Homegrown cannabis means that you don’t have to concern yourself with changing weather conditions while growing the plant. Not to mention, the chances of pests and disease attacking cannabis is much lower than in an outdoor garden. However, growing cannabis indoors means that you’ll need to simulate the growing environment using technology.
The most challenging part about homegrown cannabis is finding the right strain that suits your needs. Enable to get away from this dilemma, you can look for free marijuana seeds online and do an experiment in homegrown cannabis.
What you should consider？
Successful indoor cannabis growing relies on controlling the environment of the grow space. Take into consideration the following aspects during the setup of a small indoor grow room space.
Humidity
Most plants like between 40 to 60 percent humidity, but the ideal humidity can change depending on the stage the plant is in, or type of plant. Marijuana prefers a humidity of 40 to 70 percent during the veg state, but only 40 to 50 percent during flowering.
In contrast, the habanero chile does best in high humidity, and a hot environment, but will not tolerate damp soil. It is important to research the specific plant you intend to grow.
Temperature
Plants grown indoors are comfortable at temperatures that we are comfortable with, usually between 65 to 80 degrees, depending on the specific plant.
Ventilation
Good ventilation helps regulate temperature, assists in achieving desirable levels of CO2 and humidity, and eliminates odors that certain plants, such as cannabis, create.
A ventilation system usually consists of an oscillating fan, Extraction Fan, ducting and a carbon filter to remove odor.
Growth Medium
Soil, sea of green hydroponic or Aeroponics are all growth mediums discussed previously.
Water, Fertilizer, and Nutrients
Plants need to be fed. Water is the most crucial nutrient. Good water must be free of chlorine and fluoride.
Consider a water filter in your indoor grow room. Water must also have the correct pH and balance of mineral salts to optimize the growth of plants and you need testing tools to regulate the water.
- Primary Nutrients: NPK, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium are the primary ingredients in most fertilizers.
- Secondary Nutrients: Calcium, magnesium, and sulfur, help with the structure of the plant cell wall, production of chlorophyll, formation of amino acids and root growth.
Micronutrients: Boron, Chlorine, Copper, Iron, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc are needed for fruit and seed growth, plant metabolism, photosynthesis, nutrient uptake, enzymatic action and more.
Grow Lights and Timer
Grow lights are a key consideration of any indoor grow project. Grow lights are also a controversial topic with various opinions on what type of grow lights are best.
Usually, from what advanced marijuana growers seen around the block, LED grow lights are best.
Testing Equipment
A pH meter is used to test the water and is especially important if you chose hydroponics as your growth medium.
A conductivity meter is also crucial for a hydroponics system to make sure the mineral balance is correct and that you are not under or overfeeding your plants.
There are meters available to test your indoor grow room humidity, CO2 and air circulation, as well as a thermometer to measure temperature.
Stakes, Supports and Trestles
You want to think about and anticipate plant growth and give the plant the structure and space it needs to grow. A plant that grows as a vine may need a trestle.
Cannabis plants will also benefit from trellising, tomato cages or stakes to support the plants’ heavy limbs.
Pest Control
Pests, insects, plant disease and fungus are all a possibility with an indoor grow setup, and they can devastate your crop. Think ahead and decide how you might combat these problems and be vigilant by checking the plants regularly for problems.
Consider natural and organic methods such as the use of beneficial insects like ladybugs or the Minute Pirate Bug which not only has a cool name but is incredibly useful in eating problematic pests.
Side Notes
There are plenty of benefits and uses for indoor systems.
- Grow your plants from seedling to harvest, without any sunlight
- Start seedlings early before transplanting to the garden in early spring
- Use specialized lighting systems for propagating and flowering
- Finish outdoor plants that don’t have enough light left in the season
- Propagate your plants and your root cuttings
- Grow plants inside all year-round
