Growing one's own weed is not only something one is passionate about – it is also an opportunity to learn the entire process, from seed to harvest, and discover one's own capabilities in cultivating something of great quality. The more people who attempt to control, purify, and enjoy their own weed, the further behind the strain and others come to be left in the dust.
The Cookie Kush strain is one of these gems, renowned for its dessert-like flavor and aroma, high resin content, and authentic Kush profile. The plant requires dedication, patience, and the right growing environment to yield outstanding buds full of flavor.
If you're growing in either a basic home tent kit or a stealth outdoor garden, you can follow each crucial step in the guide to help equip your growing environment with the knowledge needed to provide the best start in life for your plants.
Before growing the Kush strain, it is important to learn more about it and understand them better in terms of origin, nature, and growth habits. The Cookie Kush strain is known to be an indica-dominant hybrid, a combination of the famous Girl Scout Cookies strain and the renowned OG Kush strain.
The plant has a short growth cycle, measuring between 50cm and 100cm in height, regardless of whether it is grown indoors or outdoors. This makes it very easy to control and handle in terms of growing space.
The plant takes only 7 to 8 weeks to grow after the blooming stage begins, unlike most plants that take significantly longer to mature. The strain has a sweet dessert flavor with earthy and pine notes. These attributes help you tie in the growth plan with what the plant actually does in nature.
If you're growing in an indoor environment – which is what most indoor growers prefer – you would need either a grow tent or a small room with reflective walls and proper ventilation. You would need temperatures ranging between 21°C and 27°C (70°F and 80°F) during the day and cooler temperatures at night.
Humidity should be maintained between 60% and 70% during the vegetation stage and can be reduced to 40% to 50% during the blooming stage to prevent mold formation. You would require LED or HPS lamps with the light cycle programmed to 18/6 in the vegetation stage, while it can be programmed to 12/12 in the blooming stage.
When you decide to plant the strain outdoors or in a greenhouse, start by selecting an area with plenty of sunlight and rich, well-draining soil. The area should shield the plants from wind and rain.
You should provide the plants with soil that contains compost or castings to give the plants' roots the best start in life. If you live in a cold area, consider planting in a greenhouse to regulate temperatures.
Start with quality seeds to offer the best genetics to the Cookie Kush strain. You can soak them for 12 to 24 hours or go for the paper towel trick until you see the taproot beginning to develop.
Then plant them in light, well-draining soil with a pH level between 6.0 and 6.5. When you find yourself in the seedling stage, keep the environment humid with a high moisture content – specifically, 70% – and maintain temperatures between 24°C and 27°C.
Also, keep the light close to the plants but not directly on them to avoid stunted growth due to intense light during the initial growing stage. When you find yourself in the vegetative stage, which might take you between weeks 2 and 4, you can begin to witness leaf growth on the plant.
You should administer nutrients rich in nitrogen to enhance growth if you think it is necessary in the growing soil. When growing with fertilized growing soils, you may not need to administer any hydration until you enter the later growing stage.
Switch to 12/12 light cycles (if growing under indoor lights) when you're ready to see the start of the bloom stage. At this stage, it is recommended that you decrease the level of humidity and allow the temperature to cool slightly at night, from 21 to 22°C, to facilitate resin secretion.
At the beginning of the bloom stage (around weeks 5 to 7), you can expect the plants to stretch somewhat and start growing buds in earnest. At this stage, it is recommended that you reduce nitrogen and opt for bloom nutrients that are high in phosphorus and potassium content.
As the buds grow in size due to the swollen nutrients in the plant (weeks 8-9), keep them in consistent temperatures of ~27°C and a relative humidity level of ~40-50%. You should see sufficient air circulation around the plant to avoid any growth of mold, especially if you're growing something like Cookie Kush, whose buds are known to be densely covered in resin glands.
Support heavily laden branches as the buds fill out – stakes or netting may be necessary to stop them from being weighed down and bent or broken. Do not rush to harvest – it is better to take the crop while it is mature rather than before.
Nutrients and pH are crucial aspects to consider when cultivating your own Kush plant. For vegetative growth, you require a feeding solution with plenty of nitrogen, while phosphorus and potassium-based feeding solutions must be applied during the blooming stage.
You can encompass medium pH values, ranging from 6.0 to 6.5, to allow the plant to absorb nutrients effectively. While signs associated with overfeeding appear, underfeeding poses smaller difficulties in comparison to overfeeding.
Timing of harvest is essential, with mainly cloudy trichomes and about 20% with an Amber color being ideal for flavor and potency. Harvest by using clean scissors to chop the branches, and the plant should be inverted in a well-ventilated room with temperatures ranging from 15 to 20 °C and RH ranging from 45 to 55%.
The next step involves storing the plant in an airtight glass container, burping the container daily for one week to remove any excess moisture. This process should continue for at least 2 to 4 weeks.
Suppose you attempt to cultivate the Cookie Kush strain on your own. In that case, you can easily witness very good results—dense plants, plenty of resin-covered buds, and an enjoyable flavor—while even novices can enjoy the process because it is relatively easy.
However, suppose you're prepared to put in the work to properly tend to your plants and provide them with the best possible growing environment. In that case, you should be able to harvest enough quality plants to reap the rewards of the Cookie Kush strain, which definitely has plenty to offer in terms of quality and performance.
