Whether you're new to marijuana cultivation or looking to improve your existing harvest, following this complete guide will help you produce large, high-quality yields right at home. With the right equipment, methods, and attention, growing weed indoors can be an extremely productive and cost-effective endeavor.
Choosing Cannabis Strains
The first step in planning your indoor crop is choosing the right weed varieties to produce. The three main types of cannabis plants each have their own traits.
Energizing strains
Known for their energizing cerebral effects, sativas spread tall and slender with narrow leaves. They flourish in warmer equatorial climates and have a longer blooming time between 10-12 weeks indoors. Top sativa strains include Jack Herer, Durban Poison, Super Lemon Haze, and Jack Herer.
Relaxing strains
Indicas provide relaxing full-body effects and grow short and bushy with wide leaves. Accustomed to colder mountain climates, they bloom faster within 8-9 weeks. Popular indica strains include Granddaddy Purple, Northern Lights, and Bubba Kush.
Hybrids
Hybrid strains blend traits from both sativas and relaxing strains. They offer blended effects and have medium blooming times around 2.25-2.5 months. Popular mixes are Blue Dream, OG Kush, and Blue Dream.
Setting Up Your Grow Space
Pot plants need the right controlled environment to succeed. Key factors for indoor cultivations are lights, ventilation, layout, and finding the ideal discreet location.
Location
Choose an unused space with easy access to irrigation and power outlets. An empty extra bedroom, unused closet, basement corner, or grow tent securely placed in a garage all make great discreet grow room spots.
Lights
Marijuana requires strong light for all growth stages. LED grow lights are efficient and come in broad spectrum options simulating natural outdoor light. Provide 15-25 watts per sq. ft for the growth stage and 20-40 watts per sq. ft. for bloom.
Ventilation
Proper airflow and exhaust systems keep ideal temperature, humidity, and fresh CO2 levels. Set up silent 4-6 inch blowers or carbon filters to refresh stale air and eliminate smells.
Layout
Maximize your space by arranging plants carefully under the lamps and leaving room to reach and work around them. Set up distinct zones for vegetation, bloom, curing, and cloning.
Growing Substrates
Weed can be cultivated in different substrates, each with pros and cons. Pick a proper option for your particular setup and growing style.
Soil
The traditional medium, soil is cheap and simple for beginners. It provides excellent flavor but requires more irrigation and fertilizing to feed plants. Amend soil with perlite or coco to enhance aeration.
Coco Coir
Made from coir, reusable coco coir holds water but still allows air to the roots. It's more sterile and more consistent than soil. Use coco-specific fertilizers to prevent calcium buildup.
Water systems
In water systems, plant roots grow right in fertilizer water solution. This enables quick growth but needs careful monitoring of water properties. Deep water culture and drip systems are popular methods.
Germinating Seeds
Sprouting prepares your weed seeds to start growing taproots. This prepares them for transplanting into their cultivation medium.
Paper Towel Method
Place seeds between wet paper towels and keep them damp. Inspect after 2-7 days for growing radicles indicating sprouting is complete.
Direct Planting
Plant Subscribe Now seeds directly into wetted cultivation medium 1⁄4 inch deep. Gently water and wait 7-14 days until seedlings push through the surface.
Rockwool Cubes
Soak rockwool cubes in balanced water. Insert seeds 6mm deep into the cubes. Keep cubes wet until seedlings emerge within a week to 2 weeks.
Transplanting Seedlings
Once germinated, marijuana young plants need to be transplanted to avoid overcrowding. Move them into proper sized pots.
Ready Containers
Fill final pots with cultivation medium enriched with time-released nutrients. Allow containers to absorb water for 8-12 hours before repotting.
Gently repotting
Gently separate young roots from sprouting medium using a spade. Put into prepared container at same depth as before and lightly water in.
Vegetative Stage
The growth stage encourages foliage and plant form through 3/4 to full day of daily light exposure. This stage usually lasts 4-8 weeks.
Providing 18-24 Hours of Light
Use lamps on a 24 daily schedule or outdoor light to initiate constant photosynthesis. Light intensity influences size and internodal spacing.
Nutrients
Use grow stage fertilizers richer in N. Make sure pH remains around 5.8-6.3 for full fertilizer uptake. Fertilize 25-50% concentration after 14 days and strengthen slowly.
LST and topping
Fimming, LST, and trellising direct shoot patterns for even canopies. This increases yields.
Bloom Stage
The flowering stage develops buds as plants show their sex under a 12 hour cycle schedule. It lasts 8-12 weeks based on variety.
Switching to 12/12
Switch grow lights to 12/12 or place outdoors for natural 12/12 timing. This triggers plants to start flowering.
Stop Fertilizing
Leaching flushes out fertilizer residuals to improve taste. Feed lightly the first weeks then just use plain water the last 2 weeks.
Flushing
Maintain 12/12 light timing but flush using neutral pH water only. Return to plain watering if buds aren't yet ripe after two weeks.
Harvesting
Knowing when pot is completely mature ensures peak potency and aroma. Harvest plants at optimal ripeness.
Identifying Ripeness
Look for fading pistils, swelling calyxes, and 5-15% amber trichomes. Check buds around the plant as they don't all ripen evenly.
Harvesting plants
Use clean, sharp pruning shears to gently cut each plant at the base. Leave 5-10cm of stalk attached.
Drying
Suspend intact plants or branches inverted in a lightless room with average temp and humidity around 45-65% for 1-2 weeks.
Curing
Aging continues desiccating while improving the buds like fine wine. This process mellows harshness and intensifies terpene and terpene profiles.
Curing containers
Trim cured buds from stems and place into sealed containers, filling about 75% capacity. Use a hygrometer to monitor jar moisture.
Opening jars daily
Open containers for a few hours each day to slowly reduce moisture. Remoisten buds if RH drops below 55%.
Final Cure
After 14-21 days when humidity levels off around 55-65%, do a final manicure and store Contact Us Today forever in sealed jars.
Troubleshooting
Even experienced cultivators run into various pot plant problems. Identify problems early and fix them properly to keep a healthy garden.
Poor feeding
Yellowing leaves often signify insufficient nitrogen. Anthocyanins and leaves show low phosphorus. Test pH and increase fertilizers gradually.
Bugs
Spider mites, fungus gnats, mites, and root aphids are frequent cannabis pests. Use organic sprays, ladybugs, and sticky traps for organic control.
Mold
Excessive humidity promotes botrytis and bud rot. Increase airflow and circulation while reducing humidity under 50% during bloom.
Summary
With this complete indoor pot cultivation guide, you now have the knowledge to cultivate bountiful strong buds for personal harvests. Follow these techniques and methods during the seed starting, growth, and bloom stages. Spend in quality equipment and carefully monitor your plants. In time, you'll be compensated with sticky fragrant buds you grew yourself under the loving care Watch Now of your green thumbs. Good luck cultivating!