Growing Marijuana

I'm not advocating growing illegal substances, but it's always nice to see folks so passionate about their herbs. Marijuana (Cannabis sativa) is a greedy crop that needs plenty of nutrients and lots of light. It doesn't like acidic soil.

Growing marijuana in any quantity indoors is impractical, but the new hydroponic setups, like the compact AeroGardens make it possible to cultivate a single plant efficiently for, say, medical reasons, so that it won't break the bank on grow light and energy costs. The tall AeroGardens designed for tomatoes and other large plant crops are the only models that could potentially work successfully. If you're planning on growing marijuana, you probably have a seed source. I'm not going to address the relative merits of different varieties here.

Again, I'm not advocating this, but people ask, so I'm telling you. If this has piqued your interest, there's a YouTube.com video you should take a look at for amusement's sake: Growing Cannabis in an AeroGarden. It's funny, silly and pretty much hits the nail on the pot-head.

I feel compelled to insert some additional cautions just in case you haven't been listening: Illegal pot growing is nothing to mess around with. In the U. S. it carries some severe potential penalties, including imprisonment and forfeiture of real and personal property. If you're visiting this page with more than intellectual curiosity, make sure you recognize what you may be getting yourself into . . . and don't, unless you're living in or planning on traveling to a more . . . liberal climate.

If you believe you have a legitimate medical condition for which medical marijuana may be a viable palliative, discuss your options with your doctor, and check the laws in your state.

No one expects to get caught, and orange jumpsuits are totally unflattering. Grow some nice oregano and learn to cook Italian instead. Become a dynamic baker and get high on the aroma of bread rising. It's nice to want to learn to grow herbs and plants, but do it for the right reasons -- it's healthy, responsible, cost effective and eco-friendly. Keep it safe and legal. Your family will thank you.

Special Note: The photo is courtesy of Morguefile.com. I have never grown Cannabis and although I admit there's something romantic in the notion, I don't plan on starting.