Growing Cannabis at the Cellular Level

Cannabis plants are made up of several types of cells, all of which work together to perform various functions. Whether we’re talking about the roots, the leaves, or the vascular system, each cell type is equally important to plant health and growth. Without healthy cells in each category, a plant simply cannot survive.

Everything a cannabis grower does affects their plants at the cellular level. External factors, such as changes in temperature or lighting, also affect plants at this microscopic level. It’s important for cannabis cultivators to understand these cellular effects, so they can modify growing conditions and elicit the proper response. In this guide, we’ll examine cannabis plant cell types, their functions, and how cells are used in plant propagation.

Cellular Structure: It All Begins Here

Unlike animal cells, plant cells have walls. A marijuana plant’s cell walls are composed of cellulose, which gives the cell support and firmness. The entire cell is enclosed in a thin membrane that keeps internal parts in and external factors out. Some substances, such as potassium and calcium, can pass through cell membranes.

Plant cells emit substances for transport to other cells. The cell membrane contains substances that can send signals to and receive them from the environment. With these actions, cells can determine the concentration of certain external substances.

Cannabis plant cells are full of cytoplasm, a thin mixture of dissolved solids such as potassium, calcium, sugars, and proteins. The cytoplasm is also home to the cell’s organelles, which serve a very specific function. The cell’s nucleus is also found here. It contains the plant’s DNA, which handles cell reproduction and the synthesis of certain substances.

Chloroplasts & Mitochondria

Like all other plants, cannabis plants grown from American seeds get energy from external light. This energy passes through chloroplasts, which are organelles that resemble tiny piles of coins. Within the chloroplasts, the all-important process of photosynthesis occurs. Whether received via light from the sun in your Oregon state greenhouse or via full-spectrum lights in your Idaho or Virginia grow room, the end process of photosynthesis remains the same.

The human body is incapable of photosynthesis because it contains no chloroplasts. However, the mitochondria can metabolize ingested sugars by using oxygen to turn them into energy, CO2, and water. Marijuana plants have mitochondria as well; they’re used in much the same way. In the chloroplasts, the sun’s energy is combined with CO2 and converted into glucose.