Getting Started

In this self-paced virtual course, we discuss how to grow cannabis safely and remain compliant with state and local regulations. We introduce the foundations of cannabis botany and discuss the choice between growing from seeds or clones. Then, we cover how light and nutrients affect the growth and development of the cannabis plant during the vegetative growth stage.

We start the course with a look at cultivation safety and compliance, identifying places where cannabis cultivation is permitted, and taking a brief look at the process of obtaining a license for commercial cultivation and the regulations you need to follow as a commercial grower. We walk through mandatory security measures and how to run a discreet operation, as well as potential hazards and how to address them.

Then, we move to an introduction to cannabis botany — the physiology of the plant, its life cycle, and the environments in which it is cultivated. We compare and contrast outdoor, indoor, and greenhouse cultivation environments, and explore the primary methods of cannabis propagation.

From there, we talk about how to cultivate cannabis from both seeds and clones and discuss the pros and cons of each. We demonstrate techniques for sprouting and sowing seeds and identify the optimal environmental conditions for germination. Then, we examine the practice of cloning and its application.

We learn how to assess the health of clones and highlight the importance of quarantining new clones and acclimating them to a new growing environment.

Finally, we explore the vegetative growth phase. We discuss how light and nutrients affect the development of the cannabis plant.

We take a closer look at how various anatomical structures of the cannabis plant develop during this phase of the life cycle and the role of each part of the plant in promoting vegetative growth. The class concludes with some best practices for transplanting and techniques for influencing the growth pattern of your plants, such as pruning, training, and topping.