More and more states are legalizing cannabis for recreational, adult use, and often baked into these laws are regulations for home cultivation, which gives users more autonomy to get high on their own supply, avoiding the steep taxes at local dispensaries. While cannabis is a relatively beginner-friendly crop to grow at home, it isn’t entirely foolproof — especially in environments that are dark or humid.
If you are interested in becoming a first-time cannabis grower, you will likely experience some trial and error with your cannabis crop. Fortunately, you can reduce your error and improve your yields by following this step-by-step guide to getting started as an at-home cannabis cultivator.
Step 1: Prepare Your Space
Before you can raise a single pot plant, you need to create a space appropriate for cultivation. Most states have strict laws regarding where and how you can grow at home, so it is a good idea to start by looking up the regulations in your area. You might find that it is perfectly acceptable to grow outdoors in a garden as long as your property has high walls and lockable gates; however, most states restrict home growing to indoor spaces, particularly those not visible to the public — meaning away from large, public-facing windows. There are pros and cons to both indoor and outdoor growing, but regardless of which you choose, you still need to invest time into making your space ready to grow cannabis.
Outdoor growers need to:
● Strengthen fencing around cannabis grow zone to keep unwanted visitors (people, pets, pests) out.
● Consider erecting structure around the grow zone, like a grow tent or a greenhouse, for more environmental control and security.
Indoor growers need to:
● Maintain an internal temperature between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
● Install at least one grow light, in addition to maximizing any available natural sunlight from windows.
● Place a fan nearby to improve air circulation and prevent overheating.
Step 2: Prepare Your Container
Cannabis isn’t a particularly picky crop, which means it can grow in just about any kind of container. Still, there are containers that facilitate growth more than others, so you should think critically about the pots in which you plant your pot. The best containers are those that offer:
● Drainage. Cannabis plants don’t like to stay wet, so containers should be able to release extra water through a hole in the base.
● Space. Cannabis plants like to grow their roots wide, so it is advisable to buy larger containers than you might use for other types of plants.
● Aeration. Cannabis plants like oxygen around their roots, so the best containers are those that have some perforation for air flow.
Though there are many growing mediums to consider, as a beginner grower, you would be wise to stick to soil, which is the easiest to acquire and maintain. However, just because you plant your crop in soil doesn’t mean any soil will do. Cannabis requires a neutral pH, which means your soil should neither be acidic nor basic, and it needs quite nutrient-dense soil, as well. Here are some expert soil picks to look for at your local Aurora nursery.
Step 3: Prepare Your Plant
Next, you need to choose which kind of cannabis you are going to grow. Thanks to science, we know that the differentiation between indica and sativa isn’t particularly helpful in understanding weed’s psychoactive effects; now, you will find other information, like cannabinoid content and terpene profile, to explain effects of strains at your local Aurora dispensary.
Still, the classification of indica and sativa remains truly useful to growers because these terms accurately define how a certain strain is going to grow. Here are a few pros and cons of indica strains vs. sativa strains:
Indica Strains for Growers
● Pro: Shorter, better for indoor or cramped growing spaces
● Pro: Mature faster, ready to harvest weeks sooner than most sativas
● Con: Less flavorful, often with skunky and dank terpenes
Sativa Strains for Growers
● Pro: Heat-tolerant, better adapted to hot, humid climates
● Pro: Better harvest, high yields thanks in part to larger size
● Con: Needy, require more attentive cultivation
Step 4: Profit!
Cannabis plants aren’t exactly set-and-forget; you will need to monitor them for distress, which might mean changing your watering schedule, investing in more grow lights, repotting them and even trimming them should their growth become explosive. Still, once you have your grow space set up properly and your plants potted, you are well on your way to getting the home-grown ganja you deserve.
