(daisy-chain connection), easy and convenient to use.
Galaxyhydro 300w LED Grow Light Review
Here is the “Non light” Product info:
Size: 15.8*8.3*2.4inch
View Angle of LEDs: 90°and 120°mixed
Worldwide Voltage: AC85~265V
Frequency: 50/60 HZ
Certificates: CE, ROHS, FCC
Working Environment: -20℃～ 40℃
Since the price for this great LED grow light has fallen to the $119-$149 range for the 300 watt size it has moved up on our “Best LED grow lights under $300” to number one and become our top recommended LED plant light value.
As you may have seen, there are two versions of the Roleadro Galaxyhydro 300w LED Grow Light available from Amazon at different price points. They both deliver the same level of light grow spectrum but differ in the features of offering daisy chain power connections and a dimmer switch.
For example, the low cost version does not have the dimmer and daisy chain features:
And the version with both daisy chain power for larger grow room setups and a dimmer dial to adjust for veg and flower grow cycles:
To conclude, we hope that this review of the Roleadro Galaxyhydro 300w LED Grow Light was helpful. Also, if you have any questions on this review or recommendations on related Roleadro GalaxyHydro lights we should evaluate, please reach out to us via our contact page.
How to Harvest Weed : Step-by-step Guide
How to Harvest Weed? Our Step-by-Step Guide
How to harvest weed: simple steps from trimming, drying, and curing, to finally harvesting your crop!
Step 1. Remove all the dead leaves.
As the time to harvest weed comes near, start removing the dead leaves as well as the dying ones. Reach into the branches to ensure that you have removed as many as dead leaves as possible. This process enables your remaining cannabis buds to absorb plant energy without wasting too much on leaves you will not harvest. Note: a firm or gentle tug can remove a lot of leaves.
Step 2. Cut branches at the stock.
Once all the dead leaves are removed and harvest time has arrived, utilize a pruning tool and cut the branches off to the point where it meets the primary stalk. Note: During this process, let the plant stay in the pot. Obviously, you won’t be able to do this if it’s a hydroponic plant.
Step 3. Cut off the shoots from the primary branches.
Utilize the same pruning tool you used in step 2, snip the smaller side branches away from the larger primary branches. You can turn larger branches into more handy pieces by cutting them into parts.
Step 4. Remove the remaining leaves.
It’s now time to remove the rest of the leaves. You can accomplish this step by clipping, or a firm tug on every leaf stalk.
Step 5. Cure the branches by hanging them.
Curing is done after removal of bud-bearing branches and division into single pieces. Using a thin string, hang all the branches and make sure to expose them to air inside a dry place with a cool temperature.
Help the hanging branches dry by providing constant ventilation using drafts or fans. Increase the moisture of the room by decreasing ventilation once they begin to dry. Note: Don’t allow the moisture to reach 50 percent. Also, never expose your curing plant to heat and direct sunlight. Doing so can promote molds, eventually ruining your crop.
This step will take a few weeks so patience is advised. When you do this right, you are able to produce a flavorful, naturally dry, and smoke-able produce!
Step 6. Eliminate leaves away from the buds.
If curing your marijuana is successful, removing leaves from buds will become much easier. Bend the small leaves off at their stems to remove them.
Step 7. Remove and store the buds.
At this point branches are left with buds. Once they are cured you can simply snap off the buds from their twigs. Lastly, after snapping the buds off from their twigs, store and pack them in Ziplocs.
Congratulations on a great harvest!
Selection of best trimming scissors here.
Top Rated 2018 LED Light
