Cannabis Cultivation Glossary
Growing cannabis in 2025 involves understanding a wide range of terms and techniques that span from seed germination to harvest and curing. Becoming familiar with cannabis terminology not only helps you troubleshoot issues faster, but also enables better planning and more confident decision-making. This cannabis glossary is frequently updated to include evolving technology and modern practices in the cannabis growing space.
A
- Aeration: Ensuring soil or media has enough air pockets for healthy root growth.
- Autoflowering: A cannabis plant that enters the flowering stage automatically after a certain age, regardless of light schedule.
- Auxins: Plant hormones that regulate growth, especially during seedling and rooting phases.
B
- Bloom: The flowering phase when buds develop.
- Bud: The cannabis flower containing cannabinoids like THC and CBD.
- Ballast: A device used to control the electrical current for HID grow lights.
C
- Clone: A genetically identical cutting from a mother plant used to reproduce the same strain.
- Curing: Post-drying process where buds are aged to improve flavor, aroma, and potency.
- CO2 (Carbon Dioxide): A gas used in sealed grow rooms to boost plant growth during photosynthesis.
- Canopy: The top layer of cannabis foliage that receives direct light.
D
- Decarboxylation: The heating process that activates cannabinoids, such as converting THCA into THC.
- Dioecious: Cannabis plants that are distinctly male or female.
- Defoliation: The practice of removing leaves to allow better airflow and light penetration.
E
- EC (Electrical Conductivity): A measure of nutrient concentration in water or soil.
- Edibles: Cannabis-infused food products.
- Endocannabinoid System: A biological system in humans and animals that interacts with cannabinoids.
F
- Feminized Seeds: Seeds genetically bred to produce only female plants.
- Flushing: Rinsing the growing medium with plain water to remove built-up nutrients.
- Fan Leaves: The large primary leaves used for photosynthesis.
G
- Germination: The process where a cannabis seed sprouts into a seedling.
- Grow Tent: An enclosed structure designed for controlled indoor cultivation.
- Grafting: A rare technique of combining multiple strains into one plant for experimentation.
H
- Hybrid: A cross between indica and sativa strains, bred for specific traits.
- Humidity: Moisture levels in the grow environment, crucial during seedling and flowering stages.
- HPS (High Pressure Sodium): A common type of light used during the flowering phase.
I
- Indica: Cannabis strain type known for relaxing, body-heavy effects.
- Irrigation: Any system or method for delivering water to plants, automated or manual.
- Internode: The space between branches or leaves on a stem.
J
- Joint: A cannabis cigarette, often rolled with paper.
- Juicing: Using raw cannabis leaves and buds in juice form for nutritional or medicinal use.
K
- Kief: Concentrated trichomes collected from cannabis, often used in hash or to boost potency.
- Kelvin (K): A measurement of color temperature for grow lights (e.g., 6500K for veg stage).
L
- LED (Light Emitting Diode): Energy-efficient grow lights ideal for all growth stages.
- LST (Low Stress Training): A method of bending and tying branches to create an even canopy.
- Lumen: A measure of light output.
M
- Mother Plant: A plant maintained for the purpose of producing clones.
- Micronutrients: Trace minerals like iron, manganese, and zinc essential in small amounts.
- Mulch: A layer over soil that retains moisture and regulates temperature.
N
- Node: The junction where leaves and branches form.
- Nutrients: Essential elements like nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K).
- Nitrogen Burn: Overfeeding nitrogen resulting in scorched or curled leaf tips.
O
- Organic: Cultivated without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.
- Oscillating Fan: A fan that moves side-to-side to circulate air evenly.
P
- Photosynthesis: The process where plants use light, CO2, and water to produce energy.
- pH: A measure of acidity or alkalinity; cannabis prefers 5.8–6.5.
- Pistil: The female reproductive part of the plant that captures pollen.
Q
- Quarter: Slang for a quarter ounce (approx. 7 grams) of dried cannabis.
- Quick-Dry: A rushed drying technique (not recommended for quality buds).
R
- Rootbound: When roots fill and circle the pot, limiting further growth.
- Ruderalis: A lesser-known species used to breed autoflowering traits.
- Runoff: Excess water that drains out after watering, often tested for pH and EC.
S
- Sativa: A cannabis strain known for uplifting, cerebral effects.
- Strain: A genetically distinct type of cannabis plant.
- ScrOG (Screen of Green): A training method using a mesh screen to control height and light distribution.
T
- THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol): The main psychoactive compound in cannabis.
- Trichomes: Tiny glands on cannabis buds containing cannabinoids and terpenes.
- Topping: Cutting the top of a plant to encourage bushier growth.
U
- UV Light: Part of the spectrum that may increase trichome production.
- Underwatering: A condition where plants are stressed due to lack of hydration.
V
- Vegetative Stage: The growth phase before flowering, marked by stem and leaf expansion.
- Ventilation: Airflow system that removes heat, odors, and stale air.
W
- Wattage: Power usage rating for grow lights; impacts intensity and heat output.
- Watering Schedule: A timed routine to maintain hydration without overwatering.
X
- Xylem: Plant vascular tissue responsible for transporting water and nutrients.
Y
- Yield: The total amount of cannabis harvested, usually measured in grams or ounces.
- Yellowing: A symptom of nutrient deficiency, often nitrogen-related.
Z
- Zinc: A vital micronutrient involved in enzyme function and plant growth.
- Zero-Waste Grow: A cultivation approach that emphasizes sustainability and minimal environmental impact.
This glossary is designed to evolve with you. We recommend bookmarking it and linking each term to relevant blog posts, guides, or product categories across your site. Let us know if you’d like us to generate internal link targets or tooltips next!
