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Powdered vs Liquid Nutrients: Which should you choose?

Powdered vs Liquid Nutrients: Which should you choose?

powdered vs liquid nutrients, liquid fertilizer or powdered fertilizer for cannabis
There’s debate over just about anything when it comes to growing cannabis. What soil you should use, if you should even use soil. What type of lights you should use, or if growing outdoors is better than indoor.

But today we’re talking about nutrients, and settling the powdered vs liquid nutrients debate.

You wouldn’t be wrong if you have noticed an increase in the popularity of powdered fertilizers over the past couple of years. But is it because they are better than liquid fertilizer?

Liquid Nutrients/Liquid Fertilizer

Liquid nutrients have been the standard for large scale cultivation, mainly for its ease of application on a large scale. With a reservoir system and irrigation a grower can easily dose out their liquid nutrients for regular, automated feedings.

Another benefit to liquid nutrients is that they are pre-mixed, saving the grower time which a valuable commodity in the grow. With liquid nutrients it is important to always read the dilution rates.

A highly concentrated liquid fertilizer can overwhelm your plants if not properly diluted and fed on specific schedule. Giving your plants too many nutrient too quickly can result in nutrient burn or nutrient lockout. Luckily these problems can be solved relatively easy if you catch them in time.

One of the most common arguments you may hear against liquid fertilizers is that you are just paying for water. In a sense that is true since liquid nutrients will often come diluted in the bottle. Some liquid nutrients have small concentrations of actual nutrients, resulting in bottles that may be over 80% water.

Additionally with the convenience of pre-mixed liquid nutrients and liquid fertilizers comes a higher price point. This is one of the main reasons many growers have made the switch the powdered nutrients in recent years.

Powdered Nutrients/Powdered Fertilizers

Anybody who has been participating in the legal cannabis industry in the US is likely aware of the current state of the industry. Long story short, it isn’t doing too well!

The average price of cannabis per pound dropped dramatically after COVID. Many growers were forced to completely drop out due to the costs of growing compared to the profit they were making. Others tried to find ways to cut costs.

One of the main ways growers found to cut costs was with powdered nutrients. Powdered fertilizers are cheaper than their liquid counterparts because they don’t come pre-mixed or measured. There is less processing involved in making the product as well, so it is cheaper for the customer.

This in no way makes powdered nutrients inferior. The grower just has to be a little more involved in the nutrient mixing process.

In fact many growers now prefer powdered fertilizer over liquid fertilizer for its simplicity and cost savings. Modern powdered fertilizers come in easily dissolvable granules that mix easily with water so there isn’t much extra work involved.

One downside to powdered nutrients is that the concentration in one scoop might not be the same as the total bag’s nutrient concentration. For example, a powdered fertilizer may be 33% nitrogen, 33% phosphorous and 33% potassium, but a single scoop could be 40%, 30% and 30%.

Because this is much more common in larger powdered fertilizers, companies that sell 25 pound powdered nutrients will recommend batch size concentrations. In other words if you buy a commercial size powdered fertilizer, mix it all at once to ensure consistency instead of scooping out individual feedings.

Powdered vs Liquid Nutrients

As with anything when it comes to growing cannabis, you’ll find solid arguments on both sides of the powdered vs liquid nutrients debate. One side may be more convincing than the other but in the end it just comes down to cost and preference.

For the grower trying to save costs without cutting quality, powdered nutrients is definitely the way to go. A grower that is more concerned with saving time and increasing efficiency may have more luck with liquid nutrients.

Liquid fertilizers offer a level of convenience that powdered fertilizers never will in that they come pre-mixed in most cases. But the time saved may not be worth the extra cost in comparison to powdered fertilizers which provide the same level of nutrition with just a little more work involved.

Whatever you may decide, check out Cultivate Hydroponic’s video on the topic with Jimmy and Darryl in a Red vs Blue Battle!

First Standalone Cannabis Bill Headed to Biden’s Desk

First Standalone Cannabis Bill Headed to Biden’s Desk

cannabis legislation passed through congress
The first ever standalone cannabis bill to pass through the House of Representatives and the Senate is now headed to President Joe Biden’s desk. The Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act passed through the House in July of this year, and was unanimously passed in the Senate on November 17.

The bill’s passing is the first time a standalone cannabis bill has been passed through Congress.

Under the bill should it pass, researchers would be able to obtain cannabis samples from sources besides the University of Mississippi. The university is currently the only federally approved source for cannabis specifically for research purposes.

Cannabis itself is not fully legal medically or recreationally in Mississippi, with CBD usage permitted for medical purposes. Recreational cannabis possession still carries civil penalties including fines and potential jail time.

Additionally the bill would require the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to assess the availability of cannabis for research and allow doctors to discuss the potential benefits and risks of medical cannabis with patients. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will also be required to study the benefits and harms of cannabis.

The passing of this bill could be seen as convenient timing following President Biden’s recent announcement of expunging and releasing roughly 6,500 individuals in federal prison for cannabis possession. In that same announcement, Biden encouraged the DHHS to review the current scheduling of cannabis for potential adjustment.

As it stands, cannabis is listed as a Schedule 1 substance under federal law which means it has no accepted medical value, is at high risk of causing addiction, and is on par with other substances like heroin, bath salts and MDMA.

Should Biden sign the bill into the law, which seems likely, it would become even easier for the DHHS to review the potential benefits of cannabis which can influence their decision to reschedule or even de-schedule the plant altogether.

What the Biden Cannabis Executive Order Means

What the Biden Cannabis Executive Order Means

Biden cannabis pardon executive order

Biden’s cannabis executive order is making waves across the industry and culture, but what does it really mean?

Last week, President Joe Biden signed an executive order that will release those convicted of federal cannabis crimes from prison. There is no doubt that the move is a major step for this administration and the country as a whole.

Many were quick to jump on the excitement of the announcement. Many were under the impression that this order would impact thousands of people wrongfully convicted of minor cannabis crimes. In one sense this is true.

Upon further inspection, however, some are beginning to question the impact that Biden’s cannabis executive order will truly have.

The Biden Cannabis Pardon

Biden’s cannabis executive order will pardon nearly 6,500 people who were convicted of cannabis possession at the federal level. The key word here is “federal”.

For reference, there are over 40,000 individuals currently in prison for cannabis-related crimes across the US. Another comparison would be Colorado, where Governor Jared Polis has pardoned over 4,000 individuals for possession of two ounces or less.

Illinois has cleared nearly 500,000 conviction records for cannabis related crimes since 2019, with over 20,000 individual pardons in the same time period.

In other words, compared to what individual states are already doing, Biden’s cannabis pardon looks relatively minimal. But let’s go back to the word “federal”.

The reason Biden’s cannabis pardon executive order is so huge is actually because it’s only impacting federal cannabis prisoners. This marks the first time that a mass pardon for cannabis-related crime has been announced at the federal level.

Biden’s cannabis pardon, while only applying to a select group of individuals, shows a great step forward toward this administration following through on its campaign promises.

On the campaign trail, Biden supported reclassifying cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act, from Schedule 1 to Schedule 2. In addition to the announcement regarding cannabis pardons, he also asked the Department of Health and Human Services and the Justice Department to review how marijuana is scheduled, or classified, under federal law.

Biden also urged states to consider pardoning individuals for cannabis crimes at the state level.

 

Biden Cannabis Executive Order Leaves Many Out

Due to the selective nature of Biden’s cannabis pardon executive order, there will still be an additional 3,000 people who have been convicted of higher level federal cannabis crimes who do not get out. And as said earlier, the 40,000+ in state prisons for similar crimes are unaffected by the order.

While Biden encouraged state governors to take action and pardon individuals in their state, some states like Texas have already said that they will not be pardoning anybody.

Switching cannabis from Schedule 1 to Schedule 2 may also not be the positive change many are hoping will move us closer to legalization. Schedule I drugs (where cannabis currently sites) are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.

Schedule II drugs (where cannabis may move) are defined as drugs with a high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence. These drugs are still considered dangerous according to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

Drugs listed as Schedule II include vicodin, oxycodone (OxyContin), fentanyl, Adderall, and Ritalin. In other words, if the drug is not typically supplied via prescription from a doctor, possession is still illegal.

Cannabis moving to Schedule II may look like a good deal, especially for medical cannabis patients. However the implications that such a move could have on recreational cannabis industries are debated.

The federal government has thus far respected state’s choices to legalize cannabis recreationally, so it is to be expected that it would maintain that discretion even with the changing of federal law. I.e. the federal government will potentially recognize medical cannabis as legal should the scheduling change, while allowing states to keep recreational laws if they so choose.

When the government federally legalized hemp in 2018 under The Farm Bill, states still had the option to set their own laws regarding hemp. Some chose to still ban its production outright, while others made additional restrictions on top of the federal government’s actions.

What Comes Next

Overall the action by President Biden should be viewed positively. While it is not impacting as many people as we would all like, it is a major step for the federal government to acknowledge that simple possession of cannabis should not be a federal crime.

The action marks a step in the right direction for a government that has fought legal access to cannabis for nearly a century. Nobody should expect federally licensed medical cannabis dispensaries in their town anytime soon, however.

Now we wait on the Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Justice to review the scheduling. There has not been any timeline given on how long it may take.

Is HHC Legal? What is HHC

Is HHC Legal? What is HHC

What is HHC hexahydrocannabinol

Another day, another THC analog cannabinoid product!

Every few months there seems to be a new THC analog product that gains popularity. It started with Delta 8 and Delta 10. Then we saw THC-O and THCV.

The latest analog to hit the market is HHC. Also known as Hexahydrocannabinol, HHC is a hydrogenated form of THC.

What is HHC?

Like other THC analog products like Delta 8, HHC does not occur naturally in concentrations large enough to be consumed directly. Instead it is made through an extraction process similar to how a margarine manufacturer hardens vegetable oils.

Through hydrogenation, hydrogen atoms are added to the chemical structure of THC using some type of catalyst like nickel or palladium. With the addition of high pressure, the double bond chemical structure of THC breaks down, replacing one half with hydrogen. This preserves the cannabinoid’s potency and effects.

In other words, HHC is made through a chemical process that converts THC, which is also how Delta 8 and other cannabinoids are made.

HHC vs THC

Like Delta 8 and THC-O, HHC is very comparable, though slightly less potent. However users report the same effects as when consuming THC, like euphoria, increased appetite and increased heart rate.

Some HHC users place HHC somewhere in the middle of Delta 8 and Delta 9 THC, claiming HHC is more relaxing than stimulating. Due to its molecular structure, HHC also still holds many of the beneficial aspects of the cannabinoid.

However because HHC is not regulated, there are no reliable studies to confirm any of the effects or potential health benefits.

Is HHC Legal?

Just like other THC analogs like Delta 8 and THC-O, HHC is technically legal due to a loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill which legalized hemp on the federal level. Under federal law, as long as a cannabis plant has a THC content of .3% or less it is considered hemp.

However through extraction and chemical processes like those mentioned above, THC analogs are created from federally legal hemp. And because they aren’t technically Delta 9 THC, they aren’t regulated under the Farm Bill.

So while HHC is legal to buy and consume, it is completely unregulated. With products such as this, it is not uncommon for bad actors to get into the market to make a quick buck without taking into the account the safety of their products and consumers.

Where to find HHC

Because HHC is not a licensed THC product, you won’t see it a legal medical or recreational cannabis dispensary. You are most likely to find HHC products at gas stations and smoke shops where you see Delta 8 and other analog products.

When shopping for HHC or any other analog THC product, do a little research on the product before purchase. Confirm that the brand actually has a website. See if they offer lab test analyses of their products which can confirm the potency that they claim.

If you see any product that is branded as a name-brand knockoff like Skittles, Sour Patch Kids, Oreos, Chips Ahoy, etc., avoid it. Aside from the obvious legal implications of stealing a company’s trademark, these products are in most cases not legitimate. They count on consumers seeing a brand they recognize and thinking it looks cool to sell plain gummies with nothing in them, or vastly misrepresented potencies.

Next time you hear someone asking “what is HHC?”, now you’ll have the answer! Always be careful when buying any sort of “cannabis products” from a non-licensed retailer.

In several state where cannabis is already legal medically, recreationally or both, THC analogs like Delta 8 THC have already been banned. Other states have chose to regulate them like Delta 9 THC and make them available only through licensed retailers.

First Connecticut cannabis cultivation license goes to…a Massachusetts company?

First Connecticut cannabis cultivation license goes to…a Massachusetts company?

Connecticut cannabis cultivation license

Insa, a Massachusetts based cannabis company, has received the first provisional cultivator license for recreational cannabis in Connecticut. The company, with operations in three states currently, was able to obtain the license through a social equity process.

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection which issued the license confirmed that the company passed the required background checks and paid $3 million in fees to receive the license. The 14-month provisional license gives the company time to hire employees, establish a business plan and build out their cultivation facility.

Insa currently operates three recreational cannabis dispensaries just over the border in Springfield, Massachusetts. If their final license is approved, Insa will have the ability to operate over 15,000 square feet of cultivation space.

16 social equity applications were approved overall out of 41 total applicants. This process was not held under the lottery format of other non-social equity licenses.

Connecticut’s cannabis law defines a disproportionately impacted area (i.e. social equity applicant area) as a U.S. census tract in Connecticut that has a higher historical conviction rate for drug-related offenses, or an unemployment rate greater than 10%.

Of the 16 approved applicants: two live in Bridgeport; five in Hartford; one in Manchester; one in Middletown; three in New Britain; one in Southington; one in Stamford; and two in Waterbury. However these applicants must still undergo their background checks before they receive provisional licenses like Insa.

Illinois implemented a similar social equity platform when the state legalized cannabis in 2020. It has led to a slew of issues regarding insider connections and big players coming in to beat out local businesses.

Maine Cannabis Cultivators Struggling as Industry Crashes

Maine Cannabis Cultivators Struggling as Industry Crashes

Maine cannabis growers struggling

The Maine cannabis industry officially launched in October 2020, just after the peak of COVID when customers were stuck at home with money to spend. This led to rapid construction of Maine cannabis cultivation facilities to meet the demand of consumers.

Due to Maine’s climate, most cultivators are doing so indoors, which brings with it additional costs. The largest of these costs most commonly is electricity.

Compared to your typical home, an indoor cannabis cultivation facility can use roughly 10 times as much electricity per square foot. With rising electricity costs across the country, these costs are rising drastically for cultivators.

One cultivation facility in Maine, which typically averaged $4,500 for electric monthly, was charged $10,000 this January.

Compounding this issue is the tanking price of wholesale cannabis. With energy prices more than doubling, and the commodity it produces dropping drastically in value, it is becoming more and more difficult to maintain.

According to Cannabis Benchmarks, wholesale cannabis prices in June were the lowest in more than three years. Add to that rising material and labor costs, and the rapid expansion of Maine’s legal cannabis industry is beginning to look like maybe it was premature.

For reference, the state had 14 licensed recreational cannabis grow operations at the end of 2020, and over 42,000 square feet of canopy under cultivation. By the end of 2021, there were 55 grow operations and over 262,000 square feet of canopy, according the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy.

Additionally, consumers have also been feeling the strain of an impending recession and rising electricity costs, with home electric costs rising up to 80% so far this year. Supposedly the bulk of blame for this problem can be places on the Russia/Ukraine conflict.

Across the nation, growers are attempting to combat higher electricity costs by making the switch from High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lighting, for more efficient LED grow lights. However an average HPS fixture costs $300, and an average quality LED costs up to $1,000.

In an effort to help growers transition, Efficiency Maine was started in the state to give rebates to large grow operations, with a minimum $10,000 incentive to make the switch to LEDs. The program has issued 30 rebates so far.

One company spend $60,000 on new LED grow lights, and received a $30,000 rebate from Efficiency Maine. The facility was able to cut its energy usage by 70%.

Consider a flower room with 20 high-pressure sodium lamps rated at 1,000 watts each. They’re on 12 hours a day and cost $14,000 a year to run. Replacing them with 600-watt LEDs would slash the run cost 40 percent, to $8,400 a year.

However as the rebate only applies to larger operations, smaller scale growers are left to fend for themselves. Some are attempting to cultivate outdoors and in greenhouse settings to save on costs, but the window is smaller in Maine due to the climate that turns cold earlier than other regions of the country.

Others are fighting with electric companies to try and get better rates, or shopping energy brokers against each other to lock in better rates. In Maine and across the country, we are likely going to see a mass exodus from the industry.

As costs of production continue to rise while the commodity continues to drop, it becomes less and less feasible to make a profit. Unfortunately small businesses will be most impacted by this transition while larger, commercial multi-state operators with investor backing will be able to stay afloat and capture more marketshare in every state they are active.

Making the transition to a more energy-efficient grow isn’t as complicated as it may seem, it is typically costs that can scare most business owners away. Talk to us about sourcing the equipment you need from our commercial partners so you can get the best pricing possible and keep your business operating efficiently.