Growing cannabis indoors in a indoor grow tent can be overwhelming for beginners. However, with our simplified beginner's guide, you’ll quickly understand every step to help you get started as a first-time-grower.
When growing indoors, you have full control of the environment, and you can save money while producing high-quality cannabis! Plus, there’s a unique satisfaction in growing your own. Many cannabis enthusiasts claim they didn’t fully appreciate the plant until they grew it themselves.
The biggest benefit of growing weed indoors is that it allows you greater control than growing outdoors. Growing indoors provides opportunities to implement strategies like introducing high levels of CO2 which will result in bigger buds with higher THC concentrations.
While the benefits of growing indoors are many, there are still potential problems that could be costly or disastrous to your crop if you’re not paying careful attention. Before making a significant financial investment, you want to be confident in your ability to produce a successful cannabis harvest. Your time and effort will be substantial as well; nobody wants to spend weeks in a garden only to produce fodder for the compost pile.
You don’t need a particularly large growing/cultivating space. A typical grow room for a small-scale grower is a small tent, cabinet, or designated area in a spare room. If you’re stuck for room, even an unused corner of the house is sufficient! Here are a few helpful tips to get started.
By “small,” we mean nothing more than a few plants at most. You can start with just one or two plants. There is an inevitable learning curve involved with growing weed indoors. As such, you are bound to make some mistakes. The fewer plants you have, the fewer plants you’ll waste.
Even veteran cannabis growers run into mistakes and unexpected mishaps with almost every batch they produce. Therefore, it is possible to endure a completely failed grow on your very first attempt. In this case, it hurts a lot less when you ‘lose’ a plant or two.
It shouldn’t take long to get the hang of things and start producing some beautiful, flowering cannabis plants. At this stage, you’ll need to make room as your marijuana proliferates. From the first signs of flowering, you can expect a plant to double or triple in size by harvest time.
Also, make sure that you leave enough space to work in! If you are a beginner, a marijuana grow tent kit will help you more.
Make sure that your cultivating space is sanitized and clean all around. There is an inherent risk posed by pests and contaminants. A messy space invites pathogens and harmful bacteria and mold. A good idea is to plan a bi-weekly cleaning routine and stick to it. There is no need to be pedantic, though! Using a wet microfiber rag to wipe up the areas around the plant(s) will suffice.
Marijuana plants are “bioaccumulators,” which means they “suck up” everything around them (both in the air and the soil). Make sure the area surrounding the plants is clean to keep potential contaminants out.
Light is essential for the growing process. Your plants receive direct light the majority of the time. However, few first-time growers realize that periodic darkness is equally as important for producing “yieldable” buds.
Like most living things, cannabis plants need their “rest time.” If light from a surrounding source is seeping in while it should be dark, the (bud-producing) females go into “survival mode.” This process causes them to produce male flowers, which ruins your chances of a high-THC yield.
Choose a secure place safe from any “unwanted visitors.” It keeps your plants away from animal and human invaders. It also enables you to monitor them regularly.
Temperature and humidity concerns will always remain an issue. Try and select a spot that is well sealed off from fresh air from outdoors.
Convenience is just as important as anything else. Therefore, make sure your spot is safe, and easily accessible at any time, day or night.
The light source you use in your grow room plays a significant role in determining the quality of the plants. We recommend spending a high degree of your budget on a good lighting setup. It is worth it in the end, particularly if you plan on growing in the long term.
Here’s a basic rundown of the most popular types of cannabis grow lights used today.
If cost isn’t a consideration, LED (light-emitting diode) lighting is the preferred option for most marijuana growers. These are highly efficient light fixtures for indoor growing. They use little energy and create very little heat. Also, LEDs contain wavelengths across the light spectrum, so they can lead to bigger yields and better-quality plants. A full spectrum LED grow light is best recommended.
The drawback is that they cost nearly ten times more than a decent HID setup! If you’re serious about getting into growing and have money to spend, however, give serious consideration to LEDs. Do your homework to avoid ‘scam’ LEDs online.
Induction lamps are an odd choice for indoor growers. However, some companies have recently adapted them for the cannabis industry. They can potentially represent decent value in terms of cost and efficiency.
Nikola Tesla invented the process of generating heat from magnetic induction in the 19th century. These types of lamps represent a more efficient option than fluorescent lighting, yet are cheaper than LED and (some) HID setups. ECO Farm quantum board also can be your great choice.
The most commonly used lights for DIY-style growing are probably HID (high-intensity discharge) grow lights. They typically represent the best overall value in terms of cost, efficiency, and ease-of-operation.
The main drawback is that they require numerous accessories to run correctly. As a consequence, the overall cost can ramp up pretty quickly, depending on how much you’re willing to splurge.
For example, most growers use one of two main types of HID lamps/bulbs depending on the developmental stage. Metal halide (MH) bulbs are best during vegetative growth. High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) is the preferred option for the mature flowering stage. If you can only afford one, choose HPS as they are more efficient on a ‘watt-to-light’ produced scale.
HID lights produce a substantial amount of heat. Therefore, you must invest in a ballast and hood/reflector for each light. This is almost mandatory for controlling the temperature in your grow room. Connect the hood to your ventilation system to flush out excess heat and maintain an average ambient temperature.
Fluorescent lights are generally much cheaper and easier to use than the other options. They represent an excellent option for those not planning long-term operations. They don’t require a connection to an external ventilation system. Fluorescent lights are a little less efficient than the other options. However, for novice DIY growers with a single plant or two, they’re likely your best bet.
Make sure you have consistent airflow across your entire plot. Depending on the size of your grow room, you can achieve this easily. All you need is a portable fan on one side of the space, and an exhaust fan on the other side facing the ceiling.
Since warmer air rises, the exhaust fan sucks out the hot, stagnant air. The portable fan provides an excellent supply of cooler, CO2-filled fresh air. This technique allows for a constant supply of fresh air for your plants. It also helps keep temperatures to a manageable level.
Most cannabis strains prefer an upper-temperature range between 70- and 85-degrees Fahrenheit. When the lights are off, keep room temperature between 55 and 75 degrees. Indica strains tend to prefer the cooler end of the range.
The next step is a self-monitoring system to control it all. We assume you can’t spend 24 hours a day in your grow space! You need a 24-hour timer and an adjustable thermostat. The latter allows you to set your exhaust fan to switch on once temperatures go above a certain degree. The result is a relatively stable temperature range and humidity level while saving energy and money.
The 24-hour timer is just as important. When the marijuana plants are in vegetative growth, you need the light supply on for around 16-20 hours per day. Once they mature and reach the flowering stage, your plants need 12 hours light and 12 hours dark.
We also recommend investing in a pH meter to check on the quality of your water and soil regularly. If you’re growing in soil, try and keep the pH between 6 and 7. If you’re growing hydroponically, 5.5 to 6.5 is an appropriate range.
The easiest way to germinate your seeds is to plant them directly into a grow medium. Another common way to germinate seeds is using a seedling plug. Plant the whole plug after germination, and you’ll be on a proper growth trajectory. You should always use seedling plugs if you’re growing hydroponically.
When choosing the number of seeds, keep in mind that not every seed will flourish. It is common practice to assume 10 – 20% of the seeds won’t make it, so make sure to overestimate. The time it takes for seeds to germinate depends on many factors, but usually seeds will germinate in 2 to 7 days.
For beginning growers, it might be beneficial to practice the germination process on inexpensive seeds as you don’t want to take the risk of ruining a costly batch while you’re still learning to grow properly.
One of the most effective ways to germinate cannabis seeds is using the soaking method, which is a reliable process and easy to execute. Fill a cup with warm water and drop in the seeds, then look for the seeds that float. Remove any floaters, and cover the cup with a lid. You will see the roots start to sprout in 24-48 hours. Once the roots have grown about a quarter inch, transfer them to your grow medium. You need to be very careful during this process, as the small sprouts are delicate.
The germination process is expedited when seeds are kept warm. Once seeds are ready for the grow medium, place the seeds about two inches deep in the medium. It is crucial to keep the seeds moist but not soaking. If the seeds dry out, the process stops there.
Older seeds germinate slower and often have lower germination rates than newer seeds. However, even with fresh seeds, some strains germinate better than others. Don’t be too concerned if it’s taking awhile for your seeds to germinate. Patience is a virtue right?
Novice cannabis cultivators often accidentally overwater their seedlings, causing a number of problems such as sluggish growth, droopiness in the plant, or nutrient deficiencies. Properly watering your seedlings is important for the growth of your plants so they can be strong enough to support large flowering buds.
The first time you water your seedlings, make sure to give them 2 cups (500 milliliters) of water per seedling. Pour the water in a small circle around the base of the seedling to ensure you’re watering it instead of the dirt. Wait until the top part of the soil is mostly dry before watering again.
When your seedling starts to grow, slowly increase the water amount so the circle around the base is about the same width as the leaves. However keep in mind, different grow mediums will require different amounts of water. On average, seedlings need to be watered every 2-3 days until they are no longer seedlings. When your seedling is a few weeks old, it should have a healthy root system that can handle more water.
Switch to a normal watering practice once you transplant. This generally means to water your plant until there’s a slight runoff near the bottom, but don’t let your plant remain in the runoff water. Wait until the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch before you water again.
If you decide to grow in Coco Coir or hydroponics, it is very important to add nutrients to the water because Coco Coir and other hydroponic grow media don’t have enough phosphorus, nitrogen, or potassium to sustain plant life. Potting soil, however, only requires minimal extra nutrients.
When your seedlings are ready, you’ll need to transfer them into your garden. Remove the seedlings from their small containers and place them into large containers so they can continue to grow properly.
It is very important to complete this process with as minimal light as possible so the plants will have time to settle into their new homes before the next cycle of photosynthesis begins. Transplanting can cause some damage to the root system which can cause stress to the plant. Allowing proper settling time will alleviate this stress as well.
During this stage of growth your plants will start to produce new stems and leaves without buds. Caring for your cannabis plants during this stage is rather simple, especially if you have any gardening experience. Water the plants regularly, or maintain the water reservoir if you’re using hydroponics. To prevent excessive heat from killing your plants, periodically adjust the grow lights as the plants get taller.
Look for discolored leaves or droopiness. Removing discolored leaves from your cannabis plant will help to grow bigger buds because the plant can focus its energy on growing buds instead of trying to revive the leaves.
It’s very easy for cannabis plants to recover during the vegetative stage. Do your best to make sure your plants have adequate water, nutrients, and light. If you happen to make a few small errors, your plants will likely return to health after corrections.
After your plants have reached half the final desired size, they should start flowering. This is the most coveted growth stage among cannabis enthusiasts because the flower produced during this stage will be processed to become smokable buds.
Initiate the flowering stage by setting your grow lights on a timer with a 12/12 light schedule. This means the lights will be off for 12 hours and on for 12 hours. Make sure the plants are in absolute darkness during the dark period or the buds will not grow properly. Ensuring the grow space is totally without light is the key to this process.
After the first few weeks with the 12/12 light schedule, your plant will be growing quickly. This especially fast growth period is known as the “flowering stretch.” Many cannabis cultivators get extra growth out of their buds during this period by providing their plants with CO2 and switching from regular nutrients to bloom nutrients.
Your cannabis plants will typically start growing buds within 2-3 weeks after the switch to a 12/12 light schedule. When your plants start flowering, double check to make sure all of them are female. Male plants will produce pollen sacs at stem junctions which are easily identifiable. If you find any male plants, remove them immediately and discard them in plastic bags to prevent pollen spread. The presence of male plants will significantly reduce your flower yield.
The amount of watering needed for your indoor cannabis plants completely depends on the size of your plants’ containers and the intensity of the light your plants are receiving. A good rule of thumb is to water your plants every other day. Watering every day may prevent roots from receiving proper air flow.
Make sure the soil you select for your cannabis plants is highly drainable, but still has the ability to retain water. You’ll also want to consider the pH level, nutrients, and texture. Coco Coir is currently a popular choice and is sold in large bags or bricks. Many cannabis growers like to mix Coco Coir and regular potting soil to create a super soil of sorts.
It is very helpful to purchase a pH testing kit to ensure your plants are growing properly by making accurate pH assessments. It is also important to be cognizant of the nutrients you put into the soil as they relate to the pH balance as well.
The primary nutrients required for a high quality cannabis crop are nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and phosphorus (P); however, these aren’t the only nutrients found in cannabis fertilizer. There are micronutrients such as calcium, magnesium, sulfur, and several others. While these micronutrients aid specific growth processes, they are not as crucial as the three core nutrients.
Nitrogen helps stems and leaves grow. Without nitrogen, the leaves of your cannabis plant will turn yellow, and the plant will eventually die. Use as much nitrogen as possible, especially during the vegetative stage.
Potassium is needed to build sugars and transfer them throughout the cannabis plant. Potassium also creates rapid growth with its ability to help the plant absorb water and other nutrients.
Phosphorus is a key nutrient for indoor cannabis plants during the flowering stage. During this stage, you should provide the plants with more phosphorus than nitrogen because it will allow the plants to produce bigger buds.
When first transplanting your seedlings into soil, use only half of the recommended amount of fertilizer since most nutrient recommendations are too strong for seedling plants. However, you will need to increase the fertilizer amount if you notice plants are looking pale or lime green, as this likely means the plants need higher levels of nutrients.
Final thoughts
When starting a cannabis business you will want to choose the right seeds first. Depending on the effects you want to achieve, you will choose different strains. This major choice (medical vs recreational) will largely determine the market you will be operating in.
After deciding on the results you are hoping for, you will then research the right plants for you and purchase seeds. With the seeds starts the lifecycle of your plants. From now on you will do everything you can to optimize water, airflow, nutrients and light.