Do you want to grow pot in Beverly Hills? This indoor cannabis growing guide tells you exactly how to grow weed successfully inside your own home.
Marijuana is a weed, and as we all know, weeds grow everywhere without hassle, despite our attempts to stop them. As any marijuana dispensary in Beverly Hills can tell you, anyone can grow these plants, but getting a good harvest out of them requires some equipment, knowledge, and care. Read on to learn how:
- How to Grow Marijuana Indoors
- What Light Do You Need?
- When Should You Flower?
- Other Important Tips
How to Grow Marijuana Indoors
Many people think that growing cannabis indoors is difficult. It is actually easy. According to California Courts, you have the right to grow six plants. There is only one aspect that presents a challenge: As a flowering plant, marijuana only bears fruit once a year, when the days get shorter during the fall.
If you want to grow marijuana indoors, then this information is pivotal. It means that you will need to control the light cycle of the plant. Your crop will need at least 12 hours of light daily to keep it in a vegetative state and stop it from flowering, preferably more. The more natural light your plants get, the more they will grow. If you give them less light, they will flower and start budding.
It may seem easier to let your plants flower naturally, but it is not a very good idea if you are growing indoors. You will not get much harvest out of them. Marijuana must grow for a few weeks at least; otherwise, there will not be enough plant to bear fruit. You will be disappointed with your small harvest.
To keep your plants growing healthily, you need to give seedlings at least six weeks of light before allowing them to flower. Experts recommend 18-20 hours of light every day, but if this is impossible for you, then make sure they have light for at least 16 hours. Although a sunlit window will work, you will need a lamp to give your plants the additional light they will need.
What Light Do You Need?
When it comes to horticultural lighting, you have options. Unfortunately, lighting is expensive and will be your biggest cost. Cheaper lamps can work for one or two plants, but they are not ideal. A bigger grow will need more specialized lighting.
For one plant at home, you can use an inexpensive 250-watt High Intensity Discharge (HID) bulb, either metal halide or high-pressure sodium. You will need a special ballast or fixture for it, though. Most do not fit standard home fixtures.
If you are able to use sunlight for most of the day, you can supplement the extra light with fluorescent bulbs, such as CFL’s, T8’s or T5’s. This should provide sufficient light to prevent your plants from flowering too early.
However, it is important to remember that your plants will not develop as well as they should if the light does not have enough intensity. Fluorescent bulbs make good supplements for plants that get strong sunlight for most of the day but will not work well in other indoor conditions. If the light is too weak, plants stretch too much and do not produce much harvest.
When Should You Flower?
When your plants are big enough to produce a decent harvest, you should trigger the flowering cycle. To do this, you need to change the light cycle to 12 hours of darkness and 12 hours of light every day. You will still need your lamp during this time, as the 12-hour light requirement for flowering will give your plants the energy they need to produce buds.
The only time a lamp is unnecessary is if you put your plants in direct sunlight for 12 hours, but even if growing naturally outdoors, this is seldom possible. You must control the light cycle with precision. Put your plants into an enclosed space, such as a cabinet or cupboard, and hang your light above them. Purchase an outlet timer and set the cycle to 12-hourly.
When your plants are in their dark cycle, there should be no light anywhere in their grow space. During flowering, leaking light can interfere with the process, confusing and stressing the plant. According to the Cannabis Industry Journal, you may get a few hermaphrodites that will pollinate your crop and make seeds. This will reduce quality significantly and lower your yield.
Other Important Tips
Besides an enclosed indoor growing space and light, your plants also have other requirements. You will need to decide what containers to use, as well as nutrients and soil. So let us discuss them:
Pots
The best pots for marijuana can breathe. Fabric containers are ideal. You can use standard plant pots, provided they have sufficient holes for drainage and a bottom saucer. Although catching the run-off is a good idea, your plants should never stand in stagnant water. It will attract mold and bugs, and it will change the pH ratio.
Soil
Cannabis plants grow well in normal potting soil, but for best results, choose organic coco-, peat-, or sphagnum-based soil. Make sure the soil is loose enough to allow airflow to the roots. Although plants breathe CO2, their roots require oxygen.
Look for a medium that already contains organic nutrients, such as sea kelp or guano. You will not need to give it as many nutrients manually, and if you choose the right one, perhaps not until your plants start flowering.
Nutrients
You should also choose organic nutrients. Miracle Gro and other synthetic nutrients are very high in salt. Sodium can cause deficiencies and other problems. Research the nutrients available and feed your plants according to their instructions.
This indoor cannabis growing guide explains the basics. If you give your plants the right lighting, space, soil, nutrients and pots, you should have a successful harvest. Remember to have fun though. Learn from the process and keep perfecting your technique.