Getting Started Growing Cannabis Indoors
Approximately 70% of the U.S. population consumes cannabis at least on occasion, but for many people, cannabis is far more than a plant they enjoy when it’s around.
Instead, cannabis is a way of life, a religion, and an escape from the sometimes harsh realities of life, whether it is aches and pains or sadness interfering with your well-being. Enthusiasts who understand the sheer magnitude of cannabis oftentimes find the cultivation process one that heightens their experience. This God-given plant has powers unbeknownst to some, but for the true cannabis enthusiasts, its amazing qualities are undeniable. Growing weed indoors offers the perfect opportunity to take your cannabis love to the next level.
Now that marijuana has become a hot topic around the country, many of the stigmas that once surrounded the plant are gone and more people are learning and accepting that it is a beneficial plant and a far cry short of the Class I narcotic the federal government has it labeled as. Currency eight states allow usage and cultivation of marijuana for recreational use, while more than 40 have legalized cannabis use and cultivation for medicinal purposes. Marijuana research is being conducted at universities, elite members of our community are showing their support, and advancements are being made every single day. Nonetheless, it is a crime to grow marijuana without a medical red card (How to apply for medical marijuana card?) if you don’t reside in a legal state.
Growing marijuana indoors alleviates the worry. Many people are growing cannabis indoors as we speak, producing large, beautiful, plants filled with those delightful buds that you so greatly appreciate. If you’re ready to join the trend, learning how to grow is the first step. Growing marijuana indoors isn’t as difficult as some people would assume. In fact, it takes just 10 simple, easy steps to grow!
What You’ll Need to Monitor During Growing
Growing marijuana indoors allows you to keep an eye on the entire growth process. Marijuana is a plant that requires lots of attention if you want it to yield powerful, potent results, though the overall process is fairly simple once you get the swing of things. Checking in on your plants three or four times per day can help yield the best results, especially for the beginning grower.
It is important to monitor the amount of air and light that the plant receives when growing marijuana indoors. Marijuana is a native outdoor plant and thrives when pristine conditions are noted. Thus, proper air flow, proper light, and the right amount of moisture are key ingredients to a successful grow.
Flowering plants like marijuana produce fruits only once per year during the fall season. They’re fruitful during this cooler period after receiving sunlight and nutrients during the warmer months. It’s called a photosynthesis period and is a process that you’ll need to reproduce when growing marijuana indoors. To do this, the plants need up to 16-hours of light during the seedling stage and approximately 12-hours during the flowering process.
The photosynthesis also requires proper air be delivered to the plant. All plants need air to survive, including the cannabis plant. A steady stream of airflow in the grow room is essential to a healthy marijuana plant. Marijuana plants thrive in temperatures ranging from 70 F to 85 F; an exhaust fan can help you maintain these temperatures. Since some strains of the marijuana plant prefer lower temperatures while others thrive when temperatures are closer to the highest temperature point, it is important to properly educate yourself on the preferences of the seedling before you begin.
Step 3: Choose Your Growing Medium
Many mediums are available for indoor grows, giving you plenty of options to pick from. Each of the growing mediums has benefits and disadvantages, of course, but that’s the great thing about growing your own cannabis: you can experiment and choose your favorite method. Trial and error; live and learn. The first time that you grow you may prefer one method over the other but you can always try your hand at the alternative growing medium the next time around.
The two most common indoor grow mediums are soil and soilless, or hydroponics mediums. Hydroponics grows are still fairly new, though nonetheless common knowledge to most who partake in the 420-love.
Soil Medium
Most growers use soil for their cannabis growth and it’s the most suitable option for beginners. Many different potting soils are available from your local gardening store. Most will work for your operation, though it is advisable to avoid Miracle Gro since it contains artificial extended release fertilizer that harms the cannabis plant. Compost potting soil, while more expensive, is the best option. Compost soil sometimes referred to as super-soil, allows cannabis plant growth from seedling to flowering without the need for added nutrients. Compost soils are also available at the local gardening store, though it is possible to make your own by mixing a few ingredients like bat guano and worm castings together.
Soilless
Soilless growing is popular indoors. Also known as Hydroponics, this medium feeds the plant using concentrated mineral salt nutrients that the plant absorbs through its roots during the osmosis process. If you plan to use hydroponics to grow, you’ll need to choose a type of material to grow. Choices include expanded clay pebbles, rockwool cubes, and vermiculite. Most of the soilless mixes soil include two or more mediums to ensure optimized growing experiences.
Content share offered by “Sophia Walters of Plantsily.com”