It is not uncommon for CBD users to get curious about growing CBD at home. If you’ve got a sunny, warm spot outside, you might just have some luck with it! However, there are a few things to be aware of in order to grow your own CBD successfully, including laws that could make growing where you live illegal.
Choosing a Space for Growing CBD
Before you can get started on planting and harvesting, you will need to first select the proper location for your future plants. There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing the right spot; CBD plants have particular needs about light, water, and air flow.
- Sunlight: CBD plants will need at least six hours of full sunlight a day in order to survive. A spot with direct afternoon sunlight is preferable, and will give your plant the best chance at success. All plants produce energy by a process called photosynthesis, where sunlight is used to create sugar to fuel plant growth; CBD is no different, and ample sunlight will give your plant the fuel it needs to produce robust flowers.
- Water: CBD plants are pretty thirsty and will require lots of water throughout their growing period to flower successfully. Be sure to choose a spot for your growing CBD that will be easily accessible either by irrigation systems, or by regular hand watering. Additionally, you will need access to water that is free of harsh chemical treatments.
- Air Flow: The location of your growing CBD plants will need to be in a space that has plenty of air flow. Air movement around your plants will do a number of things: wind and breezes will help to keep your plant cool during sweltering summer heat; wind movement will help signal to your plant that it needs to grow thick, hardy stems, which will help to support future flower growth; and, good air flow between plants will help leaves dry off between watering, discouraging bacteria growth and pests.
The Proper Soil
The next step in getting set up to grow CBD is nailing down what type of soil you are going to use. Good soil is absolutely crucial to the health of your plant; good soil allows your plant to grow a strong and hearty root system to sustain itself, and rich soil will help to give your plant the nutrients it needs to grow large, mature plants. Soil for growing CBD should be very rich in organic matter to fuel plant growth, and also be well aerated for moisture retention.
Additionally, many people choose to sterilize their soil before use to ensure that it is free from any harmful pests or pathogens that may be present.
Starting Seeds
There are a few different types of seeds available to get started with, each having their own benefits.
- Regular Seeds: Plain ol’ CBD seeds are going to be the most inexpensive. So, if you’re a beginner grower, this might be the option for you. Practice makes perfect, and growing CBD is no exception. Buying cheap seeds affords you the opportunity to grow more plants, and learn from your mistakes along the way without breaking the bank. Additionally, you will learn more about the full life-cycle of the hemp plant.
- Auto-Flowering Seeds: If you are running low on space for your grow, an auto-flowering seed might be good for you. These plants will mature more quickly, but be smaller in size than regular CBD seeds.
- Ferminized Seeds: These seeds will only grow female plants so you won’t have to identify the gender of plants as they get growing, streamlining the process for you.
- Clones: Additionally, you may choose to forego starting your CBD plants from seeds, entirely. Growing CBD from clones is a great and easy way to get started right away with a healthy and sturdy plant.
The Legality of Growing
Unfortunately, the legality of growing CBD plants is a bit murky. Hemp is no longer a Schedule I controlled substance, according to the 2018 Farm Bill. According to this bill, farmers can apply for a license from the state to grow hemp commercially. However, that doesn’t quite apply to regular folks growing CBD at home. So, basically, if you live in a state where it is illegal to grow marijuana at home, we wouldn’t advise trying to grow CBD, either. However, if you live in a state where recreational users are legally allowed to cultivate cannabis you can grow hemp, it will just count toward your marijuana plant allowance.
Conclusion
These are just the basics for getting started with growing CBD; there is much more to learn if you’re seriously thinking about starting a little growing operation. This is a great resource with more detailed information and specifics on hemp growing. If you’ve got the space, time, and the willingness to learn about growing this beneficial crop from your own home, we hope you’ll take a leap and try your own hand at growing CBD.
As always, if you’ve got any questions or comments don’t hesitate to contact us. To learn more about CBD and Kratom check out our blog. And, if you decided growing your own CBD might be too much of a hassle, check out our shop to purchase our top quality CBD flower with 0.0% THC.
