Harvesting Happiness: How to Grow Cannabis Plants at Home
While it may seem easy to some, growing cannabis at home isn’t as simple as it seems. Understanding how to grow marijuana requires patience, effort, and experimentation. In our guide, we offer several tips for home cannabis growers.
Start With Good Seeds
Before growing cannabis plants at home, many enthusiasts have certain strains in mind—but few give much consideration to the seeds they will use. New growers typically start with autoflowering seeds, which automatically move from vegetation to flowering no matter how much light they receive. By comparison, photoperiod seeds flower depending on light exposure, making their cultivation a time-consuming, painstaking process.
Feminized seeds increase crop efficiency because they’re sure to produce female cannabis plants, which yield the sticky green buds we all know and love. By selecting autoflowering and feminized seeds, new growers can guarantee the success of their crops.
Choose the Right Space for Cannabis Cultivation
After selecting seeds, it’s important to choose the right space for cannabis cultivation. Most enthusiasts set up indoor grow rooms, although outdoor gardens and greenhouses are sometimes used. Marijuana plants need controlled environments with plenty of light, air, and security.
Use Top-Quality Soil
Soil quality affects plant health and growth, and even the best seeds won’t take root without good soil. When growing cannabis at home, choose a rich growth medium that gives the plants the nourishment needed for healthy, fast growth.
Good potting soil comes packed with all the nutrients cannabis plants need, but you’ll need to do some research to find out which soil type fits the purpose. While good soil can be costly, it’s an investment that pays dividends in the form of bountiful crops.
Shed Some Light on Cannabis Cultivation
Proper lighting is crucial to the success of a home cannabis crop. There are several types of lighting available, including:
- HID or high-intensity discharge lights
- LED or light-emitting diode lights
- CMH (ceramic metal halide)
- LEC (light emitting ceramic)
Each type of lighting offers unique benefits and disadvantages, and understanding how they work will help you determine which type suits your setup.
Learn About Cannabis Growth Stages and Harvest Timing
Without knowledge of cannabis plant growth, it’s impossible to cultivate a healthy crop. Knowing the differences between vegetation and flowering, or when buds are ready to pick, is essential when growing cannabis at home.
Prevent Pest Infestation
Cannabis plants are susceptible to various diseases and infestations, adversely affecting yield. When growing at home, regularly inspect plants for yellowing leaves, the presence of insects, and other trouble signs. Isolate infected plants and treat them properly for the best chance at a fruitful crop.
Maintain Optimal Humidity and Temperature in the Grow Room
Maintaining proper humidity and temperature ensures the success of indoor cannabis crops. Growing plants should be kept at 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, with humidity at about 70%. Temperature and humidity requirements may decrease as plants age, but it’s crucial to do strain-specific research before getting started.
Practice Patience
When it comes to growing cannabis at home, patience is essential. While autoflowering seeds speed things up somewhat, the cultivation process can’t be rushed, as plants need enough time to grow to their full potential. By following these tips—and letting your plants do their thing—you’ll grow a green, bountiful crop.
