Plant Growth Stages
Guide to cultivating cannabis from seed to harvest. Learn the biology, timeline, and best practices for each growth phase.
Plant Growth Stages
Understanding how to grow cannabis requires knowledge of each distinct growth phase. Here’s your complete weed plant stages guide.
Germination Stage
How to start growing weed: Seeds crack open and develop initial roots. This is when you plant a weed seed and begin the cultivation process. Temperature should be 70-85°F with high humidity.
- Soak seeds 12-24 hours
- Use paper towel method or direct soil planting
- Maintain consistent moisture
Seedling Stage
How to grow marijuana seedlings: First true leaves appear. Cannabis plant 3 weeks old shows distinctive serrated leaves. Critical stage for establishing strong root system.
- 18-24 hours of light daily
- Light watering schedule
- Watch for damping-off disease
Vegetative Stage
How to cultivate weed: Rapid growth phase where plants develop structure. Indoor cannabis grow setups excel during this stage with proper nutrition and lighting.
- 18+ hours of light daily
- High nitrogen nutrients
- Training techniques (LST, SCROG)
Pre-Flowering
Cannabis growth stage transition: Plants show sex and prepare for flowering. Critical time to identify and remove male plants in regular seeds.
- Reduce light to 12/12 cycle
- Identify plant gender
- Adjust nutrients for flowering
Flowering Stage
How to grow bud: Buds develop and mature. This stage determines final yield and potency. Different strains have varying flowering times.
- 12/12 light cycle maintained
- Phosphorus-rich nutrients
- Monitor trichome development
Harvest & Cure
Full grown pot plant: Harvest when trichomes are milky/amber. Proper drying and curing are essential for quality and potency preservation.
- Check trichomes with magnifier
- Dry in controlled environment
- Cure in glass jars 2-8 weeks
How Long Does It Take for Weed to Grow?
Complete timeline from seed to harvest – how long does it take to grow cannabis depends on strain and growing method.
Week 1
Germination & Early Seedling
Weeks 2-4
Seedling Development
Weeks 5-12
Vegetative Growth
Weeks 13-20
Flowering Phase
Weeks 21-24
Harvest & Cure
Stages of Bud Growth – Complete Flowering Guide
Detailed cannabis flowering stage week by week guide. Learn how long does it take for cannabis to bud and what to expect during each flowering stages of weed.
🌿 Pre Flowering Stage
Weed plant in flowering stage transition: Plants show first signs of gender. White pistils appear on female plants, indicating the beginning of budding pot development.
Visual Characteristics:
- Small white hairs (pistils) emerge at nodes
- Stretch begins – plants grow 50-100% taller
- Leaves may show slight yellowing
- Internodal spacing increases
Care Instructions:
- Switch to 12/12 light cycle
- Reduce nitrogen, increase phosphorus
- Remove male plants immediately
- Support branches for upcoming weight
🌸 Early Bloom Stage Cannabis
Budding weed plant development: First real buds form. Cannabis flowering becomes visible with small, fluffy bud sites developing at every node.
Visual Characteristics:
- Small bud clusters form at nodes
- Pistils multiply and spread outward
- Sweet, skunky aroma begins
- Trichome production starts on sugar leaves
Care Instructions:
- Maintain stable environment (65-75°F)
- Reduce humidity to 40-50%
- Increase air circulation
- Begin bloom nutrients
🌺 Mid Flowering Stages of Weed
Pot plants budding stage intensifies: Buds fatten significantly. This is when blooming weed plants show dramatic size increases and resin production accelerates.
Visual Characteristics:
- Buds double in size weekly
- Calyxes swell and stack
- Heavy trichome coverage on buds
- Strong, distinct strain aroma
Care Instructions:
- Support heavy branches with stakes
- Monitor for bud rot in dense colas
- Maintain consistent feeding schedule
- Check pH levels regularly
💎 Late Flower Stage Weed
Cannabis sativa flowering peak: Maximum bud density achieved. Trichomes transition from clear to milky, indicating approaching harvest window.
Visual Characteristics:
- Buds reach maximum density
- Pistils begin changing color (white to orange/brown)
- Trichomes turn milky/cloudy
- Fan leaves yellow and fade
Care Instructions:
- Begin flushing with plain water
- Monitor trichomes with magnifier
- Reduce humidity to 30-40%
- Prepare for harvest
🏆 Harvest Ready
How long to let buds grow conclusion: Harvest window opens. Sativa plant flowering may continue 2-4 more weeks, while indicas are typically ready.
Visual Characteristics:
- 70-90% pistils have changed color
- Trichomes are milky with some amber
- Buds feel dense and sticky
- Strong, mature aroma
Harvest Preparation:
- Final flush for 1-2 weeks
- Check trichomes daily
- Prepare drying space
- Plan harvest timing
🕐 Cannabis Flowering Time
How long is flowering stage indoors:
- Indica: 7-9 weeks
- Sativa: 9-12+ weeks
- Hybrid: 8-10 weeks
- Autoflower: 6-8 weeks
How long does it take a weed plant to flower depends on genetics, environment, and growing conditions.
🌡️ Optimal Flowering Conditions
Pot flowering time optimization:
- Temperature: 65-75°F (18-24°C)
- Humidity: 40-50% (30-40% late flower)
- Light: 12/12 cycle, 600-1000W per m²
- Air Flow: Constant gentle breeze
Consistent environment ensures how long does cannabis take to flower stays predictable.
📊 Stages of Bud Growth Pictures Guide
What to look for each week:
- Week 1-2: White pistils, stretch
- Week 3-4: Small bud formation
- Week 5-6: Rapid bud expansion
- Week 7-8: Dense, resinous buds
- Week 9+: Harvest indicators
Stages of bud growth pictures outdoor may vary by 1-2 weeks due to natural light cycles.
⚠️ Common Flowering Issues
Budding stages of weed problems:
- Bud Rot: Gray/brown fuzzy mold
- Light Burn: Bleached white buds
- Nutrient Burn: Brown, crispy leaf tips
- Hermaphrodites: Male flowers on females
Early detection prevents loss during pot plants flowering stage.
Expert Growing Tips
Professional techniques for how to grow cannabis successfully, whether you’re learning how to grow ganja indoors or outdoors.
🏠 Indoor Cannabis Grow Setup
Control environment completely. Use LED lights, proper ventilation, and maintain 65-75°F temperature with 40-60% humidity during flowering.
💧 Watering Technique
Water when top inch of soil is dry. Use pH 6.0-7.0 water. Overwatering kills more plants than underwatering in cannabis cultivation.
🌱 Nutrient Management
Start with 1/4 strength nutrients. Increase gradually. Watch for nutrient burn (brown leaf tips) and deficiencies (yellowing leaves).
✂️ Training Methods
Use LST (Low Stress Training) and SCROG (Screen of Green) to maximize yields. Start training in early vegetative stage.
🔍 Pest Prevention
Inspect plants daily. Use beneficial insects, neem oil, and maintain clean growing environment. Prevention is easier than treatment.
📊 Growth Monitoring
Keep a grow journal. Track feeding, watering, pH levels, and environmental conditions. Use weed growth chart to monitor progress.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about pot plant stages and cannabis cultivation techniques.
Indoor growing requires controlled environment: LED grow lights (18+ hours vegetative, 12 hours flowering), proper ventilation, temperature 65-75°F, humidity 40-60%, quality soil or hydroponic system, and regular feeding schedule. Start with autoflowering strains for beginners.
Growing weed stages include: 1) Germination (3-10 days), 2) Seedling (2-3 weeks), 3) Vegetative (3-16 weeks), 4) Pre-flowering (1-2 weeks), 5) Flowering (6-12 weeks), 6) Harvest and cure (2-8 weeks). Total time: 14-30+ weeks depending on strain.
Soak seeds 12-24 hours in distilled water. Use paper towel method: place seeds between damp paper towels in warm, dark place. Plant when taproot appears (usually 2-7 days). Maintain 70-85°F temperature and high humidity for optimal germination.
At 3 weeks, cannabis plants have 3-5 sets of true serrated leaves, stand 4-8 inches tall, show vigorous growth, and have established root systems. This is late seedling/early vegetative stage – perfect time to start light training and increase nutrients.
Maximize yields through: proper strain selection, adequate lighting (600-1000W per square meter), training techniques (SCROG, LST), optimal nutrition, CO2 supplementation, maintaining ideal environmental conditions, and allowing full flowering time. Indoor yields: 400-600g per square meter possible.