HOW TO GROW 4 MARIJUANA PLANT AT HOME As legalization spreads, more cannabis enthusiasts are naturally going to want to try cultivation for themselves. The 2018 National Gardening Survey found 15% of US households would grow marijuana at home if it was legal. But, along with edibles, home growing is generally among the most contentious topics within the legalization debate. Allowing it, police say, enables criminals to hide in plain sight. For law-abiding growers it could invite burglaries, since their stash is worth $1,000 a pound and easy to resell. Firefighters worry about the blazing hot lightbulbs growers use and their elaborate electrical set-ups. Art you can smoke: the strange and exquisite bongs worth $50,000 The plants can attract unappetizing blights like spider mites, fungus gnats, powdery mildew and grey mold, also called bud rot. And the odor can annoy neighbors. The most vocal opponents of home growing may be the Quebec government which has said it will not allow home grow immediately, as part of an effort to legalize at its own pace. But home growing has its pleasures. Like tomatoes or carrots, growing one’s own cannabis is cheaper than buying it, and a chance to learn something.
What does a cannabis plant need to thrive? In order to thrive and grow, every cannabis plant needs: 1. Light – whether you’re using sunlight or grow lights, you must understand the light needs of a cannabis plant to get the best bud quality & yields.
2. Growing Medium – the stuff your plants grow in; soil isn’t your only choice! 3. Air – a well-ventilated space with good air exchange and a slight breeze is best. 4. Temperature – A good rule of thumb for cannabis plants is if it feels too hot for you, it’s probably too hot for your plants. Just like humans, cannabis plants can die if exposed to extreme temps.
5. Nutrients – you can buy pre-formulated nutrients that you just add to your water, or you can compost your own super soil so that it already includes all the nutrients you need.
6. Water – like all plants and living creatures, cannabis needs water to survive and grow
How To Grow 4 Marijuana Plant At Home Step 1: How to Select the Best Marijuana Strains for Growing Weed When first starting out selecting strains can seem complicated. So many different breeds, variations and options to choose from. I remember not knowing which seeds to pick and later not knowing which breeder to buy from. The options can be overwhelming when starting out! You are probably looking for a strain that grows quickly, is easy to grow, produces much bud and has high potency. But wait… there is more to it! First: There are male and female cannabis plants. Only female plants carry the buds and cannabinoids you are looking for. If you want to make sure to only receive female plants buy feminized seeds. However: Male plants are needed for breeding! Your cannabis cultivation will look and feel different depending on the seeds you choose. Let’s talk about sativa, indica and auto-flowering strains next. SATIVA STRAINS:
grow tall (especially in the flowering phase) be heat-resistant (but unable to cope with cold) grow into long buds have a more easy, upbeat effect
INDICA STRAINS:
grow short be better in cold (but worse in heat) grow into dense buds have a more heavy, relaxing effect
AUTO-FLOWERING STRAIN
be a mix of Indica and Sativa be small have a short cycle of 2 to 3 months (which makes them great of starting out)
Step 2: Hydroponic Vs. Soil Systems
This is the very first step and you should be able to make a decision on the method that you choose to cultivate your plants. Whether you choose the growing tent of a soil sytem, each will need some specific set up mechanisms. It is highly advisable to have a clear mind on the type of growing method that you feel would work for you. Ideally, the right size hydroponic tent has the advantage of taking up very little space. You will also need to have the right tools to control the environment for the grow tent.
Step 3: Space to Set Up
Another significant issue that you will have to settle before you can continue with the setup is the space. With the growing tent, you can only buy the ideal size when you are certain of the available space. The reason why you will need to identify the location is to make the process of assembly easy. You do not want to build your indoor garden and then have to move it to a different place. You may be shocked to realize that the framework does not fit through your doorway. It is important to have the number of plants in mind when setting apart space for your garden. Generally, I advise growers to work with the rule of one plant per square meter, for bigger plants, or 25 smaller plants. The issue of having control over the environment should not be ignored and you will need to have access to the all in one grow tent without a problem. You need to have adequate space for all the accessories and also have room for maintenance and cleaning. 3’ x 3’ grow tents are a perfect size to grow 4-6 plants full-size plants from veg to flower. The compact design is ideal for the grower with limited space and fits well in larger walk-in closets for a more secluded grow operation. The 3x3 portable grow room is one of our most popular sizes for the beginner to learn to grow in and the 4-6 suggested plants are easy to manage for the average person, but also will yield a decent amount for personal use. View our product pages for lighting and ventilation recommendations as well as tons of other useful information.
Step 4 Choose Your Grow Light If you are growing inside, your lighting setup will be the most expensive part of the process. Beginners growing just one or two plants at home can get away with using almost any type of indoor grow lights. HID (high intensity discharge) lights are the most widely used because of their efficiency, although they’re more expensive and require specialized HID ballasts (fixtures). Fluorescent light fixtures are more economical, but are less efficient. There are also all-in-one HID and fluorescent light kits available that are designed for indoor grow spaces. Beginners and experienced growers alike also take advantage of indoor growing systems that include lights, watering systems, and fans, making it easy to set up a marijuana grow. Some indoor growing systems even have smartphone connectivity to adjust settings on the
go and a camera so you can see your marijuana plants from anywhere. Having proper lighting is imperative for all indoor gardening activities, even when you have the right size high quality tents. When it comes to the issue of grow lights, there are a couple of options to choose from, including:
HPS Grow Lights LED grow lights CMH Grow Lights
400 watt HPS grow light and MH grow light: 3 x 3 feet (or 95 square feet) for 1-6 plants 315 watt CMH grow light to cover up to 3x3ft- 4×4ft for 1-6 plants 450W LED Grow light (actual power） cover up to 9 sq ft (3×3) for 1-8 plants
Step 5: Setting Up Ventilation The main advantage of using the hydroponic tent is the fact that it allows to control the environment and one of the ways of ensuring that this is done effectively is by preparing the ventilation. When the grow room is ventilated, you will be able to prevent mildews and mold from affecting your plants. One of the most effective ways that growers use to regulate the temperature is, having fans inside the tent. However, this would not be enough and this is why you need to have ventilation. Proper ventilation will control humidity and will also lower the temperature. As such, you will not need to worry about pathogenic infections on your plants. To prepare for ventilation in the tent, you need to cut a hole on the top of the cabinet that you are using. If the material that you are using makes it hard to cut through a hole, you may have the option of leaving the door slightly open. You also opt for ducting and carbon filters to be able to control the airflow inside the indoor garden. This will also help in reducing odor, which we discuss in detail later on.
Step 6:Nutrients If you aren’t using a pre-fertilized organic soil mix, your marijuana plants will need to be fed throughout the vegetative stage. Nutrient solutions are sold in either a concentrated liquid or a powder, both designed to mix with water. Feeding your plants these nutrients can prevent nutrient deficiency to help ensure big, healthy buds. You’ll need a bottle of macronutrients containing:
Nitrogen
Phosphorus Potassium
You’ll also need a bottle of micronutrients containing:
Calcium Magnesium Iron Copper
Step 7: Environment Control Temperature Behind lighting, temperature is another critical condition in the grow tent that needs monitoring and ventilation. Most plants prefer temperatures within the range of 70 - 80°, or maybe even stretching to 85°F. Many plants prefer the upper range of this spectrum and will grow well if the conditions are slightly warmer. The most important factor in temperature is that it is consistent. Make sure the daytime temperatures (i.e., when the lights are on) is maintained within a fairly consistent range, and that the off-lighting temperatures drop no more than 10-15°F. In this case, consistency is key. CO2 The carbon dioxide levels are directly correlated to the growth rates of plants. At leaves of 1200 t0 1500 ppm CO2, growth rates are increased significantly and may be seen at some of the highest possible levels. It’s important though to note that at higher CO2, there may be a corresponding increase in temperature that needs to be addressed. Air circulation Indoor growing systems are not exempt from insect infiltration. One of the best wants to combat insects within a given space is make sure there is constant air circulation. Don’t point circulating fans directly at plants as this may cause them to dry out prematurely, but you want to make sure the fans are providing enough air the leaves on the plant being grown are always slightly moving. A gentle breeze will hinder fungus gnats and spider mites. Humidity Humidity is a varying, hot topic amongst researchers still. Some will stand a more traditional ground, saying plant growth is irrelevant to humidity levels and it doesn’t necessarily matter what the relative humidity levels are within the grow tent. But some research shows the humidity level can affect plants depending on their various growing stage; plants prefer approximate 60% relative humidity. You can always add moisture to the air by placing wetted sponge close to
growing trays, add trays/bowls of water close to the plants, or add larger plants to your growing system that will transpire more.
Step 8: Screens and Collection Racks Having come this far the hydroponic grow tent is almost ready for use. You are about to plant your crops. If you are planting your crops on soil, you need to have a collection rack. This should be placed at the bottom of your indoor grow room. This does not need to be a complex mechanism, but all you will need is a rack that is made of wire shelves, which will create a place for the plants to sit on. The main objective is to ensure that the plants are not on the ground and this comes with so many advantages. The pants will have airflow and will also make it easier to clean the room. Any plants debris that falls on the ground will be cleaned easily, without affecting the other plants that are growing. As such, there will be hardly any risk of contaminating the plants. The other option would be to the use of the screens. You will need to find a screen that will fit into the grow room in perfectly. This method is useful in training the plants during their cycle of vegetation. When you need to place a screen inside the best indoor grow systems, you can fit it on the walls or the collection rack.
Step 9: Place Your Plant Finally, the last step is placing your plants. However, this should only be done once you have tested all the lights and all the other accessories. You should ascertain that you have the ideal climate where there is proper airflow, whether you are placing plants in the pot or directly on the soil. When placing your plants, you should give them adequate room for plant growth. If you have pots, ensure that they are at least 3 inches apart. It is advisable to give all your plants enough room to be able to grow and acquire all the essential nutrients.
Final Thought: There are complete grow kit! You can easily watch the plants are they thrive inside the grow room that you have made from scratch. You need to ensure that you are not interfering with the environment as this may affect the plants. Reduce the number of times that you will go into the room so as not to contaminate the plants. With the indoor grow tent kit, you can actually grow any type of plants that you desire, without having to consider the season. Assembling a grow tent from scratch is not an easy task, but since I have guided you, you will have the perfect indoor gardening room.
You do not need to have a lot of space as you can work with the space that you have.