National Plant a Flower Day is celebrated on March 12th each year. It’s a day dedicated to commemorating the beauty and importance of flowers in our lives. It encourages people to plant flowers and appreciate the benefits they bring to our environment. Planting can have many benefits, including improving air quality, providing habitats for pollinators such as bees and butterflies, and adding beauty to our homes and communities.
National Plant a Flower Day is a yearly reminder of how important it is to take care of our environment and appreciate the natural beauty around us. Gardening can also be a relaxing hobby, providing a sense of accomplishment and helping to promote an overall sense of well-being. It can be a great way to connect with nature and experience the joys of growing and nurturing plants.
Overall, National Plant a Flower Day is an opportunity to celebrate the beauty and importance of flowers in our lives and to encourage people to plant more flowers to support our environment and bring joy to our communities. In other words, it’s the perfect time to embrace the flower child in you.
What’s Your Favorite Type of Flower?
If you are like us, your favorite flower might just come from one of the grooviest plants around. We’re talking about cannabis flower, aka bud. And if you live in a state where growing your own marijuana is legal – you can mix your love of weed with a hobby that can help to promote overall well being, while saving a few bucks. But before you run out and start throwing cannabis seeds around in your yard, there are a few things you need to know.
Is It Legal to Grow Your Own Weed?
The legality of growing weed depends on where you live. In certain states like Missouri, it is legal to grow cannabis for adult recreational use. In other states it remains illegal. That’s why you must check the laws where you live before attempting to grow your own weed.
Limits to How Much Weed You Can Grow
In some states that have legalized the recreational use of cannabis, adults can apply for a personal cultivation license. Cultivation card holders are typically allowed to grow a limited number of plants for personal use.
For example, in Missouri, those with a personal cultivation license are allowed to grow up to 18 plants per household. But, there are specific rules about how many plants can flower at a time – which we’ll get to in a bit.
The legality of growing cannabis for personal use varies from state to state. In some states, it is legal to grow a limited number of plants for personal use, while in others, you can face possible criminal charges, fines, and jail time for doing so. Even in states where cannabis is legal, there are typically regulations in place that must be followed if you want to grow your own weed.
Can You Grow Weed in Missouri?
If you’re looking to grow some righteous weed in Missouri, it’s totally possible. Missouri has some pretty sweet laws when it comes to growing your own cannabis plants. Cameron, Missouri is also home to our cultivation center which operates under the name of Wondergrove Cannabis.
Medical marijuana patients in Missouri have already been able to grow their own cannabis by applying for a Medical Marijuana cultivation card. What changed recently, as a result of the passing of Amendment 3, is that medical cultivation cards are now good for three years, instead of just one. The cost of a medical marijuana cultivation license will also drop from $100 to $50.
How Many Cannabis Plants Can You Grow in Missouri?
In Missouri, personal cultivation card holders are allowed to grow no more than 18 plants. Of those 18 plants, only:
- 6 can be mature plants
- 6 plants can measure up to 14 inches, but not be mature
- 6 can be seedlings or clones that measure less than 14 inches
Learn more about:
Growing Weed in Missouri
Can You Grow Weed in Maryland?
Medical marijuana is legal in Maryland, and patients with qualifying medical conditions can purchase and use medical marijuana. If you are reading this from the great state of Maryland, then you may have visited our Bloom dispensary in Germantown. Although voters recently approved a bill that will make the recreational use of cannabis legal in Maryland, the recreational use of marijuana remains illegal, but decriminalized, in Maryland until July 1, 2023.
That’s when the ballot initiative will legalize personal possession of up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis for adults who are 21 years of age or older. The exact date adults in Maryland will receive access to recreational cannabis will depend on how long the regulatory and legislative processes take.
If you are a licensed medical marijuana patient in Maryland, you may be able to grow up to six plants for personal medical use. However, there are restrictions in place, and it is important to follow them carefully to avoid legal problems.
Growing Weed in Ohio – Is It Legal?
Medical marijuana is legal in Ohio, and patients with qualifying medical conditions can obtain a license to use medical marijuana. However, recreational use of marijuana is currently illegal in Ohio. Under Ohio’s medical marijuana program, patients and caregivers may grow up to six plants at home, but there are regulations and restrictions in place – so make sure to follow them carefully to avoid any legal trouble.
How to Grow Weed – A Basic Overview
Although the cannabis plant is hearty and resilient, growing quality bud at home can be a complex process. This is especially true if you plan on growing it indoors. If you live in a warm weather state that has legalized the cultivation of cannabis, outdoor growing can be easier and can also result in greater yields. But, if you’re interested in growing some far out groovy weed, then there are a few basic steps that can help you out.
First, you’ll need to choose a strain of cannabis that is well-suited to your growing conditions. You’ll also need to select a growing medium, such as soil or water (hydroponics), and provide your plants with the right amount of water and the right nutrients.
Next, you will need to create an environment that is conducive to growth. You may also need to take steps to control pests and diseases, such as using natural pesticides and fungicides.
Finally, you’ll need to water your plants regularly and monitor your plants closely. If needed, you’ll need to adjust your growing conditions as needed to ensure optimal growth and harvest.
With patience, attention to detail, and a commitment to learning, you can grow high-quality weed at home. But before you consider sharing your home grown bud, make sure it’s allowed in your state.
What Are the Best Ways to Grow Weed?
The “best way” to grow quality bud at home will be different for all. The best way will depend on a number of factors including the weather where you live, your budget, and the space you have available to grow.
If you live in a warm weather state, the best way for you to grow your cannabis plants might be outdoors. Doing so could help boost your output and help you save money on supplies.
Otherwise, if you live in a cold weather state, an indoor grow operation might be best for you. Indoor grow operations could also be ideal if you have nosey neighbors.
What Type of Weed Do You Enjoy?
Perhaps the most important question you need to ask yourself before trying to grow your own cannabis is: what type of cannabis do you love? Since the process of growing your weed will require time and effort, you’ll want to make sure that when it’s all said and done, you’re happy with that strain – because you could end up with a lot of it.
In an ideal world, you’ll be able to select a strain that you love and is easy to grow in the conditions you’re working with. To help you figure it all out, let’s start by going over some of the different ways you can grow your cannabis plants.
Growing Cannabis Indoors
One of the most important things you can do to maximize your yield is to make sure your plants get plenty of light – especially during the vegetative stage, when your plants could need 18-24 hours of light.
Growing cannabis indoors allows you to regulate how much light your plants receive and gives you better control over temperature, humidity, and air quality. By doing so, you could end up with faster growth and more potent bud.
Here are a few more benefits of growing cannabis indoors:
- Allows for year – round growing, regardless of weather.
- Provides protection from pests that could harm your plants.
- Allows you to use specialized equipment like high-intensity grow lights and carbon dioxide enrichment systems to enhance bud quality
- Offers greater discretion, reducing the risk of theft and unwanted attention.
One disadvantage of growing indoors is that you’ll have to dish out some money for things like lights, ventilation, temperature control, etc. Which brings us to the first benefit of growing your cannabis outdoors. It can be much more cost effective.
Growing Cannabis Outdoors
Cannabis has grown outdoors for thousands of years. Without the help of humans, many strains of cannabis have thrived in their natural habitats for hundreds and even thousands of years.
Even in cold weather areas like the Kush Mountains that border Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China, certain strains have thrived in the great outdoors and been enjoyed by locals for generations. Some of these strains are known as landrace strains and are valued for their unique genetics, flavors, aromas, and effects.
A landrace strain is a strain of cannabis that’s indigenous to a particular region and has adapted to the unique environmental conditions of that area. These unique adaptations to their environment are what give each strain their unique flavor and effects.
Landrace strains are typically named after the area where they originated, such as Afghani, Acapulco Gold, Durban Poison, and Maui Wowie.
Learn more about:
Landrace Strains of Cannabis
The bottom line is that the hearty cannabis plant can find a way to thrive outdoors in a wide range of conditions. So, if you time it right, you can take advantage of the cost savings associated with growing cannabis outdoors.
Besides lower costs, a few more advantages of growing cannabis outdoors, include:
- Greater potency and flavor. The natural air flow and the full spectrum of light they’ll receive from the sun can help your plants produce more flavorful and potent bud.
- Friendlier toward Mother Nature. Growing outdoors means you won’t need power to run lights, fans, etc. – You can also use organic soil and natural fertilizers to ensure your buds come out as Mother nature intended.
- Promotes a greater genetic diversity. Since you can grow many different strains in the same area – you can enjoy a genetically diverse cannabis garden.
Besides being a natural, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly way to cultivate high-quality cannabis, growing cannabis outdoors can also be a hobby that can help you get outside to enjoy some sunshine and the potential health benefits of doing so.
Growing Hydro Weed
Have you heard of hydro weed? Instead of using soil, this type of weed is grown in water that’s been infused with nutrients and minerals. When you grow hydro you can adjust everything from the temperature to the pH level, so your plants get exactly what they need.
Hydroponic grows can also be more environmentally friendly, since they can capture and reuse water. In fact, it’s estimated that hydroponic systems use about 10 times less water than traditional crops grown in the ground.
This is why Field Trip Flower grows all of its plants hydroponically at our Wondergrove Cultivation Center in Cameron, Missouri. By doing so, we are able to consistently deliver premium quality bud dripping in trichomes.
So, if you’re ready to take your smoking game to the next level, growing your own hydroponic weed could be right for you. But if you don’t feel like doing all the work required to grow quality hydro bud, that’s ok.
If you live near our Germantown Bloom Dispensary in Maryland – or one of our Missouri or Ohio dispensaries – you can simply stop in and pick up some kind bud. No judgment here.
Aero Grown Cannabis
Aero grown cannabis is a totally far out way of growing the dankest buds around. It’s like the ultimate way to get a totally controlled environment for your plants, so they can thrive and grow to their full potential.
Instead of soil or water, aero grown cannabis is grown in a misty, oxygen-rich environment optimized for maximum growth. Your cannabis plants are suspended in the air, with their roots exposed to the mist, so they can absorb all the nutrients and water they need to grow strong and healthy.
Marijuana Grown In-soil
Growing cannabis in the soil is the most natural way to cultivate these beautiful plants. Since soil is the lifeblood of your cannabis plant, growing it in soil can help provide all the essential nutrients and minerals it needs to grow big and strong.
When you grow cannabis in soil, you’re connecting with the Earth and respecting the natural balance of things. Plus, there’s something really satisfying about digging your hands into the dirt and watching your little seedling grow into a beautiful plant that produces some of the most beautiful flowers around.
Of course, growing cannabis in soil takes a little bit of know-how and patience. You’ll have to make sure the soil is properly balanced with the right nutrients, and you’ve got to give your plant plenty of love and attention throughout its life cycle.
But hey, that’s all part of the journey. And when you finally harvest those sweet buds, you’ll know you’ve accomplished something special.
Growing Weed In a Pot
Growing cannabis in a container is a great way to bring some of the beauty of Mother Nature indoors.
The key here is to choose the right container. You’ll need something with good drainage. The container should also be big enough to give your cannabis plant room to grow and stretch its roots.
A good rule of thumb is to use a pot that’s at least 12 inches deep and 12 inches wide.
Next, you’ll need some nutritious soil. You’ll want soil that’s high in organic matter, like compost or worm castings. You can also throw in some perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Now, it’s time to choose your seeds.
Choosing the Best Cannabis Seeds
If you live in Missouri and need any help finding premium quality seeds, feel free to check out Brother Mendel’s Selections.
A purveyor of premium cannabis genetics, Brother Mendel’s Selection took 1st Place in the 2021 Autoflower Cup. Brother Mendel is based in Missouri and offers discrete and trackable shipping.
What Are Autoflowering Cannabis Seeds?
Autoflower means that your weed plants will make the switch from the vegetative growth stage to the flowering stage on their own. That means you won’t have to induce flowering through light manipulation. If you are new to growing your own cannabis, autoflowering seeds might be best.
Speaking of ways to make your growing easier, that brings us to Feminized Cannabis Seeds.
Feminized Cannabis Seeds
Feminized cannabis seeds are produced to grow primarily female plants. This is important because male plants do not flower, only female plants flower. And the flower is the part that’s rich in THC.
The nice thing about feminized seeds is that they can save you the hassle of having to learn how to identify and separate male and female plants.
Photoperiodic Cannabis Seeds
Photoperiodic cannabis seeds are sensitive to the rhythm of the sun. These seeds need a certain amount of light to start flowering. So, instead of flowering on their own, it will be up to you to manipulate the light they receive.
Photoperiodic seeds give you control over when your plants start flowering. You can adjust the amount of light they get to manipulate the timing of their growth. These types of seeds could be ideal for more experienced growers.
One possible drawback is that photoperiodic cannabis seeds can take a little longer to mature than other types of seeds.
Germinating Your Cannabis Seeds
Once you’ve got your seeds, you’ll need to germinate them. There are a number of ways to do this. One easy way is to place a few seeds in a damp paper towel. Then place the seeds and paper towel in a plastic bag or container. Then, you can place the bag with the seeds in a warm (70-85 degrees F), dark place for a few days.
Once they’ve sprouted, you can plant them in your pot. Make sure to water your plants regularly, but don’t overdo it. You’ll also want to give them some plant food every couple of weeks to help them grow big and strong.
Remember, growing weed is still illegal in some places, so make sure to check your local laws before you get started.
Supplies Needed to Grow Weed
The supplies you’ll need to grow your own weed will vary greatly for each person – if you plan on growing outdoors, you will require less than someone growing indoors. Three of the most important things you will need are: light, water, and airflow. For outdoor grows, you can provide your plants with those three essential ingredients pretty easily. But, if you are growing indoors, then you will need to purchase things like fans, air conditioners, and lights.
Lights for Growing Cannabis
Fluorescent Lights – Affordable and Good for Beginners.
Fluorescent lights are affordable and can be purchased at any home supply store. They do not use too much electricity and won’t burn your plant since they do not get too hot. One disadvantage of using fluorescent lights is that they tend to produce smaller harvests.
High-Intensity Discharge Grow Lights (HID)
HID lights are considered to be the most effective for growing weed. They are easy to use and tend to last a long time.
One drawback is that HID lights generate a lot of heat, so you’ll have to make sure to have proper ventilation and be careful to keep the lights at least two feet away from your plants. Also, HID lights are not energy efficient and can cause your power bill to rise. Which brings us to LED lights
Growing Cannabis with LED Lights
LED lights are a popular choice among growers because they are energy efficient and environmentally friendly. Although LED lights can be a little more costly, you will end up making some of that money back in the form of lower energy bills.
LED lights also generate less heat. This is great because it can help to reduce the chances of burning your plants and can help to reduce the strain on your air conditioning and ventilation systems.
A couple of disadvantages include smaller yields compared to HID lighting and higher costs compared to fluorescent lights.
Putting it all Together to Grow Your Own Strain
Growing cannabis can be easy. If you live in a warm weather state where growing is legal, it can be as easy as buying the right seeds, germinating them, and then getting them into the ground at the right time.
Growing cannabis indoors can be much more involved and require a lot more knowledge. To get it right and deliver mind blowing effects, that requires a lot of skill, knowledge, and access to the right resources.
The info provided here is just a basic overview of what it takes to grow your own weed. If you’re serious about trying it out, we suggest doing your own research to make a plan that is right for you.
In addition to the info we’ve already provided here are a few more tips to help you get started:
- The cannabis plant is an annual dioecious flowering plant. That means it grows, reaches maturity, flowers, and dies all within a year – so be kind to it while it’s around.
- It can take 10-32 weeks to grow a weed plant, depending on how you grow it
- A cannabis plant will start as a seed or clone. Seeds need to be germinated to grow into a seedling. A clone is a cutting taken off a cannabis plant that you can grow into another plant, kind of like Groot.
- After the seedling stage, a weed plant enters the vegetative stage – which is the longest stage of its life. At this point, your plant will have branches and leaves—but no buds yet.
- After the vegetative stage, your plant will enter the Flowering stage and will start to sprout little buds!
- Once your plants start to bud you have about 2 months left until your cannabis flower is ready for harvest.
- Once you cut your plants, you will need to trim, dry, and cure your cannabis flower before you can enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Of course, this is just a simple overview of what it takes to grow your own cannabis. In order to get it right – you’ll need to make sure your plants always have what they need to thrive.
5 Things Your Marijuana Plants Need to Thrive
- Light: Like all living things, cannabis needs sunlight to thrive. And if you plan on growing indoors, you’ll need to make sure your plant friends get enough light. The amount of light your plants get will help to determine when they flower. Outdoors, this happens when the amount of light reduces as summer turns to fall. Indoor growers can control this by reducing the amount of light from 18 to 12 hours a day.
- Water: your plants will need plenty of water. How much they’ll need will change as they grow, and will also depend on your local weather.
- Nutrients: your plants will need plenty of nutrients so they can grow to their full potential.
- Temperature Control: You’ll need to keep your plants comfortable with the optimal temperature and humidity – usually around 55-85°F, with a relative humidity between 50-70%.
- Proper Airflow: your little plant friends need plenty of fresh air. Outdoors this will happen naturally. Indoors, you’ll need some fans and maybe an air conditioner to make it happen.
Other Factors to Consider Before Deciding Which Strains to Grow:
- Legality: Not all states allow for the personal cultivation of cannabis. So, familiarize yourself with the laws in your state before attempting to grow your own weed.
- Climate and environment: Certain strains benefit from open space and are easier to grow outdoors. Others grow short and stout and are more suitable for indoor growing.
- Garden Space: Although the cannabis plant can grow successfully in small or large spaces, it’s important to know how much space you have to work with before deciding which strain you’ll grow. If you are limited in space, an indica strain could work for you – since they grow shorter and bushier.
- Length of time to grow: Some strains take longer to mature than others. For a quick turnaround, consider autoflower strains which tend to mature faster.
- Difficulty of Growing: As you consider different strains, do your research to find out how difficult they are to grow. If you’re just starting out, try sticking to strains that grow more easily. The more difficult a strain is to grow, the more time, care, and attention your plants will need.
Some strains can be more susceptible to pests and may require a more climate-controlled environment. It’s a good idea to talk to other growers in your area to learn which strains tend to thrive in your climate.
Want Great Weed Now? Why Not Get It at One of the Best Dispensaries in Maryland, Missouri, and Ohio?
We hope that after reading this, you feel better prepared to try to grow your own cannabis. And, if you chose to plant your seeds or seedlings to commemorate National Plant a Flower Day – we wish you a bountiful harvest.
If you live in Maryland, Missouri, or Ohio – and don’t want to wait until your plants flower, then you can click below to browse Bloom’s inventory of premium cannabis flower and products.
Med or Rec – If you Live in the Great State of Missouri – Bloom Has You Set
Bloom is happy to serve both Medical Marijuana patients and Adult Recreational-Use customers at our Cameron, Cape Girardeau, O’Fallon, and Springfield Cannabis Dispensaries.
Perks for First Time Medical Patients, Veterans, and Active Duty
If you’re a first time medical marijuana patient, a Military veteran or active duty – make sure to let your Bloom budtender know so you can enjoy a special discount.