Grow Your Own Perfect Cannabis Bonsai Tree In 5 Easy Steps

Did you know that you can turn your cannabis plant into a bonsai tree? Not only does it look awesome, but it’s a great way to get a nice harvest off of a small plant. It’s also easier than you might expect. All you need is a sharp eye, patience, and a few basic training techniques. Here are 5 steps for the perfect cannabis bonsai tree. 

 

1. Prep your container

First things first, you’ll need to gather materials and prep your container. Before repotting your plant, use your drill to make holes around the edge of your new container. These holes will be the anchor point for the branches you tie down, so make sure they are the correct size for your string or wire. You’ll also want to make sure that you make enough holes

You’ll also want to make sure that you make enough holes to create the shape that you ultimately desire for your plant.

Once you’re through drilling, plant your cannabis.

Materials for your cannabis bonsai tree

• Young plant
• Quality soil
• Container with good drainage
• Drill
• String or plastic-coated wire
• Wooden stake
• Fine pruning shears (for later in the growth cycle)

2. Train your trunk

The next step is training your trunk. To do this, you’ll need your wooden stake. Carefully slide the stake into the soil next to the main stalk of your plant. You’ll want to be gentle so that you avoid harming your root system.

Next, gently twist the stalk around the wooden stake in the direction you want it to go. Use your string or wire to secure the wrapped stalk to the side of the container.

As your plant grows, the stalk will conform to this new shape. The video above outlines the process.

3. Tie it back

Getting your bonsai started is a constant process. You’ll need to keep training your plant as it continues to grow. You do this by routinely tying back main branches with the goal of training your cannabis into your ideal shape.

For example, if you want your plant to widen horizontally, tie branches to the sides of your container, making sure your string or wire is taut.

Make sure the branch is tied down tight, but not so tight that it snaps or you damage the branch. For more vertical growth, loosely tie your plant to the container in the desired direction.

4. Prune

The next thing you’ll need to do make sure your plant stays nice and trimmed. This will help maintain shape and visual appeal, as well as make room for those coveted buds and increase plant health. To prune, you’ll want to trim away small offshoot branches as you see fit.

The big trick here is to avoid cutting the large, main branches. Pruning the large branches will decrease the amount of flowers your new tree produces. It will also destroy the structural integrity of the tree. Using fine pointed pruning shears or scissors, gently remove some of the small, offshoot branches off of the primary branch.

5. Harvest

A bonsai cannabis plant flowers just like a regular plant. You can either keep it in the vegetative state while you wait for it to grow into your desired shape, or you can force it into flower after a couple of months. It all depends on what you’re hoping to get out of your bonsai.

To force flower your plant, simply move it to a 12/12 light cycle. 12 hours under the lights and 12 hours in complete darkness.

If you’re growing your bonsai on a windowsill as a hobby plant or outdoors, it will begin to flower in response to the right types of natural light in its environment. During early spring, your plants will not flower. During the late summer or fall, you’ll begin to see some buds.

When trichomes (the little bulbous resin glands that cover the flower) begin to turn a milk-white color, your bud is ready to be trimmed off, dried, and cured.

Growing your cannabis bonsai style looks amazing, is quite fun to do, and is a neat way to experiment with new growing techniques. A cannabis bonsai tree is great for casual hobby growers or for those looking to keep their plants pretty small.

You can take clippings from the plant as it grows and reuse them in various recipes, like DIY cannabis topicals or raw cannabis smoothies. Once flowering time rolls around, you’ll be able to get a decent amount of bud from your little plant.

Have you ever made a cannabis bonsai tree? Share your story with us on social media or in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!

The post Grow Your Own Perfect Cannabis Bonsai Tree In 5 Easy Steps appeared first on HERB.

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