8 Tips for Growing Obama Kush Cannabis: Grower’s Guide

The Obama Kush marijuana strain is named in honor of former U.S. President, Barack Obama.

We’re not sure if the ex-POTUS approves. However, given his university antics, he would probably give a wry smile if told. Bill Clinton claimed that he “didn’t inhale” weed when trying it in college. In contrast, Obama was open about his usage by saying, “I did inhale. That’s the point.”

Obama Kush has OG Kush and Afghani genetics. However, it is a cross of Bubba Kush and Mendocino Purple. This indica-dominant (65%) strain is extremely popular in the Pacific Northwest. Superior Genetics created it in a Michigan lab. With a THC content ranging from 14% to 21%, Obama Kush is a reasonably potent smoke, yet the effects aren’t overwhelming, and they don’t hit you straight away.

If you are growing the Obama Kush strain to consume it yourself, we recommend using it in the evening. After a few minutes, you should feel relaxed and calm as this marijuana strain is an effective sedative. Happy thoughts will take over your mind, and the body high ensures you’ll feel extremely comfortable on the couch.

In the medical cannabis community, Obama Kush is used for a wide variety of conditions. For example, it could help individuals suffering from chronic stress disorders because it is invigorating yet calming. This indica is also an excellent option for those with depression or an anxiety disorder. Its sedative properties mean it may prove useful if you have chronic pain, back spasms, and insomnia.

In this step-by-step guide, we provide you with eight important tips and tricks to ensure you grow your Obama Kush crop successfully.

1 – Should you Grow Obama Kush Indoors or Outdoors?

Obama Kush is a marijuana strain capable of growing beautifully indoors or outside. Obama Kush’s indica traits come to the fore when it grows because the plant becomes short and stout. When you grow it indoors, it should take 8-9 weeks to reach flowering. You can expect around 14 ounces of bud per plant, and marvel at this lilac beauty.

If you grow outdoors, your yield should increase to approximately 16 ounces per plant. Ideally, you will live in a warm and dry environment if you want your plants to thrive. This strain prefers temperatures of between 65- and 80-degrees Fahrenheit. Obama Kush usually is ready for harvest in October.

2 – Learn How to Prune!

Make sure you trim your Obama Kush plants. Otherwise, the bottom half of the plant won’t receive the light or nutrients it needs. Removing unnecessary leaves ensures that each plant will get the most from the light, heat, water, and nutrients it receives.

Begin pruning your Obama Kush plants when they start to take a bushy shape. In the early vegetative stage, the plants are narrow enough for most foliage to receive enough light. Within a few weeks, however, the plants become bushy and are in dire need of a trim. From that point until flowering, you should actively look to trim.

We recommend removing the following:

• Low-down branches that don’t get much sunlight
• Leaves dying due to lack of light
• Bud sites located way down the main stalks of the plants

Also, make sure pruning is finished a few days before forcing the plants into the flowering stage.

3 – Beware of Excess Moisture

When it comes to humidity, it is always best to keep it on the low side with this strain. If there is excess moisture in the air as the buds develop, there is a heightened risk of mold. However, if you keep humidity levels too low, the dry air causes plants to lose more water when respiring. This process drives down the plant’s overall moisture content.

In this case, your plants will almost completely close the pores in the leaves to minimize moisture loss. While it is an effective defense mechanism, it results in lower carbon dioxide absorption. The inevitable cell death that results makes your leaves look sick and limp.

When your Obama Kush plants are still seedlings or clones, keep the humidity level in the 65-80% range. After a few weeks of vegetative growth, bring the level down to 55-60%. Make sure the daytime temperature is 80 degrees and 70 degrees at night. In the early flowering stage, reduce humidity to 40-45%. Finally, in the late flowering stage, bring the humidity down to 30-35%.

4 – Why Are the Leaves on My Obama Kush Turning Yellow?

New growers tend to panic when they see yellow leaves and assume their entire crop is about to die! First of all, there are several reasons why the leaves on your precious Obama Kush crop are yellow. Secondly, you can rescue your plants as long as you quickly identify and solve the problem.

It is typical for plants to show some yellow in their leaves near harvest time. Nitrogen deficiency is one of the most common reasons for yellow leaves.

Your Obama Kush plants use nitrogen to extract energy from light, a process that keeps your leaves green. If you check your plants, you may find that the leaves and stems on top have a deeper green color than those on the bottom. This is because the leaves on top are getting more light.

As your plants get set for harvest, keep nitrogen levels low to prevent a nasty taste from your weed. High nitrogen levels at this stage can also prevent plants from budding. As a result, nitrogen deficiency is acceptable late into the flowering stage. If leaves are turning yellow during the vegetative stage, on the other hand, you may have a problem! In this case, purchase premixed nutrients with high nitrogen levels and start feeding it to your plants immediately.

Other possible causes of yellow leaves include:

• Excessively high/low pH levels
• Poor lighting
• Pests
• Over-watering or under-watering
• Bud rot
• Iron deficiency

As long as you spot these issues early, there is every chance you can save your Obama Kush crop.

5 – The pH Conundrum

The pH of a substance is a ‘logarithmic measure’ of its acid-alkaline balance. According to the pH scale, 0 is the most acidic substance on earth. Meanwhile, 14 is the most alkaline, and 7 is neutral.

The pH of your crop’s soil or growing medium has an impact on how it absorbs nutrients. If you are using a hydroponic system, keep the growing medium’s pH in the 5.5-6.0 range. If you use soil, keep it at 6.0-6.5. As you can tell, marijuana prefers a slightly acidic growing medium.

Collect runoff water and use a pH meter or pH test strips to determine the pH level.

If your plants grow in soil outside the ideal pH range, they develop small, dark-green leaves. They also grow extremely slowly. Alternatively, their leaves will turn yellow because they find it hard to absorb nutrients. The ensuing nitrogen and iron deficiency will result in yellowing leaves.

There are various ways to fix your soil’s pH. Purchasing pH UP or pH DOWN solutions is arguably the easiest method.

6 – Use Compost Tea When Growing Obama Kush

Obama Kush thrives when it receives enough calcium and magnesium. Buy a special CalMag product that contains both in the right amounts.

Compost tea provides your Obama Kush plants with lots of natural nutrients. It also helps protect your crop against a host of pests and diseases. Please note that while compost tea is a great addition, it is not a substitute for all soil additives.

The most effective compost teas pull the soluble microorganisms and nutrients from the compost. Obviously, compost is the base, and it needs to have enormous levels of nutrients and microorganisms. Look for compost with developed mycelium, as these fungal colonies help the crucial fungal growth process.

Worm castings are another pivotal ingredient. They consist of the by-product expelled by a worm after it digests organic material.

Fish hydrolysate is created by breaking down crustaceans and fish. The result is a high-nitrogen product. The exoskeletons of crustaceans contain chitin, which is an excellent immune booster. Finally, fish hydrolysate feeds fungi populations and enables them to grow.

The final ingredients are molasses and kelp. To make the compost tea, use a 5-gallon bucket. Outside the bucket, connect an air pump to an aerator device. This combination will oxygenate the water and help the microorganisms to breathe. A 400-micron mesh bag is an ideal option for adding the tea’s ingredients. Alternatively, purchase a readymade tea brewer.

Compost tea takes anywhere from 24 to 36 hours to brew. Apply it ASAP. If you allow the tea to brew too long, its microorganism population will die from lack of oxygen. Apply the tea to your plant’s leaves in the form of a spray. The ideal ratio is one-part tea to two parts water. If applying directly to the roots, use a one-part tea, 20 parts water solution.

7 – Getting Your Grow Container Size Right

Regarding container size, an excessively large container is often a bad thing. During your Obama Kush’s growing cycle, you’ll need to change its container several times if growing indoors. This is because it will continually outgrow old pots. It takes the plants’ root system longer to reach the nutrients it requires if you use an excessively large container.

Novice growers often make this mistake. When harvest time comes, the root system doesn’t occupy the full container with large soil tracts left unused. On the other hand, using tiny containers can stunt growth.

You enable the plant’s root system to find nutrients faster. However, when you don’t change the containers as and when necessary, the root system has no more room to grow.

Allow at least 40% extra space for the root system to develop. If you suspect that your plants are outgrowing their container, upgrade to a larger model. Remember, Obama Kush is from the Kush family. Therefore, it requires a larger container than fast flowering versions such as Skunk.

8 – Remember, Silence Is Golden

Before you embark on your quest, take the time to go through your state’s cultivation laws. It is dangerous to assume that you are allowed to grow marijuana at home. This is the case even in a state where it is legal medicinally or recreationally. For example, although medicinal marijuana was made legal in Connecticut in June 2012, cultivation remains a felony.

There is also the small matter of different cultivation limits according to state. In Alaska, you can grow a maximum of 12 plants in a household with two adults aged 21+. One adult can grow six plants. In Maine, adults can grow six mature and 12 immature plants.

In states where cultivation is illegal, the penalties are severe if you get caught. For example, in Iowa, the cultivation or distribution of any amount of marijuana is a felony. The crime carries a maximum prison sentence of up to five years.

The state severely punishes large-scale operations. The cultivation of 100+ kilograms of marijuana could result in a prison term of 25 years! Iowa is still one of the toughest anti-marijuana states. Possession of any amount can result in six months in prison, even if it is your first offense.

Finally, we have to point out that marijuana is federally illegal. Therefore, you can grow a maximum of six plants in Colorado following state law. However, there is a slight possibility that federal law enforcement will arrest you.

An indoor growing room is best for secrecy. You mustn’t brag about your mini-operation as you never know who is listening! Stay silent, grow your crop, and enjoy the glorious proceeds.