As of October last year, cannabis became legal all over Canada for adults. But it isn’t just buying and using it that’s legal. As long as you’re of legal age and aren’t restricted by provincial laws, you’re also able to grow weed either indoors or outdoors. Growing weed can be an incredibly rewarding project for anyone who enjoys weed. It can also result in huge yields, saving you a lot of money while also ending up with mass amounts of quality cannabis.
There are a lot of things you need to know before you start growing, though. There are different ways to grow both indoors and outdoors. There are also different types of seeds which will impact the kind of plants you end up with. What’s more, growing can also be quite different depending on whether you choose to grow sativa, indica or hybrid cannabis strains.
Knowing more about the types of plants you’re growing and what to expect will result in a much more successful grow. Whether you prefer the soothing body high and mental relief of indica strains, the uplifting, mood-boosting mental high of sativa strains or the balanced effects of hybrid strains, you can grow your favorite kinds of cannabis and end up with plenty to use. Here’s a guide to the differences in growing sativa, indica, and hybrid cannabis and other tips for growing.
Canada Cannabis Growing Laws
Before you start growing weed, it’s important to know the growing laws in Canada. Canada cannabis laws make it legal for adults to buy, use, and grow cannabis. However, there are still certain rules and restrictions, and the laws can vary in each province.
There are currently two provinces where it’s illegal to grow weed without a commercial license- Quebec and Manitoba. Nunavut also enables each area to set its own laws on growing, which means you may or may not be able to grow depending on which part you reside in. In every other province, you’re able to grow cannabis as long as you’re 19 or over. In Alberta, you can grow cannabis from the age of 18.
While all of these provinces allow you to grow weed either indoors or outdoors, there are still limitations. Growers must keep their plants safe and out of the reach of children. Those who grow outdoors may need to keep their plants within an enclosure. For instance, New Brunswick requires you to have a fenced enclosure at least 1.52 meters high around any marijuana plants grown outdoors. You must also keep your plants away from public view.
If you grow indoors, it’s best to keep your plants in a locked room or space if you have children. Landlords are also able to restrict tenants from growing weed on their property, so if you rent your home, you may be restricted from growing weed. You can keep all of the cannabis you grow at home, but you can’t possess more than 30 grams of dried cannabis in public.
Different Types of Cannabis Seeds
To start growing weed, you’ll also need cannabis seeds or cuttings. Seeds are available to buy from seed banks, and when you buy, you’ll notice they’re separated into certain categories. Seeds are generally categorized by the terms regular seeds, feminized seeds, and autoflowering seeds.
Regular seeds are the most common type, although they’re far from the best for growers. These seeds are naturally produced when pollination occurs between a male and female plant. While you can find regular seeds for cheap and in high quantities, they won’t result in the best yields.
The problem with regular seeds is that there’s only a 50% chance you’ll get female plants. Female marijuana plants are the plants which produce THC. Male plants won’t give you the desired effects of cannabis, and they can also ruin the chances your other plants become female. However, some growers use regular seeds to take cuttings from the female plants.
Feminized seeds are guaranteed to result in feminine plants rich in THC. These are ideal for marijuana growers who want potent cannabis plants. As such, most growers will buy feminized seeds to ensure they grow the best plants possible. They may cost a little more than regular seeds, but the payoff is worth it.
Autoflowering seeds can be either regular or feminized, but there’s an important difference. These seeds are created by crossing regular or feminized seeds with ruderalis seeds- a species of cannabis which grows much faster. Regular and feminized seeds generally take around 3 months or more to grow, whereas autoflowering seeds can easily grow within around 10 weeks. Due to their ability to grow high-THC marijuana plants easily, autoflowering feminized seeds are often sought after by growers and ideal for beginners.
Methods for Growing Cannabis
Once you have your seeds ready, there are numerous directions you can go. First of all, choosing whether to grow indoors or outdoors can make a big difference. Both of these methods have their pros and cons and which you should go with depends on numerous factors.
Growing indoors gives you much more control over the plants you grow. You can control the temperature, heat, and light conditions to give your plants the optimal conditions for easy growth and high yields. Although it may be better for growers, growing indoors also requires much more investment in equipment and much more oversight, whereas growing outdoors usually takes less effort.
Growing outdoors is much easier. You can plant your seeds, give them some nutrient-enriched soil, and water them when they dry up, but the weather will mostly take care of the rest. Although it can take less effort, growing outdoors can also take longer. It’s also dependant on weather conditions- naturally, you may need to wait for spring or summer time if you want to grow marijuana plants successfully.
There are also other options when it comes to growing. For instance, marijuana plants need certain nutrients, but you can do this either via enriching the soil with nutrients or giving them nutrient-enriched water. Some people even use hydroponic equipment for growing- a soilless method which involves leaving plants in nutrient-enriched water.
The best method of growing can also depend on the strain you’re trying to grow. Some plants grow better indoors whereas some grow better outdoors. As such, it helps to know the differences in growing sativa, indica, and hybrid cannabis plants.
Growing Sativa Cannabis
Compared to indica cannabis plants, sativa plants are usually much taller and thinner with narrower leaves. Generally, sativa plants are harder to grow. They have longer flowering times and produce lower yields, which means growers usually prefer indica plants. However, they’re worth it for many growers due to the enjoyable sativa effects.
Sativa strains are usually best grown outdoors- they benefit from a lot of sunlight and can grow exceptionally tall, making them difficult to manage for indoor growers. However, it’s harder to grow them in colder months which can make things tricky for growers. Although you can grow them indoors, you’ll need a lot of space.
Although sativa plants can take longer to grow, it’s often worth it. You can end up with some amazing weed and if you grow during the summer, sometimes it doesn’t take much effort to let them grow naturally.
Best Sativa Strains to Grow
If you want a strain with mood-boosting and mind-stimulating effects, then it’s best to grow a sativa strain. Sativa strains generally make users feel happy, motivated, and creative. They may take a little longer to grow than indica strains, but the payoff is worth it. Here are some of the best sativa strains to grow.
Blue Dream – Blue Dream is renowned for its invigorating effects and medical benefits. It relieves users of anxiety and depression, putting them in a happy and focused state. It’s also an easy strain to grow, thriving in various temperatures and producing high yields, making it ideal for beginner growers.
Strawberry Cough – Strawberry Cough is another brilliant medical strain that can heighten your senses and boost your mood. It helps relieve pain and reduce stress, and the delicious fresh strawberry taste makes it all the more enjoyable. It’s best grown in high temperatures using nutrient-enriched soil. If the weather isn’t warm, consider growing it indoors.
Sour Diesel – A highly popular sativa strain known for its ability to induce happiness and creativity. It’s ideally grown in warm temperatures, but its ability to grow large and produce high yields mean you may want to grow it indoors.
Growing Indica Cannabis
Indica cannabis plants produce higher yields and take a shorter time to flower, making them ideal for growers. It’s easy to grow indica plants indoors and you can end up with some nice, thick, resinous buds which produce high levels of THC.
Indica plants are shorter and bushier than sativa plants, which makes them ideal for indoor growers. You can grow them in a small space and have complete control over the temperature, light, and humidity, resulting in faster growing times. You can also grow them outdoors during warmer months, and they’ll be quicker to finish than sativa plants.
These plants are usually the best for beginner growers, and there are plenty of great indica strains to choose from.
Best Indica Strains to Grow
Indica strains are known for their soothing and sedating effects. They’re also ideal for those who want potent relief for issues such as pain, headaches, and stress. Indica strains are usually fast to grow, especially when grown indoors. Here are some of the best indica strains to grow.
Northern Lights #5 – Northern Lights #5 is an award-winning indica strain. With a flowering time of around 6 weeks and an impressive yield, it’s a great strain to grow. It’s also great for smoking thanks to its relaxing and euphoric effects.
Critical Kush – Critical Kush is a hard-hitting indica which soothes both the mind and body with tranquilizing effects. It’s best to grow indoors- it can flower relatively fast at 8 weeks and produce tall plants full of resinous buds.
Hash Plant – A standout strain from Sensi Seeds with a flowering time of around 7 to 9 weeks and a yield of around 14 ounces. Growing indoors can result in great yields. Hash Plant swiftly induces an intensely calming body high for users, perfect for tackling pain and physical tension.
Growing Hybrid Cannabis
Hybrid cannabis plants can vary significantly as they inherit traits of both indica and sativa plants. The plants can have the physical attributes, effects, and growing behaviors of either indica or sativa plants. You’ll often end up with plants with traits of both indica and sativa plants, and the flowering time and ideal growing conditions can vary.
How your hybrid plants will grow can depend largely on the strain. Some lean more towards indica, some lean more towards sativa, and some are right in the middle. It’s best to research the type of strain you plan to grow to see which is best to grow.
Hybrid strains are popular as they also provide the effects of both indica and sativa strains, making them ideal for many cannabis users.
Best Hybrid Strains to Grow
Hybrid strains are ideal for users who want a mix of both indica and sativa effects. Likewise, the plants have both indica and sativa genetics and can vary quite significantly in how they grow and how the plants appear. Here are some of the best hybrid strains to grow.
White Widow – A balanced hybrid that’s known worldwide for the enjoyable head and body high it induces. White Widow plants produce high yields and flower in around 8-9 weeks. When grown outdoors, they can grow particularly high yields of up to 21 ounces of quality weed.
Gorilla Glue #4 – Gorilla Glue #4 is one of the most popular strains out there, known for its ability to heighten your senses and make you feel glued to the couch. It’s best to grow indoors to control the temperature and humidity, resulting in solid yields of around 18 ounces.
Dutch Treat – Dutch Treat is best grown indoors at a temperature of around 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s a fantastic hybrid which produces dense, resinous buds and induces a deep, relaxing, indica-dominant high.
Conclusion
Sativa, Indica, and hybrid cannabis plants all have their own attributes. Not only do these cannabis species have different effects, but their plants also grow differently and produce different levels of cannabinoids. Indoor growers will prefer to grow indica plants, but sativa plants are great for outdoor growers who want nice, tall plants. Hybrid plants have qualities of both plants.
