Six Ways to Increase Your Yield

Light

Light is by far the most important factor when it comes to increasing your yield.

Tall, lanky plants are not ideal and will occur when the light they are receiving is not intense enough. If they’re in their vegetative stage and stretching upwards towards the light, then that’s a sign they need you to kick it up a notch! Move the light closer to your plants, being careful not to burn the tips.

More light equals bigger buds and is especially important during the flowering stage. The tricky part, however, is making sure the temperature of the room doesn’t increase too much as the plants need to remain cool during the flowering stage.

CO2 is another factor that comes into play. Increasing levels of CO2 in your garden will allow your plants to take in more light and is a great way for experienced growers to increase their yield.

Pruning

If you find your plants are not growing evenly, meaning the bottom section of your plants are growing at a slower rate then the top half (this will happen if light is not being distributed equally) then pruning is something to consider. It is simply keeping your plant neat and tidy! A smaller ‘groomed’ plant can receive more light and therefore grow bigger buds. If you can remove specific parts of your plant, it will end up being a stronger plant overall.

Nutrients

Too little or too much nutrients can make or break your plant. You can tell if you’re plants are receiving the right amount by looking at the leaves. The plants require a specific amount of nutrients during each phase. A nutrient burn is a common issue for new growers to have, meaning the plant was given an overabundance. This causes the tips of the leaves to turn brown or yellow.

The macronutrients required for plant growth are:

• Nitrogen
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• Sulfur
• Magnesium
• Calcium

Temperature

The climate of where the plant is growing is extremely important. A marijuana plants growth will be slowed if it’s too warm, and the leaves may also become brown. During the vegetative stage, plants enjoy high humidity, and as it gets older it grows best with lower levels. The plants response to temperature change depends on the stage of its growth cycle it’s in.

Curled plant leaves = too hot

Small plants = too cold 

Harvesting

Although it can be tempting to harvest your plants early, it is best to wait until the timing is right. If you harvest too soon, your buds will be quite small and if you harvest to late, your marijuana will lose potency and smell. Allow your buds to ripen completely, as throughout the final few weeks leading up to harvest is when your plants can grow up to 25% larger in size.

Another way to tell if your plant is ready is to get a magnifying glass. When buds have trichomes (the mushroom looking growths) that are a milky/ cloudy colour, that is often a sign they are ready to go and contain the highest levels of THC. For less THC and more CBN (relaxing effect) wait until the trichomes have turned an amber colour before harvesting.

Sourcing Quality Seeds

Cheaper is not always better. When it comes to buying your seeds, we recommend investing in high quality genetics if you want the best yield possible. Do your research and find out as much as you can about the strain. The seeds you choose will influence the potency of the marijuana, the size and the growth. Something to keep in mind when you’re starting out! If you're not yet ready to grow your own, check out Leafythings to find weed near you.