Should I Water Cannabis Plants Before Harvest?

Properly feeding and watering cannabis plants is essential for healthy growth and a bountiful harvest. As your plants approach the end of their life cycle, one question many cannabis growers ask is whether they should continue watering the plants before harvest. This is a common question, and the answer is not as straightforward as you might think.

Factors to Consider

Before deciding whether to water your cannabis plants before harvest, there are a few factors to consider. These include:

The maturity of your plants

The growing medium and drainage

The size of your plants and their water requirements

The weather conditions at the time of harvest

Let's take a closer look at each of these factors.

Maturity of Your Plants

The first thing you need to consider is how mature your plants are. If you are growing photoperiod plants, you will need to wait until the plants are fully mature before harvesting. This is typically around week 8-10 of flowering. Autoflowering plants, on the other hand, can be harvested in as little as 8 weeks from seed.

Once your plants reach maturity, they will start to use up their stored nutrients and water in preparation for harvest. This means that you may not need to water them as much in the last week or two before harvest.

Growing Medium and Drainage

The second factor to consider is the growing medium and drainage. If you are growing hydroponically or in a soilless medium, you will need to adjust your watering schedule accordingly. These types of growing mediums are designed to hold moisture, so you may need to reduce your watering schedule in the last week or two before harvest.

Similarly, if you are growing in a soil medium, you need to make sure that the soil has good drainage. If the soil is too compacted or waterlogged, the roots may not be able to absorb water and nutrients properly, which can result in stunted growth and poor-quality buds.

Size of Your Plants and Water Requirements

The size of your plants and their water requirements is also an important factor to consider. Larger plants will require more water than smaller plants, so you need to adjust your watering schedule accordingly.

As your plants approach maturity, their water requirements will decrease. In the last week or two before harvest, you may only need to water them once or twice a week, depending on the size and water requirements of your plants.

Weather Conditions at the Time of Harvest

The weather conditions at the time of harvest are also an important factor to consider. If the weather is hot and dry, your plants will require more water than if the weather is cool and humid.

When harvesting your plants, you need to make sure that the buds are not wet or damp. Wet buds can lead to mold and mildew, which can ruin your entire crop. If the weather is wet or humid, you may need to leave your plants to dry for a little longer to make sure that the buds are completely dry.

Conclusion

So, should you water your cannabis plants before harvest? The answer is that it depends on the maturity of your plants, the growing medium and drainage, the size of your plants and their water requirements, and the weather conditions at the time of harvest.

In general, you may need to reduce your watering schedule in the last week or two before harvest, but continue to monitor your plants to ensure that they have enough water to complete their life cycle. With a little bit of extra care and attention, you can ensure a healthy, bountiful harvest for your cannabis plants.