Grow, grow, grow your dope, gently down a stream…
Want to know how your cannabis got to where it is in your friendly dispensary counter? For that, we went to Billo head of grow operations Dave Kulberg for his insight on getting a plant from seedling to sinsemilla.
“Cultivating healthy and flourishing cannabis plants means diligently managing a complete array of input variables including light, water, and soil nutrients. The time from seed to flower can range from 10-32 weeks and less when starting from a clone (i.e., rooted cutting). At our Billo grow operation, strains are meticulously chosen inhouse through seed selection and testing. Only the best make it to commercial production to join the library of award-winning genetics.
“When starting from seed, it’s important to know a thing or two about plant genetics. Females are the only cannabis plants with the ability to produce buds that can be harvested to smoke, vape, dab, and ingest. Male plants must be removed before the flowers open to ensure that the cannabis retains its quality and remains free of seeds.
“The typical cannabis growth timeline includes roughly six phases:
Phase 1: Germinating Seeds (1-7 days)
To properly germinate it’s important to keep the seed wet and in a dark place. In a matter of days, a single root called the radicle (tap root) will shoot downwards as the new stem grows upwards, pushing the seed out of the soil.
Phase 2: Seedling Stage (2-3 weeks)
Exposure to proper light and moisture is important here. Plants in the seeding stage should receive 18-24 hours of light, moist soil, and mild humidity to grow properly. Growing plants indoors allows us to control every aspect of the growing environment.
Phase 3: Vegetative Growth (2-8 weeks)
Once it’s deemed ready, plants at this stage are moved to larger pots and their growth begins to soar. The plant stem and overall size become thicker and its root system begins to prepare for flowering. During this phase it’s important to train the plant for optimal growth and structure, achieved by varying the amount of water the plants receive and the position of the watering mechanism. This is also when the light cycle moves to an 18-hour day with a six-hour night period.
Phase 4: Pre-flowering (1-2 weeks)
In this phase, the plants form bud sights or pre-flowers. Essentially, this is where the “buds” you purchase at the store come from. At this point, the plant should start to receive 12 hours of light per day and it grows exponentially, almost doubling in size. The plant is preparing to establish its final structure before blooming out its buds.
Phase 5: Flowering (6-8 weeks)
The flowering stage occurs naturally when plants receive 12 hours of light a day. Over the next few weeks it continues its development until maturity, with each strain showing its own characteristics and traits, including unique aromas and its defining structure. Towards the end of this phase the plant will be deprived of nutrients, mimicking a fall-like environment. The plants are ready to be harvested when the colors of the pistils turn from white to reddish orange and the trichome heads turn from transparent to amber.
Phase 6: Harvesting
When it’s time to harvest, the plants are cut down into smaller branches and hung upside down in a cool, dark room for a controlled cure. Plants are typically left hanging for 7-14 days in an optimal environment allowing buds to slowly dry into their final form. Once they’ve reached the desired moisture content, the flower is managed by trimmers who clip excess leaves to reveal the gems of this amazing plant.
