If you’re curious about the vegetative stage of a cannabis plant, you’re in the right place! During the vegetative period, the cannabis plant focuses on getting strong and large. The vegetative stage also refers to the stage when a marijuana plant is growing only stems and leaves, and is not yet developing any buds, which are also known as flowers. This is in contrast to the flowering stage, which takes place when the marijuana plant focuses all of its energy on creating buds. In this article, we’ll share all the info you’ll need to know to enjoy a furtive vegetative stage with your cannabis plants.
How long should indoor marijuana plants stay in the vegetative stage?
Cannabis growers who keep their plants inside usually vegetate their marijuana plants for between four and eight weeks. Your seedlings could theoretically begin budding as early as three weeks post-germination, but if you go that route, your plants will likely be on the small side. If you allow your marijuana plants to vegetate for a longer period, your plants will end up growing larger and will thereby produce higher yields in the long run.
The vegetative stage for indoor growers
If you plan to grow your cannabis indoors, you can control how long your marijuana plants stay in the vegetative stage. Simply make sure that you provide your plants with 18 hours of light a day (this is probably easiest if you own grow lights that you can put on a timer). The beauty of indoor cultivation is that you don’t have to rely on the cycles of the sun—you can cheat nature by controlling the light that your plants get on a daily basis, thus giving you more control of your plants and their growing stages. The only exception to this general rule of thumb is that autoflowering plants do not apply, as they flower based on age and not light conditions.
Taking care of cannabis plants during the vegetative stage
Luckily, it’s pretty easy to take care of marijuana plants that are in the vegetative stage. These plants grow quickly and are pretty sturdy during this phase of life. The main goals for any cannabis grower with plants in the vegetative stage include:
- Keep them hydrated. If the soil your seeds were planted in feels dry, give it some water. But, also make sure that the water can drain easily from the bottom of your pot.
- Let there be light. Turn your grow lights on and make sure you keep the lights at the recommended distance from the top of your plants (this will need to be adjusted as the plants grow).
- Make sure the temperature is just right. When they are in the vegetative stage, cannabis plants like a room to be at a comfortable room temperature, if not even warmer than that. Above all, don’t let plants in this stage of life be exposed to temperatures that are freezing or below.
- Keep the air circulating. Cannabis plants need fresh air constantly to make sure that they can grow healthily, so make sure that there is always movement in their leaves. If your plants are being kept outside, put up barriers so that they don’t get too much wind.
Beware of a few red flags
Though it doesn’t take much time or effort to keep plants healthy in the vegetative phase, you should be on the lookout for a few key symptoms to determine if your cannabis plants are headed for trouble. Your plants should look green until the later stages of the vegetative phase when they prepare to bud. If you see any strange spots or colors on the leaves earlier in the phase, this could be a sign of disease or bad health. Similarly, make sure that your plant’s leaves aren’t falling off at a rate that is higher than around two or three leaves every few days.
The vegetative stage for outdoor growers
The vegetative stage for outdoor cannabis plants typically begins in late spring, as the days grow longer and temperatures grow warmer. The vegetative stage for outdoor cannabis plants can last anywhere from 4 to 16 weeks, depending on the strain and the environmental conditions that they are in. During this very vital growing stage, outdoor growers should ensure that their plants receive ample sunlight, ideally 14 to 18 hours per day, and are provided with sufficient nutrients, particularly nitrogen, to promote vigorous and healthy growth.
Regular watering, but not overwatering, is also quite important and it can be useful to chat with other local cannabis growers to learn about their watering habits and which ones have been successful. Also, be sure to keep a weathered eye out for pests and diseases, as these can mean the demise of all of your hard labor. Local growers can also help in this arena, as they are likely privy to the neighborhood pests and probably know how to get rid of them efficiently. Proper care during the vegetative stage sets the foundation for a successful flowering phase and a resplendent harvest that is bursting with bud.
Marijuana plants are resilient
There’s no doubt about it—it can be daunting to plant your marijuana seeds and you might be feeling a bit worried about keeping your cannabis plants healthy. An important thing to know is that many of these plants are very hearty and resilient. They can generally stand up to a bit of mishandling, particularly with autoflowering strains, although each strain is different and some are more finicky than others. Do your research and there is sure to be a strain that feels like the perfect choice for you!
If you’re looking for any further tips and tricks on marijuana cultivation or the vegetative stage, or you’d like to purchase premium weed seeds, be sure to check out Grower’s Choice Seeds and our incredible selection of cannabis strains.
