When lockdown hit because of the pandemic, a lot of us sought refuge in new hobbies. For some, this hobby was growing cannabis. If you gave it a shot but didn’t succeed, here’s a handy guide to help you turn the situation around and start growing a productive crop. Those of you who use medical marijuana in places where it’s legal could find indoor cannabis cultivation a real money saver, too.
With extra time on our hands, now’s a great moment to start indoor cannabis growing. When you’re done with another video game round, grab some high-quality seeds from a trusted store, and get ready for your cannabis-growing adventure.
Start by choosing your growing spot. Whether indoors or outdoors, location matters. Cannabis demands attention and care, so pick a spot safe from bugs, kids, and pets. Have a basement? Great. A small tent outside? Perfect. Ensure it’s somewhere you can provide water easily, manage lighting, and other growing equipment. If you’re struggling to find a suitable spot, growing tents are a great, moveable solution. A closet or small area should even allow you to grow up to four plants – the legal limit in many places.
Next, order your cannabis seeds online from a wide variety available. The kind of seed you choose will impact your yield. Here are a few types to consider:
– Feminized Seeds: engineered to meet precise cultivation criteria, these seeds produce all female plants, improving your yield. Ensure only female seeds are planted though, as even one male one can decrease quality. If you aim for high cannabinoid strains, these are your best bet.
– Regular Seeds: all-natural and untouched genetically, these seeds generate a 50-50 split of male to female offspring. Cheap and organic, be prepared to remove male plants to achieve an optimal yield.
– Autoflowering Seeds: these seeds flower once the plant hits a specific growth stage, allowing constant light and multiple yield rounds per season. All autoflowering seeds are feminized, so no need to worry about separating males from females.
You’ll need good-quality grow lights for indoor cultivation. Here are a few options:
– High-Intensity Discharge Lights: providing large yields cost-effectively, HID lights consume more power and generate a lot of heat, meaning additional cooling and careful plant placement.
– Compact Fluorescent Lights: budget-friendly for beginners, CFLs keep electricity costs low and are ideal for the seeding stage.
– Light Emitting Diode: Full-spectrum LEDs are popular as they are affordable, easy to install, produce less heat, and allow plants to grow closer to the fixtures, though they are a bit more expensive.
Cannabis plants need lots of fresh air and carbon dioxide, just like other crops. Exhaust fans or dehumidifiers can be used if your region is humid, keeping airflow consistent. For better ventilation and odor control, opt for a fan-filter combo.
Choose your growing method: geoponics, hydroponic, or aeroponics. The easiest for beginners is soil or geoponics. You can also mix different nutritious soil mediums perfect for cannabis.
Your crops will need essential nutrients like phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium, and a small amount of calcium, magnesium, copper, and iron. High-quality soil already includes most of this, but you can add in extra nutrients as needed when making your own soil blend. Check the pH regularly and adjust water levels as needed.
With these strategies, your cannabis crop can reach its full potential. Who knows, soon you might be the talk of the town, thanks to your thriving home-based cannabis garden!
