Cultivation

(Artem Cherednik/iStock)

The process of growing cannabis plants, including preparing soil, germinating seeds, cloning, planting, tending plants, harvesting, and more. 

“Large-scale cannabis cultivation is a sight to behold!”

“Cannabis cultivation can get you in big trouble with the authorities if you’re not in a legal state.”

What is cannabis cultivation?

Cannabis can be cultivated in a variety of ways: indoors, outdoors, hydroponically, aeroponically, and more, and you can start with a seed or a clone. And like regular farming, cannabis can be grown organically, or employ the use of fertilizers. 

Cannabis plants need light, water, nutrients, a growing medium (such as soil), and a suitable environment with adequate temperature and humidity. There are a variety of ways for a plant to get these, and all choices a cultivator makes will affect the plant and the final product. 

Genetics play an important role in how a plant develops, but two plants grown in different environments or with different cultivation techniques will produce different buds in the end. 

Check out Leafly’s Guide to growing marijuana for more on cultivation.