There are many ways to get your marijuana plants to have the biggest marijuana buds possible. Knowing how to do it right ahead of time is important so that you can be sure to give your plants the healthiest living environment possible. Keep reading for some of the most useful tips to getting huge marijuana buds.
Nutrients and pH level
While your plants are going to need a variety of nutrient levels depending on their current stage of growth, buds specifically love phosphorus. The best nutrient mixture contains 10% nitrogen, 30% phosphorus, and 10% potassium. Some extra potassium can also be helpful at the end of the flowering phase.
Equally important to nutrients is the pH level of the soil at the root level. An improper pH level won’t allow your marijuana plants to absorb the nutrients they need, meaning a pH level is often the cause of a nutrient deficiency or toxicity. Keep a close eye on the pH level and lower it or increase it as necessary.
To increase bud yields, check out nutrients like EM-1 by TeraGanix.
Lighting
In general, the more intense the light, the bigger the buds. Of course, overdoing it is never a good idea, but buds can take a lot of light before they’ve had too much. Plants that have been stretching to reach light (showing that the light is not intense enough or is too far away) will not produce big, heavy buds.
Generally speaking, HPS lamps are the best option for growing marijuana plants and getting huge buds. There should be 400 Watts per every 13 square feet of plants during the vegetation phase, but 600 Watts per every 13 square feet during the flowering phase.
Carbon Dioxide
All plants love carbon dioxide, and marijuana is no different – especially during the flowering phase. The more carbon dioxide your plants get, the better, and the greater their ability to grow big, heavy buds. It also allows helps your plants withstand greater levels of light, so be sure to increase carbon dioxide and light intensity side by side.
Temperature and humidity
Keep temperatures between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit when your plants are seedlings, up to a maximum of 82 degrees when the plants are older. During “nighttime” the temperature should be between 59 degrees Fahrenheit and 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
Humidity levels are also important. During the first week of the flowering phase, the humidity should be at 65%. By the time the 9th week of flowering rolls around, the humidity should be at 40%. Gradually decrease it as the weeks go by.
Pruning
Pruning can be extremely useful when trying to maximize your plants’ resources. Prune away the yellowing leaves of your plants to more efficiently spend your plants’ resources, or employ more complicated pruning tactics to get the most out of your marijuana plants.
Harvesting
Timing the harvest is hugely important, especially when it comes to bud potency. Your buds aren’t ready to harvest until the pistils are at least 70% brown. Better yet, wait until they are between 70% and 90% brown, when the taste, potency, and weight are at their highest.
Genetics
Ultimately, genetics are the most important. Everything else you do won’t matter unless you buy high-quality seeds from the beginning.