Whether you're new to weed production 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 gear, methods, and attention, cultivating cannabis indoors can be an extremely rewarding and cost-effective endeavor.
Choosing Marijuana Varieties
The first step in planning your indoor harvest is choosing the right cannabis strains to grow. The three main types of marijuana plants each have their own characteristics.
Sativas
Known for their invigorating mental effects, these strains spread tall and slender with narrow leaves. They flourish in warmer equatorial climates and have a longer flowering time between 10-12 weeks indoors. Top sativa strains include Jack Herer, Durban Poison, Super Lemon Haze, and Jack Herer.
Relaxing strains
These strains provide calming body-focused effects and spread short and bushy with wide leaves. Adapted to cooler mountain climates, they flower faster within 2-2.25 months. Popular relaxing varieties include Northern Lights, Bubba Kush, and Bubba Kush.
Mixed strains
Mixed varieties mix traits from both energizing strains and relaxing strains. They offer blended effects and have medium blooming times around 2.25-2.5 months. Popular mixes are OG Kush, Girl Scout Cookies, and Blue Dream.
Setting Up Your Grow Space
Cannabis 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 available space with direct access to irrigation and electrical outlets. An empty spare room, large closet, basement corner, or cultivation tent tucked away in a garage all make great hidden grow room spots.
Lights
Marijuana requires strong light for all vegetative stages. LED grow lights are energy-efficient and come in broad spectrum options simulating natural outdoor light. Provide 15-25 watts per square foot for the growth stage and 20-40 watts per square foot for bloom.
Airflow
Proper airflow and exhaust systems keep ideal temp, humidity, and pure CO2 levels. Set up quiet 4-6 inch fans or scrubbers to refresh stale air and reduce odors.
Layout
Optimize your space by positioning plants strategically under the lamps and allowing room to access and work around them. Set up distinct zones for vegetation, flowering, curing, and cloning.
Cultivation Mediums
Pot can be cultivated in different substrates, each with pros and cons. Pick a proper option for your specific setup and cultivation style.
Soil
The traditional medium, soil is inexpensive and easy for new growers. It provides great taste but needs more watering and nutrients to nourish plants. Enrich soil with vermiculite or coco to enhance drainage.
Coco Coir
Made from coconut husks, renewable coconut fiber retains water but still lets in air to the roots. It's cleaner and more predictable than soil. Use coir-specific nutrients to prevent accumulation.
Hydroponics
In water systems, plant roots grow directly in fertilizer water solution. This allows quick growth but needs close observation of water chemistry. Deep water culture and drip systems are popular techniques.
Germinating Seeds
Sprouting activates your marijuana seeds to start sprouting taproots. This readies them for planting into their growing medium.
Towel Method
Put seeds between damp paper towel and maintain them moist. Check after a week for growing taproots indicating germination is complete.
Direct Planting
Insert seeds directly into pre-moistened cultivation medium 6mm deep. Gently water and wait 1-2 weeks until sprouts break through the top.
Rockwool Cubes
Presoak cubic rockwool starters in pH-adjusted water. Insert seeds 1⁄4 inch deep into the cubes. Keep cubes wet until sprouts emerge within a week to 2 weeks.
Repotting Young plants
Once sprouted, marijuana seedlings need to be transplanted to avoid crowding. Move them into proper sized containers.
Preparing Containers
Fill large containers with cultivation medium amended with slow-release fertilizer. Let pots to soak up water overnight before transplanting.
Gently repotting
Carefully loosen young roots from germination medium using Find Out More a spoon. Place into pre-soaked container at same depth as before and lightly water in.
Vegetative Stage
The growth stage encourages foliage and plant form through 18-24 hours of daily light exposure. This stage usually lasts 4-8 weeks.
Using 3/4 to full day of Lighting
Use lamps on a 24 daily schedule or natural sunlight to trigger constant photosynthesis. Lamp output influences size and internodal spacing.
Fertilizing
Use vegetative stage nutrients richer in N. Make sure pH remains around 5.8-6.3 for full fertilizer uptake. Fertilize 25-50% strength after 2 weeks and increase gradually.
Training Techniques
Topping, low stress training, and scrogging manipulate growth patterns for even canopies. This boosts yields.
Bloom Stage
The blooming stage grows buds as plants show their sex under a 12/12 cycle timing. It lasts 2-3 months depending on strain.
Changing Light Schedule
Change lamps to 12/12 or place outdoors for natural 12 hour cycle. This triggers plants to start flowering.
Stop Fertilizing
Leaching flushes out nutrient salts to improve flavor. Fertilize lightly the first period then just use plain water the final 2 weeks.
Flushing
Maintain 12 hour photoperiod but flush using pH-balanced water only. Return to clean watering if buds aren't mature after two weeks.
Reaping
Recognizing when weed is fully ripe delivers peak cannabinoid content and aroma. Harvest plants at optimal maturity.
Identifying Ripeness
Check fading pistils, swelling calyxes, and 10-15% amber trichomes. Inspect buds around the plant as they won't all ripen evenly.
Cutting Plants
Use sterilized, razor-sharp pruning shears to carefully slice each plant at the base. Leave several inches of stalk attached.
Drying
Hang intact plants or branches upside down in a lightless room with average temp and RH around 50-60% for 1-2 weeks.
Aging
Curing keeps drying while aging the buds like aged spirits. This process mellows bitterness and intensifies cannabinoid contents.
Jars and Humidity
Trim cured buds from stems and store into glass jars, filling about 75% capacity. Use a hygrometer to monitor jar moisture.
Burping Daily
Open containers for a few hours each day to slowly Find Out More reduce humidity. Rehydrate buds if humidity drops below 55%.
Long term storage
After 2-3 weeks when moisture stabilizes around 55-60%, perform a final manicure and store forever in sealed jars.
Troubleshooting
Even experienced cultivators run into various pot plant problems. Identify problems soon and address them correctly to maintain a strong garden.
Nutrient Deficiencies
Chlorosis often indicate inadequate nitrogen. Purpling stems and leaves signal phosphorus deficiency. Test pH and increase fertilizers slowly.
Pests
Thrips, aphids, fungus gnats, thrips, and nematodes are common cannabis pests. Use organic sprays, ladybugs, and yellow traps for organic control.
Mold
Excessive humidity promotes powdery mildew and root rot. Increase airflow and venting while lowering RH below 50% during flowering.
Conclusion
With this complete indoor marijuana growing guide, you now have the info to grow plentiful strong growing indoor buds for private harvests. Follow these steps and methods during the seed starting, vegetative, and bloom stages. Invest in quality equipment and closely check on your plants. In time, you'll be compensated with frosty aromatic buds you grew yourself under the patient guidance of your green hands. Good luck cultivating!