DSS Genetics
Expert Growing Tips
From your first seed to your best harvest — practical, proven advice from experienced cultivators to help you get the most from your DSS Genetics seeds.
Getting Started
Before you plant a single seed, the decisions you make about strain selection and your growing environment will determine the ceiling of your results. Spending time here pays dividends throughout the entire grow.
Choosing the Right Seeds
- Feminised seeds: 99.9% female plants — best for most growers
- Autoflower seeds: flower based on age, not light cycle — great for beginners and outdoor grows
- Regular seeds: 50/50 male/female — for breeders and advanced cultivators
- Match the strain's flowering time to your climate if growing outdoors
- Consider the expected plant height — crucial for indoor grows with height limitations
- Read the full strain description including yield, difficulty, and effect profile
Indoor vs Outdoor Growing
- Indoor: full control over environment — higher quality potential but higher setup cost
- Outdoor: lower cost, natural sunlight, larger potential yields per plant
- Indoor requires: grow tent or room, lighting, fans, carbon filter, timers
- Outdoor requires: suitable climate, security, soil preparation, and patience
- Both can produce exceptional results with the right genetics and attention to detail
- Beginners often find autoflowers outdoors the easiest starting point
Indoor Growing
Indoor cultivation gives you total control over your plant's environment — maximising quality and consistency when done correctly.
Lighting
LED (Full Spectrum)
The modern standard. Energy efficient, low heat output, excellent spectrum for all growth stages. Quality LEDs produce results comparable to HPS at a fraction of the running cost.
HPS (High Pressure Sodium)
Proven technology with decades of results. Excellent for flowering, producing dense, heavy buds. Higher heat output requires good ventilation and air cooling.
CMH / LEC
Ceramic Metal Halide produces a full spectrum including UV, which can enhance terpene and resin production. Excellent colour rendering for plant inspection.
CFL / Fluorescent
Low cost and low heat — suitable for seedlings and early vegetative growth. Not powerful enough for serious flowering without a very large quantity of bulbs.
Light Schedules
Gentle, consistent light. Avoid intense light too close.
Photoperiod plants remain in veg under 18+ hours of light.
Triggers flowering. Maintain strict dark period with no light leaks.
Autoflowers do not require a light change to flower.
Nutrients
The NPK Basics
Cannabis requires three macronutrients at varying ratios throughout its life: Nitrogen (N) for leafy green growth, Phosphorus (P) for root development and bud formation, and Potassium (K) for overall health and bud density. Vegetative growth demands high N; flowering demands high P and K with reduced N.
Secondary & Micro Nutrients
Calcium and magnesium (CalMag) are the most commonly deficient secondary nutrients, especially in coco coir grows and when using reverse osmosis water. Iron, zinc, and manganese deficiencies typically result from pH imbalance rather than an absence of the nutrient itself.
Flushing Before Harvest
Flushing — running plain pH-adjusted water through your growing medium for the final 1–2 weeks — is a common practice to clear built-up nutrient salts. This is particularly relevant when growing in soil or coco. The goal is to allow the plant to consume its stored reserves, resulting in a smoother, cleaner end product.
Plant Training Techniques
Training your plants to produce multiple even canopies instead of a single tall cola is one of the most effective ways to increase your yield per watt of light without spending a penny more on equipment.
LST (Low Stress Training)
Gently bend and tie down branches to flatten the canopy, exposing more bud sites to direct light. No cutting required, making it the safest training method for beginners and autoflowers alike.
Topping
Remove the main growing tip (apical meristem) to encourage the plant to develop two main colas instead of one. This creates a more bush-like structure and dramatically increases the number of top-producing bud sites.
SCROG (Screen of Green)
A horizontal screen or mesh is positioned above the plant. As branches grow through the screen, they are tucked and weaved to create a flat, even canopy across the entire screen surface. Particularly effective under HID and LED fixtures with limited penetration depth.
Defoliation
Strategic removal of large fan leaves to improve light penetration into the lower canopy and increase airflow. Most effective when performed at the transition to flowering and again at approximately week 3 of flower. Requires a healthy, vigorous plant to withstand the stress.
Outdoor Growing
Outdoor cultivation harnesses the full power of natural sunlight and can produce strikingly large, high-quality plants at minimal cost. Success depends on climate awareness, strain selection, and soil preparation.
Climate & Timing
- Plant after the last frost date in your region
- Choose strains with flowering times that finish before your first autumn frost
- Mediterranean and temperate climates are ideal — expect 8–10+ weeks of warm weather
- In cooler climates, use autoflowers — they complete their lifecycle in 10–12 weeks regardless of season
- Start seeds indoors 2–4 weeks early to maximise the growing season
Soil & Substrate
- Native soil benefits from amendments: compost, perlite, and worm castings
- Target a loamy, well-draining texture — clay soils should be heavily amended or avoided
- Large fabric pots (50–200L) filled with quality potting mix produce outstanding results
- Mulching around the base retains moisture, regulates temperature, and suppresses weeds
- Test and adjust native soil pH to 6.2–6.8 before planting
Natural Pest Control
- Introduce beneficial insects: ladybirds, lacewings, and predatory mites for aphid control
- Neem oil solution (diluted) is effective against most soft-bodied insects and mildew when applied preventatively
- Companion planting with basil, marigolds, and lavender deters many common pests
- Inspect plants twice weekly — catching infestations early prevents them becoming serious
- Avoid chemical pesticides during flowering as they can affect taste and safety
Watering Outdoors
- Established plants in native soil rarely need watering — let rainfall do the work
- Container plants require more frequent watering — daily in hot weather
- Water deeply and less frequently to encourage deep root development
- Water early in the morning to reduce evaporation and prevent mildew
- Rainwater is ideal — collect it where possible as it is naturally pH-balanced
Harvest Guide
Knowing when — and how — to harvest is the final skill that separates a good grower from a great one. Patience here is rewarded enormously.
When to Harvest — Reading the Trichomes
The Harvest Process
Stop Nutrients (Flush)
Run plain pH water through the medium for 7–14 days pre-harvest to clear nutrient residue.
48-Hour Dark Period
Optional but widely practised — place plants in total darkness for 48 hours immediately before cutting to maximise resin production.
Cut and Trim
Cut branches to manageable lengths. Remove large fan leaves immediately (wet trim) or after drying (dry trim). Dry trim often preserves more terpenes.
Drying
Hang trimmed branches in a dark room at 15–21°C with 45–55% humidity and gentle airflow. Drying takes 7–14 days. Do not rush this stage.
Curing
Place dried buds in airtight glass jars. Open daily for 5–10 minutes during the first two weeks (burping). Cure for a minimum of 4 weeks — 8+ weeks produces the finest results.
Common Growing Mistakes
Avoiding these mistakes — which experienced growers see again and again — will save you time, money, and frustration. Learn from others so you don't have to learn the hard way.
Overwatering
The #1 killer of cannabis seedlings and young plantsCannabis roots need both water and oxygen. Constantly saturated soil suffocates roots and creates the perfect environment for root rot. The golden rule: water only when the top 2–3cm of soil is dry, and always ensure adequate drainage from your pots. Lift the pot — if it feels light, it is time to water.
Incorrect pH
Causes nutrient lockout even when nutrients are presentpH determines which nutrients are available to your plant at the root zone. Too far outside the optimal range and your plant cannot absorb nutrients — resulting in deficiency symptoms even when you are feeding regularly. For soil, target 6.2–6.8. For hydro/coco, target 5.5–6.2.
Nutrient Burn from Overfeeding
Less is more — especially during early growth stagesCrispy brown leaf tips are the telltale sign of nutrient burn. New growers often assume more nutrients means faster growth. In reality, feeding at full manufacturer-recommended doses is often too strong, particularly for seedlings and early veg plants. Build up gradually and let the plant tell you what it needs.
Wrong Light Schedule or Light Leaks
Can trigger premature flowering or revegetationPhotoperiod cannabis relies entirely on light cycles to determine its growth stage. Any light entering the grow space during the dark period — even a pinhole — can interrupt the hormonal signals that trigger and maintain flowering. Similarly, flipping to 12/12 too early stunts final yield potential.
Poor Airflow and High Humidity in Flower
Creates conditions for bud rot (Botrytis) and powdery mildewDense flowering sites trap humidity and restrict air circulation — ideal conditions for fungal disease. Botrytis (grey mould) can devastate an entire harvest in days once established. Powdery mildew spreads rapidly and is extremely difficult to eliminate once present.
Harvesting Too Early
Dramatically reduces both potency and yieldImpatience at harvest is one of the most common and most costly mistakes. The final 2–3 weeks of flowering see significant bud swelling, resin production, and terpene development. Harvesting even a week early can mean a 20–30% reduction in potency. Always use a jeweller's loupe or digital microscope to check trichome maturity.
Ready to Grow?
Start With the Best Genetics
All the tips in the world only go so far without premium genetics as your foundation. Explore our full range of feminised, autoflowering, and regular cannabis seeds — each selected for vigour, yield, and exceptional quality.