When deciding where to grow short cannabis plants, you have two main options: indoors or outdoors. An indoor setup allows you to control every aspect of the growing process, including the amount of light the plants receive. However, growing indoors requires a significant commitment, as the plants rely entirely on the grower for their survival.
Alternatively, growing short cannabis plants outdoors can be more cost-effective because nature provides essential elements like sunlight. Despite this, outdoor growing sites may lack privacy and pose risks such as theft or damage by animals.
Consider the advantages and disadvantages of both indoor and outdoor growing before making your decision. Choose the environment that best suits your needs for successful cannabis companion planting.
Selecting a Grow Medium
When planning to grow a small cannabis plant, the first consideration should be the grow medium. This medium must provide the essential nutrients for developing high-quality buds. Similar to choosing grow lights, there are various grow medium options available, each with specific requirements, such as watering frequency. However, all mediums can effectively produce high-yielding cannabis plants.
Soil: The Most Common Grow Medium
The most common and user-friendly grow medium is soil. Ideally, opt for well-composted organic soil rich in nutrients tailored for cannabis cultivation. A Pot for Pot’s Superb Soil is an excellent example. If the soil is not initially optimized for cannabis, ensure it includes perlite for proper drainage.
Soilless Options
Soilless mediums like vermiculite, coco coir, or other mixtures are also viable. Although typically more expensive than soil, they offer benefits such as reduced risk of soil-borne diseases and pests. The downside is that they lack inherent nutrients, requiring you to meticulously provide the necessary nutrients in the correct proportions and timing.
Hydroponic Growing
Another advanced option is hydroponic growing, where cannabis plants are grown directly in water. This method can result in very high yields but has a steep learning curve and can be costly in terms of time and money, especially for a single plant.
Select the right cannabis strain
When growing cannabis, the strains you select are the most crucial factor in your cultivation endeavor. It’s essential to choose your seeds with great care. Feminized seeds are the best starting point, as they eliminate the need for male plants, which are unnecessary unless you plan to breed your own strain.
Cultivating tall sativas, large hybrids, and stretch indicas indoors is possible, but it requires significant effort to keep them short. Modern autoflowering hybrids and heavy indica strains are much easier to manage in your grow operation. These varieties typically remain under 1m in height at maturity.
Small pot for your cannabis plant
This might seem quite straightforward, but small pots are for small plants, and big pots are for big plants. Autoflowering and indica varieties do not need as much root space as vigorous indica-sativa hybrids and sativa-dominant strains. Therefore, they won’t become root-bound if you grow them in smaller pots.
However, planting an indica in a large container can result in a massive cannabis plant—but only if you allow a long vegetative growth phase. If you choose a smaller pot for an indica strain, it’s best to keep the vegetative growth period short and switch to a 12/12 light cycle as soon as possible. Extending the vegetative period increases the risk of the plant becoming root-bound. A transplant may be necessary if you wait too long. Six-liter pots should be sufficient to grow most autoflowers and compact indicas comfortably.
This information is crucial for those considering the best cannabis companion plants and optimizing their growth environments.
Use LST and Super Cropping
LST (Low-Stress Training) is an excellent technique for manipulating the structure of cannabis plants. By bending branches and using stakes and soft ties to secure them, you can achieve a bushier growth pattern without cutting away any branches. This method requires some finesse but is very manageable. After a short recovery period, typically within a day or two, you’ll have a healthy, bushy cannabis plant.
In contrast, super cropping (HST) is a high-stress technique that requires more time. This method involves squeezing branches until they become limp or even snapping them, which stresses the plant significantly. Recovery can take a week or longer. Although super cropping also promotes bushy growth, it necessitates a longer vegetative period. It’s important to avoid both LST and super cropping during the flowering stage. If a cannabis plant grows too tall during bloom, LST can be used as a last resort, but there’s a risk of breaking branches, as they become more rigid once flowering begins.
Topping and Fimming
Topping and FIMming are pruning techniques used to break the apical dominance of the main stem in cannabis plants, redirecting growth hormones to secondary shoots. Topping involves cleanly cutting the stem tip with scissors, leaving a small nub. In contrast, Fimming is achieved by pinching off 75% of the stem between the fingers.
Both methods encourage plants to bush out, filling lateral space and producing multiple top colas instead of a single one. When applied during the vegetative stage, these pruning techniques can significantly boost yields. However, plants require 3–7 days to recover. Additionally, topping and FIMming can be combined with LST (Low-Stress Training) or super cropping for those willing to extend the vegetative period.
Big Bud Strain
Big Bud is a widely recognized cannabis strain appreciated for its unique genetics that yield short yet incredibly productive cannabis plants. This strain is a cultivator’s dream for those seeking large harvests in limited spaces. With a compact and sturdy structure, Big Bud plants reach a relatively low height during their growth phase, making them an excellent choice for those desiring discretion or having limited indoor cultivation space.
This variety has been carefully developed to maximize bud production without compromising quality or plant vigor. Big Bud genetic characteristics have been meticulously selected to ensure that the plants develop large, dense buds packed with resin and boasting distinctive aroma and flavor profiles.
Big Bud buds are known for their impressive size, making them a popular choice among commercial growers and cannabis enthusiasts aiming for bountiful yields in a confined space. In addition to its compact size and high yield, Big Bud also offers a rewarding consumption experience, with buds renowned for their rich flavor and aromatic profile.
Blackberry Pie Strain
The Blackberry Pie is a cannabis strain known for its unique genetics and compact size, making it an ideal choice for growers seeking shorter cannabis plants. Carefully developed, this strain produces small to medium-sized plants, perfect for limited growing spaces or maintaining a discreet profile.
Its robust and resilient genetics make it suitable for a variety of growing environments. In addition to its compact size, the Blackberry Pie offers generous yields of dense, resinous buds, making it a popular choice among both commercial and home growers.
Distinguished by its distinctive flavor and aroma, it blends sweet and fruity notes with earthy undertones and sometimes a spicy kick. Buds typically boast a pronounced flavor of ripe berries, providing a delightful sensory experience.
In terms of yield, the Blackberry Pie delivers bountiful harvests relative to its compact size. Indoors, it can yield around 1.14 – 1.47 oz/ft2 per, while indoors, under suitable conditions, it can reach 17-24 oz/plant.
Gelato x Kosher Kush Strain
The Gelato x Kosher Kush cannabis genetics represent a fascinating fusion of two renowned strains, tailored particularly for those seeking a short cannabis plant. This variety is celebrated for its compact size, making it an ideal choice for growers with limited space. In terms of its physical structure, it typically boasts a sturdy build with lateral growth, featuring short internodal spacing conducive to the development of dense, resinous buds.
The effect of Gelato x Kosher Kush is deeply relaxing, striking a perfect balance between a soothing body sensation and a euphoric mental state, making it a favorite among users seeking stress and anxiety relief. As for its flavor and aroma profile, it presents a delightful and intricate blend, with sweet, fruity notes reminiscent of Gelato complemented by earthy and spicy undertones inherited from Kosher Kush.
The scent is captivating, filling the room with its intensity and leaving a lasting impression on the palate. In summary, Gelato x Kosher Kush genetics offer a superb choice for those looking for a short cannabis plant without compromising on quality or yield potential. With its dense buds, relaxing effects, and delicious flavors, this strain is sure to satisfy both growers and consumers alike.
