Preparing a pot is a simple procedure but can mean the difference between success and failure. The pot and the soil are the plant’s food and shelter. A thriving plant must have a good home with access to adequate food. The Miracle Grow soil used here comes with a time release fertilizer. If your soil does not, mix in a time release fertilizer.

      1. Use a simple plastic pot with a drainage hole; a 3 gallon (10 L) container is ideal. 2. Put a piece of newspaper at the bottom to prevent the growing medium from spilling out, but still allowing water to drain. 3. Fill bottom of the pot with ½ inch (1 cm) of perlite—this helps with drainage and root aeration. 4. Mix 80% soil, 20% perlite and fill your pot with it. Leave ½ to 1 inch (1-2.5 cm) of space at the top of the pot. 5. Put your seed ¼ inch (6 mm) into the rockwool cube. You may also place the seed directly into the soil. 6. Water the cube and soil using ½-gallon (1.2 liters) or more of 7.4 pH balanced water—if you are using Miracle Grow. If not, check the pH of your soil and adjust accordingly (see chart on pg. v). Your soil and cube should be thoroughly saturated and water drain from the bottom of the container. Keep the seed moist with daily watering of 1/16 cup (14 mL) of water until the seed germinates (less water may be required to keep the rockwool cube moist).

       WATERING TECHNIQUE

      Watering technique is very important. This is a root ball of a plant that was watered correctly (3). (The colored area is the newspaper used to cover the drainage hole.) Notice how the roots have utilized all the soil. When plants are not watered properly, roots will accumulate on the bottom of the container. This will eventually cause the plant to become root bound and require the plant to be transplanted. Transplanting can be avoided if one waters thoroughly and only when required. You can see a plant that clearly needs water by looking at its leaves (1). Droopy, soft leaves are a sign of a thirsty plant. You can see the change in the plant just 30 minutes after it was watered (2). A plant can also have soft and droopy leaves if it is over watered. Checking your soil regularly will help you decide if your plant needs water. Stick your finger into the soil and if the top 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) are dry, the plant most likely needs watering. (You may also use a moisture meter.) A cannabis plant kept at 70-80° F (21-27° C) will need watering every 3-10 days depending on its size and the stage of its life cycle. With experience and increased plant awareness, you will develop and cultivate a relationship and understanding of your plant’s needs.

       ADJUSTING pH

      A pH tester is a grower’s best friend. They range in price from $3 to $300. pH level is the measurement of acidity and affects a plant’s ability to absorb nutrients (eat food). The ideal pH level for a cannabis plant in soil is between 5.9 and 6.5 (for hydro grows, optimum pH is between 5.9 to 6.3). Water is the vehicle in which plants receive their food. Therefore the pH of the water must be set between 6.0 and 6.5. Making perfectly pH balanced water is easy and essential for a successful grow.

      Fill a bucket with water, get a sample of the water and add pH test solution (1). Compare the color of the treated water to the chart on the back of the tester (2, 3). A vial pH tester is suitable for beginners and professionals; however, electronic meters are not necessarily costly and are very accurate (4). If the pH needs to be lowered, add a small amount of vinegar or pH Down. If the pH needs to be raised, add baking soda or pH Up (5, 6). Retest and repeat this process until you get the desired pH.

      NOTE: Because the Miracle Grow soil used in this book has a pH of 5.1, the water used to grow this plant was adjusted accordingly. Watering done in the first half of the plants life was adjusted to a pH of 7.4.

       pH CHARTS

      Plant nutrient availability: the chart above shows which nutrients your plant will absorb at what pH level. Optimum pH levels for cannabis soil grows are between 5.9 and 6.0 (blue band); 6.2 or 6.3 is ideal.

      Achieving the perfect pH: the pH of the soil determines the best pH of the water. If the pH of the soil is unknown, adjust the water’s pH to 6.5. pH levels are the foundation

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