Top 5 Reasons To Grow Organic Cannabis

Any true cannabis connoisseur knows that organically grown cannabis is more desirable than cannabis grown with synthetic fertilizers. The most traditional way of growing organic cannabis is in soil, but there are also ways to grow organically with a hydroponic grow. Hydroponic soil grows, however, yield the best results with regard to rich, full flavor and also allow the use of compost to grow flower in the most natural way possible.

Although private growers who smoke their own flower—as well as some medical caregivers and dispensaries—have long been on the organic bandwagon, some commercial growers were slower to come on board with growing organically. In the modern age of legal cannabis, however, the practice of growing organically has become more mainstream, with an increasing number of private and commercial growers endorsing and practicing organic cultivation methods.

The Superiority of Organic Products

Americans are decidedly pro-organic for the vast majority of foods they consume. Not only is the produce section of the grocery store filled with an increasing assortment of organic fruits and vegetables, but when you browse through the shelves on the main aisles, you will now find organic marinara sauces, sweeteners, and more. The high prices for organic products are coming down and becoming increasingly competitive with standard products to respond to public demand. As people have become more health conscious, they have made their preference known. The choice is simple: natural foods are always more desirable than their counterparts filled with synthetic chemicals, dyes, and additives. As well as being better for you, organic foods taste better. If you bite into an organically grown tomato fresh off the vine and compare it to an ordinary store-bought tomato, the difference is huge.

Five Benefits of Growing Organic Cannabis

The same holds true for cannabis. Naturally grown flower tastes better, and is often more potent as well. The compelling reason to choose organic products and cannabis include the following:

Increased Yield

As organic growing practices evolve and advance, yield can sometimes surpass when can be grown with conventional practices. Since yield is a huge factor for commercial growers, there is no factual reason for them to opt for anything other than organic cultivation. Contrary to once-popular belief, the yield from organically grown cannabis crops can meet and even surpass that of crops grow with synthetics.

Improved Soil Microbiome

Organic soil is richer in nutrients and beneficial compounds and microbes that benefit cannabis. There’s a reason advanced gardeners who use compost in their gardens and crops refer to it as “black gold.” Creating an organically power-packed soil from compost and other natural soil ingredients will result in natural mixture that’s second to none. Organic compost and soils are now readily available at nurseries for those who don’t care to make their own. Organic soil is full of beneficial bacteria, fungi, and microscopic organisms like nematode worms that are sorely lacking in comparatively sterile soil full of synthetic additives.

Improved Flavors and Aromas

Once you try organically grown flower, there’s no disputing that the terpenes that result with this cultivation method are superior to those from conventional cultivation. Like the tomato example above, the rich flavors of each strain reach their full expression and potential when flower is grown organically. The optimal micro-environment of organic soil promotes superior growth and terpene development and expression. The end result is an increase in delicious flavors and aromas second to none.

Less Environmental Impact

For the least amount of environmental impact, outdoor organic cultivation is the way to go. For indoor growers, though, organic cultivation still results in less impact. The processing of conventional synthetic fertilizers requires energy, usually in the form of fossil fuels, that the creation of organic soil amendments do not require. Cultivating cannabis indoors requires a great deal of energy, so doing everything possible to minimizing the carbon footprint associated with it is an important contribution.

Increased Potency

Since organic cannabis has superior flavor and aromas from superior terpene and trichome development, it has a boost in potency as well. Organic cannabis is superior to conventionally grown cannabis in every way. A more robust naturally grown plant with superior flower development has an advantage over its average counterpart. Cannabis has highly complex needs throughout the growing process that organic cultivation meets. Most synthetic fertilizers fall short of sufficiently meeting these critical needs.

Getting Started

If you haven’t grown organically in the past but now recognize it as a superior method, there are some basic steps and products to get you up to speed.

One option is to purchase pre-mixed organic soil. Several commercial soil companies sell their own prepared organic soil mixes that are ideal for cannabis cultivation. This eliminates much of the work necessary in the early stages of plant growth, although supplemental soil additives will be necessary once the organic fertilizers in the soil are used up by the rapidly growing plants. Bat guano, kelp, fishmeal, and earthworm castings are common components of high-quality organic soil mixes. Sources such as Fox Farms—a company that has served the needs of cannabis growers and other gardeners for many years—sells a range of organic soils and additives. Fox Farms Ocean Forest and Happy Fog organic mixes both work well. Fox Farms Big Bloom is a purely organic soil additive that will do wonders for your cannabis grow. Big bloom will improve the flavor of your flowers, heal damaged root systems, and promote the development of fat, fragrant flowers.

If you’d prefer to make your own organic soil mix, the process is simple. Start with a good-quality basic potting soil—sans fertilizers. To this, you can add compost, perlite, coco fiber, pumice, peat moss, coco fiber, and other ingredients to create your own personal mix (be sure to do your research and combine ingredients at the recommended ratios). You will be able to provide your own additives—like Fox Farms Big Bloom—to grow quick, lush plants.

If you’re able to create your own compost, by all means do so. This organic and nutrient-packed approach will pay dividends when harvest time arrives. Adding compost to outside grows is easy since you merely put it at the base of the plants, on top of the soil in which it grows. Nutrients will trickle down when plants are watered. Indoors, small amounts can be added to potted plants.

To make compost, you will need to create a compost pile. Geographical areas with warm and mild climates will yield the best results. You start by combining brown compost material (dead leaves, dry grasses, etc.) to lesser amounts of green compost material (grass clippings, overly ripe fruit, zucchini and carrot skins, etc.). The compost will require regular mixing. Some people use compost tumblers to store their compost and make the mixing process easier. There are a number of online sites devoted to compost and creating your own compost pile.

The decision to grow organically may be the wisest cultivation choice you ever make. Once you harvest your first organic crop, you will most likely wish you’d employed organic cultivation practices sooner. The superior yield potency and flavors that result from organic cannabis cultivation are significantly superior to crops produced by conventional methods. So, what are you waiting for? A superior grow is just a few months away!