The Top 8 Problems with Growing Your Own Cannabis – and One Easy Solution

The Top 8 Problems with Growing Your Own Cannabis – and One Easy Solution

Now that the recreational use of cannabis is legal in Ontario, every household can grow up to 4 plants. As a result, thousands of people are rushing to grow their own cannabis. However, like most hobbies, there is a high failure rate. Before you dive head first into what could be either an exciting project or a complete disaster, be sure to consider all the facts.
Here are the top obstacles to growing your own cannabis.

1. Decisions, Decisions, Decisions PLUS A Huge Learning Curve

The decision to grow your own cannabis is just the first decision of many. You will have to choose which strain to grow. Different strains produce different results. Some are more suited to beginners, others are selected for their effects. Here, in Ontario there is a dismal lack of choice as well as a severe shortage of legal seeds. Once – and if – you even get past this hurdle, the real decision making starts. You will have to choose what medium to grow in, whether to grow outdoors or indoors and which lighting to choose. Will you build your own unit or purchase a grow tent? PH management is essential, and so you will have to purchase the proper testing kits. Cannabis is a voracious feeder (it grows like a weed – hence the nickname) so you will have to choose which nutrients to feed them. Pest and mold control is also something to think about as is ventilation. You will have to first research to determine your best growing situation then research each of the items listed above.

It’s easy to see why so many people get lost in the research phase. They end up spending so much time researching that they get paralyzed by choice and never actually start growing, for months or even years.  (Read this article – insert text link here) to learn more about the 8 decisions to make before growing your household cannabis plants.)

2. Time Commitment

Growing cannabis has been likened to raising children. It’s a daily commitment and you get out what you put in! It takes patience, forethought, restraint, and attention to detail. Be prepared to spend countless hours tending to your cannabis plants as they grow from seedlings to mature plants ready for harvest. Like so many other hobbies and responsibilities, some people become passionately in love with their hobby, while most people are not prepared for this. As an analogy, just look at how many families who bring dogs into their home end up battling over who must walk the dog because the daily responsibility of caring for the family pet can be demanding at times. Possibly the main reason for the failure to stick it out is that the majority of the time will be spent at the beginning of the cycle – when most beginner growers lack confidence. This is when you will encounter the pain of failure as oftentimes seedlings get off to a strong start, resulting in joy and pride for the new grower, then wither and die for no apparent reason.  For those (if any) that get through this difficult stage, you must pinch the new growth at precise times, check lighting constantly and make sure molds, disease and insects do not attack the vulnerable seedling. It’s very similar to welcoming a new baby into the family – a 24/7 responsibility in the beginning. However, where there’s a will there’s a way! I have a friend who fashioned a nursery out of a cooler so he could take his baby pot plant to the cottage with him every weekend.

3. Children and Pets

Cannabis can be a pleasant experience for people but for dogs and cats, both of whom are very sensitive to THC, it will almost certainly require a visit to the vet. That is according to University of Alberta animal science instructor Connie Varnhagen. “Dogs have so many more cannabinoid receptors in their brain and throughout their body. They can die from the overdose. People get high; dogs get poisoned,” she said. The same appears true for children. There have been numerous studies which suggest that cannabis can cause problems in developing brains. Many experts even feel that the legal age of 19 should be increased as brains are still developing at that age. If you have children and/or pets, it is important to keep the area you use to grow your plants strictly off limits.

4.Target for Burglary

One thing is for certain when growing cannabis, as the plants get closer to harvest, they get smellier. Couple that with the fact that a large plant can yield 500 grams of dried flower, which at $10 a gram (the going rate for legal, taxed marijuana), means that a single successful plant, as it nears harvest, can be worth somewhere in the range of $5,000. All a thief has to do is follow their nose to a fast heist! When it comes to theft, it’s not just strangers that you have to watch out for. Your burglar just may be someone you trust! That is what happened to a friend of mine. He had grown several large plants that were almost ready for harvest. He and his wife went on a much needed weekend getaway and trusted his babysitter with his three children. When they returned, the kids were playing on the lawn, unsupervised. He soon discovered that the babysitter had vanished – along with his plants.

5. You Must Give Up a Part Of Your Home

A big thing to remember with cannabis plants is that they need to flower to produce THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the chemical that gets people high) and other medicinal cannabinoids. In order to do that, they need 12 hours of light and 12 hours of total darkness a day. So the best place to grow marijuana is in a room in the basement or any rarely used area of the home with a locked door so light doesn’t inadvertently get in when the plants are “sleeping.” If you live in a small home or condo, this may be an impossible undertaking.

6. Insurance

It’s been almost a year since legalization and there are still many unanswered questions and misconceptions when it comes to insurance. However, one thing is for sure, both the law and your insurance policy dictate that the seeds, clones or plants must be purchased from a legal source – meaning, if you did not purchase the marijuana for cultivation from a legal source, and can provide receipts, your home insurance policy will not respond in the event of a loss. This can be a huge barrier to entry especially in the province of Ontario where legal seeds are still quite hard to find. In fact, it’s virtually impossible to find anyone who bought seed from legal retailers. However, complicating matters is the fact that as long as no money changes hands, there’s nothing illegal about an adult being given plants or seeds in a province where home grows are legal. Another insurance concern to consider is the number of plants you choose to grow. According to the Co-operators Insurance, your “…four plants are treated the same as any other legal plant on your property and are covered under your Home insurance policy. If you illegally exceed the number of plants allowed in your province or territory, your claim may be denied entirely.”  Another issue to be aware of: household members who smoke cannabis aren’t eligible for Co-operator’s non-smoker discount.

The main problems associated with growing cannabis that could cause a claim are:

• An electrical fire caused by grow lights
• Target for burglary
• Water damage and mold
• Personal liability if a guest is injured under the influence of marijuana grown on the premises.

There are even more implications if you own a condo or rent your dwelling. The Canadian Federation of Apartment Associations is asking the federal government to prohibit all marijuana growing in rented dwellings. Considerations include: whether pollution or molds exclusions might apply and if they need any modification; any exclusions in current policies relating to marijuana use; and coverage related to rental properties and condominiums. According to Michael Teitelbaum, a partner with Hughes Amys LLP, “… the concern is that renters can create electrical safety hazards and damage to their units in buildings through molds. Similarly, in condominiums, concern is about damage to units and common elements due to moisture from the marijuana plants that can create molds in walls, ceilings and floors and damaged window seals. Disproportionate use of utilities such as electricity and water, if they are not sub-metered, create fire hazards by people drying marijuana in stoves and odor from the plants wafting into other people’s unit can be bothersome.”
Insurance companies are still figuring out the ins-and-outs of underwriting the risks associated with growing cannabis at home. As time goes on these policies will likely become more standardized, but until then it is strongly recommended to disclose your plants and verify that your home grow-op doesn’t void your insurance.

7. Poor Yields, No Yields, Substandard Quality

There are so many factors that can result in poor yields and inferior quality. One of the many problems is that hydroponic growing is harder than it looks, mainly because controlling nutrients in water is more difficult than in soil.  For that reason many novices switch midway to soil – often with disastrous effects. Another issue is similar to a New Year’s resolution;, people are quick to make commitments and even quicker to forget them. As mentioned before, growing cannabis requires a substantial commitment in time. Growing your cannabis outside can also result in disaster, especially in Ontario’s climate. Because the plants are at the mercy of nature, they may get too much wind or not enough ventilation, pests, not enough moisture or sun, and an early frost can kill off all your season’s work before it is harvested. Other factors which result in poor or no yields include getting light cycles wrong, improper sexing (often times, novices don’t know how to identify and get rid of the male plants), poor PH levels, improper pruning, and failure to provide moisture control.

8. Social Stigma

Our society accepts alcohol consumption now but it took a long time to get here. Most people, when asked, still frown upon the use of cannabis. Canada made marijuana illegal almost 100 years ago and despite recreational cannabis being legal, the stigma lives on. The majority of Canadian pot users still would not tell people they get high, according to an exclusive survey for Global News by Ipsos Reid. If you wouldn’t want your friends, relatives or colleagues knowing you smoke pot, it may be a wise idea to not grow it.

Conclusion

Smoking your own home-grown bud can be one of the most gratifying experiences but, just like making your own wine or beer, most people either fail the first time or give it up for some reason or the other. For those of you who would rather not go through the exercise, there is a innovative new business in Ontario that will take over the burden of growing your cannabis for you. Green Grow Farms is a 65,000 square foot horticultural facility built on 13 acres in southern Ontario. This facility is made up of individual Green Suites. These individual Green Suites can be leased by you as a home away from home for your four plants. You hold the lease. You can sell it. You can transfer it. You can even will it. Each Green Suite is 5’ x 5’ x 8’ and can grow up to four cannabis plants, three times a year. That’s 12 plants every 12 months.
Green Grow Farms offers a safe, secure, and reliable home away from home for your four cannabis plants. The concept is similar to a “make your own wine” or “brew your own beer” facility. You could even think of it as a boarding home for your plants. Experts will tend your plants 24/7 while you sit home and dream of good times to come!

The savings and the quality are substantial. Your plants have their own Green Suite where they are tended from seedlings to harvest. Not only do you get top quality, premium cannabis, you also save your dwelling or property from all the potential problems.  “We provide a hands off/eyes on approach, meaning we do all the growing and maintenance while you sit back and watch. Every Green Suite is equipped with a live 24/7 camera feed so you can view your plants any time you want.” says CEO and Founder, Ivan Lloyd.

This hands free approach to growing personal marijuana is good news for the 4.9 million Canadian adults who spent 5.7 billion dollars on medical and recreational cannabis last year as they could expect to enjoy premium product at considerable savings with this service.

As can be expected, this premium personal concierge service is in high demand. Ivan expects the first farm’s units to sell out soon, based on pre-launch enquiries. ( Read this article to learn more about renting a Green Suite.) To reserve your Green Suite visit www.GreenGrowFarms.com

Problems Growing Your Own Personal Cannabis Plants? Send Them to “Boarding School”

Problems Growing Your Own Personal Cannabis Plants? Send Them to “Boarding School”

Green Grow Farms offers a premium concierge service. We will grow your plants for you – from seed to harvest. Place your order and in three months, you’ll have quality cannabis for your personal use.

There are so many reasons to grow your own cannabis, now that it`s legal to grow up to 4 plants per household. For one, it can be a very gratifying experience to know you grew your cannabis yourself. You won’t have to suffer as a result of the recent shortages. You can rest assured knowing your cannabis isn’t cut with dangerous chemicals such as pesticides, Fentanyl and rat poison, which was to blame for several deaths last year. And, it’s a well known fact that homegrown cannabis is some of the highest quality available.

But there are also numerous problems with growing your own. It’s a big commitment! Cannabis is known for being a very fussy, high-maintenance plant that requires the right combination of moisture, light and nutrients to thrive. Then there’s the issue of smell, mold and neighbour complaints. Let’s not forget the fire hazard resulting from heat generated by lighting that is not  properly ventilated – a big problem for the novice grower. If you have children or pets, accidental ingestion could result in a trip to the emergency, or worse. Theft is also a serious problem, especially if you entertain often, grow your plants outdoors or have socially active teenagers at home. If you rent or live in a condo, you will have to check the rules as The Canadian Federation of Apartment Associations is asking the federal government to prohibit all marijuana growing in rented dwellings. Then there is the issue of cost: expect to spend between $2,000 – $3,000 for your micro-grow set up. That’s fine if you actually grow to harvest and then repeat the process. But if you end up like many first time home growers  – with nothing to show but dead, wilted, moldy plants and a huge mess  – it may not be a good idea at all.

But before you decide to forget about growing your own cannabis, there is a solution: You can legally trust the care of your personal plants to an expert. Green Grow Farms is that expert. This innovative Canadian company is preparing to disrupt the cannabis industry. The land has been purchased and Green Grow Farms is presently set to break ground in April 2020 to build a 65,000 square foot secure, state-of-the-art horticultural facility on 13 beautiful acres in southern Ontario. This building will be composed of individual “Green Suites”, which can be leased by you as a home away from home for your cannabis plants.

You hold the lease. You can sell it, transfer it, even will it! And the savings are significant: each Green Suite is 5’ x 5’ x 8’ and can grow up to four cannabis plants, three times a year. This works out to 12 plants a year. Even with a moderate yield of half a pound per plant, that’s up to six pounds per year. At a legal dispensary that would cost $27,000 plus tax.

Green Suites by Green Grow Farms offer a safe, secure, reliable home away from home for your four cannabis plants. And it’s a “hands off/eyes on” approach. The concept is similar to a “make your own wine” or “brew your own beer” facility. You could even think of it as a boarding home for your plants –.just like the facilities where your pets stay while you vacation.  Experts  do all the growing and maintenance for your plants 24/7 while you sit back, relax, dream of good times to come, and watch your plants grow! Every Green Suite is equipped with a live 24/7 camera feed so you can view your plants any time you want.

Grow in a Green Suite and not only do you get top quality premium cannabis, you also save your dwelling or property from all the potential problems.

If you are interested in finding out more, visit our contact form and send us a note. An expert will contact you and explain the process. As can be expected, demand is great. Green Grow Farms expects to sell out of their first offering very soon, based on pre-launch interest. Those who don’t get in on the first opportunity will have to wait at least a year or longer before the next farm is operational.

Thinking of Growing Your Own Legal Cannabis? This 8-Point Checklist Will Ensure Beginner Success

Thinking of Growing Your Own Legal Cannabis? This 8-Point Checklist Will Ensure Beginner Success

The decision to grow your own cannabis can be a fun and rewarding hobby – or it can be a nightmare. As is often the case, the proper planning works wonders in achieving success. When done right, growing your own plants will result in much higher quality cannabis than what you can obtain at a retail store – and at significant savings. When things go awry, you could end up $2,000 – $3,000 poorer  – and a big mess to clean!  This 8-step checklist will help ensure you have a very pleasant experience with quality yields.  Please note, this guide is targeted at those who choose to grow indoors. Growing inside means you can have the perfect lighting every day and can control the humidity, the two biggest factors in success with growing cannabis. This is therefore the best choice for beginners and will result in the highest quality cannabis.

1.) Choose the strain of cannabis you want to grow. With hundreds of strains each bearing enticing names such as Cinderella 99, Purple Haze, White Widow and Blue Buddha, decision making is no easy feat. Plus, in order to legally grow your own cannabis you must buy your seeds from a legal source. And, in Ontario, that will be the first obstacle. Not only is it extremely difficult to find seeds but the selection is dismal. You may obtain seeds legally as a gift, however, you have no way to determine the quality of the seeds or the sex. When growing cannabis, only female plants produce flowers, which is where the THC comes from. The males must be discarded otherwise they will pollinate the female plants and you will get seeds instead of flowers. You won’t be able to tell them apart until they begin to flower, which means you may end up getting a lesson in futility!  Once – and only if – you even get past this hurdle, the real decision making starts.

2.) Choose which medium to grow in: soil, soilless or hydroponics. There are benefits and drawbacks to each medium. Everyone has their own opinion. Prepare to be thoroughly confused and overwhelmed when researching this step. One tip: growing hydroponically is often simpler for beginners, because this automatically eliminates many of the bug problems growers run into when growing in soil.

3.) Choose the grow light for your space. This involves yet another difficult decision as there are several options: HID grow lights (Metal Halide, High Pressure Sodium and Ceramic Metal Halide), Fluorescent grow lights (CFLs and T5) and LED grow lights, of which there are many models. Again, each has its benefits and drawbacks and you will have to decide which is best for your particular circumstances.

4.) Choose the set up: Grow Tent versus Building a Grow Box. A decision will have to be made depending on your space and requirements. Many people choose to build their own setup in an attempt to save money. However the problems they encounter – and the cost to fix them – often make grow tents more cost effective and time saving. It is crucial for the success of your project that you thoroughly research this important step to determine what your best option is.

5.) Pay attention to pH. Proper pH is essential for cannabis plants to absorb certain nutrients. By making sure the root pH is in the optimum range, you will save yourself problems and help plants grow healthier and faster. This requires constant attention.

6.) Choose the nutrients to feed your plants. Cannabis plants are voracious feeders. Should you choose organic nutrients (after all you will be ingesting the plant) or take chances with conventional? The amount of nutrients is important too. Too much and you can kill your plants. Too little and they will fail to thrive. Additionally be prepared to be sold on “designer” nutrients –.many sporting hefty price tags and little else. Research is paramount in this area.

7.) Pest and mold control. Pests that can affect your plants include aphids, fungus gnats, thrips, green flies, black flies, mosaic virus, spider mites, caterpillars, inchworms, whiteflies, white powdery mildew / white powdery mold, stem rot, and even mammals such as deer or cats! Again you will have to decide whether to use natural or conventional means of dealing with these potential problems.

8.) Ventilation. Growing indoors under lights create heat. Not only is this a fire hazard but it can cause extreme damage to your plants. It is therefore important for air to be moving around your plants. This will both prevent heat spots and make sure your plants are getting plenty of fresh CO2 to achieve the best growth. Make sure air is moving around your plants, but don’t allow the fans to point directly to them. Air movement will also help stop pests from attacking your plants, and will even help prevent mold (especially the dreaded white powdery mildew).Ventilation is considered the most important step in commercial operations. Therefore it would be wise for you to thoroughly investigate this aspect before starting your operation. Air should be exchanged every 1-2 minutes in order to maintain optimal temperatures and humidity.   The lights you choose and the size of your grow space will dictate the type of ventilation system you must utilize.

With so many decisions to make, it’s easy to see why many people get lost in the research phase. They end up spending so much time researching that they get paralyzed by choice and never actually start growing, for months, years or perhaps never at all.

If you are one of those people who loves the idea of growing your own cannabis but don’t have the time or inclination, Green Grow Farms, an innovative new company offering a premium concierge service, will take over the burden of growing your cannabis for you. The company offers a safe, secure, and reliable home away from home for your four cannabis plants. The concept is similar to a “make your own wine” or “brew your own beer” facility. You could even think of it as a boarding home for your plants. Experts will help you select the strain that is right for you, they will tend your plants 24/7 from seed to harvest, all the while you’re left dreaming of the good times to come!

Green Grow Farms is a 65,000 square foot horticultural facility built on 13 acres in southern Ontario. This facility is made up of Individual Green Suites. These individual Green Suites can be leased by you as a home away from home for your four plants. You hold the lease. You can sell it. You can transfer it. You can even will it. Each Green Suite is 5’ x 5’ x 8’ and can grow up to four cannabis plants, three times a year. That’s 12 plants a year. As can be expected, this premium concierge service for growing personal cannabis is in high demand. Green Grow Farms expects to sell out of phase 1 very soon, based on pre-launch interest. (Read this article to learn more about renting a Green Suite.) To reserve your Green Suite visit www.GreenGrowFarms.com