Whether you're just starting out with marijuana production or looking to improve your existing grow, following this complete guide will help you produce big, high-quality yields right at home. With the right supplies, strategies, and care, growing weed indoors can be an extremely satisfying and cost-effective endeavor.

 

 

Choosing Marijuana Varieties

The first step in planning your indoor grow is picking the right weed varieties to grow. The three main types of pot plants each have their own qualities.

 

 

Sativas

Known for their energizing cerebral effects, sativas grow tall and slender with narrow leaves. They flourish in tropical tropical climates and have a longer blooming time between 2.5-3 months indoors. Top energizing strains include Jack Herer, Durban Poison, Super Lemon Haze, and Jack Herer.

 

 

Relaxing strains

These strains provide calming body-focused effects and grow short and bushy with broad leaves. Adapted to cooler mountain climates, they flower faster within 8-9 weeks. Popular indica strains include Granddaddy Purple, Northern Lights, and Bubba Kush.

 

 

Hybrids

Hybrid strains blend traits from both sativas and relaxing strains. They offer blended effects and have medium blooming times around 2.25-2.5 months. Popular mixes are Blue Dream, OG Kush, and Blue Dream.

 

 

Setting Up Your Cultivation Space

Pot plants need the right controlled environment to thrive. Key factors for indoor farms are lighting, ventilation, layout, and finding the ideal discreet area.

 

 

Location

Choose an available space with quick access to water and electrical outlets. An empty spare room, large closet, basement corner, or grow tent locked away in a garage all make great discreet cultivation room spots.

 

 

Lighting

Cannabis requires powerful 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 sq. ft. for flowering.

 

 

Airflow

Proper ventilation and exhaust systems maintain ideal temp, moisture, and fresh CO2 levels. Install low-noise 4-6 inch fans or scrubbers to refresh stale air and reduce odors.

 

 

Layout

Optimize your space by positioning plants strategically under the lights and allowing room to access and work around them. Set up separate zones for growth, bloom, drying, and propagation.

 

 

Growing Substrates

Cannabis can be grown in various mediums, each with benefits and cons. Pick a suitable option for your particular setup and growing style.

 

 

Soil

The traditional substrate, soil is cheap and simple for beginners. It provides excellent flavor but needs more watering and nutrients to feed plants. Amend soil with vermiculite or coco to enhance aeration.

 

 

Coco Coir

Made from coir, reusable coco coir 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 directly in nutrient irrigation solution. This allows rapid development but needs close monitoring of solution chemistry. Deep water culture and irrigation systems are common techniques.

 

 

Sprouting Seeds

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

 

 

Towel Method

Place seeds between wet paper towels and keep them damp. Inspect after 2-7 days for emerging radicles showing germination is complete.

 

 

Planting directly

Insert seeds directly into pre-moistened growing 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 6mm deep into the cubes. Keep cubes wet until seedlings emerge within a week to 2 weeks.

 

 

Repotting Young plants

Once sprouted, weed young plants need to be repotted to prevent overcrowding. Move them into appropriately sized pots.

 

 

Ready Containers

Load final pots with growing medium enriched with time-released fertilizer. Let containers to soak up water for 8-12 hours before repotting.

 

 

Carefully Transplanting

Gently separate young roots from sprouting medium using a spade. Put into prepared container at same depth as before and lightly water in.

 

 

Growth 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 Light

Use grow lights on a 24 hour cycle or natural sunlight to initiate nonstop growth. Lamp output influences height and node distance.

 

 

Fertilizing

Use vegetative stage nutrients higher in nitrogen. Make sure pH stays around 6.5 for proper nutrient absorption. Feed 25-50% concentration after 14 days and strengthen slowly.

 

 

LST and topping

Fimming, low stress training, and scrogging direct growth shapes for flat foliage. This boosts yields.

 

 

Flowering Stage

The blooming stage grows buds as plants reveal their sex under a 12/12 light timing. It lasts 2-3 months based on strain.

 

 

Changing Light Schedule

Change lamps to 12/12 or move outdoors for natural 12/12 timing. This triggers plants to begin flowering.

 

 

Stop Fertilizing

Leaching flushes out nutrient salts to improve flavor. 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. Resume plain watering if buds aren't yet ripe after two weeks.

 

 

Harvesting

Recognizing when marijuana is fully ripe ensures maximum potency and aroma. Cut down plants at peak maturity.

 

 

Signs of readiness

Look for swollen calyxes, faded pistils, and 5-15% cloudy trichs. Check buds around the plant as they won't all ripen evenly.

 

 

Harvesting plants

Use sterilized, razor-sharp pruning shears to carefully slice each plant at the base. Leave 5-10cm of stalk attached.

 

 

Drying

Suspend whole plants or branches inverted grow light guide in a dark room with average temp and humidity around 50-60% for 1-2 weeks.

 

 

Curing

Curing keeps drying while improving the buds like aged spirits. This process mellows harshness and intensifies terpene and terpene profiles.

 

 

Curing containers

Trim cured buds from branches and place into sealed containers, filling about 75% capacity. Use a sensor to measure container humidity.

 

 

Opening jars daily

Open containers for a few hours each day to slowly lower moisture. Remoisten buds if RH drops below 55%.

 

 

Final Cure

After 14-21 days when humidity levels off around 55-65%, do a final manicure and store forever in sealed jars.

 

 

Troubleshooting

Even experienced cultivators run into various pot plant problems. Identify problems early and fix them properly to keep a healthy garden.

 

 

Poor feeding

Yellowing leaves often signify insufficient nitrogen. Anthocyanins and leaves show low phosphorus. Check pH and boost nutrients slowly.

 

 

Pests

Thrips, aphids, fungus gnats, thrips, and root aphids are frequent weed pests. Use organic sprays, ladybugs, and yellow traps for natural 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 grow plentiful strong buds for private grows. Follow these steps and techniques during the germination, vegetative, and propagate cannabis guide flowering stages. Invest in good gear and closely monitor your plants. In time, you'll be rewarded with frosty aromatic buds you raised yourself under the patient guidance of your green hands. Happy growing