Growers in Switzerland would put arc-shaped plastic pipes in the ground over plants. Every night they would drag a tarp across an entire field of cannabis to simulate nighttime. You can use this same principle outdoors in your garden. Build a superstructure over plants and cover them daily to replicate nighttime.

Seedlings on an Amsterdam balcony are moved indoors at night to stay warm. The white container reflects light to help keep soil cool. Seedlings are later transplanted into larger containers that can still be moved indoors on cool wet nights.

Beaming Spanish grower shows off a nameless sativa/indica cross that she grew on her balcony. With a little tender loving care, you can be as successful as this beauty!

Continue giving plants 12 hours of darkness every night. If you are unable to give them 12 hours of darkness, it is better to give them more than less. Fifteen hours of darkness is better than 10 hours of darkness. Always make errors on the side of darkness.

Start giving plants 12 hours of darkness and 12 hours of light now, and the sunlight will be the most intense. Increased sunlight will make buds form faster and thicker. There are also fewer pests in the middle of the hot summer. Pests and disease tend to attack outdoor plants later in the season when they receive less sunlight.

Smart growers plant more seeds or clones now for a natural harvest in the fall. It is a small investment.

Change fertilizer to a blooming mix when inducing flowering. Use a high quality hydroponic formula. Also pay attention to additives and supplements. For example, PK 13-14 (P = Phosphorus, K = Potassium) is one of the supplements that plants really need before flowering. It makes compact strong buds. Other products that promote nutrient uptake will help too.

As always make sure outdoor plants are growing as fast as possible at all times. If they slow down for a day or two, there is a good reason. Usually it is because they are too hot. The ambient air temperature could be too hot, above 30 degrees C., or the soil temperature could be too hot, above 20 degrees C. Soil temperature is rarely a problem when growing in Mother Earth, but containers exposed to direct sunlight cook roots.

Once their needs are met, consistency is what plants want and need. They do not like fluctuations in climate. A large container will make maintenance much easier. Watering will be less often and problems fewer. When irrigating always remember to apply plenty of water. Irrigate with enough water so that at least 20 percent of the water drains out the bottom. For example, I have a one-month-old Sweet Tooth in 40 liters of soil. I water it every other day with four liters of pure water. At least one liter drains out the bottom of the container.

Drainage is very important. Drain water carries away the excess nutrients the roots do not absorb. If these nutrients are allowed to stay in the soil, they accumulate to toxic levels in about a month. When toxic levels of fertilizer salts are present in soil or soilless mix, the uptake of many other nutrients is blocked. The excess nutrients block the uptake of necessary nutrients and growth slows.

Nutrient problems occur in the plants several weeks before most growers notice the symptoms in plant foliage. Taking these simple preventative measures will save you lots of problem solving time. Remember, always pay attention to the basics: air, temperature, light, humidity and growing medium. The interrelation between these vital elements will dictate your ability to grow a strong healthy harvest of killer buds! Your plants will also thank you!

Leach plants with at least three liters of water for every liter of soil. Leach plants every month. Flushing containers with lots of fresh water will ensure there is no buildup of excess fertilizer salts. Salt buildup is one of the biggest problems affecting container-grown plants. Take this simple precaution and you will avoid many problems and grow healthier plants. Flush plants outdoors with the hose and continue to fill the container until water flows out the bottom. The water should drain from containers quickly. If water sits on soil surface for more than a minute, it does not drain fast enough. Plant roots do not penetrate super wet soil. If this is the case, remove plant from the container and repot in new fresh fast-draining potting soil. Take care when repotting to break and bruise a minimum of roots. Water with a product containing vitamin B1 and roots will suffer less stress.

Cover plants receiving too much light. If plants receive direct sunlight and temperatures exceed 20 degrees C., covering with shade-cloth will reduce water consumption, overall maintenance and speed growth. Marijuana grows best temperature range of 15-20 degrees C. day and 15-20 degrees C. at night. If temperatures go beyond these bounds, extra measures will be necessary to maintain fast growth. The easiest way to promote fast growth is to cool the growing area with shade.

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