5 Tips to protect your cannabis from the heat

Just as you must take good care of your cannabis growing during the cold season, so must you during the hot season, as this factor can stress the plant and cause various damages that are likely to jeopardize your harvest.

In these cases, it is necessary to act fast, before it is too late, because the excess of heat can make the plant stop growing and producing fruits, among other problems, but don’t worry, here we will give you some tips to protect your marijuana from high temperatures.

1) Hydrate your plants

Keep the growing area hydrated by watering. To do this, constantly check that the substrate is slightly damp, if it is, do not water it, but if it is dry, water it carefully. You can check the humidity of the soil by inserting a finger, a couple of centimeters, into the substrate.

In outdoor growing, if the day has been very hot, it is advisable to water generously in the evening (around 9 pm – 9.30 pm) with water at room temperature. However, some people also recommend watering in the early morning or in the evening.

However, it is important that the watering times do not coincide with the times when the sun is most intense.

Also, make sure you water properly so that you do not overwater, as the roots of the marijuana will not receive the necessary oxygen. Keep in mind that hot water contains less oxygen.

Another thing you should be aware of is having a properly functioning drainage system. If you plant in pots, you can add 30% perlite to the substrate to help the water drain.

2) Shade the cannabis

Protect your plants from the heat by offering them some shade at certain times of the day.

Some growers use a net or cloth to cover the plants, of course, if you decide to use this method you should not leave the plants completely in the dark, because remember that cannabis needs light for its optimal development. These options are better for hot periods.

3) Nutrients

In order to make the plants withstand the heat more, a good dose of nutrients and specific supplements such as seaweed extracts, silicon or root development supplements are recommended.

4) Make sure you keep your roots fresh

Fresh roots tend to suffer less from heat stroke, so if you grow in pots it is advisable to create a barrier to insulate the roots from the harsh sun.  To do this, you can place the pot containing the plant in a larger one, or you can insert it into a hole you have made in the ground beforehand.

With these tips, you will be protecting the sides of the pot from heat, which can cause the cannabis roots to bake. Of course, do not allow marijuana in containers to rest directly on hot surfaces.

5) Variety and pruning 

It is advisable to choose a strain less sensitive to heat stress such as Sativa-dominant hybrids to make growing easier in this type of climate.

Depending on the variety planted, pruning can be an excellent alternative to reduce cannabis transpiration. It can be a solution for strains with dense vegetation.