7 TIPS FOR GROWING CANNABIS INDOORS | KEY TO CANNABIS

From equipment to types of seeds to harvesting times and common problems, the process of growing cannabis can seem overwhelming for a beginner. Now you can save time and improve your cannabis growing knowledge in 7 easy to follow steps. 

Choosing a growing location depends on where you live. For instance, if you live in a house, but don’t have a yard, you can grow cannabis in your basement. If you live in an apartment, you can grow it in the spare room (if you have one) or in a closet. Regardless of your home capacity, you should have in mind the environmental factors, such as light, temperature, and humidity when choosing the location.

As an indoor grower, the quality and quantity of light in the grow room has an enormous impact on how your plants will turn out. High-Intensity Discharge (HID) lights are used by a high percentage of growers because they are efficient and offer value for money. While LED lights are far more efficient, it can cost up to ten times as much for LEDs as an equivalent HID setup.

Metal Halide (MH) and High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) lights are the most common HID light variety. MH lights are best during the vegetative stage, while HPS is better for flowering. If you purchase HID lights, you need a ballast. Magnetic ballasts are relatively inexpensive, but high-quality digital versions are a better option.

Fluorescent grow lights are a viable option for a very small grow room. They are up to 30% less efficient than HIDs, but they are less expensive and don’t need a cooling system. LED lights come in various packages ranging from shoddy garbage to outstanding full-spectrum options. They are by far the most expensive option but they last longer, create less heat and use less electricity. There are also induction lights which are hard to find, expensive, and old-fashioned.

To make a smart choice on the seeds you are about to use for the growing process, is of utmost importance. Having a variety of different seeds and clones you can choose from on the market, or borrow from a fellow grower, only makes the choice harder. The best thing to do is to avoid using clones and purchase high-quality seeds from a seed bank.

Your choice of marijuana strains is also predetermined by your growing conditions. Always keep in mind that the size of your grow space and growing equipment can result in a good harvest with only some of the strain types. To choose the right type of strains, it’s best to consult a professional at a seed bank. Seeds with good genes are the foundation of a successful crop. 

Temperature

Maintain daytime temperatures around 65-80°F (18-26°C) in the flowering stage unless you’re using CO2 which does best at around 80-90°F (26°-32°C). However, even if you’re using CO2, most growers recommend you back off and bring the temps down to 65-80°F for the last two weeks before harvest.

Night temperatures should be kept around 68-75°F (20°-24°C) for most strains. Too-cool temps increase the chances of bud rot, which thrives in the 60°F (15°C) range, and freezing temperatures can actually damage or even kill your plants.

However, if you’re growing a strain that turns color, keep in mind that some of these strains will only show their color when night temperatures are at least a few degrees cooler than during the day in the flowering stage.

Humidity

Humidity stumps a lot of new growers and causes several unexpected problems.

Maintaining higher humidity during the vegetative stage will reduce salt levels within the plant while encouraging healthy and lush growth.

During the vegetative stage, if humidity drops below 40%, especially anywhere below 25%, it can cause problems that look like nutrient deficiencies or light/heat stress!

But in these cases, just adding a little moisture to the air does wonders, even if you don’t change anything else.

During the flowering stage, your cannabis plants actually prefers less humidity!

Decreasing moisture in the air (lowering the humidity) during the flowering stage helps prevent mold and actually may increase trichome production in your buds! For best results, keep humidity 40%-50% during the flowering stage.

This is yet another factor having to do with air quality (we already listed temperature and humidity).

Over time, any grower (especially indoor growers) will see that great air quality is a big contributor to star-quality buds. Air flow and ventilation are essential if you want to create perfect air quality.

For 1-3 plants smaller to mid-sized plants, you’ll probably be fine with an oscillating fan or two. With a big grow and hot lights, you’ll need a better exhaust system to ensure proper airflow, but it can be easy to set up!

Water is another factor that can support or hinder your plants’ growth. It’s because pouring too much water can droop and rot your plants and too little can dehydrate them. But, pouring the right amount of water will ensure their development.

Apart from watering your plants with the proper amount, you should also make sure the water you use is safe. It’s because some areas have hard water and others have polluted water. The excessive amount of minerals in hard water can build up in the root are and prevent the absorption of nutrients. On the other hand, the harmful chemicals in polluted water can cause root disease which will prevent the plant’s growth. That’s why you should use filtered water to avoid any unwanted situation.

The growing conditions are not the only things you should take care of when growing cannabis inside. Harvesting is another very important factor. It’s because it has to be done at the right time. If it’s done too early or too late, all your efforts might go to waste. That’s why you should pick the right time. You can notice if the buds are mature by their white hairs. If they have become rusty red or brownish, it means the buds are ready for harvesting. When 60-70% of the hairs have darkened your crops are at the pick of THC levels. If you miss this period and let your crops get 80-90% dark-haired you will have strains with higher level of anti-anxiety CBN concentration. 

Fluence SPYDRx PLUS LED Grow Light

SPYDRx PLUS is designed for full-cycle commercial cannabis cultivation with the power to scale from vegetative growth to bloom. For optimal results, we recommend CO2 supplementation between 800-1400 ppm due to high PPFD levels. Also designed to cover a 4’x4’ area at only 6 inches above canopy, SPYDRx PLUS delivers an average of 1030 µmol/m2/s of light over your crop with unparalleled uniformity.

ECO Farm GLT 500 Dimmable Samsung LM301B Grow Light

Eco Farm Commercial Indoor LED grow light uses our custom designed full-spectrum high efficiency 1560 LM301B white chips+36 Osram 660nm Red chips.

50W Enhanced Bar with UV(25W) and Far red(25W) optional.

Far-red light causes plants to stretch out and reduces the amount of chlorophyll (which is essential for plant growth) in leaves. When used for a short period, far-red light can stimulate flowering.

UV-B can induces a range of strong morphological effects in plants, including leaf thickness, leaf discoloration, cotyledon curling, inhibition of hypocotyl growth, stem and leaf elongation, axillary branching etc.

ECO Farm MS Series 660W/900W Commercial LED Grow Light Bar

1. Use Samsung high bin LEDs, ultra high PPFD, replace HPS 600W and 1000W perfectly

2.660W /900W/ multiple wattage optional

3.High lighting effect, 90% led grow light will be absorbed by plant, but to the tradition HPS light and MH light, its effect only 8% - 10%.

4.LED MODEL Meteor Storm is a high performance & affordable top-lighting solution for horticulture. Designed for applications requiring efficient,precise and uniform levels of PPFD.