The Master Checklist: From Seed to Stash
The Master Checklist: From Seed to Stash
The ultimate cannabis cultivation timeline. A week-by-week summary of the entire grow cycle, condensing all 27 previous files into a single actionable protocol for success.
📅 The Executive Summary
You have reviewed the soil science, the hydroponic mechanics, the lighting physics, and the architectural methods. Now, we assemble them into a linear timeline.
This is your Pilot's Flight Checklist. It assumes a standard Photoperiod cycle (4 weeks Veg + 9 weeks Flower). If growing Autoflowers, simply skip the "Flip" and run the Veg environment until harvest.
🛠️ Pre-Flight: The Setup (Week 0)
[ ] Sanitation: Deep clean the tent/room with bleach or H2O2.
[ ] Equipment Test: Run lights, fans, and timers for 24 hours empty. Ensure temps stay between 70°F–80°F.
[ ] Light Proofing: Sit inside the tent, zip it up, and look for light leaks. Tape them.
[ ] Soil/Res Prep:
Soil: Fill pots and water them lightly to activate microbes.
Hydro: Fill reservoir, balance pH to 5.8, run pump to oxygenate.
🌱 Phase 1: Seedling Stage (Weeks 1–2)
Goal: Survival. High Humidity. Low Light.
[ ] Germination: Pop seeds (Paper Towel or Rapid Rooter).
[ ] Environment: Temp 75°F–80°F / Humidity 70%+. Use a dome.
[ ] Lighting: Dim to 25% (200 PPFD). Distance: 24".
[ ] Watering: Mist only. Do not soak the pot.
[ ] Nutrients: None (or extremely light rooting stimulant).
🌿 Phase 2: Vegetative Stage (Weeks 3–6)
Goal: Structure. Nitrogen Loading. Root Expansion.
[ ] Transplant: Move to final container (Solo Cup -> 1 Gal -> 5 Gal).
[ ] Environment: Temp 78°F–82°F / Humidity 60–65%. Remove dome.
[ ] Lighting: Crank to 50–75% (400–600 PPFD). 18/6 Cycle.
[ ] Training (Week 4): Top the plant (File 18). Start LST or install ScrOG net (File 17).
[ ] IPM (Weekly): Spray Neem Oil or Organic preventative every Saturday (File 26).
[ ] Nutrients: High Nitrogen veg feed. Cal-Mag with every watering.
🔄 Phase 3: The Transition (Week 7)
Goal: The Flip. Pre-Flower Prep.
[ ] The Flip: Switch timer to 12/12 (12 hours DARK is critical).
[ ] Sexing: Watch for male pollen sacs. Kill males immediately.
[ ] The Stretch: Expect plants to double in size. Keep tucking under the net.
[ ] Defoliation: Strip the bottom 30% of the plant (Lollipopping).
[ ] Stop Sprays: No more Neem Oil.
🌺 Phase 4: Early Flower (Weeks 8–10)
Goal: Bud Set. Support.
[ ] Environment: Temp 75°F–78°F / Drop Humidity to 55%.
[ ] Lighting: 100% Power (800–1000 PPFD). Watch for light burn on tips.
[ ] Nutrients: Switch to Bloom Nutrients (High P-K).
[ ] Structure: Support heavy branches with yoyos or bamboo stakes if not scrogged.
🍓 Phase 5: Mid/Late Flower (Weeks 11–14)
Goal: Bulking. Terpene Production. Mold Prevention.
[ ] Environment: Drop Humidity to 45% (Critical for mold prevention).
[ ] Nutrients: Peak P-K feeding (Booster).
[ ] Defoliation 2: Remove large fan leaves shading bud sites (Day 42).
[ ] Observation: Watch for "Fox-tailing" (heat stress) or "Bananas" (hermaphrodites).
✂️ Phase 6: The Finish (Week 15)
Goal: Ripening. The Flush.
[ ] Trichome Check: Use Loupe. Look for Cloudy/Milky trichomes (File 22).
[ ] The Flush: Switch to plain pH-balanced water. Watch for "The Fade" (yellowing leaves).
[ ] The Chop: Harvest when trichomes are 90% Cloudy / 10% Amber.
🍂 Phase 7: Post-Processing (Weeks 16–20)
Goal: Slow Dry. Cure.
[ ] Drying: 60°F / 60% RH for 10–14 days. Dark room.
[ ] Snap Test: When stems snap, start trimming.
[ ] Curing: Jar buds (58–62% RH). Burp daily for 2 weeks.
[ ] Storage: Store in cool, dark place. Enjoy.
🏁 The Architect's Final Word
"The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried."
You will kill plants. You will get bugs. You will snap branches. This is not failure; this is data. The only difference between a novice and a Master Grower is that the Master Grower wrote down what happened in a journal so they didn't make the same mistake twice.
This concludes the Growing Method Cluster. You now possess the theoretical framework to grow cannabis in almost any environment, using any medium.