Advice From Friendly Strangers

Helpful tips from cannabis cultivation professionals

Katy Perry Grow op Hydroponics 1332 Bloor St. W.

Soil-free hydroponic growing can yield superior results, but beginners should stick to old-fashioned dirt. “I always grow in soil,” says Perry. “If you overwater, the roots will survive. If your pH is off, the soil will act as a buffer. But if you’re not using soil, there’s nothing protecting the roots at all.”

alex rea HomeGrown Hydroponics 26 Meteor Dr.

Normally, cannabis needs to be carefully coaxed into flowering. Neophyte growers can spare themselves aggravation by using specially bred “autoflower” seeds. “They grow really fast,” says Rea. “They start to flower about two weeks from when the seeds sprout and they’re finished in about nine weeks.”

trevor WilKinson Grow it All 165 Geary Ave.

When setting up a home grow-op, think about lighting. The intensity and wattage of the beams will determine the size of the harvest. “You’re only going to get so many grams per watt,” says Wilkinson. “The best combination is a 315-watt ceramic metal halide fixture in a three-bythree-foot space.”