Get Lit: Mastering Indoor Cannabis Cultivation

Ey! Dan here. Indoor cannabis cultivation might seem like a daunting task, but with the right tools and knowledge, you can master it like a pro. Here’s a detailed tutorial of all the basics you need to know to get started.

First step: choose where you’ll grow your cannabis. Basements, garages, attics, and even old furniture can all be transformed into a discreet grow space. Be sure to keep in mind variables like smell, sound and ventilation when preparing your grow space.

Once your space is ready, it’s time to choose your growing medium. Soil and hydroponics are two of the most common options; soil is generally easier for beginners, while experienced growers may opt for added control from hydroponics.

After deciding on your medium, it’s time to select your strain. Indica-dominant strains are ideal for beginners as they flower faster, are more compact and still produce spectacular results. If you can’t settle on one strain, multiple varieties can be grown in the same space – just keep in mind that different heights and harvest times may be easier to manage with experience.

Germinate your seeds by wrapping them in moist paper towel and putting them in a dark cupboard for 2-3 days or dropping them in a glass of water before moving them to pots.

Cannabis thrives in specific environmental conditions; during veg, daytime temperatures should be kept between 71-82°F and relative humidity should sit between 40-70%. During flowering, you’ll want temperatures to sit between 68-79°F and humidity not to exceed 50%. In the last 2 weeks of flowering (as you flush your plants), consider dropping your temperatures even further to 64-75°F, with humidity levels of 30-40%.

Most growers flip their plants to flowering after 4 weeks of veg; during this time they’ll need plenty of nitrogen and potassium to develop healthy foliage and strong roots. A common NPK schedule for vegging plants is 1-1-1. As plants enter the flowering phase they’ll need more phosphorus to support flower growth and density; a common NPK schedule during flowering is 3-2-1.

You’ll know your plants are ready to harvest when around 70% of the trichomes are cloudy, with the rest being a light amber brown. For a constant supply of great bud, you can use the perpetual harvest method – this involves keeping two grow rooms, one for vegging and one for blooming, and moving new plants into bloom right after harvesting a set of flowering plants.

And there you have it! With the right tools, knowledge and patience, indoor cannabis cultivation is easy – so get out there and start growing!