Rude Boy Mag

It is always better to germinate your weed from seeds because they may be the most convenient way for you to start your indoor cannabis garden.

You may not have access to clones, but cannabis seeds are usually more readily available from reputable seed banks across the world.

Not to mention that seeds are the result of sexual reproduction, and are a random combination of characteristics of the two parents.

No two plants from seeds will be the same because there are so many possibilities. But there is no combination when dealing with cuttings.

Each seed is a genetic blueprint of an individual plant. Most marijuana strains varieties exhibit quite a bit of variation, but they most importantly allow for genetic progression.

In this detailed guide on how to germinate weed seeds, you will learn the ground rules and techniques of germinating from seed with a 95% success rate.

Part One: Seed Selection

The choice of seed you make determines what you get at the end of the growth cycle. The large seed selection may be confusing, especially for new growers.

Choose the Most Appropriate Seed Type

There are hundreds of different varieties of seeds and each has its own specific properties. With the experience you will gain as you grow weed, you will choose the ones you like the most.

It is unreasonable to simply content yourself with only one variety when you can grow three or four plants in one year.
When buying seeds, our recommendation is to look for as much info on the various seed types as possible beforehand.

There are three main seed types: feminized, regular and auto-flowering. Each seed type has its own intrinsic worth and shortcomings.

Depending on what you are looking for and the conditions of your grow space, you will have to choose one or the other.

If you are an experienced grower, you may want a variety of male and female marijuana plants. However, the problem lies in uncontrolled fertilization, which isn’t a good thing for beginners.

Non-fertilized weed plants tend to produce more potent and bigger buds. Feminized females will provide you with materials for next season’s crop. But the buds will be smaller.

Be aware, especially if you are a closet grower that feminized seeds generate only female plants.

If you plant marijuana crops of all females with no males around to pollinate them, they will produce few or no seeds unless you can plant a few non-feminized seeds.

What Strain Should You Grow?

When searching for the most ideal strain to grow, consider the following factors:

• Flowering period
• Yielding rate
• Flower size

This is so since weed plants tend to have unique color, structure, shape, and size. Not to mention that some strains may produce colorful flowers while others produce denser buds.

Here are some of our recommendations of weed strains to germinate from seed:

GDP

Granddaddy Purple is an indica dominant that produces a flavorful and colorful weed plant. The seed sex can either be feminized or regular.

The flowering period for this strain is around seven to eight weeks. The indoor yield is 300 to 450 g/m2, and the outdoor yield is 400 plus g/m2.

Purple Afghan Kush

This is an indica dominant seed with a high level of THC. This is a feminized strain that has a 60-day flowering period.

You should expect an outdoor yield of about 600 to 800 g/m2 and an indoor yield of around 500 g/m2.

Chemo

This is a dominant Indica strain that produces dark green weed plants. This strain doesn’t smell like the usual weed plants.

It has a flowering period of 49 to 55 days, which is a good duration for medicinal weed growers. The indoor yield is around 780 g/m2 and the outdoor yield is around 610 g/m2.

C4-Matic Auto

This is an auto flowering sativa/indica/ruderalis variety that you can cultivate indoors or outdoors. It has significantly high productivity.

The autoflowering female weed plants require around 56 days to yield. The indoor yield is around 450 to 650 g/m2 and the outdoor yield is about 50 to 350 g/m2.

Haze Berry

Haze berry displays all of the stereotypical properties of the haze dominant Sativa. This strain grows rapidly into jumbo plants, shooting out healthy branches and many bud sites.

Haze Berry has a flowering period of 9 to 11 eleven weeks. It has an indoor yield of 525 to 575 g/m2 and an outdoor yield of 600 to 650 g/m2.

HulkBerry

This is one of the finest sativa dominant weed strains for beginner and expert growers. It is an iconic figure that demonstrates power.

This strain has a flowering time of 8 to 9 weeks. The indoor yield is 400 to 450 g/m2 and the outdoor yield is 650 to 700 g/m2.

Part Two: Complete Your Weed Grow List

There are several things you will need to successfully see your cannabis seeds through all the growth stages, including germination:

• Rockwool cubes
• Paper towels
• Seed starter plugs
• Grow space
• Indoor lighting
• Spray bottles
• Watering cans
• Pruners
• pH meter
• Thermo-hygrometer
• Rotating and/or oscillating fan
• Timer
• Ducting and/or inline fan
• Gloves
• Duct tape
• Ball of string
• Protective eyewear

Part Three: Germinate Your Seeds

Once you have completed your cannabis grow a list, you are ready to germinate your weed seeds. There’s more than one method for germinating weed seeds.

1. Paper Towel Method

For this method, you will need paper towels, a spray bottle, ceramic dish/plate, tap water, and a heat lamp or a reliable light source for keeping the seeds optimally warm. Here are the steps to follow:

Soak the weed seeds

Soaking your cannabis seeds in tap water for about twelve hours makes germination much easier. Quality seeds are supposed to sink in the water.

Place the seeds on the paper towel

After around twelve hours, retrieve the seeds from the water and place them on the paper towel.

Make sure the paper towels are wet and placed on a supportive surface, such as a plate or a ceramic dish.

Ensure the seeds are evenly distributed on the damp paper towel. Preferably, they should be half an inch from each other.

Cover the seeds with a second paper towel

Ensure the second paper towel is wet and is in direct contact with the seeds. This will help to keep the seeds moist.

Keep the weed seeds warm

Preferably, the environment around the seeds should be roughly 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. You can use a heat lamp to maintain optimum temperatures.

Avoid touching the seeds until they germinate. Just be patient, the seeds should sprout within a few days. Make sure the seeds are not exposed to direct sun rays.

Make sure the paper towels are moist

Use your spray bottle to keep the towels moist. It is advisable to routinely check the paper towels to make sure they don’t dry out.

Wait for the to sprout

Viable weed seeds should take at least forty-eight hours to sprout. The seeds will be ready for planting when the taproots are a quarter to half inch long.

Please avoid touching, pulling or prodding the seeds. This can easily damage the tender roots. Also, discard any seeds that take longer than usual to sprout.

2. Rockwool Method

Rockwool is inert mineral wool that is every effective for germinating weed seeds. It is one of the most popular methods among indoor marijuana growers.

This technique allows for a quicker seeding procedure. It is quite convenient because it allows you to avoid any sanitation issues.

The rockwool method reduces the number of times you need to handle your cannabis seeds. It allows for sprouting and transplanting with minimum risks of damaging the seeds.
Here are the steps to follow:

Soak the rockwool cubes

Carefully soak the cubes in ambient room temperature water for about twelve hours, and then place the cubes in a tray.

Place the seeds in the cubes

Gently place the seeds into the cubes at a depth of around 6.35 to12.7 mm. Cover with moist rockwool.

Seal and properly store the tray

Cover the tray and place it in a warm environment. Sprouting usually takes place within 72 hours. Water may not be necessary until after germination.

Don’t squeeze the rockwool cubes

If excess water forms on the cubes, we strongly advise you not to squeeze the rockwool. This may cause the seeds to rot. Instead, you should gently shake off the excess water.

3. Soil Method

Germinating marijuana seeds in soil is remarkably easy and straightforward. This is one of the most successful sprouting methods.

Soil offers a more natural way for weed seed germination with minimum interference. Less contact with the seeds ensure that the fragile roots are not damaged.
Here are the steps to follow:

Choose the ideal potting soil

A fresh potting soil out of the bag often fulfills all the requirements for germinating your marijuana seeds.

The soil should have a good texture that allows good root development and penetration, water retention, a stable pH, good drainage and a minimum supply of nutrients.

Don’t add nutrients

No need for adding nutrients because good quality potting soil is often fortified with organic nutrients, including readily available worm castings and bat guano.

Most quality soils supply sprouting cannabis seeds with sufficient food for the first two to four weeks of growth.

Find the right container

You can germinate your weed seeds in any given container type, but you have to choose the best container for perfect results.

You can use paper cups, milk cartons, or yogurt cups. However, the most convenient starter containers are trays. They are simple to water.

Prepare the soil

Moist the potting soil, but don’t overwater. Then fill your containers with the potting soil and ensure there are no gaps.

Create small holes in the soil and make sure the holes are approximately 0.6 inches deep.

Plant the seeds

Place one weed seed into each hole you prepared and carefully cover them. Leave the seeds alone to germinate.

Provide the needed care

Place the containers under an indoor grow light and make sure the temperature within is roughly 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

Make sure the soil stays moist. You should be able to see your marijuana seeds sprouting in as little as four days.

4. Water Method

This may not be the most popular method among weed growers, but it works and it has a success rate of about 90 percent.

The only problem is that you may damage the sprouting seeds if you leave them in the water for extended durations.
Here are the steps to follow:

Fill a clean glass with purified water

Let the water settle for a few hours until it attains ambient room temperature. The water temperature should be roughly 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Place the seeds

You should add a maximum of three seeds in a single glass of water. Don’t add any nutrients into the water.

Instead, you should change the water every few days and make sure you maintain the ideal temperature optimum germination.

The seeds should start sprouting after a couple of days or so. They should be ready for planting when the roots are about three to five mm long.

Part Four: Common Cannabis Seed Starting Mistakes to Avoid

Planting too deep

There is a simple rule of thumb when planting weed seeds. Measure the widest point of your cannabis seeds and multiply that measurement by three.

If your seeds are one millimeter wide, then it is wise to plant them three millimeters deep. Do not worry about being too shallow or slightly too deep.

However, seeds planted too deep will most likely not germinate.

Planting in too cold/hot grow medium

Marijuana seeds need a specific temperature range for effective germination. The most ideal temperature range is 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

Therefore, you should avoid growing media that are too cold or too hot.

Planting old or outdated seeds

Expired seeds will probably not germinate. Therefore, you should check the expiration dates on the seed packages.

Soil is the best media for growing weed indoors, but it needs to be of good quality. One that provides nutrient, water retention, root aeration, and drainage.

Many commercially available mixes will do a good job for your indoor growing. High-quality mixes come with all the nutrients your plants need.

Finding the ideal choice; however, may not be as simple as you would have imagined. There are some specific soil ingredients and characteristics that you have to target.

After a comprehensive analysis of what the market is made of, we found the following five soils that are perfect for weed growing.

Top 5 Best Soils for Growing Weed

#1 Roots Organics ROD75 Growing Media

The Roots Organics ROD75 Growing Media is a coco based soil, including a combination of coir, perlite, and pumice.

The soil is amended with top-quality organic ingredients, such as bat guano, glacial rock dust, mycorrhizae, green sand, feather meal, fishbone meal, and earthworm castings.

There is a roughly ten to twenty-one-day food charge already in the soil for heavy feeding plants. There’s also plenty of nitrogen for that big veg boost.

There is a good amount of potassium and phosphorous to provide more specific support for your cannabis plants during flowering and fruiting.

The coco based and a large amount of perlite present, allow for quick drainage and even drying. So, the soil will never flood water.

It is one of the easiest potting soils to use. Just place the grow media into your pots with sufficient drainage holes. You can also add clay pellets to improve drainage.

This uniquely formulated potting mix comes packed in a ten-gallon grow bag. The package is ready to use; so, you can grow directly in the bag.

What We Like:

• Amended with the highest quality organic ingredients
• Contains plenty of nitrogen for a big vegetative growth
• Potassium and phosphorous boost flowering and fruiting
• Coco and perlite improve drainage and drying
• Super easy to use potting mix
• Comes in a well-made grow bag that’s ready to use

What We Didn’t Like:

• Possible to receive a contaminated bag

#2 Kind Soil Hot Soil Product

The Kind Soil is a high performing water-only system. Your marijuana plants will hardly need any additional nutrients when using this soil.

This growing media is completely organic. The ingredients are readily available, providing the proper nutrients that your cannabis plants need.

Some of the main ingredients contained in this soil system are coco coir, Canadian peat moss, blood meal, worm castings, perlite, kelp meal, cottonseed meal, and alfalfa to mention a few.

For optimum results, you are advised to use carbon filtered water. This specific water type has a natural pH level of 6.5 to 7.0.

If you are unable to find water with an ideal pH range, we advise you to adjust the water’s pH adding potassium bicarbonate or citric acid crystal to increase or lower the pH respectively.

Unlike conventional potting soils, Kind Soil doesn’t need too much water. You just have to water it once every five to seven days.

The recommended grow pot for this soil is Root Trapper II or any other high-quality grow pots. The suggested pots allow for the soil to breathe properly.

What We Like:

• Contains completely organic ingredients
• Presence of coco coir and perlite improves the soil’s drainage
• Requires less amount of water for proper functioning
• Worm castings in the soil help protect your cannabis from disease
• Contains phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and potassium for optimal growth
• No extra boosters, additives or nutrients needed

What We Didn’t Like:

• Must use water with a natural pH
• Not suitable to use with most fabric grow pots

#3 Fox Farm Ocean Forest Potting Soil

The Fox Farm Ocean Forest is a great all-purpose soil that is very active and enriched with all-natural and organic nutrients.

This growing media contains a blend of premium bat guano, crab meal, earworm castings, and Pacific Northwest sea-going fish.

The earthworm castings in the soil have an exceptional effect on your marijuana plants. They are an enriched soil conditioner.

The soil has a good amount of bat guano that is rich in carbon, nitrogen, vital minerals and of course beneficial microbes. This ingredient helps to enrich soil fertility and texture.

Fox Farm Ocean Forest is considered a living grow media and has enough active nutrients to take care of your cannabis plants for the first thirty days by just simply adding pH water.

You can also add compost or other soil amendments to help revive the nutrients in the soil. You can improve fertilizer uptake by adjusting the pH at 6.3 to 6.8.

Fox Farm Ocean Forest is ready for planting. You can plant your marijuana directly into the soil for excellent results. You don’t need extra ingredients when using this grow media.

What We Like:

• Active and enriched with natural, organic ingredients
• Easy to improve fertilizer uptake by adjusting pH at 6.3 to 6.8
• Earthworm castings form an enriched soil conditioner
• Bat guano enriches soil fertility and texture
• Easy to revive nutrients by adding soil amendments
• Ready for planting soil
• Suitable for containerized cannabis planting

What We Didn’t Like:

• Possible to receive a damaged bag

#4 Super Soil Organic Concentrate

The Super Soil Organic Concentrate is a high-quality living soil that has all the ingredients your cannabis plants need for optimal growth.

This super soil contains super ingredients, including earthworm castings, bat guano, Epsom salt, azomite, dolomite lime, kelp meal, alfalfa meal, and fishbone meal to mention a few.

The earthworm castings in the mix contain a highly active biological mixture of animal manure, remnants of plant matter, enzymes and bacteria.

The bat guano in the mix ensures your marijuana plants get the necessary microbes, minerals, and nitrogen to boost veg growth.

Featuring high-quality natural minerals, this super soil optimizes drainage, porosity, and aeration. The soil absorbs enough water it needs without flooding your plants.

The concentrate works together with beneficial fungi and microorganisms to help create a healthy and strong root system.

The microorganisms in this soil mix create a symbiotic bond with your cannabis roots to offer the roots sufficient nutrients for optimal plant growth.

What We Like:

• Contains all nutrients your marijuana plants need
• Beneficial microorganisms help create a healthy roots system
• Earthworm castings condition the soil for optimal performance
• Bat guano provides sufficient nutrients for veg growth
• Suitable for containerized cannabis planting

What We Didn’t Like:

• May release a foul smell when opening the bag

#5 Fox Farm Happy Frog Potting Soil

The Fox Farm Happy Frog is a nutrient-rich potting soil that is suitable for containerized cannabis indoor growing.

This potting soil contains the finest ingredients, including aged forest products, bat guano, and earthworm castings.

Fox Farm knows that your plants deserve the best and that is why they amended this soil mix with microbes to help encourage fertilizer uptake and root efficiency.

The microbes in the bat guano help to enrich the Fox Farm Happy Frog Soil texture and fertility. The microbes also help to clear any toxins in the soil.

The earthworm castings in the soil are packed with minerals that are essential for your cannabis plant growth, such as potassium, phosphorous and nitrates.

What We Like:

• A suitable choice for containerized planting
• Amended with microbes to encourage nutrient uptake and root efficiency
• Bat guano helps improve soil texture and fertility
• Boosts vigorous veg growth and strong plant structure
• Enhances fruiting and flowering

What We Didn’t Like:

• Possible to receive defective bags that contain fungus

Soil for Growing Weed: Buying Guide

A good quality soil will give you the right balance between holding moisture and drainage. It will also give your cannabis plants sufficient nutrients.

Here are a few pointers that you have to consider to find the perfect soil mix for growing weed.

Healthy, living soil for growing weed is mainly determined by its ingredients. There are so many ingredients used by soil manufacturers, but there are a few that are crucial.

Earthworm Castings

Worm castings provide many benefits to your containerized cannabis plants. They are the digested waste excreted or cast from a worm’s body.

They contain plant growth hormones referred to as auxins, humic acid, beneficial microbes, and chitin.

These four components of earthworm castings provide your plants with quicker germination, better access to soil nutrients, and better defense against pests and diseases.

Worm castings are packed with minerals that are important for cannabis plant growth. Some of the important nutrients include calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, and nitrates.

Bat Guano

Bat guano is one of the cannabis plants superfoods. This ingredient is super rich in potassium, phosphorous and nitrogen.

Nitrogen boosts vigorous veg growth and structural development during the vegetative cycle. Potassium ensures your cannabis plants form sturdy branches and trunks.

Phosphorous supports sturdy root growth and healthy flowering. Phosphorous helps your marijuana plants convert nutrients into essential building blocks.

Bat guano also contains microbes, which enrich soil texture and fertility. The microbes also help to clear toxins in the soil and control nematodes and fungi.

Peat Moss, Perlite, Vermiculite, Pumice & Coir

One of the main components of most commercial soils is peat moss, which is lightweight but capable of absorbing water and providing the bulk your cannabis plants need to grow.

A mix of straight peat moss may not drain water properly. That is why you should look for soils with perlite, vermiculite, pumice or coir to help with proper drainage and retention.

Perlite is a white-colored, heated volcanic rock that has good drainage, while vermiculite is a golden-colored mineral that helps to retain nutrients and water.

Some soils may contain coir, which is shredded coconut husk fiber. According to experts, coir absorbs and drains water faster compared to peat moss.

Compost

This is another material that you should consider having in your soil. It adds bulk as well as fertility to a potting soil mix.

Compost is best used in large containers when growing indoors. It is supposed to be mixed with vermiculite, perlite and peat moss for proper water drainage.

Other important ingredients that should be present in a good quality soil for growing weed are:

• Humic acid
• Soybean meal
• Glacial rock
• Greensand
• Feather meal
• Fishbone meal
• Blood meal
• Alfalfa
• Kelp meal
• Epsom salt
• Dolomite lime
• Aged forest products

Conclusion

To date, the best cannabis yields are soil grown. This is so probably because the soil is not a sterile growing medium.

The best soil for cannabis growing should have a pH that ranges from around 6.3 to 6.8. On either side of this range, nutrients may become less available even when they are present in the soil.

Soils are alive and thriving and do an amazing job of interacting with marijuana roots. Most high-quality soils may not require any amendment.

However, you should know that some soils are not organic and may contain inorganic/chemical ingredients. So, read the labels carefully.

Even the most reputable manufacturers may skimp on their ingredients. Overall, the finest soil for growing weed should have good nutrient uptake, water retention, aeration, and drainage.

High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) grow lights are the industry standard for indoor gardening year-round. These lighting systems offer wattage much higher than conventional fluorescent lamps.

No wonder indoor growers can’t get enough of high pressure sodium grow bulbs. Why? They’re the most efficient way of creating light for your plants.

HPS technology beats every other competing artificial light source. The lumen generated per watt of electricity makes this technology highly efficient.

With a variety of high performing, HPS grow light kits to choose from, it might become overwhelming trying to figure out which setup is right for you.

After a detailed evaluation of what the market has to offer, we found the following top models that will certainly work for you.

Top 5 HPS Grow Lights on Today’s Market

#1 iPower 400 Watt HPS MH Grow Light System

If you are in search for a complete HPS grow light setup, you should look no further than the iPower 400 Watt HPS MH Grow Light System.

The 400 watts high-pressure sodium bulb has an initial lumen capacity of 55,000 and a color temperature of 2,100 K for optimal indoor growing.

The 400 watts metal halide bulb has an initial lumen capacity of 36,000 and a color temperature of 6,000 K for ideal propagation of seedlings and clones.

Both the HPS and MH bulbs are compatible with magnetic and electronic ballasts. Also, both bulbs are suitable for hydroponic plant cultivation.

The HPS and MH lamps are capable of maintaining over ninety percent of their first-lumen output after being in use for 6,500 and 5,000 hours respectively.

The HPS bulb delivers a powerful red and orange spectrum that has a high PAR/lumen output for stimulating flowering and enhancing fruiting.

The MH bulb provides a blue and violet spectrum that has a high PAR output for boosting vegetative growth.

The 400 watts electronic ballast supports 120 or 240 voltage input and has three dimmable options (100%, 75%, and 50%).

The dimmable electronic ballast delivers thirty percent more lumens compared to magnetic ballasts. It also has fast bulb ignition of one to two minutes.

What We Like:

• Value package contains both HPS and MH bulbs
• HPS bulb delivers a high PAR red and orange spectrum
• Both lamps are compatible with magnetic and electronic ballasts
• Electronic ballast features three dimmable options
• Built-in cooling fan maintains optimal ballast temperature
• Wing reflector hood increases lighting coverage

What We Didn’t Like:

• MH bulb may burn out

#2 Eye Hortilux 1000 Watt HPS Grow Bulb

Do you want a light that will see your plants through all growth stages? Look no further than the Eye Hortilux 1000 Watt HPS Grow Bulb.

Ordinary high-pressure sodium lamps may provide a limited spectrum, but the Eye Hortilux delivers a powerful spectrum that includes green, blue and violet wavelengths.

What makes this bulb special is the combination of super high-pressure sodium and metal ace conversion technology that offers optimum spectral levels for all growth stages.

The light is compatible with both magnetic and electronic ballasts. Not to mention that it has a high PAR/Lumen output and doesn’t consume too much energy.

The EN designation on this product simply means it is barium free and environmentally friendly. It has passed TCLP and EPA tests as non-hazardous.

When used with a good reflector, such as a wing reflector, the lamp will generate a powerful and wider spectrum to improve coverage.

What We Like:

• Compatible with both magnetic and electronic ballasts
• Delivers a powerful spectrum that includes green, blue and violet light
• HPS and metal ace conversion provide optimum spectral levels
• It is barium free and environmentally friendly
• Offers a wider coverage when used with a wing reflector design

What We Didn’t Like:

• May receive a defective bulb

#3 Sun System 150 Watt HPS Grow Light

Are you planning to grow your flowers, herbs or vegetables indoors? You need the Sun System 150 Watt HPS Grow Light.

The high intensity lamp is capable of delivering up to 16,000 lumens. It provides the perfect color spectrum for indoor growing of medicinal plants.

The unique reflector design opens some really interesting areas of the plant world to the indoor gardener. It is practically one of the easiest to set up.

The great thing about this light system is that it allows year-round indoor growing with less need for additional air-conditioning during the warmer months.

This digital ballast is more efficient compared to ordinary magnetic ballasts. The vented housing improves heat dissipation, maintaining optimal temperatures at all times.

The 150-watt HPS lamp draws less power than you would have imagined. This helps to cut down electricity costs.

What We Like:

• Has a high lumen output of 16,000 lumens
• Delivers optimal PAR values
• Digital ballast is more efficient compared to a magnetic ballast
• Vented housing improves heat dissipation
• Highly reflective aluminum insert improves light diffusion

What We Didn’t Like:

• The bulb is vulnerable to touching

#4 Vivosun Hydroponic 600 Watt HPS MH Grow Light Kit

The Vivosun Hydroponic 600 Watt is the ideal choice for indoor growers. You’ve got two bulb options in the kit: HPS and MH bulbs.

The 600-watt air-cooled reflector kit comes with a lot inside, including the HPS and MH bulbs, a pair of cotton gloves, hangers, a timer, and a dimmable electronic ballast.

Inside the reflector is a protective plastic cover that needs to be removed for the reflective material to reflect light properly.

Inside the reflector is the diamond Mylar material that is also ultra-high reflective and dispersive to allow the light to hit every direction.

The pair of cotton gloves help to protect the bulbs from handprints and oils. The hand oils can easily damage the glass of the bulbs.

The HPS lamp delivers a natural spectrum with a higher PAR value and a 2,100 K color temperature. The spectrum is ideal for flowering and fruiting phases.

The MH lamp also delivers a natural spectrum with a slightly higher color temperature for intense veg growth and healthy structural development.

The digital/electronic ballast is dimmable at 100%, 75%, and 50%. Also, it has an advanced internal cooling fan that decreases heat generation by 25%.

What We Like:

• Comes as a complete kit that’s ready to use
• Diamond Mylar material is super reflective and highly dispersive
• HPS bulb gives high PAR/lumen output for flowering and fruiting
• MH bulb has a high color temperature for intense veg growth
• Digital ballast is dimmable and energy saving
• Provided timer automates your lighting needs

What We Didn’t Like:

• MH lamp may easily burn out

#5 Hydroplanet 400 Watt HPS MH Grow Light Kit

The Hydroplanet 400 Watt HPS MH Grow Light Kit is an ideal choice for experts and beginners alike. The kit offers the perfect solution for indoor growing.

In the package, you get the HPS and MH bulbs, a digital ballast, a gull-wing reflector, hangers, and a mechanical timer.

The 400-watt electronic ballast converts automatically between HPS and MH lights. The ballast supports the traditional dual voltage 120/240 V.

There’s a built-in cooling fan that ensures the ballast maintains optimal operating temperatures. The ballast is also dimmable at 100%, 75%, and 50%.

The HPS bulb delivers up to 55,000 lumens and has a color temperature of 2,100 K. It gives a power spectrum for flowering and fruiting.

The MH bulb delivers up to 38,800 lumens and has a slightly higher color temperature of 6,500 K. The high Kelvin value boosts veg growth and structural development of your plants.

What We Like:

• Both bulbs are compatible with magnetic and digital ballasts
• HPS bulb is suitable for flowering and fruiting
• MH bulb is suitable for veg growth and structural development
• A mechanical timer allows for automated lighting
• Digital ballast is dimmable and cool-running
• Comes with a pre-installed ceramic socket

What We Didn’t Like:

• Gullwing reflector hood leaks light

HPS Grow light: Buying Guide

What makes up a complete HPS grow light system are: bulbs, reflector, ballast, and hanging system. But there are several things that you have to consider, such as:

HPS or MH

Which one do you use? It’s simple really, just use both of them. You get the best results if you use both the HPS and MH lamps throughout the entire growth cycle.

You can use the high-pressure sodium lamp as the main overhead lighting and supplement with the metal halide lamp or vice versa.

Wattage

HPS grow lamps come in different wattages, such as 150-watt, 250-watt, 360-watt, 400-watt, 600-watt and 1000-watt.

The 250-watt can illuminate an area of about twenty square feet at a height of six feet and the 400-watt can light an area of roughly forty square feet.

Therefore, make sure the wattage you choose corresponds to your grow space to maximize coverage and efficiency.

Light Intensity

Your grow room should receive between 3000 and 5000 lumens per square foot. Although, indoor plants will grow under as little as 1000 lumens.

The brighter the light, the faster and the higher the yield of the grow room. When plants receive high light levels, they grow stocky with abundant flowering.

The most efficient light to use for cultivation is the 1000-watt HPS lamp, which emits about 140,000 lumens. The lamp produces the lightest useable by your plants.

Color Temperature

Color temperature is expressed in degrees, Kelvin. The Kelvin scale is an absolute measure of temperature that indicates the color generated at different temperatures.

Each lamp has an aggregate Kelvin temperature that denotes the bulb’s color output.

Most HPS bulbs have a distinctive golden-pink color of 1,900 to 2,100 K followed by a relatively low color rendering capability of less than 25.

By design, HPS grow bulbs have a Kelvin rating that rarely exceeds 3,000 K, making them ideal for flowering and fruiting.

However, the higher the Kelvin rating the better the lamp is for vegetative growth and structural development.

Reflector Design

Reflectors come in different types, such as:

• Open
• Air-cooled
• Adjustable
• Double-ended
• Gullwing
• There are also various shapes and sizes, such as:
• Rectangular
• Square
• Parabolic

Each creating different growing footprint from wide and dispersed to deep intense penetrating beams.

It is almost impossible to declare that one specific reflector design is the best because the priorities and situations of growers vary significantly.

Therefore, a good reflector is one that effectively redirects all light, PAR and photons generated from the HPS lamp towards your plants.

The idea here is to choose a reflector that minimizes light loss by all means. You don’t want to spend on electricity that doesn’t boost your yields.

Also, the reflective material should have the highest possible reflective index. For example, a 95 percent reflective surface will lose 5 percent of the initial power to heat.

You should also consider uniformity when selecting a good reflector. The design, shape, and size you choose should be able to create an even footprint of light.

Ballast

High-pressure sodium grows bulbs are not your average plug and play lights. They need a ballast to help regulate and generate power to your bulb.

A quality ballast will allow for consistent light wattage and comes with safety features as well as dimming capabilities for different growing situations.

A ballast can either be digital/electronic or magnetic. Digital ballasts offer significant benefits over magnetic ballasts.

They are more power-efficient, generate higher lumens, they are lightweight and they emit less heat. Not to mention that electronic ballasts are “A” rated for sound.

Conclusion

High-pressure sodium grows lights are a more efficient type of HID lighting compared to metal halide grow bulbs.

HPS lamps emit light in the yellow/red visible light as well as small portions of all other visible light. They are the best for blooming and fruiting.

Most HPS grow light kits also come equipped with a metal halide bulb. This means you can use the HPS lamp for flowering and fruiting and the MH lamp for vegetative growth.

If you are only going to buy a kit that only contains an HPS bulb, then the grow light system will only be suitable for boosting flowering and fruiting, but not veg growth.

Fertilizers are products that you use to make sure that the plants that you are growing are well-supplied with essential mineral elements that they need.

You often fertilize plants outside and for that purpose, you use conventional fertilizers. These products come in larger bags and are spread out by hand or using spreaders.

When it comes to fertilizing your indoor cannabis plants, those conventional fertilizers may not be the best choice. Fear not, we have a few options for you.

The products we have selected for you are all-in-one solutions for the serious indoor marijuana grower. They virtually work with all cannabis strains and growing conditions.

Top 5 Best Fertilizers for Growing Cannabis

#1 Osmocote Smart Release Plant Food

The Osmocote Smart Release Plant Food is a balanced formula that promotes strong root development and consistent top growth.

The granules in the formula are coated with a distinctive resin that helps to control the release of nutrients over a longer period. It releases nutrients slowly for up to four months.

The fertilizer comes with simple, easy to follow instructions for indoor or outdoor plants. The instructions are in English as well as Spanish.

This plant food has a good n-p-k ratio of 15-9-12. This ratio is ideal for both existing and new cannabis plants.

What We Like:

• Contains all the three main nutrients cannabis need
• Slow-release action feeds up to four months
• Simple and easy to follow instructions for beginner growers
• Formulated for colorful blooms and flavorful vegetative growth
• Boosts strong root development and top growth

What We Didn’t Like:

• May arrive with a damaged container

#2 Miracle-Gro All Purpose Plant Food

Grow cannabis plants twice as big with the Miracle-Gro All Purpose Plant Food. It is the easiest way to grow bigger and more beautiful marijuana plants.

This all-purpose plant food starts feeding your marijuana plants instantly, and it is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

This plant food has wider coverage. You can feed roughly six hundred square foot with 1.5 pounds of Miracle-Gro.

The fertilizer analysis for this formulation is 24-8-16, which is safe for all your cannabis plants. You will need to feed your plants every seven to fourteen days.

What We Like:

• Quick-release action works instantly
• It is safe for all indoor and outdoor plants
• Comes with easy to follow application instructions
• Has a wider coverage area per gallon
• You can feed slow-growing plants less often

What We Didn’t Like:

• Does not last long enough

#3 JR Peters Classic Blossom Booster

The brand was established in 1947. They manufacture fertilizers for specialty growing. The JR Peters Classic Blossom Booster is the perfect choice for cannabis growing.

The plant food is rich in phosphorous. It is usable during transplanting because of its fast nutrient absorption, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor weed plants.

The fertilizer analysis for this product is 10-30-20. This combination boosts the production of more flowers as well as brighter colors.

For excellent results, you should apply the booster every seven to fourteen days. Use the formula during bud set to increase the size as well as the number of blossoms.

What We Like:

• Fast nutrient absorption makes it usable during transplanting
• It feeds easily through leaves and roots
• Suitable for indoor as well as outdoor flowering plants
• Increases the size and number of blossoms

What We Didn’t Like:

• Nonorganic may lead to excessive application and harm your plants

#4 Fox Farm Liquid Nutrient Trio Soil Formula

Fox Farm is a decent, family-owned brand with a focus on producing high-quality plant food for both indoor and outdoor plants.

The Fox Farm Liquid Nutrient Trio Soil Formula comes in a complete bloom booster package with excellent ratings on Amazon.

This three in one formula is the perfect choice for boosting the flowering stage of your cannabis plants. You should expect bigger and colorful blossoms.

In order to obtain the best results, you are advised to use the formulas in sequence. You should start with grow big, then switch to tiger bloom and conclude with the big bloom.

What We Like:

• Grow Big formula gives your cannabis abundant green growth
• Tiger Bloom formula helps with budding
• Big Bloom formula increases nutrient cycling
• Three in one solution for guaranteed high yields

What We Didn’t Like:

• Cost of this three-pack is relatively high

#5 General Hydroponics Liquid Kool Bloom Fertilizer

The brand was established more than forty years ago. It is an innovative brand that uses the latest research as well as manufacturing process to enhance the growth of your plants.

This formula has a good price point and it is available in four sizes. The formula focusses on early transition phases from vegetative to flowering.

It boosts faster ripening and improves bloom density. You are advised to use this formula at the beginning of the reproductive cycle.

The fertilizer analysis for this product is 0-10-10 and its application depends on your normal watering schedule.

What We Like:

• Contains stress-reducing vitamins
• Boosts faster ripening
• Improves bloom density
• No burning issues only vibrant flowering

What We Didn’t Like:

• Not suitable for large scale application

Things to Consider When Buying Fertilizer for Growing Cannabis

Fertilizers come in many forms as well as different formulas. Therefore, you must be keen when selecting a fertilizer for your cannabis plants.

Understanding Fertilizer Numbers (N-P-K)

Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are the essential nutrients that your cannabis plants can obtain from the soil.

These nutrients are so important for marijuana productivity. So, you may have to add these nutrients to your growing medium through fertilizers.

N-P-K (Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium) is the fertilizer ratio. This refers to the relative proportion of the major nutrients to one another.

There’re several ratios from which to choose. These choices are based on a soil test. Routine soil or growing medium tests will show if any of the major nutrients are lacking.

You can supply nutrients to your cannabis individually from several fertilizer sources or in combination with other types of nutrients.

For example, when potassium and phosphorus are plenty in the growing medium/soil, a fertilizer with a ratio of around 3-1-2 should be sufficient.

Three parts nitrogen to one part phosphorus to two parts potassium is frequently enough during your cannabis growth cycle.

An example is 15-9-12. This ratio tells you that 15% of the formulation is nitrogen, 9% is phosphorus, and 12% potassium.

You may add other nutrient elements or combine them with nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus as needed.

Organic vs. Inorganic Fertilizers

You can choose either organic or inorganic fertilizer for growing cannabis.

Organic

This type of fertilizer builds up the growing medium and provides your marijuana plants with nutrition.

Organic fertilizers are usually obtained from organic materials, including animal, mineral and plant sources. Not to mention that they have to occur naturally.

Organic manures vary depending on the nutrient needs of your marijuana plants. In most cases, organic manures are made up of a single ingredient.

The ingredient and nutritional value of organic manures may not provide you with an immediate solution when compared to nonorganic manures.

What organic fertilizers do best is improve the fertility of your growing medium and enhance the aeration, drainage, and texture of your grow medium.

Inorganic

Inorganic fertilizers are mainly composed of artificial ingredients. They are usually formulated from synthetic compounds or mined from mineral deposits.

There are several types of nonorganic fertilizers on the market, including:

• Specially formulated
• Slow-release
• Balanced
• Complete
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• Nitrogen

Which One Should You Choose?

So, what’s the difference between the two? Organic manures feed your plants while building the growing medium/soil.

Repeated use of nonorganic fertilizers, which usually provide only the three macronutrients, can deplete soils while harming microorganisms that keep your soil alive.

Organic manures provide secondary nutrients, such as calcium, sulfur, magnesium, boron, manganese, zinc, iron, and copper.

Using natural organic manures in combination with soil amendments, such as compost (which contains lots of organic materials) keep the soil alive.

Resorting only to nonorganic chemical fertilizers may result in compacted soil that is lifeless and unable to hold water and nutrients. So, choose your fertilizers wisely.

Dry vs. Liquid

Dry manures are available as slow-release pellets or granules. Generally, dry composts are integrated into granules.

Dry manure blends can be formulated by mixing different granular manure of known ratios, such as 0-0-60, 18-46-0, or 46-0-0.

If you have access to blended dry fertilizer, you can fine-tune your cannabis plants fertility. This will potentially enhance growth efficiency.

Liquid composts are liquid powders or concentrate that you need to dissolve in a liquid before you can apply them to your growing medium or soil.

These manures are normally incorporated with a dye that is meant to help you distinguish one product from another. Liquid concentrates are usually rich in nitrogen.

They are applied by two methods: foliar and ground application. Foliar application is a good way to supply trace elements to your cannabis plants.

You simply need to add the ideal concentrate to your normal spray, so long as the ingredients are compatible. You can use a foliar application if you suspect a deficiency of nutrients.

The second way of applying liquid fertilizers is through the ground application. This method allows you to place nutrients in a dilute form directly in the root zone of your plants.

Nitrogen and potassium are commonly used in ground application since they are easily dissolved. Many phosphate-supplying manures are relatively insoluble.

Reading Labels

Now that you have an understanding of how to choose a good quality fertilizer for growing cannabis. It is time you learned how to read the labels.

When shopping for manures for growing marijuana, spend a significant amount of time reading and understanding the labels.

To begin with, all fertilizer packages you come across should display three numbers (N-P-K). As we learned earlier, these numbers refer to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content.

Each number stands for the percentage of the package made up of the available form of each nutrient by weight.

Natural organic fertilizers have three main ingredients:

1 – Plant materials

These ingredients are normally obtained from plants. A few examples are kelp meal, alfalfa, and corn gluten meal.

2 – Manure materials

You may also come across several manure materials, including worm casting, bat guano, cricket manure, and pelletized poultry manure to mention a few.

3- Animal byproducts

These refer to byproducts of the food industry and may include crab, blood, feather, bone, and fish emulsion meals.

On the other hand, most nonorganic manures will have a guaranteed analysis label somewhere on the package.

The label may contain information on the available nitrogen, phosphate and soluble potash. You should also see the percentage of slow-release materials.

Proper interpretation of the labels will not only help you choose the ideal formulation for your cannabis but will enable you to avoid unscrupulous chemical formulations.

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

What is the Importance of N-P-K Ratio?

The nutrient ratio of the total fertilizer applied is important for cannabis growing in the short run, and grow medium/soil health in the long run.

What are the Benefits of Organic fertilizers?

Natural products promote rooting as well as lateral growth. They do an amazing job of improving nutrient and water retention.

Also, organic manures stabilize the root zone and build up microbes. They supply non-leaching nutrients and also add energy-rich diet to exhausted soils.

Are Chemical Fertilizers Environmental Friendly?

Excessive use of chemical composts is responsible for environmental pollution. The impacts on the environment are usually bad and may take a considerable amount of time to address.
Therefore, it is wise to use eco-friendly fertilizers while maintaining proper cannabis growth and yield.

Can Nonorganic Fertilizers Cause Cancer?

According to research, typical exposure to inorganic chemical fertilizers is not enough to potentially heighten your risk of cancer.

What are Slow-Release Fertilizers?

These are manures that contain a chemical compound of nutrients or whose physical state is such that the nutrient availability to plants is spread over time.

What is Quick-Release Fertilizer?

These fertilizers are most often dry granules that dissolve fast after being spread, providing a lot of nutrients to your cannabis plants in a short amount of time.

What is the difference between Complete and Balanced Fertilizers?

A complete fertilizer formulation usually contains all the three main nutrients (N-P-K), but they may not be in equal proportions.

A complete fertilizer can have 5-3-3 or 10-10-10 combinations. This type of product can be all-purpose manure or a specific formulation for a specific plant type.

On the other hand, a balanced fertilizer is simply a complete fertilizer but has equal proportions of all the three main ingredients. For example, a 5-5-5 or 10-10-10.

What is a Combination of Fertilizer?

This is a fertilizer that contains both quick and slow-release formulation. The combination may have granules that dissolve fast mixed with beads that release nutrients more slowly.

Conclusion

Your cannabis plants need nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to prevail. The inclusion of these three elements guarantees a healthy and bigger yield.

But as you have read there are some factors to consider to choose the perfect formulation for your specific type of cannabis plants.

The ideal fertilizer choice is one that provides uniform growth throughout the grow cycle and not just short-lived success.

In other words, rather than surging rapidly for a few days or weeks after being fed, the marijuana plants grow at a steady pace the entire growing season.

Regardless of which formulation you choose, just make sure you don’t suffocate your cannabis plants with a specific nutrient. Instead, have a balanced N-P-K ratio.