If you live in a weed-friendly state and consume cannabis on the reg, the idea of growing your own has likely crossed your mind. Growing your own weed is on par with one of the most amazing experiences ever, and once you’ve done it you’ll likely want to do it again and again.
If you’re interested in growing some quality ganja, you don’t need to cultivate an entire crop to do so. You can grow one weed plant in your house and still have a successful harvest. Growing certain strains could even allow you to yield a pound or more on just one plant.
If you’re ready to get your green thumb on and grow your own weed, growing just one plant in your house isn’t just rewarding, it’s also extremely easy.
Prepare for Your Grow
Before you get things started, you’ll need to choose your container, soil, and any nutrients you’ll need along the way. Because you’re only growing one plant, you’ve got plenty of options that won’t break the bank.
Choose Your Container
Most experienced growers use fabric pots that offer breathability and allow for roots to stretch and grow. A 3-gallon fabric pot will only cost you a few dollars and is a container that will keep your plant extremely happy. Growing in traditional plastic or clay pots can cause your plant to become root-bound, stunting her growth and reducing your overall yield. Let your plant breathe and grow to her fullest potential by choosing a small fabric pot.
Decide on Your Soil
When choosing your soil, opting for an organic option is your best bet. Coco or peat-based mediums are also good choices. Many organic potting soils will come with nutrients already mixed in them. This allows you to feed your plants less, reducing the nutrients you’ll need to purchase throughout the grow cycle of your plant. One bag of quality organic soil should do the trick if you’re only growing one plant.
Select Your Nutrients
When it comes to nutrients, organic is always best. There are several options for affordable organic nutrients that will ensure your plant grows healthy and strong. While common, synthetic nutrients are easy to find (think Miracle Grow), they’re not the best for growing weed. Not only are they artificial, but your plant will need different nutrients in various stages of its growth.
Take Miracle Grow. Its soil blend has poor drainage and contains time-released nutrients that contain high levels of nitrogen. This slow release of nitrogen can not only harm your plants but can reduce your overall yield.
There are several organic nutrients available on the market that make it extremely easy to grow one plant in your house. Many are designed for each stage of your plants growth, ensuring she is getting the proper amount of the nutrients she needs when she needs them.
Understanding the Light Cycle
You’re likely aware that marijuana is a flowering plant. Those dank, sticky, dense nugs you’re smoking are the flower that weed produces. When grown outside in natural sunlight, these flowers begin to bloom when the days begin to get shorter.
When growing indoors, the trick is to manipulate your growing environment to mimic what happens naturally. To keep your plants from flowering too early, you’ll need to keep them under a grow light for at least 12 hours a day.
Vegetative Stage
Before a cannabis plant begins to flower and is still growing, it is in what is known as the vegetative state. You want to let your plant stay in veg under 16+ hours of light for at least 4-6 weeks. The idea is to let your plant get as big and healthy as possible before they begin to flower so you can get the highest possible yield when they’re done.
Many indoor growers will give their plants 24 hours of light while in vegetation to ensure their girls grow as big as possible. Ideally, leaving a pot under light for 18-20 hours a day for 4-6 weeks during veg is perfect for growing a nice, healthy plant.
Flowering Stage
Once your plant has grown big and strong, its time to manipulate your lighting again to trick it into producing those famous flowers. To do this, you will need to switch the light cycle to an even 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness. Your plant will need the 12 hours of light to produce the energy it needs to bear that luscious fruit.
It’s important that when the lights go out, however, that she’s in a completely dark room. You’re looking to reenact nature indoors, remember? Any light that reaches your plant during the “dark” hours can upset your plant and disturb the natural flowering cycle. This can lead to a less-than-quality harvest and seriously lower your yield. In the worst-case scenario, it can cause confusion and make her to hermaphrodite. This will result in heavily seeded bud that could have easily been avoided.
Selecting Your Light Setup
Now that you understand a bit about the light cycle, it’s time to talk lights. The lamp you use to grow one plant in your house is going to be the costliest part of the entire process. Good news is, when growing just one plant you only need one light. And you’ve got several options to choose from.
If you’re growing in a spare closet or a space where your plants won’t receive any natural sunlight, a 250-watt HID (high-intensity discharge) bulb will work best. These bulbs will cost you around $25 but will require a special HID light fixture or ballast because they don’t safely fit into a regular light fixture. The additional fixture can run $200 or more, but is worth the investment in the long run, especially if you plan on growing weed again.
Growing One Pot Plant in Your House
Growing one plant isn’t just the easiest way to keep you smoking for free all year long, it’s an extremely awesome experience. Besides, weed is now legal in over half the country in one way or another. In several states you can legitimately grow your own without having to worry about a thing. And even if you don’t live in a legal state, the chances that the cops come breaking in your door over one plant are pretty slim.
Growing anything is a way to connect deeper to nature and enjoy all the gifts she has to offer, cannabis included. Enjoy the process as you develop your ganja green thumb. The rewards are certainly something to celebrate.