Tips for Growing Cafe Racer
Can a beginner grow Cafe Racer feminized?
If this is your first time growing cannabis plants, we recommend opting for other beginner strains as Café Racer plants need a bit of manipulation and training techniques to bring out their best yields. Other than that, it is fairly easy to grow as it does not demand much supplementation. However, if you really want to try growing this strain even without prior experience, we suggest opting for the autoflowering variety as it is relatively easier to grow compared to its photoperiod counterpart. After all, you would not need to worry about switching light cycles and the Ruderalis genes in it ensure that it is hardy and resilient.
How long does it take Cafe Racer feminized from seed to harvest?
The short answer: photoperiod varieties of Café Racer plants mature from seed to harvest in about 3 to 8 months (12 to 32 weeks), depending on several factors like the grow medium used, etc.
Cafe Racer feminized seeds go through four stages before producing the coveted trichome-laden buds.
Germination: 1-2 weeks
Seedling: 2–3 weeks
Vegetative:3–16 weeks
Flowering: 10-12 weeks
The germination stage typically lasts for a week or two, depending on the selected method. Each seed sprouts at its own pace, so while some may take a day, others may only develop roots in about a week or two.
After the seeds germinate, they enter the seedling stage, which lasts for 2–3 weeks. The plant will only transition to the next stage after developing leaves with the right number of blades, which is typically 7.
Then, the plant enters the vegetative stage. The timeframe of this stage is quite tricky because growers can choose to extend this period to improve the yield. Growers can keep the crops in the vegetative phase for 3–16 weeks.
Finally, it enters the flowering stage. In the case of Cafe Racer seeds, this lasts for 10–12 weeks.
What is the ideal indoor growing environment for Café Racer plants?
To ensure prolific growth of your Café Racer plants, make sure to keep the growing environment within the following ideal ranges:
pH level: 5.8 – 6.2
Temperature: 21 to 26 °C (70 to 80 °F) during the day (lights on) and 18 to 21 °C (65 to 70 °F) at night (lights off)
Climate (for outdoor gardens): Warm, temperate, Mediterranean-like climate.
Relative humidity: When sprouting the seeds, keep humidity levels around 80%. Once it grow roots, drop the RH to around 75%. Then, once it enters the flowering stage, maintain it between 50 to 60%.
Light cycle length for photoperiod variety:
- Vegetative phase: 18 hours lights on, 6 hours lights off
- Flowering phase: 12 hours lights on, 12 hours lights off
Carbon dioxide levels: 900-1600 parts per million (ppm) during lights on, none added during lights off
Soil or Hydroponics? Which is the best grow medium for Cafe Racer plants?
If you’re just starting your cannabis cultivation journey, we recommend starting your garden using nutrient-rich soil as the medium. Not only is it more convenient and relatively easier to maintain, but it also enriches the terpene profile of the buds—resulting in an even more aromatic and flavorful nugs. We suggest using high-quality soil that has loam features. When your crops reach the vegetative stage, use top-quality nutrients for moderate supplementation.
On the other hand, seasoned growers are encouraged to opt for hydroponics for faster and more explosive growth. Since the nutrients are directly taken up by the roots suspended in water, plants grown in the hydroponics setup grow 20% faster, thereby resulting in shorter waiting times and overall higher yields. Just make sure to maintain ideal pH levels and keep an eye out for pathogens that may contaminate the water in your system.
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