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F1 hybrid cannabis varieties offer increased resistance, bigger yields, higher concentrations of cannabinoids and terpenes, and unparalleled uniformity. Every grower should experience what they have to offer at least once in their cultivation career. Below, you'll learn exactly how to grow F1 hybrid marijuana, both indoors and outdoors.
The process of germinating F1 hybrid cannabis seeds is almost identical to doing so with other varieties—with one exception. Owing to their superior resistance to disease, F1 hybrid seeds are less likely to fall prey to root pathogens that have the potential to wipe out seedlings. However, they aren’t entirely immune. Here are the most common ways to pop seeds:
⛏️ Direct sowing
🌱 Soil Plugs: Soil Plugs contain beneficial microbes and nutrients that give seedlings a head-start in life.
🥛 Glass of water method
🧻 Paper towel method
Unless you’re opting for direct sowing or Soil Plugs, you’ll need to place your sprouted seeds into their growing medium when the young taproot reaches a length of 1–2cm. These tips will help your F1 hybrid cannabis strains thrive in these critical early stages:
Typically, the seedling stage lasts around one week after the shoot breaks the surface of the soil. After this, your plant will enter the vegetative phase of the growing cycle.
Photoperiod F1 hybrid plants are those that require a change in the light cycle in order to flower. They grow in a similar fashion to both regular and feminized photoperiod varieties. However, these seeds produce much more uniform plants that exhibit superior yields and improved phytochemical profiles. There are many different approaches that cultivators can take when growing F1 hybrid cannabis indoors.
Plants need photons to conduct photosynthesis, create energy, and survive. There are many lighting options available, including CFL, HID, and LED. Regardless of the type of light you choose, you need to provide the optimal light intensity; enough to drive photosynthesis without causing light stress.
There are three primary ways to dial in light intensity indoors. First, you can simply abide by the manufacturer's instructions as they apply to your growing area. If you want to get a bit more specific, consider investing in a lux meter. When measuring lux, you’ll want to aim for different ranges during different stages of the growing cycle:
Ideally, you’ll use a quantum PAR meter to dial in your light intensity. They’re more expensive than lux meters, but they provide more valuable data. Aim for a PAR level of 300–400 µmols/m²/sec to achieve optimal growth.
Light intensity aside, the light cycle also plays a fundamental role when growing photoperiod F1 hybrid cannabis genetics. During veg, growers typically keep their lights running for 18–24 hours each day. To induce flowering, you’ll need to reduce the light cycle to 12 hours per day right up until harvest.
Alongside lighting, the growing medium and nutrients you use will have a significant impact on the yield of your F1 hybrids.
Whatever approach you take, you need to consider the demands of F1 hybrid strains during different stages of the growing cycle. During the vegetative phase, plants have a higher demand for nitrogen. They use this element as the basis for amino acids, which are used to create structural proteins important for growth. If you want to keep things as simple as possible, RQS Easy Grow Booster Tablets contain the perfect ratio of nutrients for this stage of growth.
When growing photoperiod F1 hybrid cannabis genetics indoors, growers have complete control over when their plants flower. Buds will start to develop when you reduce the light cycle to 12 hours on and 12 hours off; this photoperiod tricks plants into thinking fall is approaching. During bloom, the nutrient demands of plants change once again; they require less nitrogen but higher quantities of potassium and phosphorus. RQS Easy Bloom Booster Tablets cover all of these bases.
Indoor growers have almost complete control over the climate within their growing space. Use a combination of fans, air conditioning, and heaters (depending on your climate) to maintain the following daytime temperature ranges:
You’ll also need to keep track of humidity (the amount of moisture in the air) to keep your F1 hybrid cannabis plants happy and healthy. Cannabis does well with high levels of humidity early on in life, before requiring much less during the flowering stage. Use fans, humidifiers, and dehumidifiers to maintain these humidity ranges:
You can use a device called a thermo-hygrometer to measure temperature and relative humidity simultaneously.
F1 hybrid cannabis varieties possess superior resistance to pests and disease compared to strains. However, they aren’t completely invulnerable to these threats. The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board defines[1] integrated pest management (IPM) as a coordinated and planned strategy for the prevention, detection, and control of pests, weeds, and diseases. These problems are certainly more prevalent when growing F1 hybrid cannabis strains outdoors, but they can still work their way into indoor cultivation spaces.
When growing F1 hybrids indoors, use the following tips to keep your cannabis plants pest and disease-free:
When growing F1 hybrid cannabis in a tent, you can use several different training techniques to optimise yields. These include:
Absolutely. You can grow different F1 hybrid cannabis strains in the same tent at the same time. However, you’ll experience greater success if you grow varieties with a compatible height and flowering time. This will help to prevent one plant from overshadowing the other and producing poor results.
The length of the life cycle of F1 hybrid photoperiod plants depends entirely on when you switch them to flower. After changing the light cycle, they’ll typically take around 8–9 weeks to finish blooming. From here, you’ll need to harvest your plants and process your flowers correctly.
You have two options: cut your plants at the base and hang them upside down to dry, or cut off each individual bud and load them into a Herb Dryer.
Dry your flowers in a dark room with a relative humidity of around 50%. You’ll know they’re ready when the stems snap instead of bend. Once dry, place your flowers into curing jars with Moisture Fighters for at least six weeks to improve their flavor and smoothness.
F1 hybrid cannabis varieties aren’t limited to photoperiod strains; you’ll also find autoflowering cultivars such as Orion F1, Titan F1, and Medusa F1. Much like other autoflowering strains, these varieties are easy to cultivate. They’re small and stealthy, impressively potent, and surge from seed to flower in a matter of weeks. You can grow them in much the same way as their photoperiod counterparts. However, there are some important differences.
Autoflowering strains don’t require a change in the light cycle to begin flowering; they run off of an internal genetic clock instead. Many growers maintain a constant light cycle of 24 hours during the vegetative phase, and then reduce it slightly to 20 hours during flowering. However, you can leave your lights on for 24 hours each day throughout the entire growing cycle. This will speed up growth, but obviously comes with higher electricity costs.
Training autoflowering plants results in improved yields when done correctly. Because F1 hybrid autos offer bigger yields from the get-go, applying training techniques pushes production potential even further. But hold on a second! You should only use low-stress training when growing autoflowers. Because they grow so quickly, they have little time to recover from high-stress methods.
You should harvest, trim, dry, and cure your flowers in the exact same way as mentioned above. While autos require a different approach when growing, there are no differences when it comes to harvesting buds and prepping them for smoking.
Growing weed outdoors poses a whole different set of challenges. Specific climates, pests, and diseases, adverse weather, and a general lack of control over the elements make it slightly more difficult, but all the more rewarding.
Luckily, F1 hybrid cannabis plants are more suited to deal with these obstacles. Their hybrid vigour, which results from the crossing of two highly inbred parent lines, makes them less susceptible to pests, disease, dryness, and excess moisture.
You can’t simply flick a switch and force your photoperiod plants to start flowering outdoors. Instead, you’ll need to wait for them to respond to natural light cycles. However, things start to get cold very quickly further north. Greenhouses and polytunnels can extend the growing season. This will allow you to get your plants outdoors earlier, and protect them from adverse weather during their final stages of development.
If you grow weed outdoors further south, count yourself lucky! You don’t have to deal with a short growing season. But that doesn’t mean you should let your guard down. You still need to protect your plants against scorching heat waves and droughts.
Where you place your plants can greatly affect their performance. Ideally, situate them in a south-facing position where they’ll receive as much sunlight during the day as possible. With that said, if you live in a particularly hot region, your plants will benefit from some late-afternoon shade; if you grow in pots, you can simply move them when the weather becomes unfavorable. If your plants are in the ground, then set up some shade cloth to protect them as and when needed.
Growing outdoors gives cultivators the option of growing in containers, in raised beds, or directly in the ground. If you opt for containers, you have the same growing medium choices as indoor growers. If you prefer to grow in raised beds or directly in the ground, use these tips to keep your F1 hybrid cannabis plants in top shape:
Plant pests and diseases are more common outdoors. Insects roam freely, and diseases can lie dormant in the soil for long periods of time. However, you’re at an advantage when growing F1 hybrid cannabis strains. These cultivars are much more resistant to diseases, and their improved cannabinoid and terpene profiles are more effective at turning away pests.
Your plant will reach full maturity from September to October, depending on the strain and when you germinated seeds. Instead of guessing the best time to harvest, you can use a loupe or magnifying glass to take a closer look at these structures:
Polytunnels and greenhouses come in handy during late flowering. Heavy rain and high levels of moisture drastically increase the risk of mold during this time.
Photoperiod plants tend to perform well outdoors, but what about autoflowering F1 hybrids? Well, if you know anything about autos, you’ll know that they can handle just about anything. Throw in the increased vigour of F1 genetics, and you have yourself a plant capable of thriving with minimal intervention. Overall, you should apply all of the tips above to your outdoor auto F1 hybrids.
Autoflowering F1 hybrid strains have an entire life cycle of 60–85 days. The speed with which autos grow gives cultivators a lot more flexibility. You don’t need to act with urgency as soon as the last frost passes—even if you live in a cooler climate. Rather, you have the freedom to sow seeds later in the growing season. This enables growers with limited space to take advantage of successive harvests.
Those with more room to play with might choose to sow photoperiods early, and follow up with autoflowers later in the season. Alternatively, you can sow photoperiods and autoflowers at the same time for an early auto harvest while you wait for the rest to mature.
Autoflowering genetics are native to places like Siberia—a cold part of the planet with a brief growing season. While they also perform well in warmer areas, they're an ideal choice for growers that live in northern latitudes; you’ll have racks of buds drying safely, way before the first frost sets in.
You should harvest your outdoor autoflowering F1 hybrid plants in the exact same manner as their indoor counterparts. Depending on the strain, prepare to harvest and process your buds in as little as 60 days after shoots emerge from the soil.
You’re now aware of exactly how to care for F1 hybrid cannabis strains, from tall and prosperous photoperiod varieties to small and speedy autoflowering cultivars. If you’re used to growing polyhybrid varieties, then you’ll relish the vigour, health, productivity, and potency of F1 hybrid strains. Whether you opt for photoperiods or autoflowers, you’ll undergo such a positive experience that you’ll likely never go back!
F1 Hybrids