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What determines how long a marijuana bush grows? How many factors influence how long cannabis takes to grow?
Did you know that marijuana bushes can grow to incredible sizes? Some of them can grow to a height of over 5 meters! This is impressive considering this plant is illegal in most countries and often grows in secret.
That's why today you will learn the secrets of growing a marijuana bush. We will find out how long it takes to develop and what factors can affect its growth rate. Are you ready for some surprising information and useful tips on growing this plant? It's time to find out, how much does a marijuana bush grow?!
The life cycle of marijuana
How long does a marijuana bush grow? – the exact answer to this question depends on many factors, such as the choice of variety, growing conditions and techniques, and the experience of the breeder.
To answer the question: How long does a marijuana bush grow?, it is necessary to take into account the fact that in the life of this plant there are several important stages that make up its entire life cycle. Understanding these stages is crucial for growers to properly organize their grow for optimal results and to be able to begin to estimate how long a marijuana plant will grow. From the very beginning, through growth and flowering, to the end of the plant's life - each stage has its own meaning and characteristics.
Initial stage of growth
The first stage in the marijuana life cycle is initial growth. During this period, after the seeds have germinated, the young marijuana seedlings they develop roots and shoots. They are particularly sensitive and require appropriate light conditions, temperature and irrigation. During this time, growers must provide an optimal environment for the plants to grow strong and healthy.
Growth period
After the initial growth stage, comes the actual growth period of the marijuana bushes. During this time, the plants increase in size and develop a dense arrangement of leaves. Nutrient conditions and access to light are crucial for plants to maintain adequate vegetation and the ability to photosynthesize. Fertilization and pruning are often necessary at this stage to ensure optimal growing conditions.
Flowering stages
The next important stage in the life cycle of marijuana is flowering phase. During this time, the plants prepare to produce flowers that contain psychoactive substances. The flowering period can last a varying amount of time, depending on the marijuana strain. During this stage, growers must monitor the plants for health, optimal light conditions and humidity to obtain the expected yields.
The final stage of life
At the end of the marijuana life cycle comes the stage of maturity and harvesting. During this time, the plants reach their full production potential and the flowers become ready for harvest. Growers must watch plants to choose the right time to harvest when most of the trichomes - the small, sticky glands on the surface of the flowers - are clear or cloudy, an indicator that they are ready for harvest.
As you can see, marijuana life cycle It consists of several important steps that growers must properly understand and manage to obtain high-quality crops. Starting from initial growth, through the growth and flowering period, to the final stage of maturity and harvest - each stage has its challenges and requires appropriate breeding activities. Many factors will influence how long a marijuana plant grows. Regardless of them, however, the above stages must be completed to talk about the full life cycle of marijuana. And if you are curious about what factors influence the length of cannabis growth, read on.
How many grow automatic, fast flovering and how many full-season cannabis varieties?
Now that we know what the stages in the life of cannabis are, let's see what exactly influences how long a marijuana bush grows. Let's start with the fact that the length of marijuana growth varies depending on the strain being grown. The choice of autoflowering, fast version or full-season variety directly determines the time in which the plant will develop.
Automatic (autoflowering), fast flowering and photoperiod (full-season) varieties differ significantly in their cultivation time, which influences the decision of growers to choose the best option for their needs. The differences in how much a marijuana bush grows are mainly due to the genetics of each group of varieties.
- Automatic varieties (autoflowering): These plants automatically transition from the vegetative phase to flowering regardless of the amount of light they receive. Their life cycle is short - from seed to harvest usually takes 8 to 10 weeks. Automatic varieties are often chosen by growers who want to produce crops quickly or have limited space and cannot control lighting conditions. They are also perfect for new growers due to how easy they are to grow.
- Fast flowering varieties: These are photoperiod varieties that have been genetically modified or crossed to shorten the time needed for flowering. Their life cycle is slightly longer than autoflowering varieties, but shorter than traditional photoperiod varieties. Typically from seed to harvest it takes about 6 to 9 weeks of the flowering phase, which means the total time from seed to harvest can be about 10 to 15 weeks. These are ideal plants for those who are looking for a compromise between speed and control over plant development.
- Photoperiod varieties: The life cycle of these plants depends on changes in light exposure, which means that the grower must manually change the amount of light (from long days to short days) to initiate and support the flowering phase. From seed to harvest, photoperiod varieties usually take 3 to 5 months, of which the flowering phase itself can last from 7 to 11 weeks. These strains typically offer greater potency and yield than autoflowering strains, but require more knowledge and experience from the grower.
The choice between these three types of varieties depends on many factors, including individual preferences, available space, climate, and whether growing indoors or outdoors. Growers looking for a quick and easy harvest may prefer automatic varieties, while those who want more control over the growth process and potentially higher yields may choose photoperiod or fast flowering varieties. We already know that to accurately determine how long a marijuana bush grows, one of the factors will be choosing the right variety. What else influences this time?
Indoor vs Outdoor: Where is the best place to grow marijuana? How does the choice of cultivation site affect how long a marijuana bush grows?
The decision between growing marijuana indoors or outdoors has a significant impact on the plants' growth time, as well as many other aspects of growing, such as environmental control, cost, safety and discretion, plant size, light cycle, seasonality, and yield.
Indoor allows full control over environmental conditions such as light, temperature and humidity, which allows you to achieve excellent results and several harvests per year. However, this requires greater financial outlays on lighting, ventilation and irrigation systems. This cultivation is also more discreet and can be carried out all year round, regardless of external conditions.
Outdoor allows the use of natural sunlight and rainwater, which can reduce production costs. Plants usually grow larger and can produce higher yields, but are exposed to changing weather conditions, diseases and pests. This crop is seasonal, dependent on the natural light cycle, which affects the growth and flowering time of the plants.
The choice between indoor and outdoor cultivation also affects plant growth time. When grown outdoors, the length of the plant’s vegetative phase depends on when the seeds are planted and can last until late summer or early fall. The flowering phase can last anywhere from 6 to 14 weeks, depending on the plant’s genetics. Indoor plants tend to have a shorter vegetative period, which can be controlled by the grower by adjusting the light cycle. Indoor growers can induce flowering by adjusting the plant’s light exposure to a 12/12 cycle (12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness), which usually occurs after 2-4 weeks of the vegetative phase.
As you can see, both indoor and outdoor growing have their advantages and disadvantages. The choice of method depends on the individual preferences of the grower, available resources, as well as the expected results in terms of plant size, yield, and quality of the final product. As you can see, the time it takes to grow a marijuana bush grown indoors and outdoors varies.
Sativa vs Indica vs Hybrid – Does the Type of Marijuana Affect How Long a Marijuana Bush Grows?
Plants Sativa tend to take the longest to grow compared to Indicas and hybrids. Sativa strains, originating from regions close to the equator, take longer to flower, which can range from 10 to 12 weeks, and even up to 16 weeks in some cases. Average growth time for pure strains sativa that's about six months. These plants prefer warm climates and can reach considerable heights, sometimes up to 20 feet, due to their natural habitat characterized by long days of sunshine throughout the year.
Indicates, on the other hand, has a shorter growth cycle and a faster flowering time, making them more practical for indoor growers and those looking to harvest their crops sooner. Indica strains typically finish flowering in about 8 weeks, allowing growers to have more growing cycles throughout the year. Indica plants are also known for being more resistant to cold and changing weather conditions.
Hybrids, which are crosses of Sativa and Indica strains, have growth and flowering times that are determined by the dominant genetics. Depending on the proportion of Sativa and Indica genes in a given hybrid, they can exhibit a variety of growth and flowering times. Hybrids generally allow growers to tailor the strain's characteristics to their needs, combining the best of Sativa and Indica, which can affect growth and flowering times.
So, it turns out that it is Sativa that has the longest growth and flowering period, making it a good choice for growers looking for plants with a long life cycle and high production. Indica offers a shorter growth cycle, which is beneficial for those who prefer a faster harvest. Hybrids, on the other hand, allow for the flexibility to adjust the plant's characteristics to the specific needs of the grower, with growth and flowering periods depending on the dominant genetics.
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This application will summarize information regarding the growth of the marijuana plant and the life cycle of the plant.
After reading the previous sections of the article, we learned how long a marijuana plant needs to grow fully and what its life cycle is like. The growth rate of a marijuana plant can vary depending on the variety, growing conditions and growing techniques and experience of the grower. In the first 2-3 weeks after planting the seed, the marijuana bush develops quickly, gaining in height and leaf development. Then, depending on the variety, the bush enters the flowering phase, which can last from several to several weeks.
During the life cycle of marijuana, the plant goes through various stages such as germination, growth, flowering and maturation. Each stage has its own characteristic features and lasts a certain time. Once the growing cycle is complete, the marijuana plant is ready for harvesting, and its end of life occurs when the full cycle is completed and the plant has completed the growth and flowering process.
It is impossible to clearly indicate how long a marijuana bush grows. Many factors influence the final result. Gaining experience, knowledge and skills can significantly shorten or extend this time, which of course is not always bad, and sometimes even desirable.
