Perhaps you already know the important things you need to know about a cannabis plant’s life cycle and methods of germinating the seeds. Now, you probably desire to grow your own plant. If you choose to grow indoors, then you must put up the grow room as well as know the type of cannabis growing supplies you need.
To ensure the harvest of beautiful and healthy plants, growers look out for some specific cannabis growing supplies. You may be asking – what are the things I need to start my journey? This article is for you. We will give you all the necessary information about the things you need when planning to grow cannabis indoors.
Cannabis growing supplies that are must-haves
Below are ten things you need to have when growing cannabis indoors:
- Weed seeds
- Grow room/tent
- Grow lights
- Pots/containers
- Growing medium
- Nutrients
- pH meter
- Thermometer
- Ventilation
- Carbon filter
These items play a crucial role in preserving the life and health of cannabis plants.
Weed seeds
A vital item to have when growing marijuana is the cannabis seed itself. There’s a wide variety of strains in the market to choose from, it is important to figure out which strain is perfect for you. Weed seeds are classified into three major categories; feminized, auto flowering, and regular strains.
Feminized seeds are engineered genetically to put forth female plants. This seed option is preferred by growers because it eliminates the possibility of male plants having to pollinate the females. Feminized Seeds are known to get very tall, also, you can expect large yields from them. However, some may produce hermaphroditic plants if the breeder made use of the hermaphroditic parent plants.
As the name implies, auto-flowering seeds start the flowering phase automatically. This stage begins a couple of weeks after the planting. The plant’s life cycle is shorter and it is very beginner-friendly. However, the downside is that auto-flowering seeds produce smaller yields than other seed options.
The regular seed is the last category of cannabis seeds. These strains are naturals and are capable of producing male plants. Much vigilance is required to make sure that the males are completely removed from the marijuana crop. However, some breeders use regular seeds in making their marijuana strains.
Grow room & tent
Setting up a grow room is necessary if you intend to grow your cannabis indoors. Using a grow room is favored by growers since it enables them to control their environment. Also, you can ascertain the soil type and how much lighting your plant gets.
You do not necessarily need an entire room to create your grow room. If you want to plant just a few seeds, you can simply make use of the closet. However, you will need a much larger space if you intend on growing a larger crop size. Also, consider the fact that certain strains are capable of growing beyond one foot, the branches can grow past the pot edges as well.
Many people opt for grow tents when they lack specialized pots suitable for a smaller space. Grow tents are quite compact and are capable of fitting into small spaces like the closet. The waterproof floors of grow tents are quite beneficial.
Also, environmental conditions like humidity can be managed better with growing tents. The tents aid in the conservation of energy and the circulation of clean air.
Grow lights
The main light source when growing marijuana outside is the sun. However, if you plan on planting indoors, you have a plethora of lighting options to pick from. One of such options is fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs. Although these grow just about one to two plants, they are energy savers and they don’t require special equipment.
HID lights are another option. These come in HPS and MH variants. While MH bulbs give off a bluish light, HPS bulbs produce redder lights. HID lights produce intense heat but they are quite reliable at providing great yields.
For the flowering and vegetative stages, LED lights do just fine. Although these bulbs do not have industry standards, they can save you a bit on cooling costs. You can buy LEC bulbs that have a costlier set up but come with natural spectrum light.
What amounts to the best grow light for indoors can be based on things like the seed type and the size of the growing space. For example, CFL bulbs are best for smaller grow spaces. On the other hand, LED lights with 400-600W are best when dealing with bigger crops to produce healthy plants.
Pot & containers
It is important to get the right pot for growing cannabis plants. Getting larger pots may become necessary as the cannabis plant grows. However, this doesn’t apply to all strains. For instance, auto-flowering plants which are known not to grow too tall will do just fine with small or medium-sized containers.
Like grow lights, containers come in varieties that you can choose from. There are standard flowerpots, these can be bought at an affordable cost anywhere. It is important to get ones that have drainage holes. Another is the smart pot. Also referred to as fabric pots, this enhances growth by air pruning the roots.
Air pots and smart pots are quite alike, however, they are plastic. They come with air holes found by the side and you have to water them frequently. Another option used by growers is called the hempy bucket. The drainage hole of hempy buckets is located a few inches up rather than at the bottom. This option allows you to water less often, but be careful not to allow the nutrient solution to become stagnant.
Growing medium
There are various types of growing mediums available that can help growers cultivate a bountiful yield. Regular soil which is packed with nutrients is a good option. You can harvest the best-tasting plant and it is pretty cheap too. However, there’s a higher chance of getting mold and pests when using soil.
A popular option amongst growers is a medium known as coco coir. This is enriched with sufficient nutrients and it is renewable. Also, the medium is pH-neutral. The downside is that it is not easily accessible in physical stores. Another option is Rockwool. Rockwool retains moisture effectively. This medium comes in slabs and cubes. However, you should pay attention to the nutrient and pH levels.
There are growing medium mixes that use vermiculite, which is a light weighted option. Vermiculite is favored by growers because it absorbs water very well. Although every medium has its benefits, coco happens to be the more popular choice. Like soil, you can grow marijuana easily in coco, and it has more advantages.
Nutrients
For marijuana plants to remain healthy in each phase, they require varying quantities of each essential nutrient. Three common macronutrients are super important – nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Nitrogen performs a significant role when the plant is in its vegetative stage. The absence of nitrogen would mean that the plant cannot develop the necessary chlorophyll to convert light to energy.
Phosphorus is essential when it comes to the growth of the root and seed. If the phosphorus deposited into the medium is insufficient, the roots may exhibit signs of underdevelopment. The plant may not enter the flowering phase. Sufficient use of this nutrient is very important if growers expect to see plants with healthy and larger buds.
Potassium is essential to properly regulate the plant’s concentration of water and salt. This nutrient aids in the opening and closing of the stomata, which are the pores of the leaves. Also, potassium helps in the passage of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water.
Cannabis plants need micronutrients too, the micronutrients needed are copper, calcium, magnesium, and iron. Juxtaposed with the other three macronutrients, these should be administered in smaller doses. Their function is to help with plant metabolism and mineral absorption. Administering the correct quantity of each mineral is vital to avoid nutrient burns.
pH meter
The pH refers to the alkaline or acidic levels of the soil on a 1-14 scale basis. If the number is less than 7, the substance is acidic. Cannabis plants can only take in nutrients at the point when the soil’s pH level ranges between 6-7. If the range is lower or any higher, then there is a risk of nutrient deficiencies.
To ensure your harvest is plentiful, you should measure out the pH using a good measuring kit. You can opt for a pH meter, they are easier to use and quicker. For an accurate reading, put the pH meter into your growing medium after doing some calibration. Checking the pH levels regularly is of utmost importance.
In case of an imbalance, you can use pH solutions designed to help increase or decrease the acidity. Add little amounts into the growing medium while you monitor the meter to return to its optimal range.
Thermometer
To measure the temperature of your cannabis crops, you will need a thermometer. This will enable you to know if the tent or room is too warm or too cold. Colder temperatures are capable of slowing down the plant’s growth. While some don’t display signs of distress and keep growing, the yield may be poor.
Likewise, plants can grow at a slow rate when the temperature goes beyond 80 degrees Fahrenheit. A humid room can make the plant vulnerable to root rot and pests. Technically, marijuana becomes resistant to cold and heat much more as it keeps maturing. What amounts to an optimal range of temperature differs based on the phase in the plant’s life cycle.
For example, during the seedling phase, a warm and sunny environment is the best condition. The room temperature around 68-77 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. During the plant’s vegetative phase, the temperature can reach 86 degrees.
At its flowering stage, the room is meant to return to around 68-77 degrees. Buds are not at risk of getting burnt in terpenes. There are grow lights that emit heat more than some others. Check your thermometer routinely to ascertain if and when you may have to make changes.
Ventilation
Ventilation is another essential factor when growing marijuana. It allows fresh air to pass to the plants. Air aids the photosynthesis process, and without ventilation, your plants are likely to starve. More so, pathogens and pests in grow rooms appear in hot and humid environments.
For growers with tents, it comes with a port that enables adequate ventilation. Growers can fill the room with air in two ways – passive intake and active intake. Passive intake occurs when air reaches the marijuana plant naturally through holes found in the tent or the room walls.
Active intake happens when air is pulled into the room. Active intake ventilation involves using a fan. This method is more effective in achieving the circulation of air in the tent or grow room.
The air’s direction should be below and above the plants. However, it is not advisable to place a high-powered, strong fan directly at the plants. Using a smaller oscillating fan in circulating air to a wide space is more ideal. This can help prevent any damage to the stems and leaves of the plant.
Carbon filter
Carbon filters can remove some particles from air and water through the use of activated carbon. A filter is capable of removing dust, smoke, mold, lint, and some other impurities found in the air. It decontaminates air through absorption. Some people refer to the device as a carbon scrubber.
You may be wondering why carbon filters made the list for cannabis growing supplies. The reason is simple, cannabis plants can sometimes produce an unpleasant smell, especially during its flowering phase. You may not like the smell circulating into separate areas of your house. Therefore, a filter comes in handy to curb that odor by keeping it contained.
This item carries exhaust vents which allows the airflow to pass the device while cleansing it too. Also, carbon filters are beneficial for the water supply. They remove odor, chlorine, and sediments from the water while keeping in the necessary minerals.
Using an air conditioner can make the carbon filters more effective. Also, you can get cannabis strains with low odor. Ultimately, the worry about having a smelly room upon planting your cannabis goes away. The Carbon Filter is one of the best items you can get for your Cannabis Growing Supplies.
Gather your weed growing supplies and begin the growing!
Nothing beats the feeling of watching your marijuana grow healthy and yield wonderfully. Using the right equipment can be a game-changer for growers. You know all the important things about the cannabis growing supplies needed for your plant, so you can start your garden now. A lot of these items can be easily gotten online.
Figure out the type of growing lights and growing medium that is perfectly suited for your needs. For weed strains, we offer a variety of feminized seeds, auto flowering seeds, and regular weed seeds. If you are looking for the best weed seeds online look no further and check out our extensive seed bank at The Seed Fair.