Marijuana cultivation on the terrace and balcony

The cultivation of cannabis on the balcony or terrace is very popular with many growers, because it is associated with less effort and brings good yields with minimal investment. Due to the different legal situations and the respective circumstances such as neighbors, visibility, etc. not every grower has the opportunity to do so. Lucky is the one who has a sunny and not visible terrace (roof terrace) or balcony or has a permit for cultivation. Then the terrace is the ideal place for the ladies. You can perfectly take care of them here and immediately recognize their needs or possible problems.

One of the most important things here is the sunlight. The plants should get at least 7 hours of direct sunlight every day to get potent and high yields. Besides this crucial basic requirement, there are some other necessary things that are needed and very helpful.

Important for the grow on terrace & balcony:

• high-quality cannabis seeds, preferably Indicas and low-growing Indica dominant strains, because they usually stay smaller and have a more compact structure or you use selected cuttings.
• 0.25 L pots, 11 L pots, 25 L p ots and possibly 45 L pots. The 45 L pots are only for growers with a very large terrace, growers with an ordinary terrace should use the first three sizes.
• Worm humus
• Bat Guano
• Nutrihemp (algae extract)
• Neem oil
• Pyrethrin
• Propolis
• Guanocalon Grow / Guano-Kalong Bloom or Bachumus Evolution Grow from Trabe + Bachumus Evolution Bloom from Trabe
• pH tester
• pH Down
• Quality soil: Light Mix
• Perlite / Vermiculite

The cultivation on terrace & balcony step by step

Once all the necessary materials are in place, you're ready to go. The best time to start growing on the balcony or terrace is April-May (depending on climate region/temperature). I start from the middle of May, because otherwise the plants will most likely grow too big.

First the seeds must be germinated (-> Seeds germinate properly) and then each planted in 0.25 L pots with light mix.

During the following days, the pots are watered regularly and the soil is kept moist. The small plant pots should be placed directly in the sun, so after about 5-10 days the young cannabis plants begin to sprout. If the sprouting young plants are not placed in the sun immediately, they will become spidery and weak.

After about 3 weeks, the cannabis plants have reached a height of about 20cm and at least three pairs of leaves or more. Now is the right time to repot the plants into an 11L pot. The root structure should already be well developed and you should repot when the substrate has dried.

For the 11 L pots, we recommend a soil mix of: 80% Light mix, 20% worm compost, 500g bat guano, 250g Nutrihemp per 100 L of soil. Mix all ingredients well.

For the first two weeks after repotting, water only with pure water, checking the pH and adjusting it if necessary (-> The optimal pH value).

In the third week after repotting, add the appropriate dose of Guanokalong Grow to the watering once a week.

In the fourth week after repotting (so about 8 weeks after you started growing), it is now mid-June, pruning is done to encourage horizontal growth instead of vertical. The plant should have 7-8 pairs of leaves at this point. The top tip is cut off just above the fifth pair of leaves (Topping), thus forming several main branches.

Immediately after pruning/topping, the plants are placed in their final 25 L pot. Those who can enjoy plenty of space can also place the plants in a 45 L pot each. The following soil mix is recommended for the 25 L pots: 80% Light mix, 20% worm humus/vermicompost, 500 g bat fertilizer, 200 g Nutrihemp per 100 L soil.

After repotting in the 25 L or 45 L pot, water only with pH-adjusted water for the next two weeks.

Three weeks after repotting in the 25 L pot, add the appropriate dose of Guanokalon Grow to the water once a week. This is continued until the first flower buds are visible, which will be around August. The plants are now between 100-130 cm high.

When the first flowers appear, watered 1x a week with water and guanokalong flower in the specified dosage. The rest of the watering should be done only with water, the pH of which has been adjusted. As soon as the buds develop increasingly and it is seen that they have grown larger, guanokalong flower is given 2x a week. This is continued until 2 weeks before harvest.

In the last two weeks before harvesting, you should only water the cannabis plants with clear (pH adjusted) water. This will flush the plants and improve the taste and aroma. If the leaves turn yellow during this time, this is perfectly fine, because they are now getting their nutrient reserves from the leaves.

To determine the correct and exact time of harvest, it is recommended to use a small (or even large) microscope, with which you can see the trichomes and their color exactly. If the trichomes have become mostly milky or even amber instead of clear , the time of harvest has come. More info: Correct harvest time.

Cannabis plants that grow in a 25 L pot and reach a height of 100-125 cm will probably yield between 200-300 g, while cannabis plants (Indicas) in a 45 L pot will grow 125-175 cm high and yield between 300-500 g. Of course, this is also highly dependent on the particular variety.

This should be considered when growing on terrace & balcony

In direct sunlight, the pots or the roots of the plants can easily reach a temperature of 40 degrees, which is not good and should be avoided. To prevent overheating in the pots, it makes sense to use white planters. The planters of the cannabis plants can be shaded with other plants, which at the same time serve as camouflage. However, it should be kept in mind that all plants on the balcony/terrace should be treated against pests in the same precautionary and biological manner as the cannabis plants. A layer of mulch at the bottom of each planter can also prevent desiccation and overheating. The mulch layer is usually straw or cut grass/grass clippings, or you can cover the bottom with vermiculite or expanded clay... I do not recommend using leaves as mulch because of the risk of introducing diseases and pests.

Biological plant protection should be started early and as a precaution. Neem oil, according to the manufacturer, is best added to the watering water and thus administered to the plants, even before an infestation is present. In the growing phase (from the 11 L pot), the plants should be sprayed several times, regularly prophylactic with a Neem oil-water mixture. Regular treatment can prevent the use of chemical agents or crop losses later. In addition to neem oil, the use of a pyrethrin-based biological insecticide is highly recommended. The peak period for spider mites is June-July. With the phrophylactic and combined use of neem oil, propolis and pyrethrum, spider mites, aphids, whitefly and even various types of fungi can be avoided. Neem pyrethrum propolis treatment should be repeated every 14 days until about the end of July.

Then propolis supplements should be applied regularly to prevent powdery mildew and other harmful fungi. Treatment with propolis should be continued until two weeks before harvest. All treatments, repotting and watering should be done in the early morning or late evening, when the heat and sunlight are not too great.

Some terrace or balcony may be particularly exposed to the wind. Then it may be necessary to stabilize and fix the plants with sticks, nets or cords to avoid breaking branches or later heavy flower clusters bend down or break off.

Cannabis plants growing in 20 L pots on the balcony or terrace and exposed to full sunlight and wind can easily consume 7.7 L of water per day. Indoors, the same plant would need up to 70% less water. To protect from too strong wind especially in spring or autumn, it is advisable to install a sturdy windbreak. Cold wind quickly dries out the plants and causes them stress. This makes the plants small and weak and also more susceptible to pest infestation.

A small cold frame or tomato greenhouse on the terrace protects the young cannabis plants in spring from too low temperatures (especially at night) and from wind. This should always be sufficiently open / ventilated, as long as direct sunlight shines on it, so that it is not too hot inside for the small plants. It is best to check with a thermometer. Cold frames can be bought at the hardware store or easily built according to your own space conditions, e.g. from old windows or foil. A cold frame can help to extend the growing season and you have the possibility to put the plants outside earlier, where they get the best and intense sunlight they like the most. Cold frames can be additionally heated with special floor heating mats (if it is still too cold) to protect the plants from the cold.

With a cold frame, you can start the season earlier in the spring because the plants are warm and protected from cold winds, especially if a heat mat is used.

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A SCROG or plant training methods such as supercropping, bounding, etc. can also be used and whole especially when growing on the terrace and balcony. This helps to keep the plants low and at the same time optimize the exposure of the flowers and thus yields.

When is not recommended to grow on the balcony or terrace?

• On your balcony can see neighbors or any other people and you do not have permission for a cultivation
• the balcony or terrace can be seen when you may not be at home.
• your neighbors are much too curious
• You can't avoid smells getting to your neighbors and betraying you as flowering progresses, keep in mind that the smell of cannabis plants is very intense and can go far. Further than you would like sometimes.

Short-growing cannabis strains suitable for growing on the terrace

Some cannabis strains are particularly suitable for growing in small outdoor spaces due to their short flowering time and compact growth structure. Here are some examples:

• 8 Ball Kush from Barneys Farm
• Cherry Kiss by Anesia Seeds
• Warlock by Serious Seeds
• Chocolate Kush by 00 Seeds
• Pure AK by female Seeds

So now let it become green with you in the back garden 🙂

See you soon

Your Juan

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