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California Culture: Growing a Cannabis Monster
In contrast to the conventional method of outdoor growing, where the plants are planted in May / June, there is still the possibility to create true cannabis monsters through a very long cultivation cycle of 8-10 months, which sometimes bear 40kg and more of flowers. This cultivation method comes from the USA, more precisely from California and is therefore also called California Culture. California, with its climatic conditions, is certainly preferable in terms of a very long cultivation period, but even in climatically less favourable regions, the plants can be protected from bad and cold weather with a greenhouse. Before deciding on a California Culture Grow, you should be aware that huge plants are difficult to hide 😉 and it takes more work to cultivate a plant over this long period. However, if the conditions are right, there is no more effective way to grow your cannabis outdoors.
Which genetics are suitable for Cannabis Monster?
The most important factor when choosing the right strain is to make sure that the variety is also suitable for the climatic conditions of the region and that the strain is already adapted to the regional microclimate. 
has become accustomed to. In the meantime, there are some varieties that are also suitable for the more humid and cooler climate of Central Europe and give excellent results there. Varieties that are resistant to mould and parasites should always be chosen. Due to the very long time during which the plants grow and flower, diseases and plagues can easily spread. Neem and other natural fungicides should therefore always be used as a preventive measure. It is simply easier to prevent than to treat a huge tree. Suitable varieties for growing outdoor monsters are e.g. Critical +, Big Bud or Holland's Hope. However, there are many other suitable strains, a large selection of outdoor varieties can be found at here.
Planting time and the first weeks
It is important to start planting soon enough so that the cannabis plants have enough time to develop a huge root system and grow into monsters. The perfect time for germination is from the end of February to the middle of March, but at this time it is still too cold to cultivate the plants outdoors. They should therefore be grown in a heated greenhouse or indoors until the temperatures are warm enough for them to be grown outdoors. Provide the ideal lighting for growing cannabis plants. Fluorescent tubes, LEDs or small Sodium vapour or MH lamps.
The young plants should not be planted immediately in pots that are too large, rather regular repotting in larger containers is much more effective and ensures better root growth. By the end of April, the plants should have reached a height of about one metre and can then be taken outside and planted in their final containers.
Mega pots
Monster plants need mega containers so that they can develop a huge root system and take care of their many shoots. When the plants are put outside at the end of April, they are planted in their final pots. Containers with a volume of at least 900 litres should be chosen for this. It is important that the pots are made of a porous material that ensures sufficient oxygen supply to the roots. Optimal for outdoor use are the Root Pouches. Of course, you can also cut out a planting hole of the same size and fill it with the desired substrate. With a planting hole of about 1500L per plant, this is not really fun without a mini digger and the pots are simply easier to fill 😉 .
Substrate
Which substrate is used depends on the way in which the nutrients are to be added to the cannabis plants. If chemical fertiliser is used, there is no need for microbiological life in the soil, as the nutrients are absorbed directly by the plants. A good plant soil can be used, mixed with perlites so that it becomes more airy in structure. However, you should bear in mind that monster plants need huge amounts of water. It is therefore not so easy to mix the nutrient solution and water the plants with it.
Die eindeutig leichtere Variante, die auch noch die geschmacklich besten Resultate liefert ist der organische Anbau. Dabei ist es wichtig, dass die Erde „lebendig“ ist, da die Mikroorganismen die Nährstoffe erst aufspalten und den Pflanzen zur Verfügung stellen müssen. Mehr dazu findest Du in unserem Bericht Organischer Cannabis Grow, mehr als Bio-Grow. Ein Rezept zum Erde selber mischen findest Du hier.
Irrigation
As already mentioned above, the large plants really gobble up the water. As a guideline, you can assume that monster plants need about 100 litres every other day. However, this depends on the temperature, sunlight, wind and other factors and fluctuates accordingly. To prevent the substrate from drying out too quickly, you can cover the container or planting hole with mulch made from leaves or fresh grass cuttings (meadow, not what you mean again :p ). The plants should be watered at the beginning of the day when the sun is not yet too high.
Watering such large plants can only be done with a Irrigation system with a pump or with the garden hose. The tedious process of bringing up water by hand is far too much work for plants of this size, you can take my word for it.
Trimming the monster plants
To grow huge outdoor plants it is necessary to prune them, but not too excessively. Each time you prune, the cannabis plant will stop growing at that point for a while to close the wound, so if you prune too much, the plant may be delayed and become huge but not monsters. Only the very fresh shoot tips should be pruned, the plant recovers much faster from this and this leads to a more even growth.
Ziel ist es, dass soviel Sonnenlicht als möglich an die Blüten gelangt. Deshalb ist es das beste, die Pflanzen durch das Beschneiden und v.a. durch herunterbinden in die Form einer grossen Kugel zu bringen. Am besten eignet sich hierfür ein grosses ScrOG-Netz, das mit Heringen fest mit dem Boden verbunden wird und in das die Pflanzen wachsen können. Alternativ kann man sich aus Bambusstangen oder ähnlichem ein Gerüst um die Pflanzen bauen und daran das Netz befestigen. Bei den Monsterpflanzen ist es am besten 2 Netze zu verwenden. Das erste zu Beginn der Blütezeit, um sie in Form zu bringen und ein zweites, wenn die Triebe weit genug durch das erste gewachsen sind, um sie in ihre „endgültige“ Form zu bringen. Der Einsatz von 2 Netzen erschwert zwar das Ernten, es ist aber viel leichter Mamutpflanzen so in Form zu bringen. Die Arbeit mit nur einem Netz oder Stangen, etc. erfordert viel mehr Arbeit und ist bei Monstern fast nicht mehr zu schaffen.
The harvest
After you have nurtured your monster for almost a whole year, comes what you look forward to all year - the harvest. The optimal time for this is when 50% of the trichomes have a milky, cloudy colour. If a stronger stoned is desired, one should wait with the harvest until most trichomes have an amber tone. The biggest harvests are achieved with monster plants if they are harvested in several stages. Harvesting is best done in the morning, as this is the time when the resin exudation is strongest. In the first stage, the buds of the first metre of shoots are harvested, then the 2nd, then the 3rd with about a week between harvests. This allows the lower buds to grow even more and swell. When the plants are harvested several times, the yields can increase by up to 60% and the lower buds become much more potent.
With this in mind, a successful outdoor season to you all, keep it green
Your Juan
