Growing weed is an exciting yet somewhat intimidating venture. Cultivating cannabis plants isn’t quite as easy as cultivating your typical garden, but it sure provides a whole lot of rewards.
According to a report, the market for cultivating cannabis plants at home could be worth almost $4 billion by 2030. The report also states that 3 million cannabis consumers in America grow their weed at home.
Unfortunately, cultivating cannabis plants isn’t legal everywhere in the country, so before you look for tips on how to grow cannabis, check with your state laws to see if it’s allowed.
But, if cultivating marijuana plants at home is legal, what’s stopping you from raising some MMJ plants?
If you simply don’t know how to grow weed, don’t worry! That’s exactly why we’re here. Let’s get started.
Growing Marijuana Is Exciting, and Here’s Why
Not only is growing weed fun, but it has so many benefits.
From access to your favorite strains to giving you more control over every part of the cultivation process, growing weed promises an overall exciting experience.
You Get Access to your favorite strains
One exciting advantage of cultivating cannabis plants yourself is that you get to grow whatever strains you want.
If you have one strain that you benefit from most, you can focus your entire cultivation on perfecting this specific strain.
This way, you’re continually growing cannabis that works for you! And, if you want to switch it up from time to time, you’re more than welcome to. It’s up to you!
There is Privacy
Cultivating cannabis plants indoors helps you to maintain a decent level of privacy.
There is no room for neighbors to be all up in your business, and you also get to protect your weed from thieves.
In fact, setting your at-home grow station where the public can see it is against the law in most states.
Keep that stuff on the down-low — both for your safety and legality sake.
You Have More Control
Another potential benefit of cultivating cannabis plants indoors is that it lets you control every cultivation phase, from planting to harvesting. It also allows you to develop your plant during any season.
Growing your weed indoors also means that you can control natural circumstances such as temperature, light, and humidity.
Growing Weed is Easy — But a Bit Complicated
Cultivating cannabis indoors isn’t impossible, but it may not be super-easy for first-timers, either.
Growing weed as a beginner can be especially complicated if you do not have the correct information and resources.
So to aid your learning about how to grow weed, here’s our “Growing weed for beginners” guide.
Know the law
We cannot stress this enough! Finding out if the law in your state allows the cultivation of cannabis should be your first consideration. There are many states where cannabis is legal, but cultivating cannabis is not.
However, under federal laws, producing cannabis plants even for personal consumption is a felony punishable by up to five years of imprisonment.
Only a handful of states, such as Colorado and Oregon, have laws allowing citizens to grow a limited number of plants.
In a nutshell, before you look for guides on how to grow cannabis, make sure cultivating cannabis plants is legal in your state.
Click here to learn all about the marijuana laws in your state.
Understand the Basics of Cultivating Cannabis
This may sound obvious, but you have to know at least the basics of cannabis cultivation.
When cultivating cannabis plants, it’s crucial to pay attention to factors such as light conditions, air, water, nutrients, and the growing medium. If you fail to consider even one of these factors, your yield will not be successful.
So, make sure you always take the time to learn about what — and how — you’re growing before you actually start.
Select Your Cannabis Seed
If cultivating cannabis plants is legal in your state, the next thing you want to do is select your seed. Any guide to growing weed for beginners will have seed selection as one of the first things to consider.
Remember, there is a wide range of weed strains, from Sativa to Indica and even hybrids. The best approach is to select your seed based on the strains that can perfectly serve your needs.
How to Choose Marijuana Seed
You do not want to put so much effort into cultivating your cannabis plants only to discover that you don’t like the end product.
That is why seed selection is a crucial part of every “growing weed for beginners” guide. It is the foundation you build the rest of your effort.
So, what should you consider when you pick your seeds?
Availability
Your choice is limited to what local licensed dispensaries offer. You could research strains online and pick a strain based on that research.
But, what if it is not available locally? It is a good idea to contact local licensed sellers and see what strains are available.
Climate and Environment
Marijuana strains have different needs; some do better outdoors, and some are more of indoor plants. Certain plants grow tall and tall spread out, making outdoor cultivation the best option for them.
Some plants require a lot of attention, while some will do just fine with moderate care. So, if you don’t have much spare time, it’s best to pick a strain that won’t demand much care.
Grow Space
You can grow cannabis in a small space or large space, but you can’t grow more cannabis than your space can contain, and if you try to cram too many plants into a small space, you’ll ruin the whole crop.
For instance, indicas are usually shorter and are a good option if you’re growing in a small space.
Maturity Period
How soon do you want to harvest your plants? Some plants reach maturity early and are ready for harvest.
If you want a quick harvest, pick a strain that will flower in 8-9 weeks.
Flavor and Aroma
Think of cannabis strains as one big family in which each member has different characteristics.
The intensity of the flavor and aroma varies by strain, so it is up to you to pick strains best suited to your taste.
Desired Effects
We all process cannabis differently because our endocannabinoid systems are not the same. The potency and terpene profile of marijuana influence how they affect your endocannabinoid system.
If you want a less psychoactive effect, pick strains with a significant amount of CBD.
Cultivating Cannabis with Ease, Right at Home
Once you get it right, cultivating cannabis at home becomes easier. The primary things your plant needs to thrive are:
Air
Proper ventilation with good air exchange and only a slight breeze is ideal for your plant to thrive. For the best quality, your plant needs fresh, moving air.
It may not be an issue if you cultivate cannabis plants outdoors because your plant gets a natural breeze.
However, if indoors, you will need to go the extra mile to ensure your plant gets fresh, free-flowing air.
Water
Just as you need water to survive and stay hydrated, so does your plant. The quality and quantity of water matter a lot as well. If you choose to grow indoors, you must ensure an ideal pH level between 6.3 and 6.7 when watering.
Light
If you are growing weed indoors, it is also necessary that your plant gets the right amount of light at the right time.
Like every other plant, cannabis needs light to catalyze the photosynthetic process. Without the right amount of light, your harvest will be poor.
So, what’s the right amount of light?
Every grower will do things differently, but most farmers expose their plants to at least 18 hours of sunlight during the vegetative stage, letting them rest for a few hours a day.
Having proper grow lights is integral to cultivating the best cannabis possible.
Our friends over at MoGrowin offer high-quality LED grow lights, grow tents, and other cultivation accessories that make growing weed easier than ever.
Temperature
Simply put, your plants can die if you expose them to extreme temperatures. As such, it is essential to pay attention to the temperature conditions of the growing environment to keep your cannabis happy and healthy.
The ideal temperature for these plants is between 68 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, you need a hygrometer — a tool for gauging temperature and humidity — to keep track of these elements.
Also, if you are cultivating cannabis plants indoors, your fans and air conditioning heat can regulate the temperature. This way, you can grow under any weather condition! However, if growing outdoors, you must pay attention to the climate before cultivating.
Growing Medium
Soil is not the only medium for growing your plants; there are other mediums, such as coconut coir, rock wool, or vermiculite which you can use to grow weed.
The choice is yours, as each has its pros and cons.
Nutrients
Just as humans need the proper nutrients to survive and live a good life, plants need nutrients to thrive.
The good news is that there are pre-formulated nutrients you can buy and add to your water.
You can also formulate your growing medium to contain all the nutrients.
How Long Does It Take to Grow Weed?
Answering this question depends on many factors, including the cannabis strain you choose and whether you are growing indoors or outdoors.
Typically, indoor grows take less time than outdoor grows because you control every phase — including when the plant starts budding.
However, generally, it takes 3 to 5 months to grow, harvest, and cure your buds.
Growing Weed for Beginners: Indoors vs. Outdoors?
Where you choose to grow your weed depends on you and the laws that regulate the cultivation of cannabis plants in your state.
Still, is it better to grow outdoors or indoors? Both locations have their advantages and drawbacks.
Cultivating cannabis plants outdoors is easier and cheaper because you have more space and natural resources like air and sunlight.
Growing outdoors is a great option if you’re dealing with strains that tend to grow tall and spread out. The major drawback is that cultivating marijuana plants outdoors makes them more susceptible to pests and diseases.
On the other hand, it is more expensive to cultivate cannabis plants indoors because you need more equipment to regulate the internal environment.
However, the big advantage of growing cannabis plants indoors is that you control every aspect of the process, from seed to harvest.
This tight control of the grow factors yields some very great weed. If you want premium quality weed, indoors is a good option.
How to Grow Weed with Elevate Holistics
Growing weed might seem a bit complicated, but it doesn’t have to be — especially with the help of Elevate Holistics.
Here at Elevate, we offer all of the services and support you need to have the best medical marijuana experience possible.
Whether you have questions about growing cannabis in your state, how much weed you can grow, or even how to get started, our team has the resources you need to grow with confidence. All you have to do is ask.
Want to learn more about cultivating cannabis? Check out our other resources: A Beginner’s Guide to Growing Marijuana | Cloning a Weed Plant: The Best Guide for Beginners
