This journal series has been created in order to better communicate the science behind some of the things we know and love about growing cannabis. I am not a master cultivator, and I look to others to advise on that front, however, I have a good grasp on the biology underpinning the elements involved in all aspects of plant life.
Photosynthesis is arguably the most important and fundamental process in terms of sustaining life on Earth, therefore understanding this process – including the inputs and outputs – is important in order to better understand the rationale behind some of the decisions cultivators need to make. In addition, biotic and abiotic stress are the two major reasons behind crop failure. Having a solid grasp of the interaction between plants and pathogens, and plants and the environment is also fundamentally important to maximise the gains on a commercial level. Of course, genetics underpin almost all of the above, and although it is possible to get by on basic knowledge of genes and the traits they are responsible for, I feel better communication is required in order to fill some of the blanks that this knowledge base lacks.
Why create a journal?
I therefore attempt to create a library of content aimed at explaining the science behind the mechanisms involved in plant life. Throughout this series I will tackle yield optimisation, genetics to cultivar suitability, and much more to provide a glimpse behind the curtain at the processes and mechanisms which make this, and all plants, a fascinating study. In some articles, I will be more conversational and anecdotal, and in some I will provide a deeper dive into the phytology. I will keep the articles fairly short and will not take them beyond what I can explain in terms of ‘specialist reading’.
I hope you enjoy the series, and I invite you to communicate any points of contention, areas you feel need addressed, or simply to offer a point of view I may have missed or overlooked. I am open to all and any feedback as I believe open discussion from all backgrounds will help shape the content and the industry as a whole. So, whether you are a novice with no biology training, or a master grower with 35 years experience, all input is valid in my opinion.