Healthy Vegetative Cycle Produces High Medical Marijuana Yields
Think of the vegetative stage as the foundation for successful yields. 
Medical marijuana gardening is commonly broken into two stages of growth: the vegetative stage and the blooming stage. The latter flowering stage is generally the longer of the two stages (lasting around 8 weeks) and produces the sought after sticky, gooey buds that one hopes to harvest. Because the buds are produced in the flowering stage, many growers focus their time, energy and money on this stage of growth, leaving the vegetative stage somewhat neglected.
Throughout my years working in hydroponic shops, many growers asked me how to get the largest yields in their gardens and I would respond “Grow the healthiest vegetative plants you can grow.” Think of the vegetative stage as the foundation for successful yields. Healthy vegetative plants are absolutely imperative to high-yielding gardens and an equal amount of, if not more, care and energy should be focused on that stage.
Light Energy/Light Cycle
The lighting in a vegetative room is commonly overlooked. The idea is to take action in a proactive manner instead of a reactive manner. Replacing metal halide bulbs every 6-8 months will greatly increase the overall health of a vegetative medical marijuana crop. Florescent bulbs will last longer than metal halides but should still be changed every 8-10 months for optimal results. If a grower waits too long to change his or her bulbs not only will growth slow down but yields can dramatically decrease.
The jury is still out on 24-hour vs 18-hour light cycles for the vegetative period. I personally believe in an 18-hour cycle because it gives the plants a chance to rest and perform important functions like translocation of calcium. However, I have known many very successful growers that use a 24 hour light cycle. Make sure to supplement calcium and other micronutrients if you choose a 24 hour cycle.
Nutrients
Providing a balanced vegetative formula throughout the plant’s growth stage is another key factor to vegetative success. There are many balanced formulas on the market that work well for vegetative growth. Iguana Juice Grow by Advanced Nutrients is a great organic vegetative formula for soil gardeners. If you are growing hydroponically, Sensi-Grow or Jungle Juice are great fully soluble fertilizer formulas designed for fast growing medical marijuana plants. Remember that adjusting pH and PPMs is just as important for vegetative plants as it is for the blooming plants.
General Care
When tending to your garden, try to spend a good amount of time in your vegetative room doing general maintenance. Keeping a neat, clean growing environment can go a long way in generating a healthy vegetative crop. Removing dead leaves, topping or trimming when necessary are easy things to do that can improve the overall vigor and health of a vegetative room.
Healthy vegetative plants are stronger thus more resistant to potential problems and create the base for large-producing blooming plants. Give a little extra love to your plants in the vegetative period and you can cash in on big yields in your blooming room.
