# 5 Ways To Grow Cannabis Environment-Friendly

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/02/5-ways-to-grow-environment-friendly-weed/
- Published: 2021-02-15T13:55:07-05:00
- Author: Eillin Delapaz

The cannabis cultivation arena is getting bigger as more people are venturing into
growing the plant. It’s no surprise because the Cannabis[ industry estimate is worth a staggering $344 billion](https://www.gbnews.ch/340-billion-the-global-cannabis-market/)
on a global scale. This is both for regulated and illicit cannabis.

![](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/jose-luis-sanchez-
pereyra-14KbjlzBdY4-unsplash.jpg?resize=300%2C200&quality=52&ssl=1)

Cannabis plant.

[alpacannabis.com ](http://alpacannabis.com/)website source and Image Reference:
[https://i.imgur.com/SDlv56H.jpg](https://i.imgur.com/SDlv56H.jpg)

With the market growing exponentially, the best way to get into [cannabis growing](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/02/top-7-tips-for-growing-eco-friendly-marijuana-in-ideal-environment/)
is to work with an environment-friendly model. Below are five ways you can incorporate
eco-friendly growing techniques into your cannabis cultivation.

## Grow Outdoors or In A Greenhouse

Growing your [cannabis](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/02/6-tremendous-ways-that-cannabis-is-changing-the-world/)
plant outside is perhaps the most significant step towards sustainable, environment-
friendly cultivation. However, it may not be the best option for other people because
climate issues are not impossible to do. You need a little creativity and a switch
of perspective.

Depending on the locality of your cultivation, outdoor growing may mean you’ll only
harvest once annually, but that may be enough. You can grow enough plants such that
there’s enough to last to the next harvest period. You have to put in extra care
with your buds and lower your weed tolerance.

Growing your cannabis indoors will mean that there will be a lot of power consumption.
You also need to consider ventilation. So, unless you have a great solar system 
set up, growing your plants outdoors is the best way to go. These two will take 
up most of your cannabis cultivation costs, and why pay so much when you can avoid
it.

![](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/erwan-hesry-
1q75BReKpms-unsplash.jpg?resize=300%2C200&quality=52&ssl=1)

Cannabis farm. Photo by [Erwan Hesry](https://unsplash.com/@erwanhesry?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText)
on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText)

An outdoor growing model will reverse the impact of carbon dioxide on the climate
by pulling it in and converting it to oxygen. If you use a greenhouse, you get the
best of both worlds. You get to control the effect of dust, pests, and wind on your
crop and enjoy the advantages of indoor growing.

## Go Organic —Avoid the Chemicals

Going fully organic may be easier said than done, plus it’s not possible nor efficient
to do it. If you’re considering any synthetic, bottled nutrients, scrub away those
thoughts if you want an environmentally friendly product. You can grow cannabis 
and avoid chemicals all together if you are careful.

You may be tempted to buy some pesticides at your local garden store but keep in
mind that they are made out of chemicals thus may not be so good for the soil and
environment. 

When you spray your cannabis plantations, the chemicals end up in the soil, and 
they may leach into the water bodies affecting both the wildlife and water. When
you spray your cannabis plantations, the soil becomes compromised and as a result,
so do our rivers, oceans, and wildlife.

Furthermore, even while buying cannabis products like [edible Canada](https://www.dailymarijuana.co/)**,**
you should check the seller’s website to see if they follow such sustainable farming
practices or not.

## Save on Water

Cannabis cultivation is known for its high-water wastage and consumption. And being
a first-time grower, you may fall victim to over-watering your cannabis plants. 
Taking measures to ensure you conserve water will help you avoid these losses.

The more you can employ water conservation methods in your cannabis cultivation,
the better. Using mulch is an excellent idea for conserving water. Incorporating
mulch such as hay in your planting bed will reduce water loss through evaporation,
and you’ll water your plants less frequently.

![](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/markus-spiske-
sFydXGrt5OA-unsplash.jpg?resize=200%2C300&quality=52&ssl=1)

watering plants. Photo by [Markus Spiske](https://unsplash.com/@markusspiske?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText)
on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText)

Your cannabis plants will optimally grow because they’ll be able to absorb more 
nutrients in solution form. 

Mulching will also help you with the [weeds](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/08/role-of-weed-in-environmental-sustainability/)
that pop up in your cannabis garden. If you’re really into eco-friendly cannabis
growing, you can go a step further and collect rainwater for your plants. This is
a great way to reduce your costs and overdependence on piped water.

## Consider A Different Growing Medium

Instead of going with soil as your medium of growth, switch it up and go with soilless
alternatives such as coco coir. These are a safe alternative for the environment
and also a healthy one. They are made from renewable husks and are a by-product 
of processed coconut shells.

Peat-bases mixes, which were common before coco coir, take many years to develop
naturally. They also absorb and store vast quantities of CO2. A great example is
Rockwool, which is mined at an alarming rate but remains dangerous and irritating
to the environment because it takes a long time to decompose.

Coco coir is inert, and it has a tremendous water-holding ability. It also allows
sufficient oxygen to reach the root zones of the cannabis plant, ensuring optimal
growth and ultimate survival. 

## Grow Your Cannabis with Companion Plants

When you grow your cannabis with other plants, the buds stand to gain many advantages.
Beans and clovers will fix nitrogen in the soil for your cannabis plants to benefit.
They also act as pests decoy, meaning pests such as mites will go to them first.

If you plant chilies and marigolds next to your cannabis plants, they’ll also repel
those annoying pests. Rosemary and basil keep slugs and snails at bay too.

## Conclusion

Now that growing [cannabis](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/08/how-to-make-weed-honey-oil-at-home/)
is almost mainstream; you should take this opportunity to produce plants that don’t
drain a lot of resources and are much safer for the environment. These tips will
mainly help if you employ them efficiently.

_**Author bio: Emma Wilson a content specialist with a focus on health and wellness.**_

![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f30a82826ab5e40ae1efde55aa735f0579f0105f7692fc289aebf0d58584c37e?
s=300&d=monsterid&r=g)

 Eillin Delapaz

 [See Full Bio](https://greenlivingguy.com/author/eillin/) [  ](https://greenlivingguy.com/author/eillin/)