by Nebula Haze
If you’re here, you’re probably interested in growing weed at home but need help getting started. This list will get you prepared to start growing as soon as possible.
Here’s a quick list of what you should do right now if you want to start growing cannabis at home:
1.) Order Seeds – If you don’t have cannabis seeds yet, now is the time to order them. After ordering your seeds, it can take as little as a few days but sometimes up to several weeks before they arrive to your doorstep. This has a lot to do with luck as your package makes its way through the mail. Since it’s hard to predict the exact amount of time this step will take, the very first thing you should do if you’re thinking about growing is secure your seeds. Where to Get Cannabis Seeds
Tips for Ordering Seeds
1.) Want the fastest harvest? Order auto-flowering strains with an estimated life span of 10 weeks or less
2.) Want more choices and flexibility? Order any strain you want. Though try to avoid “tall” strains if possible because they can become unruly indoors!
3.) Choose “feminized” seeds if you want to make sure every single plant makes buds (what is a feminized seed?)
2.) Think About Where You Want to Grow – Some parts of the home are just plain better for growing than others. Read this article to help you narrow down where to start growing. Figure Out the Best Place to Grow Cannabis in the House
3.) Choose Your Grow Setup – Here’s a list of proven grow setups with a shopping list of everything you need to use that grow style.
4.) Germinate seeds – There are several effective germination methods. The most simple is simply to plant your seeds directly into the grow medium (mimic nature).
5.) Water plants regularly – Water when top inch is dry, then add enough water that you get some runoff out the bottom. Remove the runoff and wait until the top inch is dry again. How often to water?
6.) Initiate the flowering stage so buds start forming – When plants are about half the final size, put your grow lights on a timer. Set it so the plants get 12 hours of light, and 12 hours of total darkness each day (a 12/12 light schedule). This will cause buds to start forming. Continue the 12/12 schedule until harvest.
7.) Harvest, Dry, and Cure – When plants are ready to harvest, the white hairs on the buds will have darkened and curled in. After that, dry buds by cutting them off the plant and hanging them upside down until the small stems snap instead of bend. Put buds in jars and open daily for 2+ weeks to “cure” buds, which makes them smoother, smell better, and feel more potent.
Bonus: Avoid Common New Grower Mistakes – There are some challenges that many new growers go through and many of these issues are completely preventable. Read this super quick article to learn about 7 of the easiest tips for new growers: 7 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me When I First Started Growing Weed
I hope that helps you get started. Continue on to our basics tutorial for the next steps!
~Nebula
