Marijuana Cultivation Tutorial

Whether you're new to weed cultivation or looking to improve your existing grow, following this complete guide will help you produce large, high-quality yields right at home. With the right supplies, strategies, and attention, growing weed indoors can be an extremely rewarding and cost-effective endeavor.

Choosing Pot Varieties

The first step in planning your indoor crop is picking the right cannabis cultivars to grow. The three main types of weed plants each have their own characteristics.

Energizing strains

Known for their uplifting intellectual effects, sativas grow tall and slender with narrow leaves. They flourish in hotter equatorial climates and have a longer flowering time between 2.5-3 months indoors. Top sativa varieties include Jack Herer, Durban Poison, Super Lemon Haze, and Jack Herer.

Relaxing strains

Indicas provide relaxing body-focused effects and spread short and bushy with broad leaves. Accustomed to colder mountain climates, they flower faster within 2-2.25 months. Popular relaxing strains include Granddaddy Purple, Northern Lights, and Bubba Kush.

Mixed strains

Hybrid varieties mix traits from both sativas and indicas. They offer blended effects and have moderate blooming times around 2.25-2.5 months. Well-known mixes are Blue Dream, OG Kush, and Blue Dream.

Setting Up Your Grow Space

Marijuana plants need the right controlled environment to flourish. Key factors for indoor farms are lights, ventilation, layout, and finding the ideal discreet area.

Location

Choose an empty space with direct access to water and power outlets. An empty spare room, large closet, corner of the basement, or grow tent tucked away in a garage all make great stealthy grow room spots.

Lighting

Marijuana requires intense light for all growth stages. LEDs are energy-efficient and come in broad spectrum options mimicking natural outdoor light. Cover 15-25 watts per sq. ft for the vegetative stage and 400-600 watts per sq. ft. for flowering.

Airflow

Proper ventilation and exhaust systems maintain ideal temp, moisture, and fresh CO2 levels. Set up quiet 10-15 cm blowers or carbon filters to circulate old air and eliminate odors.

Layout

Optimize your space by arranging plants strategically under the lamps and allowing room to access and work around them. Set up separate zones for growth, flowering, drying, and propagation.

Growing Substrates

Marijuana can be cultivated in various substrates, each with benefits and cons. Pick a appropriate option for your particular setup and cultivation style.

Soil

The classic medium, soil is affordable and easy for beginners. It provides great taste but needs more irrigation and nutrients to feed plants. Enrich soil with vermiculite or coir to enhance aeration.

Coco Coir

Made from coconut husks, reusable coco coir retains water but still allows air to the roots. It's more sterile and more consistent than soil. Use coir-specific fertilizers to prevent accumulation.

Water systems

In water systems, plant roots develop right in fertilizer irrigation solution. This enables quick development but needs careful observation of solution properties. DWC and irrigation systems are popular methods.

Sprouting Seeds

Sprouting prepares your pot seeds to begin sprouting taproots. This readies them for transplanting into their cultivation medium.

Towel Method

Put seeds between wet paper towel and maintain them damp. Check after 2-7 days for emerging taproots indicating germination is complete.

Direct Planting

Insert seeds right into wetted cultivation medium 6mm deep. Gently water and wait 7-14 days until sprouts push through the surface.

Rockwool Cubes

Presoak rockwool cubes in Learn More balanced water. Place seeds 6mm deep into the cubes. Keep cubes wet until sprouts emerge within 1-14 days.

Transplanting Seedlings

Once germinated, pot seedlings need to be repotted to prevent crowding. Move them into appropriately sized containers.

Preparing Containers

Load large containers with growing medium amended with slow-release fertilizer. Let pots to soak up water overnight before transplanting.

Carefully Transplanting

Carefully loosen seedling roots from germination medium using a spoon. Put into pre-soaked container at same depth as before and gently water in.

Growth Stage

The vegetative stage promotes leafy growth and plant form through 3/4 to full day of daily light intensity. This stage usually lasts 1-2 months.

Providing 18-24 Hours of Lighting

Use grow lights on a 24 daily cycle or natural sunlight to initiate nonstop photosynthesis. Lamp output influences size and internodal spacing.

Nutrients

Use grow stage nutrients higher in N. Make sure pH stays around 6.5 for full nutrient absorption. Fertilize 25-50% strength after 14 days and strengthen gradually.

Training Techniques

Fimming, low stress training, and scrogging manipulate shoot patterns for even foliage. This increases yields.

Bloom Stage

The flowering stage grows buds as plants show their sex under a 12 hour light timing. It lasts 8-12 weeks depending on variety.

Changing Light Schedule

Change grow lights to 12/12 or move outside for natural 12 hour cycle. This triggers plants to start blooming.

Stop Fertilizing

Leaching removes fertilizer residuals to enhance flavor. Fertilize weakly the first period then just use plain water the last 2 weeks.

Flushing

Continue 12 hour photoperiod but flush using neutral pH water only. Resume clean watering if buds aren't ripe after two weeks.

Harvesting

Recognizing when pot is fully ripe delivers maximum cannabinoid content and aroma. Cut down plants at peak ripeness.

Signs of readiness

Look for fading pistils, swelling calyxes, and 10-15% amber trichomes. Inspect buds across the plant as they don't all mature evenly.

Cutting Plants

Use sterilized, razor-sharp pruning shears to gently slice each plant at the base. Leave 5-10cm of stalk attached.

Drying

Hang intact plants or branches upside down in a lightless room with moderate temperature and RH around 45-65% for 7-14 days.

Curing

Aging keeps drying while aging the buds like aged spirits. This process smooths bitterness and intensifies cannabinoid and terpene profiles.

Curing containers

Manicure dried buds from stems and store into sealed containers, packing about 75% capacity. Use a hygrometer to measure jar moisture.

Opening jars daily

Open jars for a short time each day to gradually lower humidity. Rehydrate buds if RH drops below 55%.

Final Cure

After 2-3 weeks when moisture levels off around 55-65%, perform a final manicure and keep forever in sealed jars.

Common Problems and Solutions

Even experienced cultivators run into different pot plant problems. Identify issues early and address them correctly to maintain a healthy garden.

Nutrient Deficiencies

Chlorosis often signify inadequate nitrogen. Anthocyanins and leaves show phosphorus deficiency. Check pH and increase fertilizers slowly.

Bugs

Thrips, aphids, fungus gnats, thrips, and root aphids are common weed pests. Use neem oil sprays, predator bugs, and yellow traps for organic control.

Powdery mildew

High humidity encourages powdery mildew and bud rot. Improve airflow and venting while reducing RH under 50% during bloom.

Conclusion

With this complete indoor cannabis cultivation guide, you now have the knowledge to grow plentiful strong buds for private grows. Apply these steps and techniques throughout the germination, growth, and bloom stages. Invest in quality equipment and closely check on your plants. In time, you'll be compensated with frosty aromatic buds you raised yourself under the patient guidance of your green hands. Happy growing