You might think that marijuana growing is difficult and that only a select few master growers can do so. This is not the case at all. Although you’ll unlikely win any Cannabis Cups with the marijuana you grow in your home, the truth is that you can save a lot of money by growing your own as opposed to buying it at a dispensary. Growing just one plant at home can decrease the amount of money you spend at dispensaries.
Before you start, be sure that growing cannabis is legal in your state. Even in states where recreational cannabis is legal, growing it is not always permitted. In states where growing your own weed is legal, it’s usually similar to brewing beer legality-wise—you can give some to your friends when they visit, but you can’t sell it.
How Do You Get Started with Marijuana Growing?
Perhaps the most important thing to know about marijuana growing is the fact that the plant is naturally flowering. In nature, flowering plants can be harvested only once annually, in the autumn season. The time when the plant takes in light is known as the photoperiod.
There are two distinct states of the plants when it comes to marijuana growing: the vegetative stage and the flowering stage. In order to ensure you get the most yield and the highest quality flower when you harvest, your marijuana seedlings will need anywhere between 4-6 weeks in the vegetative state. Anything less than that, and you’re wasting your time, seeds, and especially your electric bill, as your harvest will be depressingly minimal.
If you’re growing indoors, you need to control the time that the plants get their light and dark periods. Most marijuana growing experts recommend at least 16 hours of light during the plant’s vegetative state, but some growers will tell you that you should give the plants an 18–20 hour photoperiod a day.
Where Should You Grow Marijuana?
If you’re growing marijuana outdoors, you won’t have to worry much about the light and dark periods, as Mother Nature will do this for you.
If you’re growing indoors, it is essential to get some kind of lamp for your plants. Setting them on a windowsill, even with the best sunlight, will more than likely not be enough—you will need to include some grow lamps in the process.
There are grow lights used by grow experts that can cost you thousands of dollars. There are lights that will turn themselves off and on automatically, but they can get quite expensive. If you need to purchase high-quality seeds, the seeds and your light setup will be the most you will spend to get started. Eventually, your electric bill might increase a bit, depending on how much you’re growing. If you’re just growing one plant with a modest grow light, you shouldn’t notice much of an increase.
Grow experts typically recommend a bulb that is at least 250 watts, high-intensity discharge. Most home grow lights tend to be high-pressure sodium or metal halide. You should have no issues finding these bulbs at your local hardware store for around $20-$30.
These types of light bulbs do not fit safely inside of standard home light fixtures, so you will need to purchase a suitable fixture. These can get pricey, sometimes a couple hundred of dollars, but once you buy one fixture, it should last you forever no matter how many times you change the bulb.
During the plant’s vegetative state, you might be able to get away with putting your plant on a windowsill that gets great sunlight during the day and then using a fluorescent bulb during the nighttime hours. This is not recommended, however, because when you decrease the strength of the light your plant takes in, you can weaken the plant’s structure, thus decreasing the amount of flower it can produce.
What Do You Do in the Flowering Stage?
Darkness is just as important as light when it comes to the healthy growth of cannabis plants, especially when they are in the flowering stage. During this stage of marijuana growing, plants begin to produce the fruits that are so highly sought after. In the case of marijuana plants, they produce flowers, more commonly referred to as buds.
The cannabis plant will begin its flowering stage when being introduced to 12 hours of darkness and 12 hours of light per day. This is often referred to as forcing flowering.
Again, make sure that your plant has had a chance to develop in the vegetative state for at least four weeks, preferably five or six weeks, before entering the flowering stage. Any earlier than four weeks and your plant will more than likely be too small and weak to handle any kind of flowers that are worth your time and electric bill.
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During the flowering stage, it is absolutely imperative that your grow space is completely dark and free from any other light source. If any kind of light enters your grow space, this could stress the plant, causing a weak or minimal yield—or worse, force it to produce flowers that are all seed and no bud. These plants are typically referred to as the male plants, and the female plants are the ones that will produce flowering buds.
What Else Do You Need to Know about Marijuana Growing?
Once you obtain a grow light and designate an enclosed space for your plant(s), there are other important things to consider before planting.
If you have access to clones, this can help you get started with your marijuana growing without the need for germination or transplanting.
Then you’ll need to decide on a grow container. Cultivation experts tend to recommend that home growers use fabric pots with ample drainage holes that encourage water runoff. Leaving stagnant water in your plant for too long will have a negative impact on the pH, leading to fewer flowers, or sometimes none at all. A simple organic potting soil will do the trick. Some soil comes with added nutrients, such as guano, which is a solid choice. Experts recommend avoiding nutrients that have a high salt content, such as Miracle-Gro. You can find these at your local hardware store while you’re purchasing your grow light.
As with any worthwhile activity in life, you’ll improve the quality of marijuana growing with practice. Growing herb can be a rewarding hobby that will also save you money. Plus, there’s nothing like sharing with your friends and getting to say you grew it!
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