Whether you're just starting out with pot growing or looking to improve your existing crop, following this complete guide will help you produce bountiful, high-quality yields right at home. With the right equipment, techniques, and care, cultivating marijuana indoors can be an extremely productive and cost-effective endeavor.

 

 

Choosing Cannabis Strains

The first step in planning your indoor crop is selecting the right marijuana cultivars to produce. The three main types of marijuana plants each have their own qualities.

 

 

Energizing strains

Known for their energizing cerebral effects, sativas grow tall and slender with narrow leaves. They thrive in hotter tropical climates and have a longer blooming time between 2.5-3 months indoors. Top energizing varieties include Sour Diesel, Durban Poison, and Jack Herer.

 

 

Indicas

Indicas provide relaxing full-body effects and grow short and bushy with wide leaves. Accustomed to colder mountain climates, they bloom 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 combined effects and have moderate flowering periods around 9-10 weeks. Well-known mixes are Blue Dream, OG Kush, and Blue Dream.

 

 

Setting Up Your Cultivation Space

Marijuana plants need the right controlled environment to thrive. Key factors for indoor grows are lights, airflow, layout, and finding the ideal discreet spot.

 

 

Location

Choose an empty 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.

 

 

Lighting

Cannabis requires intense light for all vegetative stages. LEDs are energy-efficient and come in full spectrum options replicating real sunlight. Provide 250-400 watts per square foot for the growth stage and 400-600 watts per square foot for bloom.

 

 

Airflow

Proper airflow and exhaust systems keep ideal temp, humidity, and pure CO2 levels. Set up silent 4-6 inch blowers or scrubbers to refresh old air and reduce odors.

 

 

Layout

Optimize your space by arranging plants strategically under the lamps and leaving room to reach and work around them. Set up separate zones for vegetation, bloom, drying, and propagation.

 

 

Growing Substrates

Weed can be cultivated in different substrates, each with pros and cons. Pick a proper option for your specific setup and growing style.

 

 

Soil

The traditional medium, soil is inexpensive and easy for new growers. It provides excellent flavor but needs more watering and fertilizing to feed plants. Amend soil with vermiculite or coir to improve aeration.

 

 

Coco Coir

Made from coir, reusable coconut fiber 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 hydro systems, plant roots grow right in fertilizer water solution. This enables quick growth but needs careful monitoring of water properties. DWC and irrigation systems are common techniques.

 

 

Sprouting Seeds

Germination activates your marijuana seeds to begin sprouting radicles. This readies them for planting into their growing medium.

 

 

Towel Method

Put seeds between damp paper towels and maintain them moist. Check after a week for growing radicles indicating sprouting is complete.

 

 

Direct Planting

Plant seeds right into wetted growing medium 1⁄4 inch deep. Gently water and wait 7-14 days until seedlings push through the surface.

 

 

Rockwool Cubes

Soak cubic rockwool starters in balanced water. Insert seeds 6mm deep into the cubes. Keep cubes wet until sprouts emerge within 1-14 days.

 

 

Repotting Young plants

Once germinated, cannabis young plants need to be repotted to avoid overcrowding. Move them into appropriately sized pots.

 

 

Ready Containers

Load final pots with growing medium enriched with time-released fertilizer. Let containers to absorb water overnight before transplanting.

 

 

Gently repotting

Carefully loosen young roots from germination medium using a spoon. Place into pre-soaked pot at same depth as before and lightly water in.

 

 

Vegetative Stage

The vegetative stage promotes foliage and plant form through 3/4 to full day of continual lighting exposure. This stage usually lasts 4-8 weeks.

 

 

Providing 18-24 Hours of Light

Use grow lights on a 24 daily schedule or outdoor light to initiate constant photosynthesis. Light intensity influences height and node distance.

 

 

Nutrients

Use grow stage fertilizers richer in N. Make sure pH remains around 6.5 for proper nutrient absorption. Feed 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 strength after 2 weeks and increase gradually.

 

 

Training Techniques

Topping, low stress training, and scrogging manipulate growth patterns for even canopies. This increases yields.

 

 

Bloom Stage

The blooming stage develops buds as plants show their sex under a 12/12 cycle timing. It lasts 8-12 weeks depending on strain.

 

 

Switching to 12/12

Change grow lights to 12 hours on, 12 hours off or move outside for outdoor 12/12 timing. This signals plants to start blooming.

 

 

Flushing

Flushing removes fertilizer residuals to enhance taste. Feed weakly the first weeks then just use pH'd water the last 2 weeks.

 

 

Flushing

Continue 12/12 light timing but leach using neutral pH water only. Learn More Resume plain watering if buds aren't yet mature after two weeks.

 

 

Harvesting

Recognizing when marijuana is fully ripe ensures peak potency and aroma. Harvest plants at optimal ripeness.

 

 

Identifying Ripeness

Look for fading pistils, swelling calyxes, and 5-15% amber trichomes. Inspect buds around the plant as they won't all ripen evenly.

 

 

Cutting Plants

Use sterilized, razor-sharp trimming scissors to carefully cut each plant at the base. Keep several inches of stem attached.

 

 

Curing

Hang whole plants or colas upside down in a dark room with moderate temperature and RH around 45-65% for 7-14 days.

 

 

Aging

Curing keeps desiccating while aging the buds like aged spirits. This process smooths bitterness and further develops cannabinoid contents.

 

 

Jars and Humidity

Trim cured buds from stems and store into glass jars, packing about 75% capacity. Use a hygrometer to monitor jar moisture.

 

 

Burping Daily

Unseal containers for a few hours each day to slowly reduce humidity. Rehydrate buds if Click Here humidity goes under 55%.

 

 

Final Cure

After 14-21 days when moisture stabilizes around 55-60%, perform a last trim and keep long-term in airtight jars.

 

 

Troubleshooting

Even experienced cultivators run into various marijuana plant problems. Identify problems early and fix them properly to maintain a vibrant garden.

 

 

Poor feeding

Chlorosis often indicate inadequate nitrogen. Purpling stems and leaves signal phosphorus deficiency. Test pH and increase fertilizers gradually.

 

 

Bugs

Spider grow light guide mites, fungus gnats, mites, and nematodes are common pot pests. Use organic sprays, ladybugs, and yellow traps for organic control.

 

 

Mold

Excessive humidity promotes powdery mildew and bud rot. Increase airflow and venting while reducing humidity under 50% during flowering.

 

 

Summary

With this complete indoor cannabis cultivation guide, you now have the info to cultivate plentiful potent buds for personal grows. Apply these steps and techniques throughout the germination, growth, and bloom stages. Invest in good gear and closely monitor your plants. In time, you'll be rewarded with frosty fragrant buds you raised yourself under the patient guidance of your green thumbs. Happy growing