How to Grow Cannabis Indoors
Growing Marijuana can seem like a difficult task for the new-comer. With Canada recently becoming the second country to legalize Marijuana, the opportunity to grow your own cannabis is appealing to a large number of people. So what do these new marijuana growing enthusiasts need to know before diving in?
You're going to need a few things to grow indoors:
Pots- We recommend plastic solo cups to begin growth and 2 gallon fabric pots for finishing.
Soil- Any store-bought soil rich in nutrients is suitable for your plant. There are certain types of soil which you will want to avoid using with Cannabis.
Seeds- Feminized seeds are strongly preferred to guarantee bud-laden female plants. These seeds should have been stored in a cool, dark area until ready for use.
Water- You cannot have plant growth without water. Simple tap water is fine. However, you should be cautious about what is in your water. Many localities have very hard water, or other impurities, which can build up over time. We recommend a cheap TDS meter, when in doubt.
Window/Fresh air(or vent set-up)- Your plant needs oxygen to photosynthesize and grow. We suggest keeping our plant near a window or setting up an air filter to provide a constant supply of fresh air.
Temperature Control- We control grow-site temperatures with lamps, HID, LED or CMH are all acceptable types, we will get into the specifics later.
Additional but optional recommendations include:
Plant Starter Cubes- They provide easy germination with a high success rate. Click here for more information about how to germinate your seeds.
Fertilizer- Plant food, always mix fertilizer with water according to the instructions. Click here for more information about fertilizers.
Grow tent- Allows you complete control over the plant's exposure to light and temperature. A ventilation setup should include: a fan, filter and duct combination. This exposes your plant to fresh air and prevents molding and unwanted insects.
Light Timers- A plant requires a particularly specific schedule to maximize it's bud production and light timers remove human error from the equation.
Getting Started
Temperature control and ventilation should be top priorities when planning out your out your grow as cold, moldy plants will not survive Ensure temperature can be controlled and maintained; and that your plant is nearby a window or that your ventilation is setup correctly.
Choose your Germination Method
There are two easy methods for germination, wet paper towel and peat pellets. The latter are highly recommended from our team - they provide a safer and nutrient rich platform for growth. It will be important to keep your seeds within the 20°c - 28°c temperature range (68°f - 82°f). Your seeds can take 2-8 days before they sprout, and after they sprout it is time to relocate them to their new home.
Check out our full marijuana germination guide for more information.
Light cycles & Watering
You can move your sprouting peat pellets underneath their light source, they will be spending 18 hours under the light and the remaining 6 hours sleeping in darkness.
The thirsty seedlings will grow quickly at the cost of a lot of drinking water. Thus, the risk of over-watering runs high. There are no definite rule for watering. Every condition and seed is different. On average, young plants require watering once a week! Mature plants need watering once per day.
We like to feel the soil with the back of our hands, cool or damp soil indicates a healthy hydration. Warm top-soil indicates a thirsty plant. Ensure excess water can drain through the bottoms of your pots, and keep in mind, drooping-plant leaves may be a call for an early watering.
On the topic of fertilizers, while not necessary, they do help produce a better bud. Never feed your plant dry- fertilizer. Always mix with water and ensure you are using a good product,
Repotting
Germinating seeds can be placed under light sources in their peat pellets or paper towel, but once you notice roots reaching out, it is time to find your youngin larger accommodation. The bigger the pot, the bigger your plant may grow, but we recommend 2 gallon fabric pots for an indoor plant. Learn about choosing the right size of pot for your plant for more information.
Vegetative
The young plants should be alternating between 18 hours of sunlight and 6 hours of darkness. While they may not require daily watering you should be checking the soil's dampness when switching on the lights. The plants may spend 3-4 weeks in this stage.
Flowering
3.5 weeks post transfer you should notice the iconic leaves sprouting, To encourage bud growth we must induce flowering, we’ll do so by changing the light cycle to 12 hours on followed by 12 hours off. The flowering phase should last 4 weeks before buds begin to appear.
After the buds appear, you can isolate the male plants and do with them as you see fit. They will not grow the THC dense buds you want. The flowering phase should take 2-3 months until buds are ripe. Look for the white hairs to turn brown, and a slow in the plants growth. The scent should be familiar.
A magnifying glass can help you check the the sticky trichomes, if they too are turning brown it is time to harvest!
Harvest
After tending to their well-being for potentially three months, it is time to cut the plants. Above the soil, taking special care not to touch the sticky buds, you can hang the plants from a clothesline to help speed up the drying process.
Trim
Nothing good ever came easy, growing is slightly meticulous while trimming offers the workload upfront. We recommend recruiting or family to help you get this done quicker. Using a small pair of scissors and latex gloves, trim the buds and leafs as close to the stem as possible. The trichome covered leaves won’t offer a good smoke. We recommend saving them for use in edibles and oils.
Drying
Dry your buds by hanging or placing on dry paper. Leave them out for 12 hours per day and put them away in glass jars or plastic zip-lock bags for the remaining 12 hours. After about a week your bud should be ready to smoke.
Curing
Curing is a tried and true process, store your buds in mason jars in a dark cool place, one per week open the jars and let in oxygen. Congratulations, whether you cured or not, we're sure you'll be enjoying your hard work soon. We hope you enjoyed this article and as always - stay botanical!
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