How To Grow Weed

As cannabis rapidly continues to reach legalization, many people are learning how to grow weed. Growing weed is a fun and rewarding process that requires the correct supplies and knowledge followed by love and care for your plant. 

Learning how to grow weed may seem tricky or complicated, but with the right information and understanding, you can be a successful grower in no time! Use this guide as a source for general information on the basics of how to grow weed.  

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How To Grow a Weed Plant 

There are a few factors that every grower needs to consider before growing weed and beginning their weed plant’s growth cycle. Just like each cannabis plant is different, every grower will have their own unique methods and journey. 

Materials for Growing Weed 

Similar to other plants, growing weed requires specific elements in order to thrive: 

• Light: Whether you decide to grow indoors or outdoors, your weed plant will need ample lighting to produce the best buds and quality yields. 
• Growing Medium: Believe it or not, you have more options than just soil! Exploring different growing mediums will help you determine the best setup and environment for your plant. 
• Air: A well-ventilated space with good air is always healthy for plants. A slight breeze is a plus! 
• Temperature: If it’s too hot for you, it is probably too hot for the plants! Growing weed means regulating the temperature of the environment to prevent exposure to high temperatures. 
• Nutrients: There are countless options for your cannabis plant’s food. There are tons of nutrient-rich formulas and solutions out there for every grower. 
• Water: Like all living things, water is necessary to survive! Water is another crucial element that must be regulated and consistent throughout growing weed. 

No matter where you choose to grow, these six resources are crucial in the process of growing weed and should be regulated throughout the plant’s growing cycle. 

Indoor vs. Outdoor 

There can be many differences that range between growing weed indoors and outdoors. Luckily, there is not a straightforward wrong choice. The decision of growing indoors or outdoors is solely based on the convenience of the grower, with consideration of the type of cannabis plant being grown. 

Indoor Growing 

This method of growing is often considered more private and versatile in the way you can grow weed indoors. Many growers use spare rooms or closets to organize a growing space for weed plants. Equipment such as grow tents and indoor lighting must be purchased to provide the basic resources it takes to grow weed. With indoor growing, you are able to have more control over the environment your weed plants are in while reducing the risk of bugs or pests. 

It is also helpful to consider the type of cannabis plant you will be growing. While every plant requires the basics of light and water, specific strains of cannabis tend to grow larger and taller and will need more space to thrive. Other strains tend to grow shorter and bushier, making it easier to grow indoors. Either way, an environment where the plant has room to grow is essential for indoor growing. 

Outdoor Growing 

Without the requirement of extra equipment such as lighting and growing tents, growing weed outdoors is typically considered a less expensive option. With that, privacy and bugs or pest issues may occur in outdoor grows. The environment of growing weed outdoors can’t be as controlled as an indoor grow can, but the natural resources of air, light, and water bring promising large yields and buds. 

Climate is important to consider when growing weed outdoors. If you are living in a region where it is extremely hot or cold, it may be more difficult to successfully grow weed. Outdoor growers should utilize the natural resources available for the weed plants, but also consider the impact of overwatering or heat exposure due to a fluctuating climate. 

How To Grow Weed from Seeds

After you have established a growing environment and the proper materials, the next step in how to grow weed is understanding the stages of growth your plant will go through. 

The first stage involves germinating your seeds. Many home growers purchase cannabis seeds online, although there are multiple sources available to buy seeds and clones. 

Germination

• Soak a few sheets of paper towels in water. 
• Place your weed seeds on the soaked towel, then fold the towel to cover the seeds. 
• With the seeds wrapped in the paper towel, keep them stored out of direct light and in a warm place for about 48 hours. 
• Check on the seeds periodically, keeping the paper towel moist. 
• When you notice the seeds slightly opening with a small root poking up, the seeds are ready for transplant. 

Transplanting and Seedling

• Prepare your garden pots and soil or growing medium of choice. 
• Make a 1/4in deep hole in the soil, ensuring the hole isn’t too deep or too close to the surface. 
• Use tweezers to carefully drop the seeds in the hole, then gently cover with soil. 
• Keep the soil out of direct sunlight and in a moist area, wetting soil one or two times a day. 
• If growing indoors, seedlings should receive 16 hours of light each day.

Vegetative Stage 

This is an imperative stage for growing weed. Growers should focus on forming healthy and strong plants. Green leaves and length will continue to occur in the vegetative stage, but buds and flowers are not forming yet. The vegetative stage can feel like the most lengthy part of growing weed, but it is a crucial time for your plant to be absorbing the nutrients and resources it needs for a large yield. 

In this stage, be mindful of the plant’s watering and nutrients. Watering your plant outward and farther away from the stalk helps the roots to stretch out and absorb water more efficiently. Indoor plants should receive 16 hours of light a day, outdoor plants at least 6 hours. 

Flowering Stage 

The final stage of growing weed, the flowering stage is when the plants develop resinous buds for harvest. In this cycle, indoor plants should be receiving around 12 hours a day. This reduction in light helps signal for the plants to flower and mature into their next growth phase. 

Within about six weeks of the flowering stage, you will begin to notice changes in your plant as a sign it’s ready to harvest. The pistils surrounding the weed buds will grow out and shift from a clear white to a brownish tint. The buds should feel dense and sticky, full of crystallized trichomes. After you have successfully grown weed, it’s time to harvest and cure the weed for you to enjoy! 

How Long Does it Take to Grow Weed? 

The time duration it takes to grow weed is based on the factors of the plant’s growing environment, the specific strain grown, and even the nutrients used. In general, it can take anywhere from 10-32 weeks (3-8 months), from seed to harvest. Considering the four basic growing stages, the timeline can be broken down as follows: 

• Germination: 3-10 days 
• Seedling: 2-3 weeks 
• Vegetative: 3-16 weeks
• Flowering: 8-11 weeks

No matter the schedule listed above, it is extremely helpful to keep track of and record the progress of your plants when growing weed. Taking notes will help you learn more about how to grow weed and help you determine what factors were helpful or not throughout the process. 

Final Thoughts 

Even though learning how to grow weed can be straightforward, there are many different practices and helpful advice out there to help you optimize your growing weed journey. Keep in mind the vital resources cannabis needs in order to grow when considering where and when to grow weed.  

Through the right preparation and knowledge, you can successfully learn how to grow weed wherever and whenever.