Category Archives: Growing

Everything you need to know to start growing your own cannabis.

2024 Q4 Navigating the Global Cannabis Landscape

Navigating the Global Cannabis Landscape: Trends and Transformations

Change is inevitable for the cannabis industry. Weed enthusiasts worldwide have embraced the many changes in cultivation and consumption. New Cannabis growing information has transformed the popularity of growing at home, while information about the plant itself has ushered in a new era of who and how we consume cannabis. Here’s why you should be excited about the future outlook of cannabis!

 

Why Change is Good for the Cannabis Industry

Examining the major trends in the global cannabis industry shows that change and innovation are here and transforming many aspects of it. It’s more popular than ever, thanks to legalization and more societal acceptance. These trends also show that this transformation will continue happening, which can change the way you consume and grow cannabis.

Why is it important? For many, legalization allows the opportunity to start growing your own cannabis and enjoying the benefits of the plant—from the high to medical benefits. Also, improvements in how we grow cannabis make it more accessible to more people. Not to mention more diverse products for consumption than just flowers.

Changes in the industry help promote growth that we can all take advantage of. The foundation is laid for new, more innovative ways to transform cannabis consumption and cultivation.

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Innovation Creates New Ways of Cultivating Cannabis

Growing cannabis indoors is the preferred solution for frequent consumers. The advantages of growing your own cannabis include being more budget-friendly on your wallet and achieving better quality. If these are reasons why you choose to cultivate cannabis, we have great news for you!

Cannabis cultivation is no longer a secretive act. It’s developed into a global community that loves sharing tips, tricks, and setup ideas that improve the growing process. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned grower, you can find innovations that resonate with every stage of your grow.

Some of the latest trends you can benefit from to improve your plant yield and quality include experimenting with growing techniques like hydroponics or using better-quality seeds. Amsterdam Genetics is instrumental in developing the best quality cannabis seed strains perfect for indoor growing.

The popularity of growing cannabis has led many companies to create grow setup kits that simulate natural environments or experiment with DIY options to tailor a setup to the available space in your home. 

These are just a few examples of how the availability of cannabis growing information can improve the way connoisseurs cultivate their own plants in the comfort of their homes.

 

Benefiting from Trends Affecting Cannabis Consumption

Global trends in cannabis consumption have had monumental effects on the industry. One of the most significant trends is increased legalization. Now, more countries are adopting policies that allow citizens to grow and consume cannabis. Other consumption trends include diverse products which transform how we consume cannabis and also a decline in social stigma for frequent users. 

So, what does this mean for you? If you’re in one of the legal countries, you can now openly enjoy cannabis! Growing cannabis at home for personal use is an excellent option to support your consumption habits. Innovations in cultivation mean you can produce your own high-quality cannabis without the need for a large space of commercial-grade equipment. Research your country’s laws about cannabis consumption and cultivation before engaging in any cannabis-related activities.

Additionally, we’re finding more people adopting the use of CBD. Although CBD products have no psychoactive effects, they contain several health benefits. These benefits are recognized by many institutions that now get recommended by doctors as ways to treat issues such as anxiety, stress, sleep trouble, seizures, pain, and more. Medical benefits for THC and CBD are still being researched for their validity, so most information is suggestions of potential benefits.

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With new ways of consuming cannabis in the form of edibles, oil, or tablets, you no longer have to worry about the smell. This trend has attracted many more users of cannabis who initially were averse to the scent.

And yes, this also means it’s much more acceptable to sport your favourite cannabis-themed t-shirts.

 

Negative Impacts to the Cannabis Industry

The industry has a lot of upside, thanks to the latest trends. However, these trends aren’t without their downsides. From cultivation to consumption, there are things you should be mindful about.

  • Wrong information – sharing information via the internet and social media is easier than ever. There’s just as much inaccurate cannabis growing information as it is info that can benefit your grow. Make sure your sources are credible when sourcing information. Our blogs provide a great information source developed by veteran growers and cannabis experts.
  • Inaccurate CBD content – products that contain CBD often mislead customers about the contents and benefits. Make sure your CBD products come from credible sources, like our partner SupMedi, which conducts lab testing and provides customer reviews about their product experiences.
  • Seed Quality – not all cannabis seeds come with the same quality. Here at Amsterdam Genetics, we’ve developed cannabis seeds for nearly 40 years. Each strain is carefully formulated with the perfect gene mix fit for growing quality plants and suitable for indoor settings.

From sharing valuable cannabis growing information to providing the best quality cannabis seeds, Amsterdam Genetics is your source for cannabis cultivation as we continue navigating the rapidly changing global cannabis landscape.

 

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The Worldwide Wave of Cannabis: Understanding Global Growth

We examined the key trends in cannabis growth around the world. Now, it’s time to explore the main drivers behind them. Cannabis popularity has exploded globally with several trends in the overall market, cultivation, legalisation, and product innovations.

The exciting thing is understanding the reasons behind the global growth to explore possibilities of continued expansion and how it can affect you as an avid cannabis consumer.

Legalisation

Let’s be honest—none of the recent changes we’ve seen in the cannabis industry would be possible without the growing support for the plant in politics. What was once considered criminal activity with harsh penalties has now become a mainstream product widely used worldwide.

The Netherlands was always at the forefront of legalisation, and many consider it the ‘birthplace of cannabis culture.’ Many other countries globally are growing their support for the plant for numerous reasons. It provides an excellent tax source, stimulates economies, and provides health benefits.

Cannabis is far from being accepted everywhere, but every step in the right direction will lead to further use and popularity for the plant.

Consider the local laws and regulations in your country before cultivating or consuming cannabis.

Societal Acceptance

The days of cannabis being considered counterculture are quickly fading. It’s long been a taboo topic in places like Amsterdam, where it has been publicly acceptable for decades. But in other countries, with recent legalisation laws like the US and Thailand, societal concerns are beginning to ease. It’s now becoming a mainstream topic freely discussed in professional settings, politics, and everyday conversations.

Cannabis popularity spans all age ranges, from teens in the legal age range for cannabis consumption who enjoy it recreationally to elders in society who use the plant for medical benefits. Even consider elders who enjoy recreational consumption and teens who turn to CBD as an alternative medicine.

Innovations in cannabis products have significant effects on it becoming more acceptable to use in many places. You no longer have to be paranoid about reeking of potent weed smell. There are alternatives to getting your daily dose of THC, such as eating edibles or using vape devices.

Another great thing about cannabis being more acceptable is finally being able to wear cannabis-themed merchandise. Show support for your favourite seed brand by checking out our collection of clothing, headwear, and accessories.

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Health Benefits

Cannabis isn’t just a substance to consume to achieve a “high.” More users are turning to the plant for its medical properties. Cannabis research has shown many benefits to consuming it, such as pain relief, aiding sleep, reducing anxiety, treating nausea, and much more. While many health benefits aren’t conclusive yet, you can find positive trends for the benefits reported by frequent users. Note that cannabis affects everyone differently and can yield different results for you.

THC isn’t the only chemical compound in cannabis plants that offers medical benefits. One of the latest health trends emerging in recent years is CBD. CBD, or cannabidiol, is the non-psychoactive component in cannabis that has potential medical benefits of anti-inflammatory effects, improving sleep, treating seizure patients, skincare benefits, etc. Like THC, these benefits aren’t conclusive and should be carefully examined if you’re taking CBD to treat certain symptoms.

Cannabis is categorised as medical or recreational in many countries. Medical cannabis is typically the first to get the green light approval for legalisation and promoted in medical settings. Doctors now recommend CBD products to treat specific ailments, and products like tablets, supplements, and topicals are widely available.

Technology

As technology improves, we’ll continue to see innovations for cannabis trends in cultivation, product development, and science. We’re always excited about new technology that helps our community of growers achieve better quality indoor grows. 

Some of these tech advances pushing cannabis cultivation forward are new growing techniques like hydroponics adaptable to smaller growing spaces. Also, lighting and growing tent kits that help stimulate more natural environments for plants to thrive. Artificial Intelligence is one of the latest developments that can rapidly transform indoor cannabis cultivation by providing data and information about your grow setup to maximise yields.

Better technology helps with developing new ways to consume cannabis and CBD. For example, it gives the ability to extract certain compounds from the plant better to make oils.

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Experimentation

One of the best ways to continue positive growth trends with cannabis is by experimenting. Cannabis popularity has inspired people all over the world to test innovative ways to use, consume, and grow cannabis. As it becomes more widespread with legalisation and social acceptance, users have better access to the tools necessary to take cannabis to the next level.

Amsterdam Genetics has evolved over the last few decades to support many of these trends. It’s allowed us to develop a collection of more than 40 different strains of premium cannabis seeds, partnering with a credible CBD company for CBD supplements and nutrition, and even expand our footprint with delivery in multiple European countries.

It makes it easier for us to reach growers like you! Come along as we continue to transform with the global cannabis industry.

 

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Mastering Hydroponics: A Guide for Cannabis Growers

Hydroponics is a popular method for growing cannabis indoors. It’s a water-based system with many advantages over soil-based systems, such as improved yields and faster plant growth. With its popularity booming amongst cannabis users, we’ve decided to give you a rundown on these systems.

Keep reading to find out how to use hydroponics with cannabis and which system is best to grow indoors.

 

The Basics of Hydroponics Systems

As its name suggests, the main feature of all hydroponics systems is water. Unlike traditional growing methods, hydroponics eliminates the use of soil and uses other mediums to help suspend the plant’s roots in water.

There are six types of hydroponics systems for growing cannabis:

  • Deep Water Culture (DWC)
  • Wick
  • Ebb & Flow
  • Drip
  • Nutrient Film Technique (NTF)
  • Aeroponics

These systems are categorized as active or passive based on the mechanics needed to manage them during the growing process. Here are details about each system and how they’re used for growing cannabis indoors.

 

Passive Hydroponics Systems

These simplified hydroponics systems use less energy since they don’t require additional tools to deliver the water solution to your plants.

  1. Deep Water Culture (DWC)

The most popular hydroponics system for growing cannabis is Deep Water Culture (DWC). It’s also the simplest passive system to set up. DWC completely submerges plant roots in nutrient-rich water while the plant is suspended above the solution. Air is provided via a pump inserted into the water—sometimes called an active system due to the air pumps.

Many beginners experimenting with how to use hydroponics with cannabis start with this system because of the simplicity. It’s a great option for growing indoors since you only need one bucket to fit in a small space.

An alternative method of this system is the Kratky method. This alternative doesn’t fully submerge the plant roots but allows them to touch the water surface lightly, offering lots of air room for the roots.

  1. Wick

This hydroponics method is set up similar to an Ebb and Flow system. It’s passive since it relies on using a wick (string or other fabric) instead of a pump to transfer water from the reservoir into your growing tray. It can be set up as a recovery system—the water drains back into the reservoir and is recycled back through the wick.

Due to limits of water transfer via wick, this isn’t as popular for growing cannabis. Cannabis plants need much more water and nutrients to reach their full potential.

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Active Hydroponic Systems

Systems categorized as active require moving parts to help make them function properly. These systems vary from simple to complex.

  1. Ebb and Flow

This method may also be called the Flood and Drain method, which gives a better idea of how it functions. It’s an active hydroponics system that periodically floods your main growing tray with a nutrient-rich water solution for your plants to drink before draining back into a separate reservoir container.

It’s an active system because it requires a pump to provide water to your plants from the reservoir. It works on a timer to give plants just enough water before a period of air between cycles.

  1. Drip

The Drip hydroponics system is a way to deliver water to your plants automatically. A drop system is routed to your plants and tickles water on a timer for the exact quantity needed.

This active system requires some skill to set up the correct drop functionality.

  1. Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)

The NFT method is one of the most complex hydroponics systems for growing cannabis. It works similarly to an ebb and flow system, except it uses a tilted growing tray to drain the water back into the reservoir below. The tilted growing tray holding your plants eliminates the need for a drain timer since a measured amount of water is pumped into it to allow for drinking.

This method is uncommon for small indoor grows due to its complexity.

  1. Aeroponics

This is a special kind of hydroponics system that’s one of the most complex to design. Cannabis plant roots are suspended in the air and receive frequent sprays of nutrient-rich water to keep them moisturized. To create this system, you need timers, a spray fountain, and accurate targeting for delivery.

Since these require lots of active equipment, indoor growers with a small amount of plants avoid this method.

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Getting Started With Hydroponics

Anyone can get started with using hydroponics systems to grow cannabis indoors. There are two ways: build your own or purchase a kit. The DIY method of building your own hydroponics system can be exciting, and you can customize it to your exact specifications. Cannabis plants vary in size depending on the strain, and you can tailor your setup for each grow.

We recommend beginners start with a kit to ensure you have all the basics. These kits come with equipment to hold the water, cannabis plants, and may contain other tools like nutrient solutions.

You can weigh your options based on the costs to build the system, the size you need for your indoor grow, and your skill level.

Get started with your hydroponics system using our premium cannabis seeds.

 

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The Hydroponic Edge: Elevating Cannabis Cultivation Indoors

We’re in the midst of an evolution for growing cannabis indoors. Growers are exploring new growing techniques to develop the best quality weed with yields that will blow your mind. Indoor cannabis growing with hydroponics is one of the most exciting trends for growers. It achieves impressive yields and better quality at faster rates than other traditional methods.

If it’s your first time hearing about hydroponics, this post will give insight into how it’s elevating the way we grow cannabis at home.

 

What is Hydroponics?

Hydroponics is not a new agricultural practice, but more cannabis growers are starting to incorporate the method into their home grow setups. It’s a water-based growing method that submerges plant roots directly into nutrient-rich water instead of in soil. This direct transfer of nutrients to the roots allows several advantages for growers and plants.

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Why Growers Prefer Indoor Cannabis Growing With Hydroponics

There is an ongoing debate over whether hydroponics or traditional soil growing methods are better for cannabis plants. Choosing which method is best is a matter of preference and convenience. With the right skills, you can see advantages to either one. Those in favour of hydroponics like this method for the following reasons:

  • Indoor-friendliness
  • Costs
  • Yields

While these can change depending on your specific growing setup, it’s a good baseline to see why it’s becoming so popular in recent years.

Indoor-friendliness

Growing cannabis indoors is effective for growers living in regions with unfavourable climates for year-round cultivation—like Amsterdam! Hydroponics gives growers the flexibility to grow plants in every season.

Hydroponics is a cleaner way to grow weed indoors. It avoids attracting pests associated with using soil and makes it more convenient for cleanup since you only use liquid-based solutions.

Costs

Growing weed at home can give significant cost savings for regular consumers. Hydroponics can be a cost-saving method if budget is a big concern for your setup. Hydroponics typically has a higher initial cost to set up the system. However, it’s a more efficient use of water, nutrients, and other additives in the long run. It allows you to provide the plant with exactly what it needs to grow with no water going into the soil, for example. Other systems feature recycling water systems like the Ebb and Flow hydroponics method. 

Yields

One of the biggest advantages of indoor cannabis growing with hydroponics is improved yields. Growers seeking ways to increase the quantity and quality of their cannabis can experiment with hydroponics as a way to improve. It’s an excellent way to get the maximum yield potential when using our premium cannabis seeds.

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Achieving better yields with Hydroponics

Once you know the basics of growing cannabis indoors, the next step is learning how to improve your yield. Did you know that switching your growing method can lead to significant improvements? It sounds like a simple solution. However, the very nature of hydroponics is designed to create strong and healthy plants ready to produce tons of cannabis buds when it’s time to flower.

Here’s some insight into how hydroponics works, leading to improved growth rates and yields per plant.

  1. Better nutrient delivery

Hydroponics is one of the most effective ways to deliver the perfect amounts of nutrients to a cannabis plant. This is especially necessary with indoor grows since you lack essential elements for plant growth, like natural sunlight or nutrients found in soil.

This method provides a direct delivery system from nutrients artificially added into the water solution to the plant’s roots. Using the right amount of nutrients, you can ensure your plant gets precisely what it needs to grow. Nutrients lead to healthy and happy plants that will ultimately produce amazing yields. 

  1. Faster Growth

A cannabis plant can take months to go from seed to harvest. The good news is that hydroponics can shave some time off the growth schedule and get you closer to enjoying your harvest much sooner. But how does it work?

Related to the direct delivery of nutrients, it’s also the reason why plants grow faster in a hydroponics system. Roots do not have to dig through soil to find the nutrients they need to grow. Giving the roots these nutrients directly will allow them to focus their energy on growth. 

Think of it as ordering delivery food right to your front door vs. going to the grocery store to buy food. Both result in eating a meal, but the person who ordered delivery will start eating much faster than the person who has to go out and find food. The same works for hydroponics!

Indoor cannabis growing with hydroponics is a solution for growers seeking ways to improve their yields. Use this method along with our other tips to increase cannabis yields indoors, and you may soon find yourself with more weed than you can handle! That’s definitely a good problem to have!

 

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Hydroponics in Focus: Revolutionising Indoor Cannabis

One of the latest trends revolutionising the industry is hydroponics cannabis growing. This system comes from an agricultural practice that leverages a water setup instead of soil to grow your plants.

If you’re new to growing cannabis or curious to experiment with a new way of growing, it can be a great option. There are many advantages to adopting the hydroponics method, and we’ll also share a few disadvantages to be mindful of to see if it’s the right system for you.

 

Advantages to Hydroponics Cannabis Growing

Hydroponics is rapidly becoming a mainstay in cannabis growing. Growers are experiencing amazing results with their grow operation compared to other traditional methods. From higher yields to sustainability, here are a few reasons why we like this method.

  1. Better yields

The yield from each cannabis seed is a good indication of the success of your grow. This includes the quantity and quality of the buds you harvest from your plants. Hydroponics systems deliver water and nutrients directly to your plant’s roots so they don’t have to search them out in a soil bed. It allows your plant to focus more on growth instead of root maintenance.

  1. Faster growth

Thanks to the direct delivery of nutrients, cannabis plants grown in hydroponics systems grow faster. It can take time for a plant’s roots to establish themselves in soil and even absorb the nutrients once applied. The hydroponics system brings these resources to your plant. The initial stage of germinating your seeds and growing the roots has a similar timeframe to soil plants. After this phase, you should see a more rapid growth. Keep this in mind when planning your growing schedule.

  1. More efficient use of resources

Hydroponics is a more sustainable way of growing cannabis. Growing cannabis requires several resources like light, water, and nutrients. The hydroponics method is more efficient since these resources aren’t wasted when delivered through soil. The best systems allow you to provide the exact amount of water and nutrients to your plant. Special hydroponics systems like the Ebb and Flow allow for water to be recycled within the system.

  1. Great for indoor growing

Hydroponics systems work great in small spaces. You don’t have to worry about any mess from soil since you can create simple DIY systems utilising only a bucket of water. Also, it allows you to grow in a controlled environment. The nutrient-rich water gives your plants exactly what they need to grow and thrive regardless of the climate conditions.

  1. No soil issues

Soil helps give life to plants—but it can also cause harm to them. For example, dry soil, attracting certain pests, growing weeds (the bad kind), or simply not having enough nutrients to support your plant’s growth. These are just a few issues you avoid when opting for hydroponics.

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Disadvantages to Hydroponics Cannabis Growing

We all wish there was a perfect method for growing cannabis indoors. Hydroponics has many benefits over the traditional soil method. However, it does come with its challenges. Here are a few things to consider before making the switch.

  1. Monitoring levels

Hydroponics feels like a science experiment. You have to understand terms like PH levels (measures the acidity in the water) and PPM (measures the nutrient concentration in the water). For an effective grow, you have to manage these levels. They can vary across different growth stages of your plant, may require different amounts depending on the strain you’re growing, and other variables. It can take practice getting these levels correct to achieve the optimal yield. On the other hand, the wrong levels can ruin an entire plant due to insufficient nutrients or overfeeding.

  1. System Risks

Hydroponics is a more delicate system compared to growing in soil. Soil serves a purpose for storing some of the nutrients before your plant absorbs them. If water levels get too low after a day of drinking, your plant will not have access to a reserve water source if you’re late refilling it to the correct level. There are also risks for water leakage or system failure in hydroponics methods like the drip system and ebb and flow, which have additional parts necessary for delivering resources to your plant.

  1. Root damage

While you avoid any soil issues with the hydroponics method, the water becomes a major factor in the success of your grow operation. Some potential risks with this method include rotting roots from overheated water or algae forming on your per-germination agent if submerged improperly in the water. Cleanliness is essential in a hydroponics method to avoid these and other risks.

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Should You Switch to Hydroponics?

Experimenting with a new method is always exciting. Hydroponics cannabis growing is trending in the growing community, with many people testing its efficiency.

Understand that there are pros and cons to every method of growing. Once you get over the learning curve, your expertise plays a major role in how successful you can grow cannabis indoors using this method.

Our premium cannabis seeds work great for the hydroponics method. Check out our tips and strategies and see if you get the desired results!

 

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The Evolution of Indoor Cannabis: A New Era of Growth

Not everyone can create a massive outdoor grow setup with hundreds of plants. Luckily, growing cannabis indoors has become a mainstay for whom prefer growing plants for their personal use.

Did you know that one cannabis plant grown indoors can produce anywhere from 100 grams on a small plant to upwards of two pounds for an average-sized plant? Many factors affect how much it produces. However, even the lower end of the range is plenty for most people.

We’ve come a long way in the industry of cannabis cultivation at home. We’ll explore how different practices evolved over time and new trends currently driving the industry.

 

Growing Trend of Growing Cannabis Indoors

Cannabis was first decriminalized in the Netherlands in 1976. Amsterdam Genetics was founded shortly after in 1985. It gave us a head start on leading the global cannabis cultivation industry. This was an exciting time for many local growers who were able to freely practice growing cannabis indoors in search of better-quality cannabis, breeding new strains, or simply seeking a more cost-efficient way to support their cannabis consumption habits.

Indoor growing setups became popular due to our unique location. Cannabis plants need tons of sunlight, and our grey skies and long winters were counterproductive to producing the best buds compared to other parts of the world. Growing indoors became mandatory when striving to cultivate cannabis locally.

Fast forward to the present day, and cannabis laws worldwide are starting to get the same treatment we experienced decades before. More countries are decriminalizing cannabis and allowing users to grow their own cannabis at home. It’s sparked a rapid growth in the popularity of new products and tools to make it more efficient to grow indoors. We now see the community of growers transforming closets into mini-grow operations, people who set up tents in small apartments to hold several plants, and even converting entire rooms into their dedicated grow rooms. 

It’s never been more exciting than now to jump into the world of growing cannabis indoors—an excitement that will only continue to grow with time! As small-scale cannabis cultivation at home becomes more popular, we can expect the quality and quantity yields to keep increasing with new access to technologies and information.

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Advantages of Growing Cannabis Indoors

What started as a necessity has now become a preference for growers. Growing cannabis outdoors will always be the most natural way to grow cannabis since plants can benefit from natural sunlight, natural nutrients in the ground, and other environmental factors. However, we can reproduce many of these same benefits artificially.

Additionally, indoor growing has specific advantages that you can’t get outdoors. These benefits include:

  • Quality control
  • Year-round cultivation
  • Discretion

Understanding these advantages will help you realize why growing cannabis indoors has become so popular.

Quality Control

Growers are constantly seeking ways to improve the quality of their cannabis. Growing indoors gives you the most control over the output of your plants. You can create the perfect environment for our premium cannabis seeds to thrive (nutrient-rich soil, controlled temperatures, efficient use of lights, etc.). 

Quality control can lead to better quality buds and higher yields per plant.

Year-round cultivation

The Netherlands isn’t the only place with an unfavourable natural climate for growing cannabis. The controlled environments of growing indoors mean you can provide the right amount of light and heat for your plants, even when it’s the middle of a snowy winter outside. 

Year-round cultivation means you can have plants on a cycle. Stagger the times you plant your seeds, and you can have plants ready for harvest every month, season, etc. It’s an excellent option for small home grows, so you’ll never run out of weed.

Discretion

Even with the easing of cannabis laws, most people still prefer discretion. Discretion can include privacy and security for your weed plants. The less people that know about them, the better you can avoid any potential threats to them. Well-designed indoor grow setups help prevent smell leakage and are typically hidden from plain sight to avoid unwanted attention.

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New Trends for Growing Cannabis Indoors

The evolution of indoor cannabis growing continues! We’ve come a long way from hidden grow operations tucked away in the back of a closet. Now, there are many online communities where you can engage with other growers and learn tips to improve your skills.

As more people start cultivating cannabis at home, we’re seeing many new trends, like hydroponics, automated systems, and more. Check this blog to learn about all the latest trends we’ve encountered for growing cannabis indoors.

Be part of the indoor cannabis growing evolution. There’s never been a better time to start growing at home. Browse more than 40 different strains of our premium cannabis seeds that are designed to thrive in indoor settings.

 

Q4 Navigating the Indoor Cannabis Boom

Navigating the Indoor Cannabis Boom: Trends and Tips

New trends and advancements in cannabis cultivation are constantly changing. A new trend can make old methods seem outdated as fast as they come around. And it’s not hard to find new tips for indoor cannabis growing that suggest no other method will yield the results you want. You can find yourself in a whirlwind trying to keep up with the latest and greatest trends. So, what’s the best way to sift through all the information and find what works best for you?

This blog provides valuable insight into navigating the complex web or information to get the best results when growing cannabis indoors.

 

Where new trends come from

We’re living in the age of information, and it’s never been easier to find new trends and tips for indoor cannabis growing. As cannabis continues becoming more widely accepted on a global scale, we can predict that these trends and tips will only become more abundant.

Here are a few things leading to the rapid increase in information sharing about the latest in cannabis cultivation:

  • Science
  • Exposure
  • Legalization and Regulation Changes
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)

These factors can make anyone sound like an expert in growing cannabis. But it helps to know the basis behind them to ensure you get the correct information.

Science

The global popularity of cannabis has inspired new science and research in the field. Every day, we hear about new cannabis strains emerging, details about terpenes and other chemical compounds in the plant, and ways to improve the quality (and quantity) when growing cannabis. 

Exposure

Amsterdam will always be known as the ‘birthplace of cannabis culture.’ Today, that culture has evolved worldwide from an underground subculture to the mainstream. In many places like the US, you can see massive cannabis billboards decorating city skylines, and it’s no longer sensitive content that requires censorship on social media platforms. This growing exposure to society makes it much easier to share tips and trends about how to grow cannabis.

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Legalization and Regulation Changes

One of the biggest catalysts to the boom in cannabis cultivation is the laws behind the plant. As regulations continue to ease, more people are starting to experiment with growing cannabis at home. Our delivery services extend far beyond our own borders, and we now have customers across several EURO zones.

As cannabis becomes legalized in new areas, the art of cannabis cultivation will expand. It creates new opportunities to learn from growers.

Artificial Intelligence

Growing cannabis at home is no longer a mystery or reserved for experienced growers. Popular AI tools like ChatGPT can spew an entire step-by-step guide on how you can start cultivating your own cannabis plants at home with a simple prompt. Try for yourself with the prompt ‘steps to grow cannabis at home’, and you’ll see what we mean!

The same goes for finding tips. This AI information is actually learned from the growing information base on the subject previously shared online. It’s now easier than ever for the average person to access information on the latest trends and tips for indoor cannabis growing.

 

Finding What Works For You

Discovering new cannabis cultivation tips and trends is the easy part. The challenge comes in knowing what information is actually valuable and useful for your home grow setup. Since it’s so easy to share information, you can scroll through TikTok and see viral videos about growing cannabis from users who never planted cannabis seeds and read blogs online from writers who have never even used cannabis before.

  1. Learn from Credible Sources

Choosing credible sources is the first step in navigating the boom of information on growing cannabis indoors. For example, our grow guides are written by Nibameca, a veteran grower with years of experience growing various Amsterdam Genetics seeds. Our transparency in these grow guides gives our community an extra level of trust that we’re experts in cannabis cultivation. Our blogs are also written by cannabis experts and enthusiasts who use cannabis regularly.

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  1. Understand your growing capabilities

Indoor growing setups come in many forms. There are tons of products on the market catering to different setups. Also, trends and tips can apply to specific setups. Understanding your own growing setup can help narrow down the tips and trends applicable to your situation.

For example, you don’t want to use commercial-grade lights for a small closet grow setup in your bedroom. This also applies to managing the smell, the quantity of plants you have, and even local laws for at-home cultivation.

Our FAQs page answers common questions for beginners. Or contact us directly with your questions, and we’ll be happy to help you!

  1. Experiment

Cannabis plants are living things. Even with all the information available, it’s hard to predict with 100% accuracy how seeds will grow. There are tons of variables that go into growing cannabis indoors.

It’s the exciting part about growing cannabis because it feels like a reward when you finally achieve a successful harvest. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different strains, trends, and tips to see what works best with your setup.

Ready to get started with one of the latest trends in indoor cannabis growing? Check out our collection of premium cannabis seeds and see which strain you’ll grow next!

q4 Indoor Growth The Future of Cannabis Cultivation

Indoor Growth: The Future of Cannabis Cultivation

So, you’ve nailed the basics of indoor cannabis growing. Now, it’s time to take your home grow to the next level by incorporating some of the latest developments in cannabis cultivation.

Growing cannabis is forever evolving, with new techniques constantly arising that help you achieve your growing goals. Staying on top of these trends is beneficial to all growers. It gives new growers more efficient ways to cultivate at home and seasoned growers ways to boost their productivity.

We’ve compiled a few of the latest trends that keep you on the cutting edge of indoor cannabis growing.

 

Benefits of the Latest Indoor Cannabis Growing Trends

It takes practice to get good at growing your own cannabis plants. They require lots of attention and care to produce the best results. But there’s no better feeling than completing your first successful harvest and enjoying the fruits of your labour.

We all love our routine growing processes. However, there are advantages to exploring new trends in cannabis growing. The latest updates can help you improve:

  • Growing efficiency
  • Increasing yield from each cannabis plant
  • Improve the quality of your cannabis

If you’re excited about how you can take your home-grown cannabis to the next level, here are the latest innovations you should know about.

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Latest Indoor Growing Trends and Advancements

 

  1. Hydroponic Indoor Cannabis Cultivation

The medium you select to plant your cannabis seeds is essential. Hydroponics is quickly becoming a preferred method compared to the traditional soil method. This unique medium replaces soil with a special solution containing all the vital nutrients cannabis plants need to thrive.

Many growers are adopting a hydroponics growing method for its improvement in growth rate and yield. It’s one of the most exciting new developments in cannabis cultivation, and we explore this method more in-depth in this blog post.

  1. Automated/Smart Systems

News flash! We’re in the age of technology, and it comes in handy for indoor cannabis growing. Automated and smart systems are your personal assistant in managing some of the growing processes.

One example of these systems includes automated lights that work on a timer. Cannabis plants require various amounts of sunlight depending on their stage. Take the guesswork out of it by setting an automated light to give your plant the exact amount every day.

Smart systems also work great with monitoring and controlling the temperature of your growing space. You can keep your plants at the optimal temperature at each stage and balance with heat from the lights to ensure they thrive.

As AI tools continue to develop, we can look forward to them being incorporated into various Smart tools. They can provide valuable data and other analyses specifically tailored to your plants and growing setup.

  1. Vertical Farming

One of the biggest challenges to indoor cannabis growing is finding an appropriate space for your operation. It’s an important step because it can affect how big your plants can grow, regulating the cannabis smell, and even concentrating resources like light and temperatures. 

Vertical farming has taken root in many urban areas. As the name suggests, cannabis seeds are planted vertically to save space. It gives more flexibility in how many plants you can grow in smaller spaces like a closet or tent. In addition to saving space, it’s a more efficient use of water since it can trickle down to your plants.

  1. Sustainable Growing Techniques

Climate change is big news regardless of which corner of the world you live in. Cannabis growers worldwide are doing their part to help by incorporating sustainability practices into their growing methods.

The top trends in sustainable growing trends include water conservation, organic nutrients, and renewable energy. These resources are necessary for every grow. However, being more mindful of them can simultaneously improve the planet and your cannabis growing.

  1. New Science and Research

The science of cannabis evolves daily. The global boom in cannabis has led to lots of research to continue exploring its effects, best uses, and ways to improve growing. The latest scientific research reveals that cannabis plants benefit from certain nutrients and enrichments. Incorporating these into your grow process can give your plants exactly what they need to flourish in an indoor setting that they may otherwise miss out on.

In addition to introducing product enhancements to your plants, you can start at the source. There’s lots of science involved in improving cannabis seed genetics and creating new strains.

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Experimenting with new growing trends

Everybody’s indoor cannabis growing setup is different. Not all trends may be useful to your current process. However, they’re a good place to start if you’re looking for ways to improve your grow. You can also check out some of these tips to elevate your grow.

Our premium cannabis seeds are a great place to start to achieve a high-quality grow. Also, stay up-to-date with our blog posts to keep learning about new ways to improve your grow and the latest growing trends we’re seeing in the industry.

 

amsterdam genetics The Influence of Terpenes and Cannabinoids on Your Cannabis Experience

The Influence of Terpenes and Cannabinoids on Your Cannabis Experience

We all enjoy cannabis for different reasons, and its effects on our bodies differ for everyone. The effects of cannabis terpenes and cannabinoids play major roles in our consumption experience. They are both chemical compounds in the cannabis plant that directly interact with properties in our bodies that produce unique highs, aromas, and flavours. 

We’ll explore what terpenes and cannabinoids are used for and how they influence your high.

Cannabis Terpenes

The scent and taste of your plant are the physiological effects of cannabis terpenes. However, plants also use these chemical properties for repealing or attracting insects and more. More than 20,000 terpenes exist for all plants, although cannabis plants contain just a fraction of these. We use a handful of the most common terpenes to help define a strain by its smell and taste.

The most common cannabis terpenes you should know are:

Myrcene

Limonene

Pinene

Caryophyllene

Linalool

Terpinolene

Humulene

Each of these terpenes gives strains their unique properties. Plants that give off a floral lavender smell like the Amnesia Haze strain have lots of linalool terpenes, and the pine aroma from Magic OG Kush is the result of a pinene terpene presence. 

In addition to the smell, terpenes have distinct flavours that help tell them apart. Cannabis strains with a citrus flavour profile like the Tangerine G13 have large amounts of limonene. The earthy taste of the buds produced from our Fatkid’s Cake seeds shows high amounts of myrcene.

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Understanding Cannabinoids

How does your favourite weed strain make you feel? Do you prefer sativa like the White Choco Haze that gives a serendipitous euphoria and creativity? Or perhaps an indica-dominant like the Dutch Duchess strain that helps you relax after a long day. Maybe even someone who appreciates cannabis for its medical benefits, like easing pain and inflammation.

Each of these effects—and more—are the result of cannabinoids. Like Terpenes, cannabinoids are another chemical compound in the plant produced as the plant’s defense mechanism against insects, bacteria, and UV ray protection.

The most common cannabinoids associated with cannabis are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). When we consume these cannabinoids, they cause many of the psychoactive effects we consider the high. But how does it work?

Did you know that humans already have natural cannabinoids in our system? Cannabinoids in plants are identified as phytocannabinoids, and those found in humans are called endocannabinoids. These endocannabinoids work in our Central Nervous System to regulate and maintain homeostasis. Receptors in this system affect our mood, appetite, stress, memory, and more to keep our bodies balanced.

When you consume cannabis, cannabinoids produced in the plant interact with our own endocannabinoid system to stimulate our receptors. It’s why marijuana use is excellent for reducing stress, making us happy, and also hungry.

Terpenes and Cannabinoids Create the Entourage Effect

With 200+ terpenes and 100+ cannabinoids, each strain genetic features a unique combination of them. Together, it’s what makes each strain different and have its own effects on you.

Consuming cannabis creates the entourage effect—when all a plant’s terpenes and cannabinoids interact with the chemicals in our bodies to create a multi-sensory experience. 

Thanks to the effects of cannabis terpenes, you get the smell and flavour. And the cannabinoids that alter the high you’ll have. Terpenes and cannabinoids can also affect each other. For example, the herbal scent and taste of myrcene also have properties that allow your body to absorb more cannabinoids. It’s why strains like AK-OG Kush that have a lot of myrcene make you feel higher—also, eating mangoes that contain lots of myrcene! Alternatively, strains with more CBD cannabinoids help reduce your high feeling since it depresses the effects of THC.

Mastering the art of cannabis tasting will enhance your experience with weed. Mindful consumption will help you appreciate the bouquet of aromas, the rich flavours, and discover new highs from each grow.

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How You Can Change Its Effects

If you thought the genetic properties were enough to differentiate cannabis, think again! As growers, we have a significant impact on our plants and how they will affect us when consuming them. From our grow techniques to how we consume them, you can help shape any plant into your perfect strain.

Terpenes are found in your plant’s trichomes—the sticky, crystal-like properties located on your buds. You can increase the effects of cannabis terpenes by maximizing the trichomes of your grow. Steps to improve the taste and smell of your weed happen before or after harvest. For example, you can increase terpene production by adjusting temperatures or optimizing your cure time.

There are different ways to consume cannabis—smoking, digesting, topicals, etc. Each delivers the cannabinoid effects differently. Smoking cannabis with rolling papers delivers a faster high effect compared to eating edibles since it must be digested first before entering your system. Also, CBD topicals that don’t give any high effect but are used for their therapeutic benefits.

Cannabis terpenes and cannabinoids are two essential parts of a marijuana plant that give it the physical and psychoactive properties. At Amsterdam Genetics, we provide details of odour and taste for a strain’s terpene profile. Also, a percentage breakdown of a strain’s cannabinoids to determine the kind of high it delivers. Browse our premium cannabis seeds for more information.

Have A Look At Our Best Selling Strains

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Developing A Nose For Cannabis: Understanding Aroma Profiles

It takes a successful grow and harvest to achieve the maximum aroma potency from your strain based on its genetics. However, now, it’s time for you to do your part to develop your sense of smell to appreciate the vast cannabis aroma profiles. Awareness of its smell helps with categorizing different strains, providing details of its effect, determining its freshness, and more.

Let’s explore how you can use cannabis aromas to improve your consumption experience!

 

Indica vs. Sativa Aromas

Knowing what scents to look for can help significantly in identifying them in your strains. Indica and sativa strains differ in more than just the kind of high they give you—they also give off different aromas. This is due to the chemical properties called terpenes, which are responsible for each strain’s unique aromas (and taste). All cannabis strains have terpenes, with approximately 200 different kinds discovered so far in the plants. 

Common terpenes that you can find in Indica-dominant strains are myrcene, humulene, and caryophyllene. These strains are best characterized by heavier scents of earthy, woody, musk, and nature tones. The skunky bouquet of spicy aromas from the Blue Magic strain and the potent earthy profile in the AK-OG Kush are good examples that both deliver the intense body high noted in indica strains.

For the uplifting highs associated with sativa strains, the aromas you should be looking for are a more light, refreshing scent. Think fruity, sweet, and floral tones for the cannabis aroma profiles. These aromas come from seeds producing high amounts of limonene, terpinolene, and linalool terpenes. With these scents in mind, your nose can pick out strains with these dominating terpenes, such as with our sweet-scented Candyfloss and citrusy Lemon Haze strains.

As you develop your nose for smelling cannabis, noting these broad scent categories will provide a good starting point for determining whether a strain belongs to the sativa or indica family.

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How Cannabis Aroma Profiles Can Indicate Their Effects

Not only do terpenes create different aromas in cannabis, but they also are associated with their effects. An entourage effect is a term used to describe how terpenes found in your plant interact with your body when consumed to create their unique highs. Every strain is different and can also affect each person differently. Therefore, understanding a strain’s aroma can give you an idea of the effects you’ll experience once consumed. 

We’ve covered how certain scents provide details of the family of strains your plant belongs to. Additionally, certain terpenes are known for producing specific kinds of effects. For example, a high presence of the pinene terpene can lead to an uplifting high while simultaneously improving memory and concentration. If you’re seeking these effects, you should be looking for a piney aroma—think pine trees!

Caryophyllene is a terpene great for consumers who don’t like to experience the couch-lock stoned feeling after a session. This terpene specifically counteracts some of the effects of THC. If you’re an infrequent consumer or want to mellow out your high, you can determine strains high in this terpene based on an herbal or peppery scent.

On the other end of the spectrum, those looking for more of a couchlock and laidback body high should look for strains with a more earthy scent. It’s a sure sign of high levels of myrcene. It’s one of the most common terpenes in almost all strains. However, the more dominant this scent is compared to other aromas, the more relaxed you can expect to feel with it.

Developing your nose for picking out specific cannabis aroma profiles is highly beneficial when examining your strain for its effects.

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Using Aromas for Quality

The third pillar that weed aromas help determine is the freshness of your strain. From the growing process to examining your harvest, the potency of the scent is a good indication of the quality of your grow.

Your plant will start to produce the familiar weed smell within a few weeks of starting your grow. It’s a good sign to look for that your plant is developing correctly. It’s important to note that both male and female cannabis plants have a weed scent, so you won’t be able to tell the gender based on this trait. Also, as the smell becomes more potent from your plant, it’s a sign of the flowering stage.

Fresh buds will have their most potent smell once properly harvested, dried, and cured. Proper storage is recommended to preserve the aroma until you’re ready to consume them. Buds that begin to lose their smell potency are a sign that the quality is decreasing compared to when you first harvested them. This happens when the terpenes on your buds weaken—not only does the scent diminish, but also the effects caused by the terpenes.

If you find that your plant isn’t producing as potent of a smell, you can implement various techniques during and after a grow to boost the terpenes in your plant. This will improve the smell and taste of your buds.

Our premium seed genetics feature a wide variety of aromas. Experiment with different strains to train your nose to recognize different cannabis aroma profiles. A general rule of thumb is if it smells good to you, it will have favourable effects when consuming it.

View Our Best Selling Strains