Choosing the right concreting solutions is a cornerstone in the journey of constructing or renovating your home. It not only guarantees durability and structural integrity but also elevates the aesthetic appeal of your living space. Concrete, with its unmatched versatility, stands as a pillar in residential construction, marrying the qualities of strength, longevity, and design flexibility.
As we delve into the realm of concreting solutions suitable for various facets of home construction, from the foundational elements to decorative finishes, it becomes evident how these solutions significantly enhance both the functionality and appearance of our homes.
Understanding Different Types of Concrete
Concrete comes in various forms, each suited to specific applications in home construction. Here’s a look at the primary types:
Standard Concrete: The foundation of most construction projects, known for its strength and durability, suitable for driveways, sidewalks, and structural foundations.
High-Strength Concrete: Offers enhanced durability and load-bearing capabilities, ideal for areas requiring superior strength.
Lightweight Concrete: Used where less structural mass or better insulation is needed, it provides thermal efficiency and is easier to work with.
Decorative Concrete: Enables aesthetic customization for home exteriors and interiors through options like colored, stamped, or polished concrete.
Benefits of Concrete in Home Construction
The benefits of using concrete in home construction are manifold. Its durability stands up to extreme weather, heavy traffic, and the wear and tear of daily life, ensuring structures that last generations. Concrete’s thermal mass contributes to energy efficiency, helping maintain consistent indoor temperatures and potentially lowering energy costs. Moreover, its versatility allows architects and builders to explore creative designs, molding concrete into various shapes and finishes to complement any architectural style.
Innovative Concreting Techniques for Homes
Innovative concreting techniques, such as stamped concrete, polished concrete, and concrete overlays, push the boundaries of traditional concrete applications, offering homeowners unique ways to enhance the aesthetic appeal of their exteriors and interiors.
Stamped concrete introduces textures that mimic natural materials, while polished concrete floors bring a sleek, high-gloss finish to any room. Concrete overlays provide a fresh look for existing concrete surfaces without the need for complete replacement, making them a cost-effective option for renovations.
Choosing the Right Concrete for Your Project
Selecting the appropriate concrete for your endeavor requires a thorough assessment of your project’s unique demands, whether it’s for construction or renovation. This entails evaluating the visual goals you aim to achieve, the structural requirements essential for stability and safety, and the adaptability of the materials to the specific climate conditions in your area. Additionally, financial considerations are pivotal in this selection process.
The cost implications of various concrete types and their associated finishing methods can significantly influence your final decision. Engaging a Perth concreter, such as Project Concrete, ensures expert guidance in navigating these considerations, guaranteeing that your choice aligns with both your aesthetic preferences and budgetary constraints.
Maintenance and Care for Concrete Surfaces
Maintaining concrete surfaces is straightforward, involving routine sealing to protect against moisture and stains, regular cleaning to preserve appearance, and prompt repair of any cracks or wear to prevent further damage. Such care ensures the longevity and beauty of concrete installations, contributing to the overall value of your home.
Disadvantages Of Concrete For Home
When building concrete slab foundations, constructors are aware of the reason why it needs to be freezed. Apart from the worry that the foundation might crack, there is also concern about cost savings. One thing that you might not have to worry about at all is when you use concrete for your home, it is quite safe.
There is no problem when it comes to the base of the house and how it might decrease the risk of damage with regards to the instances of buying or building a home with concrete. There are several benefits which we have already mentioned, however, there are some drawbacks as well.
You need to go through the disadvantages of using concrete so that you can consider all pros and cons. This will help you in understanding the need for concrete or should you choose another option when building a home.
Read about the drawbacks that are described below in detail. You can decide on your own regarding making the choice of whether or not you would like to choose concrete as your choice for the house site!
Labor
Not everyone knows how to use concrete and accordingly, they know how to implement the concrete and tools that will help in building concrete structures.
It is quite common to understand that you will need to learn about how concrete works and efficiently work on looking for laborers.
These laborers must know how to use concrete and the tools or else it might be difficult especially when the process is expensive!
Cost
Using concrete is one of the most expensive ways of building a house! There is labor, material costs, transportation costs and market competition. When evaluating the conditions based on which you are building a house, there can be serious concerns regarding the expenses of a traditional home.
Several factors influence the way your house is built! I agree that there are long term benefits to the use of concrete however, it can significantly impact your costing and budgeting when building a house.
Pests
With concrete becoming the foundation of your house, there can be a chance that there can be pests such as roaches and termites. Considering the house is closer to the ground, the insects and pests can easily enter through the walls accessing the infrastructure of the house.
It will severely impact the woods across the house along with concerns if you sit on the ground!
Heating And Cooling
If there is a unit for air-conditioning or there is a furnace installed, there is a high chance that it will affect the concrete. These devices when installed in the ground floor will take up room directly impacting your purpose.
Slab Cracks
One of the most potential concerns when using concrete is that there can be cracks in the concrete! Now that we have already discussed about it being costly, it can be expensive to repair the house especially when there are cracks.
It will look bad! Do you wonder how these cracks have developed? Earthquakes, frozen ground or tree roots are common concerns due to which the cracks in the concrete appear.
Conclusion
In conclusion, concrete offers a versatile, durable, and aesthetically pleasing solution for home construction and renovation projects. By understanding the different types of concrete, their benefits, and the innovative techniques available, homeowners can make informed decisions that meet their structural and design needs.
Whether laying a new foundation, upgrading a patio, or seeking durable and stylish flooring options, the right concreting solutions can significantly enhance the livability and appeal of your home, ensuring it stands the test of time.
Ankita Tripathy loves to write about food and the Hallyu Wave in particular. During her free time, she enjoys looking at the sky or reading books while sipping a cup of hot coffee. Her favourite niches are food, music, lifestyle, travel, and Korean Pop music and drama.
Are you looking for the most roof care tips? Here you will learn about roof care tips including, repair, installation, and maintenance. Although your roof may be designed to protect your home for long years (say 10-15 years), you need to inspect your roof every year. It will help you remain calm and relax that you are living under a safe roof.
In this article, you will learn some valuable tips from the Minnesota roofing company. These tips ensure the safety and comfort of your home.
Roofing Tips
You can apply the following tips on your own. However, you may need expert assistance or hire a roofing agency like A to Z Construction to repair your roof.
Think About Your Safety First
Whenever you find that there is a leak on your roof, don’t rust to find it out. Being on the roof when it is raining is not the right way. It can be dangerous to walk on the roof to find a leak while raining, or there is ice buildup on your roof.
Have patience and wait until the rain stops. A temporary fix if the leak is not a solution; keep in mind that there is no quick fix for a roof leak. So, you shouldn’t meddle on the roof as soon as a leak happens. Think about your safety and take precautions before you go to spot the leak.
Wear a rubber shoe when you're going to find a leak on your roof.
Don’t work alone; take help from a buddy when you’re on the roof.
Clean Gutters and Spray the Roof
Usually, gutters are a common reason for a leak. If your gutters are not clean and clogged with leaves and debris, that can be a reason for leaks during rain. So, you should first clear the gutters.
The next step is to spray various areas of the roof to locate the leak. You can spray water on your roof with your garden hose. If it's winter, though, you shouldn't spray water. Since it's not safe to spray water on your roof when it's freezing outside, you can wait until the winter is over.
Prevent Ice Buildup
Ice buildup is a common problem in the wintertime. You cannot do anything about the ice buildup in the exterior area, such as the roof membrane, gutter, and shingles. However, you can prevent ice buildup in the interior.
For that, you should use ice and rain shields along with proper ventilation. Ice buildup in the interior causes drips inside your home. Also, you can use an edge drip to prevent this problem.
Fix Your Roof Boots
Another major problem for leakage is your roof boots. It’s common that we check the flash, skylights, roofs, and gutters for finding any possible leakages. Another thing that most people miss is the rubber roof boots.
So, you should also check the roof boots if there is any leak. If you find any defect in the roof boot, you can quickly fix it by purchasing a new one from a local store.
Inspect Your Roofing Material
Sometimes your roofing material and shingles can be of low quality or faulty, which may cause leakage soon. So, you should check the roofing material too. Always use good quality material on your roof. Since the roof is one of the most important parts of your home, you should use the standard quality material with high longevity.
Final Words
These are some of the common roofing tips to protect your home from leakage. However, you should consult a reputed roofing agency if you think that you cannot handle it on your own. Do proper research and ask for referrals before you choose a roofing agency.
More Resources:
Professional Roofing Services and Different Decorating Styles
Choosing the right roof for your home – Types to select from
Roofing Painting Contractor Leads: Ask Before Hiring One
One of the most used herbs in the world, cilantro, is also referred to as Chinese parsley or Coriandrum sativum. Fresh and zesty, cilantro gives your recipes a flavor boost. Mexican, Middle Eastern, Indian, Mediterranean, Chinese, African, and even Scandinavian cuisines use it extensively. Even cilantro microgreens are grown from it!
Since cilantro itself doesn't keep well and loses aroma and flavor once dried, most people prefer to use it fresh. To have cilantro on hand, you should also have a few plants in the garden.
You can harvest the plant for its flavorful cilantro seeds, also known as coriander, even if you don't use the leaves in your recipes. The leaves of the cilantro plants come throughout the spring and summer. Allow them to go to seed at that time since they grow easily in the garden!
You must know how to harvest cilantro properly if you want to have a steady supply. Keep reading to find out all you need to know about harvesting cilantro.
Harvesting Cilantro: Overview
Most people either love or hate the flavor of cilantro leaves. However, you should still think about cultivating a few coriander plants in your garden and saving the seeds for a range of culinary uses.
Most people in the US grow this delicious herb for its leaves. But the tasty coriander seeds are also worth harvesting. They have a distinct flavor from cilantro leaves. This fragrant herb of the cool season, cilantro, quickly goes to seed in the long, sweltering summer months.
As the plant reaches higher in the sky, its rounded, lobed leaves become feathery. Pretty clusters of tiny white blossoms quickly emerge. Many pollinators are drawn to these nectar- and pollen-rich blossoms, particularly syrphid flies and honeybees. Little round coriander seeds with a kelly green color emerge as the blossoms start to fade.
What To Expect from Cilantro?
The distinctive flavor of coriander is citrusy and slightly nutty. It goes incredibly well with rice, beans, lentils, and roasted or grilled veggies. You can pick the seeds while they are still young and vibrant green. Or you can wait until they start to turn brown.
Since green coriander seed is only found in gardens, it is better to harvest them when they are still green because of their stronger, more distinct flavor. You will not find them in the farmers’ market or the grocery store.
If the seeds are kept in a glass container with a lid, then they can be refrigerated for several weeks and frozen effectively as well. Wait until most of the seed turns brown if you want to harvest the mature brown seed for winter grinding or planting next year.
Next, trim off a few inches of stalk and the seed heads, then hang them upside down in a brown paper bag. The seeds will drop out of the heads and land in the bag's bottom once they are completely dry. The dry seed should be kept in a dry, cool place in a glass jar with a lid.
For optimal flavor, grind it just before using. The flavor difference between freshly ground coriander seed and the pre-ground variety typically found in stores will astound you. Try adding green coriander seeds to dressings and marinades. Frequently adding an equal amount of ground coriander to recipes that call for cumin makes the flavors of the two go particularly well together.
How to Harvest Cilantro?
The most exciting aspect of growing plants is undoubtedly harvesting. Pick individual cilantro leaves if you plan to use a small amount. It is best to leave at least 1-2 inches of stem above the soil's surface when harvesting larger quantities of cilantro.
It is preferable to leave a few lower leaves on the plant to support the herbs until they grow back. To cut the stems cleanly, use harvesting snips, long reach harvesting snips, or sharp, sterilized garden shears. To guarantee that your herbs regrow, it is best to remove only a small portion of the plant at a time.
Furthermore, when the cilantro plant blooms and sets seed, the herb may start to taste bitter. So, when wondering how to harvest cilantro, it is preferable to harvest before the plant bolts because the leaves will be less appetizing at that point.
When is The Best Time to Harvest Cilantro?
When the morning dew has cleared and the sun hasn't set, it's the ideal time of day to harvest a variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs, including cilantro. This way you can lessen the stress on your cilantro plant and give the fresh stock cuts enough time to dry before dusk, which lowers the risk of illness.
Before it bolts, harvest cilantro when it is 6 to 8 inches tall. The flavor of cilantro leaves significantly decreases after they have bolted. The lifespan of the cilantro plants can be increased by careful and routine harvesting. It is crucial, though, to wait for your plant to become established before beginning to harvest.
The plant develops numerous long, thin stems as it grows. They are ready to be harvested when the stems are long, and the leaves have a lacy appearance. The cilantro herbs are about ten to twelve inches tall at this point. Gather your cilantro in the spring and into the first part of the summer.
Your plants may bolt to seed if summertime full sun conditions prove to be too hot for them. The best time to harvest cilantro is early morning. You can either choose to harvest it once a week or source just individual leaves whenever you need them.
Most of the time, it takes about 2-3 weeks for regrowth, so you must harvest accordingly. You must remember that regular cut-and-come-again harvesting is the most ideal while the plant keeps producing foliage.
How To Store Fresh Cilantro?
Part of knowing how to harvest cilantro is also knowing how to store them. It's best to know how much you should take from the garden before you harvest. You will need to learn how to store cilantro if you do not intend to use the leaves right away to extend its shelf life. There are several approaches to try.
Storing Cilantro in Water
To keep the cilantro leaves dry, wait to wash them after harvesting. For storage purposes, store the stem ends in a glass or jar with 1 to 1.5 inches of water and refrigerate for a few days. At a minimum, change the water once a day. Use a plastic bag to cover the top loosely to preserve the humidity surrounding the herbs.
Storing Cilantro in The Freezer
Freezing cilantro is another low-maintenance way to store it. Shake off any extra moisture and rinse the leaves to get rid of any garden soil. Tear the leaves into small pieces and stuff them into ice cube trays, covering the herb with just enough water to barely cover.
You can pre-measure if you'd like to ensure that you know precisely how much is in each cube for recipes in the future. After the cubes are completely frozen, place them in a freezer bag. Add as needed to marinade, smoothies, soups, and sauces. You can freeze cilantro for up to six or eight months.
Read More: Everything You Need To Know About Harvesting Basil
How To Dry Cilantro?
There are two methods for drying cilantro. You can use the oven to dry cilantro. Since hot air can greatly affect the flavor of the finished and dried herb, you might want to avoid using heat if you want to enjoy flavorful dried cilantro.
Air drying or hanging drying is a better way to dry cilantro. Gather the stems of the herbs into a small bunch and secure them with a string. Place the bunch in a dark, well-ventilated area and hang it upside down. Alternatively, you can wrap the bunch in a brown paper bag to keep the cilantro from getting dusty.
After the bunch has been hanging for about a week, begin to check its level of dryness every day or two. It's ready to be crushed or powdered and stored for later use when it crumbles when touched.
Cure the cilantro ahead of time to reduce the possibility of mold growth. Put the dried cilantro in a glass mason jar to cure. Open the jar and give it a good shake every day to let fresh air into it and mix the contents. This will assist in achieving moisture content parity. If you'd like, you can also include a moisture-absorbing packet.
How To Harvest Cilantro Seeds?
You can harvest the coriander seeds even if you don't like cilantro leaves. The plant can grow to 20 inches when it flowers. This requires temperatures above 75 degrees. Pods will form once they have flowered, and the flowers will fade.
Before being harvested, these should be green to brown in color. These pods release the mature seed when it's ready. Tie the stems with the seed pods still attached into a bunch. Next, hang them upside down in a paper bag in a cool, dry place to harvest the seeds.
With time, the seeds will sprout and drop into the bag. Store your seeds in a dry, cool place in an airtight jar. Unground dried seeds can be kept for three to four years in storage. Before using dried seeds in your recipes, grind them for the best flavor.
How To Harvest Cilantro So It Keeps Growing?
If you sow cilantro seeds every two weeks from spring until late summer, you can be sure to always have fresh leaves available. We advise chopping them up and firmly packing them into an ice cube tray filled with water. Then, just place the tray in the freezer. These can then be added directly to hot pans when preparing soups or sauces. Or they can be dropped into hot or cold water for cooking or drinking.
What To Do If Cilantro Bolts?
It's time to collect and preserve your own coriander seeds once your plant produces seeds. Picture each of those tiny white blossoms turning into a flavorful spice for your cooking or seeds for the following year! In addition to being aesthetically pleasing and tasty, cilantro flowers are also excellent pollinators.
There is a short window of time when the growing seasons of cilantro and tomatoes coincide. This proves they go well together. It usually happens that my tomato and pepper plants are just starting to take off when my cilantro plants bolt, sending forth gorgeous white flowers.
To maximize the amount of fruit your plants produce for you, beneficial insects that are feeding on your cilantro flowers will collide with your fruiting plants, vibrate their leaves, and assist in pollination. Ladybugs, butterflies, and bees all love cilantro flowers. It truly is a win-win!
Choose Slow Bolt Seeds
Seek out seed packets labeled "long-standing" or "slow bolt cilantro," as these varieties have been cultivated to endure longer in the garden. You can find your go-to slow bolt seeds that are 100% certified organic from Seeds of Change.
Finding a local seed producer is another smart move. Buying local seeds means you'll be growing a climate-adapted variety of cilantro, which increases the likelihood that you'll keep it longer.
Harvest Cilantro Regularly
Regularly chop your cilantro leaves. This preserves the health of the plant and guarantees that the leaves of this herb are fresh when you use them. Your cilantro will continue to produce new leaves from the center of the plant if you regularly harvest it by chopping off the older outer leaves.
Additionally, your chances of cutting off those immature flower stalks increase with the amount of cilantro you harvest. This will aid in postponing any bolting.
Since cilantro is incredibly obstinate, you can delay as long as you can. Cut that thick center stalk as soon as possible. After that, the plant will start to send outside shoots, giving you a little extra cilantro before it eventually bolts completely. For sun protection, surround your cilantro with tall plants.
Plant Taller Plants Around Cilantro for Sun Protection
Encircle your cilantro with large warm-season plants (like tomato or pepper plants) so that the taller plants can shade your herbs slightly and help keep the soil cooler as the temperatures rise. After all, four to six hours of sun is sufficient for cilantro to grow. To increase the lifespan of your cilantro in the garden, interplant it with larger plants.
Wrapping Up
You will need to have patience if you want to collect the seeds for your cilantro. Before seeds can be harvested, cilantro needs to blossom. Before harvesting, the resulting seed heads need to be allowed to dry on the plant for a while.
Harvesting the seeds is then as simple as shaking them into a paper bag or chopping off the entire seedhead and placing it inside the bag. If you have thoughts to share or questions to ask about how to harvest cilantro, please leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you!
Read Also:
Asparagus 101: When, How, And How Often To Harvest?
Some Facts You Need to Know About Rainwater Harvesting
How to Harvest Lettuce: A Step-by-Step Guide for Fresh and Crispy Salads
If there is one thing that most people try to know after searching for the legalities of growing weed, it is about “how to harvest weed?”
If this is something that you are searching for, I have you covered!
You see, weed, or marijuana, is a controversial plant to talk about. You might want to grow it for medicinal and recreational purposes. But the “What if people...” thoughts might put you off! This is because harvesting or growing weed is not like harvesting potatoes. There are several other things associated with the same. So, having someone like Stoned Genie can always come in handy!
But don’t you worry, my friend! If you are trying to search for the best ways to harvest weed, both indoors and outdoors, you need to look no further! Keep on reading this blog till the end to learn more...
Is Growing Marijuana Legal?
Marijuana, also known as cannabis, weed, pot, or ganja, is a plant that contains several psychoactive compounds. It can alter one's mood, cognition, and perception. Marijuana has been used for several reasons and purposes for thousands of years, ranging from medicinal to spiritual.
But its legal status has been a matter of debate and controversy in many countries. So, is growing marijuana legal?
The answer depends on where you live, how much you grow, and what you use it for. In some countries, such as Canada, Uruguay, and South Africa, growing marijuana for personal use is legal or decriminalized as long as you follow certain rules and regulations.
In other countries, such as the United States, Australia, and the Netherlands, growing marijuana is legal or tolerated in some states or regions but illegal or restricted in others. In many countries, such as China, India, and Saudi Arabia, growing marijuana is illegal and punishable by harsh penalties, regardless of the amount or purpose.
Various factors, such as the potential benefits and harms of marijuana use, the social and cultural attitudes towards marijuana, the economic and political interests of different groups, and the international treaties and agreements on drug control influence the legal status of marijuana.
The legal status of growing marijuana is also subject to change as new laws and policies are enacted or revised and further research and evidence are presented.
Growing marijuana is a complex and controversial issue that has no simple or universal answer. The best way to find out if growing marijuana is legal in your area is to consult the relevant authorities and sources, and to be aware of the risks and consequences of your actions. Remember, just because something is legal, does not mean it is safe, ethical, or advisable.
When Should You Plant Weed?
Spring is here, and you know what that means: it's time to get your marijuana seeds ready for planting outdoors.
This is the most important crop of the year because you can get the biggest harvest of all.
Some old-timers like to plant their seeds on the first full moon of March. They say this way, the seeds get some light at night and don't grow too tall too fast.
But sometimes, it's still too chilly in March, and not everywhere has the same weather. If you live in a colder place, your plants will grow slower and suffer from the cold and the wind. They will be weaker and more likely to get bugs and diseases
So, what should you do in this case?
Well, you can wait a month or two longer. A seed that sprouts in a nice climate from April onwards will grow bigger and better than one that sprouts in March in the same place
But growing plants for so long is not easy.
You must watch out for all kinds of things: bugs, diseases, nutrients, transplanting, pruning, training... It's a six-month-long job requiring constant attention
Things to Keep in Mind
If you want a good quality and quantity of weed there are several things that you need to keep in mind. Want to know what they might be? I have you covered! Here are some of the things that you'll need:
Fertilizers for growth and flowering: You can choose whatever fertilizers you like, organic or chemical. Organic ones, like humus, guano, and flower boosters, will give you a tasty and aromatic weed, but less of it. Chemical ones, like those from specific brands, will give you more buds, but less flavor.
Insecticides for insects like whiteflies, mites, or thrips: It's better to use them as a prevention, so you don't get any nasty surprises.
An anti-fungal product that works well against powdery mildew: Propolix or other chemical products are good, but you have to use them from the beginning.
Bacillus Thuringiensis: This is for caterpillars and other worms. Use it as soon as the flowers start to show, which is when these critters start to show up. Around May/June.
Stakes or wires to support the branches during the flowering stage.
Soil and Other Conditions to Grow Weed or Marijuana
It's obvious that this is the most common grow medium, probably because it's easy to find and has some nutrients already in it. Weed grown in soil is also more delicious and fragrant. And, no, it's not hard to grow in soil – just plant your (favorite) strain in the soil, and you're good to go.
That's it. Of course, there are different kinds of soil, and some are better than others. High-quality potting soil will make your life easier and faster. You might also want to add some extra nutrients to make your weed grow better.
Or you can make your own super soil. If you decide to buy soil, we suggest you go for the best brands, or at least those with a good soil mix. They should have things like earthworm castings, alfalfa meal, humic acid, etc.
Can You Grow Weed Without Soil?
Want to try something different? Go soilless. You'll see some quicker growth (and bigger harvests). And, conveniently, growing weed in soilless mediums is pretty similar to growing it in soil. The only difference is that you'll have to give the nutrients yourself because soilless mediums don't have any. Some examples of soilless mediums are coco coir, vermiculite, perlite, etc.
What About Hydroponic Grows? Is it Complicated?
No, hydroponic growth is not complicated. It's as easy as picking your setup (hydroponic system), getting your nutrients, and sprouting your seeds. And you'll get some amazing benefits: super-fast growth, huge yields, and super-strong weed.
Sounds good, right? Don't believe everything you hear because some information can mess up your growth. But with the right setup and care, you can be sure of a plentiful harvest.
What It Needs to Survive and Thrive: How to Grow Weed Plant?
If you want to grow the best weed possible, you need to know your plant well. Here are some of the main things that a weed plant needs to thrive, and how it works.
Light
Light is the fuel that drives photosynthesis and growth in a weed plant. The fan leaves are like solar panels that absorb light. The more light you give your plants, the more buds they will produce.
But be careful not to give them too much light. If you grow indoors, keep your lights at a safe distance from your plants, or you might burn them and ruin your nugs. And if your plants get too hot, they will dry out faster and need more water and attention.
Weed plants usually need at least six hours of sunlight a day when they grow outdoors. This is called “full sun”. When they grow indoors, they usually get between 12 and 18 hours of artificial light a day, depending on their stage of growth.
Weed is a photoperiod plant, which means that the amount of light it gets every day affects when it flowers and makes buds. Outdoors, this happens when the days get shorter in the fall. Indoors, you can make this happen by changing the light cycle from 18 to 12 hours a day.
Water
Water is essential for all plants, including weed. Water provides hydrogen for photosynthesis, and also carries nutrients from the soil to the plant through the roots, and throughout the whole plant.
Water also helps the plant stay firm and flexible, by creating pressure on the cell walls. This allows the plant to bend with the wind or reach for more light.
Plants also lose water through their leaves, like humans sweat, to cool down. This is called transpiration, and you can see it as droplets on the leaf tips.
This may sound obvious, but you only need to water the soil or the medium where your weed plant grows, not the leaves or the plant itself. We suggest that you water a lot, but not too often, rather than a little, but more frequently. This way, the roots can dry out a bit and get more oxygen from the soil.
Nutrients
A marijuana plant needs several nutrients to grow and flower. The main nutrients it needs are:
Nitrogen: Nitrogen helps a weed plant grow during the vegetative phase, when it makes more mass, stems, branches, and leaves. It is part of chlorophyll, the green pigment that helps the plant use light for photosynthesis.
Phosphorus: Phosphorus is important for storing and using energy, as well as for root growth and bud development. It helps the plant take up nutrients and build its structure.
Potassium: Potassium helps with many of the plant’s metabolic activities, such as respiration, transpiration, and enzyme activation. It also helps the plant fight off diseases and pests.
Calcium: Calcium is a minor nutrient, but it still plays a role in keeping the plant’s cell walls intact, and helping the plant absorb other nutrients.
Magnesium: Magnesium is part of chlorophyll, and helps the plant make glucose from photosynthesis. Without it, the plant can’t turn light into energy.
CO2
Plants breathe in CO2 through tiny holes in their leaves called stomata. During photosynthesis, plants turn CO2 into glucose, which they use to grow and flower.
Some indoor growers use a “CO2 burner”, which is a device that adds a little bit of CO2 to the air, to make the plants grow faster and bigger. But this is usually too much for home growers.
Wind/airflow
Wind or airflow is good for your plants, because it brings fresh air and CO2, which they need to grow.
Airflow also prevents mold and diseases, by removing moisture from the inside of the plant, so it doesn’t get too wet. You can also use a technique called scragging, which spreads out the branches and lets more air in.
Wind or airflow also makes your plant stronger and healthier, by making its stalks and branches thicker and sturdier. When a plant bends with the wind, it produces a hormone called auxin, which stimulates growth.
What to Keep in Mind While Harvesting Weed?
You probably know that different strains of weed need different amounts of time and sun to grow well. Sativas, which come from places near the equator, like a long and sunny summer to get fully ripe.
Indicas, which come from colder and harsher places, are usually faster to finish. But there are exceptions, of course. Some indicas are slow and some sativas are quick.
The best time of day to cut down your outdoor plants is in the morning, before the sun gets too strong. You don't want them to be wet from dew, but you also don't want them to be exposed to too much sunlight, which can ruin their flavor.
You can also harvest at night when it's cooler, but the morning is better because the plants are fresher and haven't been under the sun all day.
1. Watch the weather
As your buds get bigger and heavier and the season changes from summer to fall, the weather can change too. Depending on where you live, you might get some cold snaps or rainstorms.
These are not the end of the world, but you do need to pay attention to the weather and maybe decide on the spot when to harvest your plants, balancing their ripeness with the risk of losing them.
2. Harvesting in Lower Temperatures
According to sources, most weed plants can handle a light freeze—28-32°F for up to three hours—without any problem. But a hard freeze, anything lower or longer, can be a disaster.
Frost can make ice crystals form in the plant cells, hurting them. The leaves will look droopy and then turn dark and crunchy. The worse the frost, the more damage to the plant.
Remember that plants in pots are more sensitive to temperature changes than plants in the ground, so they are more likely to get frost damage.
3. Rainy Harvests
Rain is not a big deal by itself, but it depends on how long and how hard it rains. If it's going to stop soon and dry up fast, you can leave your almost ready plants outside. But if the rain is going to stay, mold is waiting—better to harvest sooner than later.
Covering your plants can help, but the air will still be humid. You can use some tall stakes and a tarp to cover them, but make sure to take them off when the rain or cold is over. In this way, the plants can warm up and breathe.
When to Harvest Weed Plant?
The type of plant growing determines when to harvest cannabis. Sativa, hybrid, and indica are the three primary kinds of cannabis seeds. Are you curious about the best time to harvest marijuana?
Let me break it down for you!
Sativa strain plants typically take longer to mature and give off a stronger cerebral height. However, Indica plants yield larger blooms and a more sedative, paralyzing high.
When an Indica and a Sativa are crossed, hybrids that enable flowers to have both traits are created. While Sativa cultivars blossom in 10 to 16 weeks (about three and a half months), Indica varieties flower in 8 to 10 weeks (about two and a half months) on average.
The cannabis plant can be found in hybrid form halfway between the two main species. It is important to understand that flowering times might vary based on environmental factors like temperature and duration of day.
Thus, the questions of when and how to harvest cannabis remain unanswered. Knowing what you want to achieve with your cannabis plants can help you decide when to harvest them.
Let's say you are growing cannabis for therapeutic purposes. Is there a unique method for harvesting cannabis in this case? If so, it is imperative to harvest the plant at the height of its cannabinoid content.
But if you are cultivating cannabis seeds for fun purposes, then it is best to harvest marijuana at its peak maturity.
How to Harvest Weed?
Once you've decided when to harvest your cannabis, it's critical to understand how to harvest cannabis plants correctly. It's simple to harvest cannabis; you just need to cut the stem off at the root. But it's best not to pull the branch out of the ground since this could damage it and reduce its yield.
It is crucial to properly dry the cannabis after harvesting it before stocking it. Hanging it upside down in a room with lots of ventilation and little light exposure is the best method to accomplish this, like a wardrobe. In order to efficiently dry cannabis, proper ventilation is necessary because it inhibits the growth of mold.
Before you proceed to store it, ensure that you let your cannabis rest for some time. This can range anywhere from three to seven days. This is a great way to ensure that the leaves are dried and ready for you to store.
Wrapping It Up!
In case you were searching for the best ways on how to harvest weed, I hope that this blog has been of help to you. If there are any other queries related to the same, please feel free to let me know. All that you need to do is scroll down till you reach the bottom of the page. Then leave your suggestions in the box below. And I will be there to answer them all for you!
More Resources:
Choosing a Medical Marijuana Dispensary
Marijuana Addiction Treatment: 5 Steps to Avoid Relapse
What Are Tarpenes? How Do They Work? – Cannabis Guide
Medical Marijuana Can Take New Dimensions in the Treatment of Pets
