The cultivation of cannabis abroad is an exciting adventure that allows cultivators to take advantage of the energy of the sun and the richness of nature to obtain exceptional crops. However, one of the best saved secrets for a successful crop lies in the proper preparation of the earth. We will explore how to prepare land for exterior cultivation on ground and discover the importance of this fundamental step.
The land in which we plant our precious seeds is the foundation of a healthy and abundant crop. Through meticulous preparation, we can provide our plants with the best land for exterior cultivation, which will allow them to grow strong and vibrant.
Basic concepts on Earth
Before immersing yourself in the exciting world of cannabis cultivation abroad, it is essential to understand the importance of knowing the type of land you plan to grow. The Earth is home to your plants and, as such, its quality and composition will have a direct impact on the health and productivity of your cultivation. Here are some key reasons to understand your soil type:
- Personalized nutrition: Each type of soil has a unique composition in terms of nutrients and minerals. By understanding your soil type, you can provide your plants with the specific nutrients you need to prosper, thus avoiding deficiencies or excesses.
- Water drainage and retention: The proper drainage is essential to avoid the flooding of the roots of your plants. By knowing your soil type, you can take measures to improve the drain if necessary or adjust your irrigation practices accordingly.
- Ph: The acidity or alkalinity of the soil, known as pH, can vary widely depending on the type of earth. An inappropriate pH can affect the absorption of nutrients by plants. Understanding your soil type will allow you to adjust the pH effectively.
How to perform a soil analysis
Performing a soil analysis is an excellent way to obtain precise information about your type of earth. You can do it as follows:
- Soil test kits: These kits are easy to use. Following the instructions, you can obtain data on pH, texture and nutrient levels of your soil.
- Soil professionals: You can contact a soil expert or a local agricultural extension to obtain a more complete analysis. This can be especially useful if you plan a large -scale crop.
- Visual identification: If you cannot perform a formal analysis, you can get clues about your soil type observing its texture and appearance. Clay soils are dense and retain water, sandy are loose and drain fast, and silly have an intermediate texture and are usually ideal for cultivation.
The ideal types of land for cannabis cultivation
When it comes to cannabis cultivation outside, not all soils are the same. Ideal types of earth may vary, but the following are some of the most appropriate:
- Frank soil: This type of soil, which is at some intermediate point between sandy and clay, is known for its good retention of adequate water and drainage. It is a popular choice for the cultivation of cannabis abroad.
- Clay soil: Although clay soils retain excess water, they can be adequate if you improve their structure with organic amendments. They are rich in nutrients.
- Sandy soil: Sandy soils drain very well, but may require a greater frequency of irrigation and amendments to retain nutrients.
- Improved Garden Land: Many growers choose to prepare their own substrate by mixing garden land with materials such as perlite, vermiculite and compost to create a personalized culture medium.
Basic Earth Preparation
The initial preparation of the Earth is a critical step to plant marijuana abroad. These are the essential steps that you should follow to make sure that your floor is ready to receive your plants:
- Area cleaning: Start by cleaning the area where you plan to grow. Remove any unwanted vegetation, debris or large stones. This will provide a clean canvas to work and reduce competition for nutrients and space.
- Tillage: Use a shovel or a motocultor to work the earth. This will break the compacted ground and help improve aeration. If the soil is clay or too compact, you can consider adding sand to improve the structure.
- Leveling: Level the surface of the earth to make sure it is uniform and without unevenness. This will facilitate irrigation and avoid drainage problems.
- Compost mixture: Mix a layer of organic compost decomposed on the carved earth. Compost will enrich the soil with essential nutrients and improve its water retention.
How to eliminate stones, weeds and other obstacles
The presence of stones, weeds and other obstacles can hinder the growth of your cannabis plants. Here we show you how to deal with them:
- Stones: After working the earth, perform a thorough search for stones and pebbles. Eliminate any stone that is larger than a marble, since they can interfere with the development of the roots.
- Weeds: Eliminate all weeds from the cultivation zone. Weeds compete for nutrients and space with your cannabis plants, so it is essential to keep the area free of them.
- Diverse obstacles: Inspect the ground in search of other obstacles, such as trees roots, plastic pieces or debris. Remove any object that can hinder the healthy growth of your plants.
The importance of soil aeration and structure improvement
Soil aeration and the improvement of its structure are critical aspects in the preparation of the Earth. Here we explain its importance:
- Aeration: Soil aeration implies breaking compaction and allowing oxygen to reach the roots of the plants. This promotes better root development and facilitates the absorption of nutrients.
- Structure improvement: By improving the soil structure, it is prevented from becoming too compact or too loose. Adding organic matter as compost helps maintain an optimal balance and provides a more favorable environment for roots.
Potentiators for the ground
The amendment of the soil is a fundamental process to provide your cannabis plants with an optimal growth environment. Enriching and balancing the soil is essential to make sure that your plants have access to the necessary nutrients and that the substrate has the appropriate structure. Here is a detailed explanation of how to achieve it:
- Understand the needs: Before amending the soil, it is important to know the specific needs of your cannabis plants. This includes the amount of nutrients, the optimal pH and the texture of the desired substrate.
- Use organic matter: Compost, humus and other organic materials are essential to enrich the soil. These materials improve the substrate structure, increase water retention and provide essential nutrients throughout the life cycle of your plants.
- Adjust the pH: The pH of the soil is crucial for the availability of nutrients. Most cannabis varieties prefer a slightly acidic pH, around 6.0-6.8. You can adjust the pH using correctors such as agricultural lime (to raise pH) or sulfuric acid (to reduce it).
Use of compost, humus, perlita and other beneficial materials
Soil amendment materials play a key role in the preparation of a healthy and balanced substrate for cannabis cultivation. Here are some of the most beneficial materials:
- Compost: Compost is rich in nutrients and improves soil structure. It provides vital organic matter and encourages the beneficial microbial activity in the substrate.
- Lombriz humus: This material is especially valuable due to its high concentration of nutrients and beneficial microorganisms. Lombriz humus improves water retention and soil aeration.
- Perlita: The perlite is an expanded volcanic mineral that improves aeration and drainage of the substrate. It helps prevent flooding and prevents soil compaction.
- Vermiculite: Similar to perlite, vermiculite is useful to improve water retention in the substrate. It is light and provides a good structure to the ground.
- Moss peat: Mushroom mob can be used to increase substrate water retention capacity, but keep in mind that pH can reduce. Use it with caution and regularly measure the pH of the ground.
Considerations on the correction of the pH of the soil
The pH of the soil is a critical factor that influences the availability of nutrients for your plants. If the pH is not in the optimal range, your plants may experience nutrient problems. Here are some important considerations:
- PH tests: Use a pH meter to regularly verify the level of acidity of your soil. This will help you determine if you need to make adjustments.
- Gradual adjustment: Make pH corrections gradually and carefully to avoid sudden changes that can stress your plants.
- Correction materials: Use agricultural lime (to raise pH) or sulfuric acid (to reduce it) as necessary. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for a precise application.
- Continuous monitoring: Measure the pH of irrigation water before applying it to make sure it is in the right range. Water with an incorrect pH can negatively affect the pH of the soil.
Nutrients and Fertilizers
Nutrients play a crucial role in healthy growth and development of cannabis plants. These are the reasons why they are so essential:
- Energy and food: Nutrients are the source of energy and food for your plants. They are necessary for photosynthesis, fabric growth, flower production and disease resistance.
- Macronutrients: Cannabis plants require three main macronutrients: nitrogen (n), phosphorus (P) and potassium (k), along with others such as calcium (CA) and magnesium (mg). Each one plays a specific role in the growth and production of flowers.
- Micronutrients: In addition to macronutrients, plants need small amounts of micronutrients such as iron (faith), zinc (zn), manganese (mn) and copper (cu) to maintain vital functions.
How to choose and apply organic or chemical fertilizers in an appropriate way
The proper choice and application of fertilizers is essential to provide your plants the necessary nutrients. Here we show you how to do it effectively:
- Know the needs: Before applying any fertilizer, perform a soil analysis or use test kits to understand the specific needs of your plants. This will help you determine which nutrients are poor.
- Organic fertilizers: Organic fertilizers are preferable to many growers due to their sustainability and lower risk of salts. You can use compost, manure, bat guano and other organic materials to enrich the substrate with nutrients.
- Chemical fertilizers: Chemical fertilizers provide nutrients quickly and precisely. You must follow the manufacturer's instructions to avoid supercharging. N-P fertilizers (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) are usually available chemically.
- Dose and proportions: Use fertilizers according to the manufacturer's recommendations and the specific needs of your plants. Pay attention to N-P-K proportions and make sure you don't unbalancing nutrients.
- Gradual fertilization: Divide the fertilizer doses throughout the growth cycle of your plants and avoid applying excess fertilizers, especially during the early stages of growth.
Avoid excess nutrients and their consequences
Excess nutrients can be harmful to your cannabis plants and should be avoided. Here are the reasons and how to prevent it:
- Salinity problems: Excess nutrients can increase soil salinity, which hinders the absorption of water and nutrients by the roots. This can lead to water stress problems.
- Nutrient toxicity: Excess of certain nutrients, such as nitrogen or phosphorus, can cause toxicity in plants, manifested by yellow or brown leaves and poor growth.
- Roots washing: If you suspect that you have applied too many nutrients, make a "roots washing" with balanced pH water to eliminate excess salts from the substrate.
- Continuous monitoring: Regularly measures pH and electrical conductivity (EC) of water and substrate to control nutrient levels.
Irrigation and drainage
Irrigation is a critical aspect of cannabis cultivation abroad, and adequate quantity and frequency are key to the success of your plants. Here you have a guide to determine how much and when you should water:
- Water needs: The water needs of your cannabis plants vary throughout their growth cycle. During the early stages, such as germination and the first weeks of vegetative growth, plants require less water. As they grow and flourish, their demand for water increases.
- Finger test: A simple technique is to insert a finger into the substrate to the first joint. If the earth feels dry to that depth, it is time to water. If you are still wet, wait a little more.
- Pot weight: Another way to determine if your plants need water is to lift the pots. When they are light, it's time to water. When they are heavy, they still have enough humidity.
- Drainage: Consider the water retention capacity of your substrate and weather. In warm climates and with soils that retain water, you may have to water more frequently. In cooler climates or with substrates that retain moisture, water less frequently.
The importance of an adequate drainage system to avoid problems such as waterlogging
An adequate drainage system is essential to avoid problems such as waterlogging, which can be harmful to cannabis plants. Here we explain its importance:
- Poking prevention: Substrate waterlogging can cause the suffocation of roots, since excess water displaces oxygen from the soil. This can lead to the rot of the roots and to the deterioration of the health of the plants.
- Healthy roots: A good drain allows excess water to evacuate the substrate, ensuring that the roots have access to oxygen and the necessary nutrients for healthy growth.
- Fungi and disease prevention: The flooded soils are conducive to the development of fungi, pests and diseases in marijuana They can damage your plants. An adequate drainage system reduces this risk.
- Irrigation optimization: An efficient drainage system allows you to water without fear of the accumulation of water in the substrate. This gives you greater control over the amount of water that your plants receive.
To make sure you have a good drainage system, consider the following measures
- Use pots with holes at the bottom to allow water to drain freely.
- Make sure the substrate has an adequate mixture of materials that favor drainage, such as perlite or vermiculite.
- Avoid the use of containers that retain excess water.
- Make sure the irrigation water has an adequate escape route in the substrate.
Soil protection and maintenance
Erosion and soil wear can be significant problems in cannabis culture abroad, especially in areas exposed to adverse climatic conditions. Here are some ways to prevent them:
- Terraces and loins: If your cultivation area has pronounced slopes, consider the creation of terraces or loins to reduce soil erosion caused by water runoff.
- Vegetable coverage: Keep a permanent vegetable cover on the ground, even among cannabis ranks. This helps maintain the soil structure and prevents the wind and rain from erosioning the upper layer.
- Maintenance Mulch: Organic Mulch applies such as straw, leaves, bark or grass cut on the soil surface. This helps reduce the evaporation of water and prevents the rain from impacting the ground directly, thus reducing erosion.
Use of mulch and vegetable covers to protect the earth
The use of mulch and vegetable covers is an effective practice to protect the soil and maintain your health. Here are more information:
- Mulch: The mulch is a layer of organic material placed on the ground to protect it. You can use straw, cut grass, leaves or even mulch. The mulch retains moisture, prevents weed growth and reduces soil erosion.
- Vegetable covers: Vegetable covers are low growth plants that are sown or planted between cannabis ranks. They can be legumes, such as clover or alfalfa, which also provide nitrogen to the ground. The vegetable covers keep the soil covered and encourage biodiversity.
- Benefits: Both practices help maintain soil structure, improve water retention, provide nutrients and prevent erosion. In addition, they reduce the need for irrigation and the use of herbicides.
Maintenance throughout the cultivation season
Continuous soil maintenance is essential to maintain a healthy environment for your cannabis plants throughout the cultivation season. Here are some guidelines:
- Mulch replacement: As the mulch breaks down, replace it to maintain a protective layer on the floor.
- Weed control: Regularly inspect the culture area to control the growth of weeds and take them away before they compete with your plants for the nutrients.
- Gradual fertilization: If necessary, apply fertilizers gradually and according to the specific needs of your plants throughout the season.
- Soil monitoring: Perform periodic soil analysis to evaluate your health and adjust your cultivation practices accordingly.
- Efficient irrigation: Continue watering according to the needs of your plants and avoid water waste.