Definition
Wikipedia: Hemp, textile hemp, industrial hemp, or agricultural hemp is a variety of cultivated plant from the Cannabaceae family. It is an annual plant, selected for its stem size and low THC or other cannabinoid content from the species that botanists call Cultivated Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.).
How to grow hemp properly?
To grow hemp, it is crucial to provide the right amount of light and darkness every day in order to balance the energy needed for the two stages of development (growth and flowering) and ensure the best production.
During the vegetative growth phase:
The growth cycle does not require powerful lighting. The important thing is to maintain the proper coordination of colors over a long period. Your hemp should be illuminated for 16 to 18 hours per day. This duration will vary depending on the approach you choose. A SCROG (screen of green) method, for example, will require a longer duration of light exposure for optimal yield. As a result, you will have strong stems, strong roots, and a lot of foliage, not to mention the famous "five-fingered leaves". This is a decisive step to have foliage and stems in good health. Carbon dioxide and light will be converted into food for the plant through photosynthesis. Through the blue color spectrum in the range of 400-500nm, plants will activate photosynthesis and phototropism, the latter allowing your plants to orient themselves with respect to light. Red light also activates photosynthesis and will offer you a complete LED light spectrum. With the right lighting conditions, the vegetative growth stage lasts about 4 to 6 weeks. An LED lamp is particularly beneficial in this case. When your plants begin their "pre-flowering" phase, they will begin to bud.
During the flowering phase:
This stage will reward you for all the work you've put in. If your blue LED light was shining on your plants for 18 hours a day, that will no longer be the case. During the flowering stage, when buds start to appear, hemp will only need 12 hours of light. During the first two weeks, you will be able to tell if you have planted male or female hemp. This is essential in determining which one to keep for reproduction. Until harvest, you will maintain the same light cycle. Of course, to trigger budding, we can change the light cycle. Adding a red spectrum will also be beneficial, just as a blue spectrum will promote photosynthesis. Keep in mind that an LED light will save you on nutrient input and compared to traditional high-powered lighting, LED lighting will prevent stress on your plants.
