How To Grow Cannabis

Photo 1 - A large-sized cannabis plant - credits (Seed Stockers)

Author Stoney Tark

Contents Page

• What Do I Need for Growing Cannabis?
• How to Germinate Cannabis Seeds
• The Different Stages When Growing Cannabis Plants
• Training Cannabis Plants
• My Top Tips for Growing Cannabis Plants
• My Final Thoughts on How To Grow Cannabis
• Step by Step Timeline

Growing indoor cannabis is an exciting and extremely rewarding hobby that allows you to be an independent grower. You will be surprised just how easy and straightforward being a successful green-fingered indoor cultivator truly is!

Throughout this beginner’s cannabis grow guide, I will talk you through and explain the steps required to take to achieve the same top shelf cannabis buds you would find in cannabis social clubs in Spain.

Explaining what equipment you will need, the different stages of a cannabis plant’s life cycle, environmental factors, and providing my top tips to help you answer the big question, how do I grow indoor cannabis?

What Do I Need for Growing Cannabis?

The first thing you will need to do is invest in the right cannabis growing equipment. This means everything you will need in order to keep your stash jars full of amazing quality weed. Below is a checklist of what is needed for growing indoor cannabis and why. 

Depending on various factors such as climate, humidity control, and temperature regulation, your plant will yield better buds in optimal conditions. Both indoor andoutdoor environments come with their own sets of advantages and challenges, as explained on page 10 of the El Capitan Grow Guide.

Cannabis Grow Space

You have many options when it comes to picking the best cannabis grow space for your indoor project. These cover grow tents, or a converted spare bedroom, attic space, cellar, or smaller spaces, such as a bedroom wardrobe or clothes cupboard.

Photo 2 - A large-sized indoor grow space - credits (Bill Sutherland)

Cannabis Grow Lights

Growing cannabis requires using grow lights that provide the intensity and spectrum that weed plants require. These will range from 400 to 1000 watt high intensity cannabis grow lights such as high pressure sodium (H.P.S), metal halide (M.H) and L.E.D.

Growing Mediums For Cannabis Plants

Cannabis growing mediums will be either organic or hydroponic. As a first-time grower, starting out with soil is the easiest and most practical way to learn the ropes. Apart from soil, you can always choose to work with an inert medium coco coir or rockwool, which both contain no nutrients.

Pots For Growing Cannabis

You will need pots to fill with your chosen growing medium with and can be plastic pots, or fabric felt pots.

Cannabis Seeds

There is a wide variety of cannabis strains available on the market, and will range from regular sex (male or female), feminized (female only), or feminized auto-flowering cultivars. 

Extractor Fan

The extractor fan is what will pull air out of the grow room and ensure your cannabis grow room has plenty of fresh air circulating through. The extractor will be firmly connected to the aluminium ducting to produce a constant flow of air being recycled.

Carbon Filter

One of the most important factors for growing cannabis is to keep your grow room odour free. A carbon filter is designed to scrub the air with carbon and keep the air clean and smell-free.

Oscillating Fans

Fans are very important to help circulate the air and keep the temperature optimal. Oscillating fans will be the best option for a first time cannabis grower.

Hygrometer

Knowing the exact temperature and humidity level when growing cannabis is vital. The best way to do this is to use a digital hygrometer placed inside your grow space.

Cannabis Grow Nutrients

Your plants will require plenty of food and nutrition as they develop from seedlings into large sized crops. Nutrients are the best way to provide primary, secondary and trace element nutrition for the various stages of a weed plant’s lifecycle, as explained by M.S.N.L.

Cannabis Grow Timer

You will need to use a timer to connect to your cannabis grow lights. The reason is to provide a darkness period during the vegetation stage (18 hours of light and 6 hours of darkness) and the flowering stage (12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness).

pH pen

Soil grown cannabis plants access nutrients within a specific pH range between 6.0 - 7.0. Using a digital pH pen is the most practical and easiest way to check your water source and nutrient solution.

How to Germinate Cannabis Seeds

Photo 3 - Cannabis seeds can be germinated using 3 different methods - Credits (Trichome Jungle Seeds)

Once you have your indoor cannabis grow space set up and dialled in, and have decided what cannabis strains you will be growing, next is to germinate the cannabis seeds. There are 3 ways to do, as covered below.

1. Germinating cannabis seeds using wet tissue paper

All you need for this method is to use two dinner plates, and wet paper towels. The seeds will be placed inside moist tissue paper and then covered by the plates, creating a dark and moist environment. Cannabis seeds will take between 48–72 hours before the seeds crack open and reveal the white tap root.

2. Germinating cannabis seeds using water

Another method to germinate cannabis seeds is to use a cup of fresh water, add the seeds inside, and then place the cup inside a cupboard. The seeds will later sink to the bottom of the cup and show signs of a tap root within 3–5 days.

3. Germinating cannabis seeds directly into the soil

If you prefer to plant your seeds directly into the growing medium, then all you need to do is create a 1-1.5 cm deep hole advised by Royal Queen Seeds, and carefully and delicately place the seeds inside. The pointy side of the cannabis seeds should always be facing down.

The Different Stages When Growing Cannabis Plants

Now that your cannabis seeds have germinated, the fun begins! Below is a break-down of the different stages cannabis plants will go through before you are ready to harvest those beautiful buds.

The Seedling Stage (18/6)

The seedling stage is the point when your plants are growing their first set of leaves, and developing roots. This stage will last 14 days, before they are mature enough to begin vegetation.

The Vegetation Stage (18/6)

Photo 4 - A cannabis plant growing in the vegetative state under 18/6 - Credits (Stoney Tark)

Once your seedlings has passed 2-3 weeks of growth, they will have a developed a strong set of roots, and are ready to grow leaves, stems, and internodal growth. The vegetation stage can last anywhere from 2 to 10 weeks, depending on how big and bushy you want your indoor cannabis plants to be. Temperature and humidity levels should be 24 degrees Celsius and between60-70% relative humidity.

Transition Stage (12/12)

Once you have switched your timers from 18/6 to 12/12, your cannabis plants will respond by doubling in size and stretching upwards in preparation for flower production. The transition stage will last for 14 days. Temperature and humidity levels should be 24 degrees Celsius and between 50 - 60% relative humidity.

Flowering Stage (12/12)

This is where all the magic happens and when your cannabis plants develop pre-flower and buds. Cannabis strains will vary in flowering time, with indica cultivars taking 7–8 weeks, hybrids taking 8-10 weeks and sativa varieties requiring 11–13 weeks. Temperature and humidity levels should be 22-24 degrees Celsius and between 45-50% relative humidity.

Photo 5 - A Skywalker Haze in the final weeks of flowering - credits (Stoney Tark)

Photo 6 - This plant is ready to be dried over a 10-14 day period - credits (Seed Stockers)

Harvesting Stage

Harvesting cannabis plants is the stage when all your hard work, and tender loving care has paid off, and marks the end of the cannabis plant’s lifecycle. It should be based on the flowering time of the strain, trichome maturity and development, how swollen and dense the buds are, resin production, aroma and terpene production.

Photo 7 - A close up of a mature calyx coated in trichomes - credits (Trichome Jungle Seeds)

Photo 8 - A dried cannabis bud that is ready to be stored away and cured. - credits (Trichome Jungle Seeds)

Step by Step Growing Cannabis Timeline

Week 1 - Germination stage / seedling stage (18/6)

• Germinating the seed until you see a tap root (2-3 days)

• Transplant the seed into a pot with soil under the grow light

• Lightly water for the first time

Week 2 - The seedling stage (18/6)

• The seed will have sprouted with the first set of leaves

• Water the soil lightly 

Week 3 - Vegetation stage (18/6)

• The plants will be growing new leaves and internodes

• Water with nutrients

Week 4 - Still the vegetation stage (18/6)

• The plant will have produced 4-5 internodes

• Water with a vegetation nutrient solution

Week 5 - The transition stage (12/12)

• Change the timer from 18/6 to 12/12

• Keep the humidity levels at 50-60%

• Water with a vegetation nutrient solution

Week 6 - Still the transition stage (12/12)

• The plants will stretch and double in size

• Lightly feed a flowering nutrient solution

• Keep the humidity level at 50-60%

Week 7 - Week 12 The flowering stage (12/12)

• Change humidity to 40-45% 

• Feed a flowering nutrient solution

Week 13 - Flushing the plants (12/12)

• Stop nutrients and feed only water

• Keep humidity to 40-45% 

Week 14 - Still the flushing stage (12/12)

• Continue to give only plain water

• Keep humidity to 40-45% 

Week 15 - Harvesting the plants and drying out

• Chop the plants down

• Hang them in a tent to dry for 10-14 days

• Temperature should be 15 degrees Celsius / 50% humidity

Harvesting - When the buds have stopped growing, and the pistils (hairs on the buds) darkenand curl inward, it's time to harvest your plant as recommended on page 24 of the El Capitan Grow Guide.

Training Cannabis Plants

There are plenty of ways to train your cannabis plants. Training methods can help control the canopy height, shape, and will also increase the number of cannabis buds you are able to harvest. These techniques cover topping, tying down, pruning, super cropping and mainlininig, and can increase yields by up to 40% according to Grow Weed Easy.

My Top Tips for Growing Cannabis Plants

1. Re-potting cannabis plants allows the roots to grow into a bigger pot. An example of repotting would be to start with a 7.5 liter pot and once the roots have filled the pot, to then use a 20 liter pot. Repotting should be done during the seedling and vegetation stage (18/6) before flowering is induced.

2. When growing cannabis, it is important to give your plants plenty of room to grow. This means making sure they are not too close together, and aim for providing a space of 30 centimetres between plants, especially once they are flowering. Doing so will keep the air flow around the plants optimal and allow them to receive lots of intense light.

3. It is best to start with a short flowering cannabis strain as a first-time beginner grower. Indica dominant cultivars will be the ideal option, and require around 8 weeks flowering time before harvesting and will grow to a final height between 80–120 centimetres tall.

My Final Thoughts on How To Grow Cannabis

Knowing how to grow cannabis from seed to harvest requires patience, consistency and an understanding of the plant's needs and demands. As long as you follow everything in this guide, you will be well on your way to success and capable of producing cup-winning quality cannabis buds in the comfort of your own home. 

Good luck on starting your journey as a green fingered enthusiast and gaining a true understanding of indoor cultivation. For a deeper insight into growing a cannabis plant, and going into more detail, consult the El Capitan Grow Guide on how to grow cannabis to take your indoor growing skills to the next level!

If this already sounds like too much hassle, there are always easier ways to become a cannabis connoisseur—like joining a nearby Spanish social club.

Photo 1 - A large-sized cannabis plant - credits (Seed Stockers)

Photo 2 - A large-sized indoor grow space - credits (Bill Sutherland)

Photo 3 - Cannabis seeds can be germinated using 3 different methods - Credits (Trichome Jungle Seeds)

Photo 4 - A cannabis plant growing in the vegetative state under 18/6 - Credits (Stoney Tark)

Photo 5 - A Skywalker Haze in the final weeks of flowering - credits (Stoney Tark)

Photo 6 - Terp and Tonic auto-flower ready to harvest - credits (Seed Stockers)

Photo 7 - A close up of a mature calyx coated in trichomes - credits (Trichome Jungle Seeds)

Photo 8 - A dried cannabis bud that is ready to be stored away and cured. - credits (Trichome Jungle Seeds)