Marijuana Business Magazine - Issue 09, Oct 2017

T ime is money in any business. And the marijuana business is no different – particularly when it comes to cultivation. In large, competitive markets with many licensees, some growers are find- ing an edge with plants that mature more quickly than others. Such strains allow these growers to squeeze in more harvests per year versus cultivators who stick to varieties that take longer to mature into the flowering stage. More harvests can translate into more money. Compared to most traditional strains, which usually take 11 or 12 weeks to reach maturity, these faster-growing strains take closer to nine, eight or even seven weeks. “What you’re seeing is a move toward phenotypes that finish quicker so you can have more harvests in the course of a year,” said Ryan Haub, chief cultivator at Skydweller Farms in Norco, California. But speedy strains may not be for all growers. And special steps must be taken – by way of feeding and lighting – when growing these varieties. Growers in competitive markets are turning to strains that mature more quickly and can be harvested sooner by Omar Sacirbey Left to right: An Orange Cookies test crop at Skydweller Farms, No Quarter in early flower phase at Skydweller Farms, Orange Cookies in flower phase at Skydweller Farms. Photos courtesy of Ryan Haub October 2017 • Marijuana Business Magazine • 37