Cannabis cultivation has evolved significantly in recent years, and innovative techniques like crop steering have significantly improved efficiency and yield. But what exactly is crop steering? Simply put, it's a method growers use to specifically control plants to optimize the growth and flowering phases and thus maximize yields. In this blog post, I'll explain step by step what crop steering is, how it works, and how you can apply it to your own grow.
What is crop steering?
Crop steering is a technique in which environmental factors such as light, water, nutrients, and temperature are precisely controlled to specifically influence plant growth. A distinction is made between vegetative and generative steering:
- Vegetative steering : Promotes leaf and root growth through increased watering, lower EC (electrical conductivity) values, and longer light cycles.
- Generative Steering : Directs the plant's energy toward flowering production through shorter watering cycles, higher EC values, and a controlled light spectrum.
By combining these factors correctly, you can maximize yield and improve flower quality.
How does Crop Steering work in detail?
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Light steering
Light plays a crucial role in cannabis cultivation. By adjusting the light cycles, you can control the plant between the vegetative and flowering phases. During the vegetative phase, you should use longer light times (18 hours), while during the flowering phase, a 12/12 light cycle is optimal. You can also adjust the light spectrum: More blue light promotes vegetative growth, while red light stimulates flowering. -
Water and nutrient control (Irrigation Steering)
Water and nutrient management is a key aspect of crop steering. During the vegetative phase, you should apply frequent but smaller amounts of water to promote root growth. The electrical conductivity (EC) of the water should be kept lower. During the generative phase, especially during flowering, you should reduce water supply but increase the EC to maximize nutrient uptake. -
Temperature steering
Temperature has a huge impact on plant growth. During the vegetative phase, the temperature should be between 22-28°C during the day and around 18°C at night. During the flowering phase, it's helpful to slightly lower the nighttime temperature to promote the formation of flowers and trichomes. -
Humidity Steering
During the vegetative phase, the plant needs higher humidity (60-70%) to ensure optimal transpiration. During the flowering phase, humidity should be reduced to 40-50% to prevent mold growth and promote flower production.
Advantages of Crop Steering
- Increased yields : By controlling environmental factors, you can make the most of growth cycles and thus achieve larger harvests.
- Better quality : Generative steering ensures that plants efficiently channel their energy into flower production, resulting in denser, more resinous flowers.
- Less resource consumption : Efficient irrigation and nutrient supply saves water and fertilizers.
- Shorter growth cycles : Crop Steering allows for accelerated flowering, allowing you to achieve more harvests per year.
Conclusion
Crop steering is a highly effective technique that can help both experienced and new cannabis growers increase their yields and improve the quality of their flowers. By taking control of light, water, temperature, and humidity, you can specifically influence your plants' growth and achieve better results.
