How To Grow Cannabis by the Moon Cycle

Moon gardening involves carrying out specific tasks in sync with the lunar phases. Although this might seem like pseudoscience to some, gardeners have cultivated plants with the rhythm of the moon for centuries with great success. Every year, cannabis growers manage to increase the vitality of their plants and enhance yields by cultivating weed using the lunar calendar.

Far from an inert object orbiting the earth, the moon impacts plant life in a multitude of ways. Certain phases of the moon illuminate plants into the night, accelerating foliage growth. The gravitational power of the moon also pulls sap up into the leaves and flowers. When this force reduces, the nutrient-rich substance heads underground and floods the root system.

Make the most of your next cannabis grow by abiding by the lunar calendar.

Check out the lunar calendar of 2021 below, learn the best times to germinate, transplant, feed, and prune, and discover why you should harvest your weed during the full moon.

Phases of the Moon and What They Mean

Gardening in sync with the moon boils down to timing. Before we delve into what tasks to carry out, and when, we need to cover the subphases of the moon within the two primary phases.

Waxing Moon

A waxing moon makes up one of the two primary phases. Waxing means growing, so this phase encompasses a period where the moon becomes increasingly illuminated over 14–15 days. During this time, the waxing moon features four distinct forms.

• New Moon

The new moon marks the beginning of a new lunar cycle. Here, the moon takes a position directly between the earth and the sun. The side of the moon that faces the earth appears completely dark. As the moon begins to shift into the next stage, only a thin slice of the side of the moon reflects sunlight to the earth, giving rise to a razor-sharp crescent shape.

• Crescent

During this stage, the moon appears as a more developed crescent shape. The giant ball of rock moves out of the space directly between the earth and the sun, reflecting more sunlight towards the earth as more of the illuminated side becomes visible.

• First Quarter

During the first quarter, the moon sits 90 degrees from the earth. From here, we can see half of the moon illuminated by the sun, taking on a semi-circular “D” shape.

• Gibbous

As the final stage of the waxing moon, the gibbous moon reflects even more sunlight towards the earth. Although not quite full, the illuminated patch of the moon takes on a lemon-shaped appearance.

Waning Moon

The waning moon comprises the second half of the lunar cycle, and also takes place over 14–15 days. During the waning phase, the moon gradually becomes less illuminated as it nears the completion of the cycle at the point of the new moon.

• Full Moon

The full moon lights up the night sky, rains photons down onto foliage, and plays a key role when growing cannabis according to the moon. During this time, the earth sits roughly between the sun and the moon. As light from the sun rushes past our home, it lights up the entire face of the moon.

• Disseminating

Much like the gibbous moon of the waxing phase, the disseminating moon takes on a lemon shape as it slowly becomes less illuminated during the waning phase of the lunar cycle.

• Third Quarter

The moon returns to a 90-degree position from the earth, this time on the opposite side of the planet. Once again, it reflects the light of the sun in a way that displays a semi-circle.

• Balsamic

The balsamic moon sits at a 45-degree position from the earth. Here, very little of the surface of this natural satellite remains visible, giving rise to a sharp crescent shape.

The Ascending and Descending Moon

The moon ascends or descends in the sky, a trait that remains unaffected by its waxing or waning status. The moon moves to a higher and lower position in a cyclic fashion over 27 days, 7 hours, and 43 minutes.

When planting with the moon, growers should take into consideration where the moon sits in the sky, as this also affects timing related to feeding, germination, and other tasks gardeners must undertake. The moon spends half of the month in the ascending phase, where it appears higher in the sky, and the other half in the descending phase, where it appears lower.

Both of these periods heavily influence weed growers planting by the moon. They dictate the movement of plant fluids during different times on the moon timetable, and guide growers in their activities.

Constellation Also Plays a Role When Growing Weed by the Moon

The night sky features 12 prominent star constellations, each associated with their own zodiac sign. All 12 signs are divided into four groups, and each group features its own element found in nature. As the moon glides over a constellation, moon growers believe this element becomes strongest in the garden, and they conduct tasks accordingly.

• Fire

During periods where the moon sits over a fire sign constellation, growers should focus on planting seeds. These zodiac signs make up the fire group:

- Aries
- Leo
- Sagittarius

• Air

Growers pay significant attention to the flowers of the plant when the moon presides over an air sign. Zodiac signs of this group include:

- Gemini
- Libra
- Aquarius

• Water

Water signs signify a time when leaves and stems swell and grow. Signs that make up this group are:

- Cancer
- Scorpio
- Pisces

• Earth

Earth constellations are associated with the roots and soil. These signs include:

- Taurus
- Virgo
- Capricorn

How the Moon Affects Cannabis Growing

When growing cannabis using the moon calendar, cultivators can harness the effects of the celestial body to optimise plant health and productivity. The waxing and waning periods of the moon provide a natural timetable that guides growers throughout the season.

The ascending and descending periods also tell growers when to carry out certain tasks. According to moon gardeners, as the moon sinks lower, it forces sap (the life energy of plants) into the ground. In contrast, when the moon rises high, it pulls this energy up into the plants where it bathes the flowers, stems, and leaves.

Timing your gardening activities with this natural cycle will help you make the most of the lunar phases. For example, transplanting cannabis plants into the ground during a descending moon will help to give them the best start, as most of the energy they require will occupy the ground at this time.

Gardening in sync with the constellations adds further finesse to planting by the moon. Germination, watering, and feeding with these cycles work to boost the element associated with each task, enhancing the outcome of your grow.

How To Use the 2021 Lunar Calendar During the Growing Season

Now that you know how the lunar calendar affects cannabis plants during the growing cycle, it’s time to put theory into action. Discover the ideal times during the 2021 lunar calendar to carry out these vital tasks within your cannabis garden.

• Germination

Growers should begin germinating seeds indoors as early as February 2nd. During this waning period, the moon sits in the fire sign of Leo; a perfect time to unleash the inner living fire of your cannabis seeds.

• Soil Preparation

High-quality cannabis plants stem from high-quality soil. When treated well, this natural growing medium possesses all of the nutrients and microbial life that weed plants need to thrive. During the 2021 growing season, aim to make some major upgrades to your soil on February 28th. During the start of the waning moon, the celestial body hovers over the earth sign of Virgo, an ideal time to add compost and sito your beds and containers. 

• Transplanting

As the weather begins to warm up, you’ll need to transplant your seedlings into bigger containers or beds to allow their root systems to expand. February 23rd, March 23rd, and June 21st offer the perfect time to complete this task.

Shortly after the new moon, the descending phase will drive nutrients and sap into the soil, allowing your seedlings to immediately thrive in their new home. These dates coincide with the water sign Pisces and the air sign Gemini, while the lunar sign on March 23rd is another water one, Cancer specifically. Harness the two elements seedlings need the most: water and air.

• Pruning

Growers need to prune their plants to optimise yields, provide more light to low-hanging buds, and improve aeration to deter mould. Aim to prune your plants on March 29th, April 19th, May 25th, June 12th, July 10th, and September 2nd. During this time, sap remains in the ground, meaning plants won’t lose vital energy during this stressful procedure.

• Fertilisation

Adding nutrients and organic matter to your soil will fuel plant growth and increase yields. However, doing so at the right time will dramatically enhance these effects. Aim to feed your plants while a descending waning moon presides over a water sign that prompts leaf and stem growth. During the 2021 moon calendar, these periods occur on March 22nd, May 24th, June 19th, July 17th, August 15th, and September 9th.

• Training

Train your plants following the beginning of the waxing moon. Employing low-stress training, scrogging, and main-lining during this time will help your plants adapt more efficiently. Conduct these training methods on March 15th, May 7th, June 4th, and August 25th.

Harvest Moon Cannabis: Why Harvest Under a Full Moon?

There are two schools of thought when it comes to harvesting cannabis under a full moon. Since sap will be drawn up into the leaves and buds during this period, many growers believe this leads to riper buds with higher levels of terpenes and cannabinoids. On the other hand, some growers argue this is also when water content is highest, which only makes the impending drying and curing process more stressful. It's up to you to decide what your priorities are here.

Does Following the Moon's Cycle Work When Growing Cannabis?

Abiding by the moon calendar might seem strange to many cannabis growers, but cultivators have followed the moon timetable for centuries and have consistently achieved great results. If you don’t completely buy it, we recommend giving it a go anyway. At the very least, planting by the moon will keep you on schedule and make sure you tick off the right tasks at the correct time of year.