Growing FAQ

Is growing marijuana in CA, legal?

Yes and No.  Under Senate Bill 420 and Proposition 215, patients under medical care and their primary caregivers may possess and cultivate marijuana. The patient or caregiver must have written approval from a physician, but obtaining an actual county-issued marijuana health card is safer. It may not be distributed or sold.  Without these guidelines, it is a felony to sale and cultivate marijuana.  Laws differ from state to state.

What is the difference between MH light and HPS light?

The difference between MH (Metal Halide) and HPS (High Pressure Sodium) lights are the color spectrum that is emitted from each.  The High Pressure Sodium bulb transmits light that is a part of the red to yellow side of the spectrum and is weak in the blue-violet end.  While the Metal Halide bulb transmits light that is very balanced and contains all the energy peaks at wavelengths of the visible spectrum. Visually the HPS lights will appear very yellow-orange and the MH lights will appear more blue-white in color.

Which light is better for cultivating?

In the perfect environment, using both lights during the two stages of growth is the key to a successful grow.  Many people switch between bulbs for different stages of growth for a couple of reasons.  First of all, HPS lights have been known to make some plants grow leggy and stretched out because of the yellow to red spectrum that they give off.   Metal Halides tend to keep these plants tighter with less space between internodes.   So some growers use the MH lights during vegetative growth to keep the structural growth of the plant nice and tight.  But they switch to HPS lights when the plants begin to flower because it produce so much more light than MH lights.  Even though HPS lights do not have as good a spectrum as the MH lights, the intense light that is put off by the HPS aids in flower development.

Can LED’s be used to cultivate plant life?

Yes.  Like the HID lights mentioned above.  LED’s and its technology, focus on the different color spectrum that plants used to live.  Plants during the vegetative state need blue light in order to grow properly. Plants in the flowering stage require red and orange light in order to get the plants to produce the flowers and fruit that you want.

Which is better, HIDs or LEDs?

Honestly, both has its advantages and disadvantages.  HIDs are cost efficient and are easily replaceable.  On the other hand, HIDs have many components to its system.  A great amount of heat is generated due to its filament design.  In some places, generated electricity and more importantly security may be detrimental to a grower.  LEDs use less heat and electricity.  Can be more secure given limited space, but also cost of equipment turns away a lot of people.  Parts of an LED system are not easily replaceable and in most cases the whole light may be unusable after damage. 

At this point, it is up to the grower to decide which light to use.  Expenses and space should help determine which is best for you.

Why are nutrients needed in a hydroponic system?

Like human life, plants need food (nutrients) in order to survive.  In nature, plants find these nutrients in the soil that they are planted in.  They use these nutrients to complete their life cycle, also known as photosynthesis.  In a hydroponic system, the soil normally used outdoors, is replaced by a different medium. The mediums used do not have the nutrients to help plants sustain life.

Is there one nutrient supply better then another?

Not really.  As long as the plants receive the right amount of nutrients during its life cycle, the type of or brand of nutrients makes very little difference in what is produced.

Why should I do an indoor grow using hydroponics instead of letting Mother Nature takes its course?

The reason people decide to use hydroponics and its indoor capabilities is the fact that you can grow all year round instead of waiting once a year to produce a crop.  An indoor grow is more stable to plant life and it is easier to balance homeostasis indoors than outdoors. 3rd, security plays a major role in the decision to go indoors.  Your neighbors may notice the smell or even the plants itself if looking at your property.  Now on the other hand, people may not have that type of problem and growing outdoors may not lead to any problems.  With an outdoor grow, yields may triple of what is produced indoors, but quality may be affected.  Due to our environment, many things can affect an outdoor grow, like strong winds, bugs, animals, and etc. Whether you decide to go outdoors or indoors, make sure you do some research with state and local laws.  See which is better for you in the long run.