How to Grow Marijuana: A Beginner’s Guide to Cultivating High-Quality Cannabis at Home

Learning how to grow good weed couldn’t be easier, and this beginner’s guide will provide you with the essential information to get started. With the right equipment and some enthusiasm, you’ll be growing a healthy plant with high-quality buds in no time! So, let’s get started and give you an idea of what to expect as you begin your cultivation journey.

Understanding the Basics of Marijuana Cultivation

Growing marijuana at home can be a rewarding experience with the right equipment and guidance. The growth cycle of a cannabis plant can vary depending on the strain but typically lasts between 12 to 20 weeks. The vegetation period usually lasts 4 to 8 weeks, while the flowering stage lasts up to 12 weeks. However, one thing to remember is that to get the best possible results, you need to be patient throughout the entire cultivation cycle.

If you’re planning to grow cannabis outdoors in your garden, it’s important to find a spot with ample sunlight, as outdoor cultivation relies on natural sunlight and weather conditions. However, if you choose an indoor grow, you’ll need to recreate an optimal growing environment for your plants using specific equipment. 

Here is a list of what you’ll need to grow high-quality weed indoors:

Grow tent

If you can’t dedicate an entire grow room, then a grow tent is an ideal option for growing cannabis indoors, offering a controlled environment that protects the plants from adverse conditions. With a grow tent, it’s easy to adjust environmental factors as needed to optimize plant growth and yields.

Medium

For beginner growers looking to grow cannabis indoors, soil is the preferred medium. The best soil for growing cannabis is easy to work with, often includes added supplements for optimal growth, and can help regulate moisture levels, making it an excellent choice for those just starting out.

Pots

Selecting the right pot size for indoor cannabis cultivation is crucial, as it can significantly affect plant growth. For beginners, it is recommended to use 3 to 7-gallon plastic pots with adequate drainage holes, as this provides ample space for the roots to flourish. Fabric pots are another great alternative for growers. 

Lighting

If you’re cultivating cannabis indoors, using LED grow lights is highly recommended. These lights provide a full spectrum of light essential for the plants to undergo photosynthesis, converting light into sugars necessary for growth and development.

Nutrients

Cannabis plants need different amounts of nutrients like nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) at various stages of their life cycle. To ensure the best growth, it’s recommended to use fertilizers that are made explicitly for cannabis and follow the manufacturer’s mixing instructions to ensure plants receive the best nutrition. 

Ventilation

When growing cannabis indoors, it’s important to have proper ventilation to ensure that your plants stay healthy. A well-ventilated grow space not only helps replenish fresh air but also regulates temperature and humidity levels.

Choosing Your Cannabis Seeds

Selecting the right cannabis seeds is a crucial step for any marijuana cultivator, regardless of experience level. With so many strains available, choosing the best one for your requirements can be overwhelming. But fear not. 

Humboldt Seed Company has a wide selection of top-quality genetics suitable for beginners and experienced growers. Whether you’re looking for a high-yielding outdoor strain or a potent indoor strain, they’ve got you covered!

Best cannabis seeds for beginners

Strawberry Cheesecake Autoflower has a lineage of 70% indica and 30% sativa. It was created by crossing GSC Forum, Purple Panty Dropper, and Vanilla Latte Auto, resulting in high THC levels of up to 30%. It produces compact, resinous buds with a delightful, sweet, and creamy aroma. The best part is that it’s an autoflowering variety, so it will begin to flower independently without the need for you to adjust the lighting schedules, making it ideal for beginner growers.

OG Kush Feminized seeds are perfect for beginners as they are easy to cultivate and highly resistant to pests, diseases, and mold. These seeds produce sturdy plants with an aroma reminiscent of fresh sandalwood, zesty citrus, and pine. With high THC levels of up to 26%, this strain induces a relaxing body stone. It was developed by breeding Chemdawg, Lemon Thai, and Hindu Kush. With a relatively short flowering time of 60 days, the outdoor harvest falls between October 1st to 15th.

Hella Jelly Feminized seeds offer a tantalizing mix of fresh cherries, strawberries, and mango, with subtle hints of caramel and candy. These marijuana seeds are easy to grow, and their sativa-dominant genetics offer an uplifted and energizing high with THC levels up to 30%. These fast-flowering seeds have a highly robust and resilient structure, yielding impressively well indoors and outdoors. As a result, they’re an excellent choice for any grower, regardless of their expertise.

Germinating Your Seeds

The first step to growing marijuana at home is to germinate your cannabis seeds. While there are different methods to germinate seeds, we recommend using the wet kitchen roll technique. To make the process easier for you, we have created a straightforward guide on germinating cannabis seeds.

1. Start by placing two moist paper towels on two plates.
2. Place your marijuana seeds an inch apart on top of one of the wet towels and cover them with the other plate.
3. Keep the plates in complete darkness and maintain temperatures between 70 and 80 °F.
4. Check them daily and spray them with water to maintain a moist environment.
5. The taproot will emerge within 72 hours.

Once the taproot has emerged, it’s time to transplant your seed into a pot or outdoor location. Create a hole about an inch deep, and carefully position the seed with the taproot facing down. Cover the seed with a light sprinkling of soil and moisten it. The seedlings should emerge from the soil within 24 to 72 hours. 

Vegetative Stage: Caring for Your Growing Plants

During the vegetative stage, it’s crucial to provide your plants with 18 hours of light and 6 hours of darkness, with a relative humidity between 40 to 60% and a temperature range of 75° to 85° F. This stage typically lasts four to eight weeks, but can be extended if you desire larger plants. Using a nutrient base specifically designed for the vegetative stage, with high nitrogen levels, is recommended to promote healthy stem and leaf growth.

After germination, the seedling sprouts two cotyledon leaves. True leaves appear by the second week, and the root zone continues to develop. In the third week, there is more growth in nodes and leaves, often leading to bushier foliage in the fourth week. Regular pruning is suggested for optimal airflow within the canopy. For indoor growers with limited vertical space in their tents, starting the flowering phase around the fourth week of vegetation is recommended.

When watering your cannabis plants, it is recommended that they be watered every one to two days, depending on the pot size. To determine if your plants require watering, insert your finger about an inch into the soil. If it feels dry, then it’s time to water the plants. You can also weigh your pots when the soil is completely dry. Then, water your plants thoroughly and weigh them once more. Regular monitoring provides a reliable indicator of when to water your plants again.

Flowering Stage: When Your Plants Bloom

If you’re growing weed indoors, switch the lighting cycle to 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness to initiate flowering. This change in the light cycle signals the plants to start the flowering stage. Outdoor plants will begin to flower naturally as daylight hours grow shorter. The flowering stage typically lasts from 7 to 12 weeks, and it’s important to maintain the proper environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity, to ensure optimal growth.

It’s time to determine the sex of your cannabis plants during the second week of the flowering stage. You can do this by observing the nodes of the plant. Female plants will produce small white hairs, known as pistils, while male plants will develop small balls, called pollen sacs. It’s vital to identify male plants and remove them from the garden to prevent pollination of the female plants.

Switch to a blooming nutrient with high phosphorus levels during flowering to promote bud development. By week three, calyxes will swell, and there will be continued vertical growth. In weeks four and five, calyxes will continue to enlarge, trichome production will increase, and the buds will be more visible. The buds will begin ripening around week six, and some fan leaves may be starting to yellow. By week seven, the trichomes will appear mostly clear, and the buds will become more fragrant. 

By the eighth week of flowering, buds will become more dense and resinous, indicating that it’s almost time to harvest your plants. Before harvesting, it’s important to decrease the amount of nutrients you have been feeding to help ensure the plant can use all of its stored nutrients. This helps the plant produce more favorable buds. 

Harvesting, Drying, and Curing Your Marijuana

To determine the best time for harvest, it’s recommended to check the trichome colors on the buds using a jeweler’s loupe. If the trichomes appear transparent, it means they’re not yet mature. Wait until approximately 70% of the trichomes become cloudy, with some turning amber, and then you can start the harvesting process. 

Here are some tips for harvesting once your weed is grown:

• Harvest and label the large colas first.
• Remove the larger fan leaves to reduce excess moisture.
• Leave some smaller leaves near the buds to protect trichomes during drying.
• Cut the plant down at the base of the stem.
• Place all buds in a container and move to the drying room.

Drying involves removing excess moisture from the harvested buds. To properly dry and cure cannabis buds, you should start by hanging harvested branches upside down in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated area. A steady temperature of 60-70°F (15-21°C) and humidity level of 45-55% is ideal. After 10 to 14 days, test the moisture levels and begin to snap one of the branches. If it snaps, your buds are ready to be trimmed.

Now, it’s time to trim your dried cannabis buds. Before you start, It’s a good idea to wear protective gloves to minimize trichome damage. Begin by lightly trimming the excess foliage on your buds, but be careful not to remove too much. Proper trimming helps to improve the quality and appearance of your buds.

Once the buds are trimmed, It is time for the cure. Curing eliminates the remaining chlorophyll, resulting in a smoother smoking experience with enhanced flavor and aroma. Store your trimmed buds in airtight glass jars, keeping humidity at 58-62% to avoid mold growth. Cure the buds for several weeks, burping the jars occasionally for fresh air. Finally, store the cured buds in a cool, dark place, away from light and moisture, to maintain their freshness.

What’s stopping you from growing cannabis at home?

Now that you have learned how to grow ganja from the comfort of your home, what’s holding you back? With Humboldt Seed Company’s fantastic selection of genetics, there is a strain suitable for every type of grower and cannabis consumer. Check out some impressive new strains, such as Golden Sands, Orange Creampop, or the OG Triploid. You’re sure to come across a strain that meets your growing requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions from First-time Growers

Let’s address some basic questions that are frequently asked by beginner growers.

How easy is it to grow a weed plant?

Growing weed can be easy, and with the right equipment, knowledge, and effort, anyone can grow marijuana.

What does marijuana need to grow?

Marijuana requires a growing medium, light, water, air, and nutrients to flourish.

How much water does marijuana need to grow?

Marijuana plants generally need about one to two inches of water per week during the vegetative stage and two to four inches per week during the flowering stage.

Plant size and pot size factor into how much water a plant needs. Plants can drink anywhere from half a cup per day in early veg growth to over a gallon at peak flower growth. 

What are feminized seeds?

Feminized seeds are cannabis seeds that produce 99% female plants.

What makes marijuana grow faster?

To make marijuana grow faster, it needs proper nutrients, lighting, temperature, humidity levels, and air circulation.

How much do growing plants smell?

Growing cannabis plants can produce a strong odor that can be pretty noticeable, especially during the flowering stage.