How to Grow Cannabis at Home

Clones: Benefits and Downsides

Easily referred to as the cuttings gained from the mother plant, a clone has the same genetic code as its mother. People prefer clones over seeds because they produce fast results and save time spent during germination.

Also, clones are predictable, so you don’t get shocked as your marijuana plant grows.

But clones aren’t as readily available as seeds. They are also exceptionally delicate, so as a first-time home grower, you may need help to handle them.

In addition, since clones are a copy of their mother, they may also carry bad traits. And if it is a genetic issue, you may notice the trait in the entire harvest.

So, should you go for seeds or clones? In all honesty, it depends on what you want. If you want to experience the entire growing weed procedure from start to end, seeds will provide you with that. Also, seeds are easy to handle and are perfect for new growers.

Clones are best suited with experienced cultivators, as they are experts in handling the challenges they offer.

Which one are you? Make a decision and initiate the growing journey at home.

Cannabis Plants Fundamentals

When growing cannabis for the first time, you may want to know some fundamental factors before initiating the process. You may not have your expected home stash until and unless these external elements are appropriately managed.

Marijuana plants require certain conditions to grow and produce flowers. Below we have discussed each so you can prepare your mind for the challenges ahead.

Light

We have all grown up reading in our science books how plants need light to grow and carry out the process of photosynthesis. The same goes for growing cannabis. This herb also requires enough light to develop more buds.

If you have an open space, your plant can quickly grow by consuming direct sunlight. However, if you plan to grow weed indoors, you may have to arrange 400 to 600 watts of light per square meter.

Cannabis demands at least 13 hours of straight light to accelerate its growth.

Now, here is a catch. Excess light can damage your plant, and so can an extended light cycle. Alternatively, too little light may also do no good.

Therefore, you need to be careful about the amount of light required depending on the source producing it. For instance, if you have opted for led grow lights for indoor cultivation, 400 to 600 watts bulbs can work perfectly. Make sure you hang them properly so they cover a good amount of space.

Most cultivators also opt for compact fluorescent light or CFL. It runs cool and can even be hung close to the plants without fearing burning them.

High-pressure sodium HPS is a standard grow light used during indoor cultivation. It supports plant growth by diffusing the given electromagnetic spectrum for photosynthesis.

Whichever source you use, ensure to calculate the amount of light required before establishing a system for your cannabis plants.

Obtain the growing surface by multiplying grow room’s length by its width. Then, multiply the resultant figure by the expected PPFD (Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density) level. Use this simple formula and invest accordingly.

Medium (Soil or Hydroponic System)

Luckily, there are more than one growing media to get a successful cannabis harvest at home. You can choose soil, coco coir, or the technical hydroponic system. Each medium offers its benefits and some downsides.

Soil is the most common and accessible medium to handle. It is an inexpensive medium and perfect for first-time cultivators.

However, the organic soil is prone to pest infestation. Besides, it may slow down the growth of plants and might not always be optimal for cannabis plants.

A coco coir is a mix without nutrients, so you may have to add the required elements yourself when using this medium. This allows you to control your plants completely, but check the soil pH levels now and then to avoid a disaster.

There is more than one Hydroponic setup for growing weed. These systems allow your plants to grow fast and large. They also reduce the risk of pest attacks and offer control over maintaining the hydroponic pH levels.

That said, these systems are expensive to install and manage. Also, the weed produced may not taste as natural as expected.

There is no good or bad medium. If you want to choose between soil or Hydroponic system, consider factors like cost, your expertise level, expected cannabis growth, and the quality of yield you may wish.

Water

If you want your plants to grow and survive, wait for their substrate to dry out to measure the impact of water. If you find them to be light, soak them in water.

When watering cannabis, use bottom-feeding as an effective technique. As the name suggests, the method requires placing your plants in a water tray to help the roots soak an adequate amount of this element.

Air

An outdoor cultivation procedure can allow plants to have enough carbon dioxide and oxygen to breathe and produce food. However, when growing weed indoors, you must manage proper air circulation to achieve the expected growth.

You don’t worry about fresh air as long as you have a proper ventilation system. Depending on your budget, you can either install an appropriate method of ventilation or place fans strategically to keep the air moving.

Temperature

A cannabis plant goes through four stages of growth, seedling, vegetation, flowering, and late flowering step. You must use a digital thermometer or a hygrometer to measure and maintain the temperature at each stage.

For instance, during the seedling stage, ensure that plants grow in temperatures between 75 to 80 degrees. A temperature above that may be harmful.

During the vegetation and flowering stage, the temperature can be high but should still be moderate. When the plant reaches its late flowering period, the temperature should again be managed between 70 to 80 degrees.

Humidity

Temperature and humidity go hand in hand. These plants require high humidity levels to grow their roots at the seedling stage. Once this stage has passed, you can start decreasing humidity by five percent weekly.

When the plant finally reaches its flowering stage, reduce humidity by 40 to 50 percent. This reduction is essential to keep mildew and mold at bay.

Finally, keep humidity as low as possible at the late flowering stage. This helps improve the quality, taste, and appearance of the yield.

Nutrients

Nutrients work as food for a cannabis plant to grow. Therefore, their inclusion in the soil is essential from the very first stage.

Cannabis needs large quantities of organic nutrients like potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen to grow. You can use various fertilizers or produce to incorporate these nutrients into your growth methods and manage them effectively to achieve your expected goals.

Grow Weed Indoors or Outdoors?

Growing marijuana at home is one of the best decisions you can make today. Whether you want to grow your own cannabis for recreational or medical purposes, as long as it’s done under your roof, you can customize and produce it as per your preference.

However, when growing weed at home, you have two options. You can either grow it outdoors or make growing marijuana indoors only. Which one is the best?

There is no one answer, as each grower may tell you a different story. However, to help you decide and experience healthy plant growth for your cannabis, here are some benefits and drawbacks of each option.

Growing Weed Indoors

One of the most prominent benefits of indoor cannabis plants is that you have complete control over their growth process. You can control the lighting, humidity, temperature, and ventilation at every stage. Besides, you can maintain a four-walled shelter for your indoor weed plants, saving them from rain and pests.

But there is a drawback. Before you set up a grow room, know that managing an indoor space for these plants can be costly. Also, managing air, temperature, humidity, and other factors during vegetative and flowering stages can be challenging, especially with a restricted budget.

And regardless of the money spent, no grow light can be as adequate as direct sunlight. Sunlight contains ultraviolet radiation that helps accelerate the production and growth of cannabis.

Growing Cannabis Outdoors

Increased space, natural sunlight, and microbial diversity are motivators that can sway you to grow weed outdoors. Besides, when you grow these plants under direct sun, you don’t have to spend money on setting up a grow room or establishing a system to control the natural factors.

But outdoor cultivation comes with its own risks. For instance, there is always a fear of pest attacks. Pests like aphids, slugs, and whiteflies can damage your harvest before you can even costume it.

Also, adverse and unpredictable weather conditions can wreak havoc on your plants. Winds and heavy rain can damage your harvest and increase the risk of diseases during the flowering phase.

In addition, plants grown outside may get stolen easily. You may have to build a solid fence around your plants if you don’t want your money or time wasted.

Regarding producing healthy plants, both methods produce high-quality hauls each year. When choosing the best technique for yourself, you must consider your environment, budget, and overall goal for this cultivation.

Instead of choosing one, you can perform outdoor and indoor cultivation together. Many indoor growers allow their plants to grow outside for some duration to experience optimum weather, air, and humidity.

This is called experiencing the best of both worlds.

Clean Grow Space is a Must!

If you prefer growing cannabis indoors, ensure that your grow space is always clean and tidy. This may seem like too much hard work, but a well-managed and sanitized area is vital to grow cannabis indoors successfully.

Maintain a cleaning regimen for the grow room and adequate airflow to save your plants from external threats. A dirty room welcomes diseases, molds, and pests harming your growing medium and interfering with the healthy growth of plants.

Whether you have an old or new grow space, practice cleanliness daily by wiping the ceiling and walls with antibacterial wipes. Also, clean the surface and use bleach to get rid of microbes.

You can also buy insect bombs to move all insects from your indoor space.

Once your grow space is clean, start cultivating. But maintain cleanliness throughout the growing stages. You can perform routine cleaning by using a vacuum cleaner.

If you suspect pests, use an integrated pest management approach to combat them. Things such as beneficial insects and cover crops prove helpful in managing bugs without incorporating any harmful chemicals.

Plants growing indoors require a healthy flow of fresh cool air throughout. In that case, a ventilation system with exhausts may prove beneficial. You can also introduce air sanitizers in your grow room to maintain clean air at every nook and corner.

A clean grow space isn’t a weekly task. You may have to practice all the above steps for many months. To simplify this task, draw a plan and follow it properly.

Keep all your pots in accessible positions, so you can reach out to them easily. Besides, make a cleaning supplies toolkit and keep it close to your grow space to use it whenever you like.