DR Growman 2018 Eng PDF
DR Growman 2018 Eng PDF
DR Growman 2018 Eng PDF
ONE
OF US
YOUR HOME-GROWING GUIDE
Through this small Growing Guide, we want to help you to take your first
steps inside this complex but incredible world of home growing.
In order to be able to enjoy the advantages of home growing, a grower has
HOME GROWING
to bear in mind basic concepts and know a few proper es of the plants. It
will be necessary to study their en re life cycle from germina on to
harves ng, as well as learning how their metabolism works, and what they
need for ideal growth and development.
When non-experienced growers come to understand and apply this
knowledge, they will be able to take their growing to the best level both in
terms of quality and quan ty.
CHEMISTRY OF CANNABIS
Before going further into the world of homegrowing, it is important to
know why one variety of marijuana has a different effect to another. The
cannabis plant is the only plant in the whole of nature that produces
substances called cannabinoids, which are responsible for its euphoric,
psychoac ve or relaxing effect when it is consumed.
Over 60 types of cannabinoids have been discovered thus far. However,
two of the most common types are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and
cannabidiol (CBD).
THC is the main type responsible for psychoac ve s mula on, which can
be present by up to 25% in some varie es. On the other hand, we have
CBD, which is the variety with a mainly relaxing effect and used for
medicinal purposes.
03
SATIVA recrea onal and leisure purposes
This Asian-, American- and African-origin variety can grow to measure 4.5
metres in height as an outdoor crop. It tends to grow very fast, although the
flowering stage occurs later than other varie es. It is characterised by its
VARIETIES OF CANNABIS
ample foliage, with pointed, very slender leaves. It has a more cerebral and
psychoac ve effect due to a higher concentra on of TCH in rela on to CBD
and therefore is used for recrea onal purposes.
The main characteris c of this variety is that its flowering period lasts only 4
weeks. It originated in southern Siberia and tends to develop with ease in
cold areas. This variety is a small-sized plant, which grows as a shrub. It has
a low concentra on of THC and CBD, which means it does not have
psychoac ve effects. Currently, many seed banks cross this variety with
Indica or Sa va varie es, obtaining new gene cs known as self-flowering
varie es whose main characteris cs are defined as flowering fast, being
small in size and having a medium to medium-low concentra on of THC
and CBD.
04
GERMINATION
This is one of the most important stages of the process, as the success of
the growing process depends to a large extent on good germina on. It has
to be taken into account that, unfortunately, on many occasions some
THE PLANT'S LIFE CYCLE
seeds do not germinate or are not strong enough to go through this cycle.
There are several ways of germina ng a seed. However, there are three
common elements that must be present for good germina on:
LUMEN EVOLUTION
05
GERMINATION (con nued from previous page)
OPTION #1 GERMINATOR
Dampen the germinator with plenty of water and wait 10 to 15
minutes for it to swell. Later, take a pencil and mark a space about 2 DAMPEN
THE PLANT'S LIFECYCLE
to 5 milimetres deep, remove the seed from the water and place
inside the germinator. To end, cover the seed with a light layer of the 2 TO 5 MM
same substrate of the germinator and keep in a dark place un l the DEEP
first couple of leaves sprout. Once the li le plant has put out its
second pair of leaves or when the first roots begin to emerge
around the sides of the germinator, pass it directly to the earth thus
avoiding any stress from transplan ng and ensuring that the plant
develops op mally and safely.
Regularly check the temperature, humidity and ven la on. A lack of water can
dry the seed out fast and an excess of water can deprive it of oxygen.
06
SEEDLING DEVELOPMENT (con nued from previous page)
Once the seed sprouts, the root system quickly begins to form, the stalk
begins to grow and the first pair of leaves immediately emerges. These first
leaves are known as cotyledons and are characterised by being smooth
THE PLANT'S LIFECYCLE
and round, as well as not being photosensi ve.
The development of the seedling varies between 2 to 3 weeks, depending
on its gene cs, the capacity of the planter and the amount of light. In this
phase, the plant must be given ideal condi ons of humidity and
temperature in order for it to grow healthy and strong. Over the first few
days, it needs a low, constant contribu on of water, which can be given by
using a sprayer directly on the earth. In addi on, do not expose the
seedling to very strong light or place it in direct sunlight during the ho est
mes of the day.
From now on, the ideal temperature varies between 20 and 26 and
humidity should be at 60%. If you are growing inside with incandescent
bulbs (metal halide and sodium), it is recommended you leave a gap
between the lamp and the plant of 80 cm to 120 cm. These bulbs are ideal
for maintaining the temperature between March and November; in the
summer, they work just as well but it is very important to pay a en on to
the ven la on and air extrac on so that the temperature does not go
above 33.
In this phase, the plants must be watered constantly and by the right
amount. Too much water encourages fungi to grow, whereas too li le
water can lead the root system to dry out.
07
SEEDLING DEVELOPMENT (con nued from previous page)
If necessary, it is possible to use a natural rooter to s mulate root forma on
and achieve faster growth. Use of that type of product is only
recommended when the seedling's growth is stagna ng (in low doses) or if
THE PLANT'S LIFECYCLE
the grower has experience in fer lising plants.
INPUT OF FRESH AIR
You must ensure there is a constant flow of fresh, clean air to the inside
of the cabinet. The fresh air revitalises and encourages cell s mula on.
OUTPUT OF HOT AIR
Halide and sodium lamps generate quite a lot of heat. It is possible to lower
the temperature by extrac ng the air properly, to prevent the plants from
dehydra ng as well as to control the humidity of the environment. If you
want strong growth, you have to ensure there is proper ven la on and
airing.
AIR MOVEMENT
Inside the growing space, it is a good idea to have one or two ven lators to
make the plants move. A plant in movement is an ac ve plant; the air
currents help to strengthen the stalk and leaves and also help to control in
some way the arrival of certain pests when growing. The plant needs me
to grow and mature. The longer the period of growth, the greater the
produc on and the be er the quality.
08
VEGETATIVE GROWTH
In this phase, the plants can grow between 1 cm and 5 cm a day. This
growth is not only due to the gene cs of the seed, but is also influenced by
other factors such as the size of the planter, the power of the light, the
THE PLANT'S LIFECYCLE
quality of the substrate, the ven la on condi ons, and so on. At this me,
the plants will be a chlorophyll factory which is working at full speed, thus
requiring a greater amount of water and be er nutrients.
To obtain a generous crop, extra care must be taken with the plants and
their environment: you must op mise the ven la on, be careful to
prevent fungi or pests, plus look a er the leaves and stalks. Use quality
substrate for a strong, health root system.
FERTILISERS
In this phase, fer lisers high in nitrogen (N) content can be used to
s mulate the growth of the stem, branches and leaves, as well as to help to
strengthen the root system.
09
VEGETATIVE GROWTH (con nued from previous page)
SPACE
The amount of light received by the plants is directly related to their
THE PLANT'S LIFECYCLE
growth. The lower parts of the plants are generally more shaded, so they
will grow less. There is a popular belief that the more plants per square
meter, the most produc on. This depends on many factors and it is best to
make sure the plants have enough space to get the most light possible.
SURFACE LIGHT
AREA POWER POT 7L POT 11L POT 15L POT 20L POT 30L
AMOUNT OF LIGHT
Cannabis, like most plants in the plant kingdom, reacts to photoperiod
changes; this enables indoor growers to control the growing and flowering
phases depending on the amount of hours of light per day they are exposed
to. Vegeta ve growth is maintained with 16 or more hours of light a day. If
grown inside using halide lamps, a cycle of 18 hours a day of light is
recommended.
10
VEGETATIVE GROWTH (con nued from previous page)
QUALITY GROWTENTS
11
TRANSPLANTING
Depending on the pot's capacity and the size of the plant, the plant can be
transplanted during the vegeta ve growth and/or when it begins
flowering. This has to be assessed on a case to case basis; some mes only
THE PLANT'S LIFECYCLE
one transplant is needed and at other mes, more than one. Being
transplanted is a very trauma c experience for the plants and therefore
requires speed, precision and manual dexterity so that the procedure has
the least possible impact on the plants.
HOW IS IT DONE?
Place a hand with outstretched fingers over the surface of the substrate,
with the main stalk between the fingers. Turn the plant upside down,
grasping the base firmly. With the other hand, gently tap the base of the pot
un l the substrate comes away.
Place the plant in the new container and add substrate un l the base is
covered on all sides. However, remember to leave an area 5 cm high free to
be able to water more easily.
KEEP IN MIND:
- The plant must be transplanted when the roots are interlaced.
- Avoid exposing the roots to the light for a very long me.
- Carry out the transplan ng at the very end of the day, so the plant will have
the night to recover.
- On the following day, filter the intensity of the light with a mesh, so the
plant is not directly exposed to the sun or to the incandescent lamps.
- A er transplan ng, keep the plant in more humid condi ons for a couple
of days and try to increase the concentra on of phosphorus a li le.
- Any product that contains Trichoderma fungi or vitamin B will help to
reduce the stress from the transplan ng.
12
FLOWERING
In this highly an cipated phase, the plants begin to produce flowers.
Flowering is induced when the plant is exposed to less hours of light and
more me in the dark.
THE PLANT'S LIFECYCLE
During the flowering phase, the plant's water and nutrient consump on
needs change. In this phase, all the energy generated by the plant is used
to produce buds. The plant requires a lower amount of water, as well as
decreased nitrogen (N) absorp on. By contrast, the plant needs an
increase in its consump on of potassium (K) and phosphorus (P). It is
therefore essen al to change fer lizers that help with resin produc on
and sugar processing.
In the case of an indoor home-growing situa on using feminised seeds, a
sodium bulb should be used, with a photoperiod of 12 hours of light and
12 hours of darkness. In the event that you are growing automa c plants,
20 hours of light a day and 4 of dark can be used, as these plants do not
depend on a photoperiod to flower.
At physical level, growers will no ce that while this flowering phase
progresses, the plant begins to become covered in pis ls (white hairs),
the leaves become more yellow and produc on of crystals (trichomes)
can be seen with the bare eye.
13
FLOWERING (con nued from previous page)
KEEP IN MIND:
- Avoid interrup ons in the photoperiod; if the plant is in the dark for no
THE PLANT'S LIFECYCLE
14
HARVESTING
Before harves ng, you must take care of certain key elements to maintain
quality produc on.
You must stop fer lising at least one week before harves ng. During this
HARVESTING
period, wash the root with plenty of water to remove traces of fer liser. In
addi on, if any foliage products have been used during growing, the
flowers and leaves should be sprayed with water (preferably in the
morning) to improve the flavour and mellowness of the harvest.
No longer watering the plants 2 or 3 days before the harvest accelerates
the drying by a couple of days without affec ng the quality. Some growers
recommend leaving the plants in complete darkness for a period of 24
hours before cu ng to increase the resin.
WHEN TO CUT
Between the 4th and 6th week of flowering, the trichomes have to be
checked constantly to iden fy the best moment to harvest. To the plain
eye, the plant is mature when the pis ls change from white to brown or
reddish in colour.
However, it reaches maturity when the heads of the trichomes are
spherical. To achieve more psychoac ve effects from the product, the
harvest can be carried out before the trichomes turn amber in colour. By
contrast, to achieve more corporeal and relaxing effects, you should wait
un l they are a li le darker.
15
HARVESTING (con nued from previous page)
STEP BY STEP CUTTING
- First remove the large leaves, ge ng rid of the damaged leaves, and place
HARVESTING
them in a paper bag.
- Cut the branches and cut off the small leaves to leave the flowers clean.
The leaves can be used to cook with or to make hash.
- Hang the branches upside down to dry them.
- Place the flowers and leaves to dry for one week at temperatures between
15 and 21 and with humidity levels of between 40% and 60%. Ven late
the air once or twice a day.
KEEP IN MIND:
In order for the THC to have an effect, the grower has to wait for the flowers
to be dried and cured.
Slow drying helps the THC to degrade uniformly and enable the humidity to
be eliminated li le by li le, with a very posi ve impact on improving the
flavour.
There is a very high risk of ruining the harvest if the drying occurs quickly,
with a very nega ve impact on the flavour. When harves ng small
amounts, you can use cardboard or wooden boxes. If you use drying mesh,
you must check and turn the buds every day so that they dry in a uniform
fashion. To control the temperature and humidity, extrac on and
ven la on systems can be used, along with humidifiers or dehumidifiers. It
is important to prevent these from being aimed directly at the buds.
16
HARVESTING (con nued from previous page)
CURING
Curing consists of removing in a uniform manner the last traces of damp
HARVESTING
from the inside of the bud. Proper curing enables both the flavour and the
strength of the product to be enhanced to the greatest extent possible
The branches should be inspected daily: if they break when bent it means
that the buds are ready for curing. In this case, you have to cut and separate
the buds from the branch as carefully as possible. Next, place the buds in a
box, preferably made of wood, so that the humidity goes in a slow,
con nuous and uniform manner.
The box must be stored in a dark, dry and fresh place for 1 or 2 weeks un l
the humidity has gone. The box must be opened a couple of mes a day to
change the air.
When this stage has ended, the buds can be kept in a herme c container
(glass container) so that the buds maintain their proper es for a long me.
Said containers can be kept in the fridge so that the THC degrades more
slowly.
17
ASSEMBLY ILLUSTRATION OPTION #1
OPTION #1 corresponds to the diagram for installing a growing cabinet recommended for
indoor growing in geographical regions which are not very warm.
ASSEMBLY ILLUSTRATION
flexible
tube
extractor
carbon
filter
hygrotherm
reflector
clipfan
inline
extractor fan
18
ASSEMBLY ILLUSTRATION OPTION #2
OPTION #2 corresponds to the diagram for installing a growing cabinet recommended for
indoor growing in warm geographical regions.
ASSEMBLY ILLUSTRATION
extractor
carbon
filter
flexible
tube
hygrotherm
reflector
clip fan
inline
extractor fan
19
ASSEMBLY ILLUSTRATION OPTION #3
OPTION #3 corresponds to the diagram for installing a growing cabinet recommended for
indoor growing in very warm geographical regions. OPTION #3 makes it possible to
generate the air in a much more active manner than in OPTION #2.
ASSEMBLY ILLUSTRATION
flexible
tube
extractor
carbon
filter
inline
extractor
fan
hygrotherm
reflector
clipfan
inline
extractor fan
20
NECESSARY MATERIAL
Material needed to assemble the growing cabinets illustrated on previous pages and
identified as OPTION #1 and OPTION #2. To assemble OPTION #3 properly, add a
PROFAN INLINE inline fan to the material stated.
GROWING CABINET 100 WITH 600W GROWING CABINET 120 WITH 600W
GROWING CABINET 240L WITH 600W GROWING CABINET 240 WITH 600W
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
For the elabora on of this home-growing guide, GARDEN HIGHPRO has received
great support from the following collabora ng companies:
LEGAL NOTICE
this home-growing guide is for educa onal purposes and under no circumstances
aims to induce anyone to act against the Law.
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NOT FOR RESALE
PROMOTIONAL USE ONLY
info@gardenhighpro.com
gardenhighpro.com/borntobeagrower
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