Professional Marijuana Grower May-June 2019 Issue

COVERSTORY Geoﬂ ora Geoﬂ ora Organic Nutrients for Cannabis Cultivation C annabis growers can approach plant nutri- tion from two distinct directions: conventional or organic. Conventional fertilizers, a.k.a. chemical fertilizers, are nutrients that have been created or refi ned in a laboratory. Many of these fertilizers are byproducts of the petroleum industry or derived from industrial waste. Conventional fertilizers are typically in a form that is immediately available to the plant. In other words, the nutrients contained in con- ventional fertilizers do not require microorganisms to “break them down” and can be absorbed by the plant’s roots as soon as they are fed to the plant. Conversely, organic fertilizers are comprised of naturally occurring organic compounds that require the aid of benefi cial microorganisms to help break them down “ into a form that can be absorbed by the plants. Organic fertilizers tend to be combinations of various materials that result from industries dealing with live animals and plants that would otherwise become waste. Currently, there are no offi cial organic certifi cations specifi cally for cannabis; however, many cannabis culti- vators still adhere to strict organic regimens. growing techniques. Many cannabis growers claim that the use of organic nutrients produces a higher quality crop, as organically grown cannabis will generally contain a more diverse spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes ,which equates to enhanced aromas, fl avors, and me- dicinal attributes. 16 • Professional Marijuana Grower How to Grow Cannabis Organically Many cannabis growers want to garden organically, but do not know how to get started. rowing cannabis organically can be an easy and straightforward pro- cess. Organic nutrients require a healthy population of benefi cial microorganisms, so a grower who is new to organics must shift his or her mindset from feeding the plant to “feeding the soil”. Essentially, organic gardening methods involve adding organic matter to a medium that has a healthy pop- ulation of benefi cial microorganisms. Given enough time, these microorganisms will establish on their own, but using products that contain microorganisms or microorganism stimulators will help inoculate the soil more quickly. Once a grower has established a healthy microorganism population in the medium, the rate at which the organic components are converted into absorbable nutrients is comparable to the availability of nutrients in conventional horticulture. The General Beneﬁ ts of Organic Agriculture Both hobbyists and commercial growers can achieve abundant yields with organic fertilizers. Though the mode of action for nutrient absorption differs between organic and conventional methods, organic gardening techniques can absolutely compete with conventional May/June 2019

Professional Marijuana Grower May-June 2019 Issue | Page 16