Whether you're just starting out with marijuana growing or looking to improve your existing crop, following this complete guide will help you produce large, high-quality yields right at home. With the right equipment, techniques, and attention, cultivating marijuana indoors can be an extremely satisfying and cost-effective endeavor.
Choosing Weed Strains
The first step in planning your indoor grow is choosing the right pot cultivars to grow. The three main types of weed plants each have their own characteristics.
Energizing strains
Known for their uplifting intellectual effects, sativas grow tall and slender with narrow leaves. They flourish in tropical tropical climates and have a longer flowering time between 2.5-3 months indoors. Top energizing strains include Sour Diesel, Durban Poison, and Jack Herer.
Relaxing strains
These strains provide relaxing full-body effects and spread short and bushy with wide leaves. Adapted to colder mountain climates, they flower faster within 8-9 weeks. Popular relaxing varieties include Granddaddy Purple, Northern Lights, and Bubba Kush.
Hybrids
Mixed varieties blend traits from both energizing strains and relaxing strains. They offer combined effects and have medium blooming periods around 9-10 weeks. Popular mixes are OG Kush, Girl Scout Cookies, and Blue Dream.
Setting Up Your Grow Space
Pot plants need the right controlled environment to thrive. Key factors for indoor grows are lights, ventilation, layout, and finding the ideal discreet spot.
Location
Choose an unused space with quick access to water and electrical outlets. An empty extra bedroom, unused closet, basement corner, or cultivation tent tucked away in a garage all make great discreet grow room spots.
Lights
Cannabis requires strong light for all growth stages. LEDs are energy-efficient and come in full spectrum options replicating natural outdoor light. Cover 250-400 watts per sq. ft for the vegetative stage and 400-600 watts per square foot for bloom.
Airflow
Proper airflow and exhaust systems maintain ideal temp, humidity, and pure CO2 levels. Install silent 10-15 cm fans or carbon filters to circulate stale air and eliminate smells.
Layout
Maximize 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, drying, and propagation.
Growing Substrates
Pot can be cultivated in different mediums, each with benefits and cons. Pick a suitable option for your specific setup and cultivation style.
Soil
The traditional substrate, soil is affordable and easy for beginners. It provides great taste but needs more irrigation and fertilizing to nourish plants. Amend soil with perlite or coco to improve drainage.
Coconut coir
Made from coir, renewable coco coir retains water but still allows air to the roots. It's cleaner and more predictable than soil. Use coir-specific fertilizers to avoid calcium buildup.
Water systems
In water systems, plant roots grow directly in nutrient water solution. This allows rapid growth but needs close monitoring of solution properties. Deep water culture and drip systems are common techniques.
Germinating Seeds
Germination activates your marijuana seeds to start growing radicles. This readies them for transplanting into their cultivation medium.
Towel Method
Put seeds between damp paper towels and keep them moist. Check after 2-7 days for emerging taproots showing germination is complete.
Planting directly
Insert seeds directly into pre-moistened growing medium 1⁄4 inch deep. Gently water and wait 1-2 weeks until sprouts push through the surface.
Rockwool Cubes
Presoak rockwool cubes in balanced water. Insert seeds 6mm deep into the cubes. Keep cubes wet until sprouts appear within a week to 2 weeks.
Repotting Seedlings
Once sprouted, weed seedlings need to be transplanted to avoid overcrowding. Move them into proper sized pots.
Ready Containers
Load large containers with cultivation medium enriched with time-released fertilizer. Let pots to absorb water overnight before transplanting.
Carefully Transplanting
Carefully loosen young roots from sprouting medium using a spade. Place into prepared container at equal depth as before and gently water in.
Vegetative Stage
The vegetative stage promotes foliage and plant form through 3/4 to full day of continual light exposure. This stage usually lasts 4-8 weeks.
Using 3/4 to full day of Lighting
Use lamps on a 24 daily cycle or natural sunlight to trigger constant growth. Lamp output influences height and node distance.
Nutrients
Use vegetative stage fertilizers higher in nitrogen. Make sure pH stays around 6.5 for proper fertilizer uptake. Feed 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 strength after 14 days and strengthen gradually.
Training Techniques
Topping, LST, and trellising manipulate growth patterns for even foliage. This boosts yields.
Bloom Stage
The blooming stage develops buds as plants reveal their sex under a 12/12 cycle schedule. It lasts 8-12 weeks based on strain.
Changing Light Schedule
Change grow lights to 12/12 or move outside for outdoor 12/12 timing. This triggers plants to start blooming.
Stop Fertilizing
Leaching flushes out nutrient salts to enhance taste. Fertilize lightly the first period then just use plain water the last 2 weeks.
Flushing
Continue 12 hour photoperiod but flush using neutral pH water only. Resume clean watering if buds aren't mature after two weeks.
Reaping
Knowing when pot is fully ripe delivers maximum potency and aroma. Harvest plants at optimal maturity.
Signs of readiness
Look for fading pistils, swelling calyxes, and 5-15% amber trichomes. Check buds around the plant as they don't all mature evenly.
Harvesting plants
Use sterilized, razor-sharp pruning shears to gently cut each plant at the base. Leave 5-10cm of stem attached.
Curing
Hang whole plants or colas upside down in a dark 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 technique mellows harshness and further develops terpene and Click Here terpene profiles.
Curing containers
Trim dried buds from branches and place into glass jars, packing about 3⁄4 full. Use a hygrometer to monitor container humidity.
Burping Daily
Unseal containers for a few hours each day to slowly reduce moisture. Rehydrate buds if humidity drops below 55%.
Long term storage
After 2-3 weeks when humidity levels off around 55-60%, perform a final trim and keep forever in sealed jars.
Common Problems and Solutions
Even seasoned cultivators run into various marijuana plant problems. Detect problems soon and address them correctly to keep a healthy garden.
Nutrient Deficiencies
Chlorosis often signify insufficient nitrogen. Anthocyanins and leaves signal phosphorus deficiency. Check pH and increase fertilizers slowly.
Pests
Spider mites, fungus gnats, mites, and nematodes are frequent cannabis pests. Use neem oil sprays, ladybugs, and sticky traps for organic control.
Powdery mildew
High humidity encourages botrytis and root rot. Improve airflow and circulation while lowering humidity below 50% during flowering.
Summary
With this complete indoor pot growing guide, you now have the info to cultivate bountiful potent buds for personal grows. Follow these steps and techniques throughout the seed starting, vegetative, and bloom stages. Spend in good equipment and carefully monitor your plants. In time, you'll be rewarded with sticky fragrant buds you raised yourself under the patient guidance of your green thumbs. Happy growing