Gone are the days when people could not adjust the factors that directly affect the growth of cannabis. Gone are the days when people only knew how to grow cannabis outdoors by traditional methods.
Instead, you can always seek help from modern equipment. You can also grow cannabis in your own room, eliminating all the effects of weather and outside temperature.
However, the essence of the cannabis growing process has not changed: a process that seems difficult but is also extremely interesting. If you have struggled in the past because of inclement weather or too few crops during the year. Or when growing cannabis indoors, the equipment required can be difficult for you.
That’s why you should immediately refer to the checklist for indoor grower’s – What do I need to start growing Cannabis.
Don’t miss any information. You will find the process of growing cannabis will only remain enjoyable, nothing too difficult.
1. Grow Area
The first thing you need to consider is not the strain of cannabis to grow but the location where you want to increase the cannabis.
With the option to grow cannabis indoors, where would you like to place the plant? A separate growing room or in a grow tent? To answer, you should refer to some information below.
Cultivation room
An unused bedroom or closet would be a good place to grow cannabis. In addition, your growing room needs to meet some of the following requirements:
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- Enough space: Your room should be both width and height. Typically, a 3-square-foot, the 6-foot-high plot will be suitable for one or two cannabis plants to grow.
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- You should not ignore the above statistics: Because the height of the room is not enough, the cannabis will have difficulty growing. At the same time, the lighting system does not have enough distance not to cause a tree fire.
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- No light comes through: Make sure your walls and doors are sealed enough so that when you close the door, your room will be completely dark. Blocking out free light makes it easy to adjust the light. Do this first step well. When cannabis blooms, you will be less of a burden.
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- Drainage: More than just water, you need a system to help catch whatever comes out of the cannabis and dispose of it.
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- Ventilation: The room should have at least two ventilation holes. In addition, you also need to equip additional devices such as ventilation fans to keep the air in the room fresh.
To meet the above requirements, you need to accept that you have to renovate and repair the room before starting to grow. If you don’t want to spend too much time on repairs, consider a grow tent.
Cannabis tents
There are many reasons why growing tents is a better choice when you choose to grow cannabis indoors.
Firstly, as mentioned, you won’t spend too much effort on the initial setup.
The grow tent is available with air vents, a lamp holder in the right position, and many other conveniences. All you need to do is pitch your tent and plant trees. The only tricky consideration is probably choosing the type of tent that’s right for the strain and scale you want to grow.
Secondly, grow tents give cannabis a better growing environment. Because compared to the ever increasing room, the planting tent is clearly not affected by the external conditions.
And finally, it’s easier to control your temperature or humidity when growing cannabis in a grow tent.
2. Containers/Pots
The right pots will help you solve the size constraint of the growing space. Here are a few of the most common types of pots for growing cannabis.
Air Pots
Air pots have holes around them, which are taller and thinner than some of the types of cannabis pots you’ll often see.
With special design, water will seep to all sides when watering. Therefore, you will have to regularly water the plants or equip a larger capacity watering can.
However, gas pots also have many advantages. The part where the cannabis is grown will have more oxygen. Besides, you will also not need to worry about the cannabis root and need to be transplanted when growing in a gas pot.
Fabric (Smart) Pots
Smart fabric pots made entirely from soft felt fabric. Pots have a wider shape than conventional pots.
Thanks to the wide base of the pot, you can rest assured that the plant will not fall easily when grown in a pot, even with the largest cannabis strain.
A major drawback of Fabric (Smart) Pots is that it is quite difficult to transport. If you intend to move cannabis, you may face problems such as spillage or even damage to the root structure.
However, if you’re looking for a way to help your cannabis grow as strong as possible, you can’t go wrong with a cloth pot.
Hempy Buckets
Hempy Bucket is a cannabis pot that combines hydroponics and soil. The thorn bucket will have a drainage hole on the side. In the pot is a mixture of coir, hummus, and perlite.
With the two types of pots above, you need to water regularly. However, when growing cannabis in a bucket of thorns, your watering frequency can be reduced to twice a week.
Standard Terracotta Pots
This is a standard pot that you can easily find at any plant store.
Pots are cheap but can also meet basic purposes. If you have a limited budget or do not know about growing methods, start with Standard Terracotta Pots.
3. Grow Lights
Investing a lot of money doesn’t always pay off. Cannabis growing lights are one such example. Before you spend a lot of money on the lighting system, do some calculations about the light output.
You need to calculate the canopy size and total capacity to buy the right type and a number of lights, specifically as follows:
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- Regarding the canopy area that you need to cover the light: Apply the formula ” 4sq ft/plant “. That is, you will divide the location of the crop space by 4.
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- Regarding total power: Divide the canopy area by the number of options between 50 and 75w to get watt/sqft. The result obtained is the total required power of the lighting system.
Once you’ve calculated the total wattage your grow room needs, your next math problem is what kind of lights you want to use. LED, HIDs such as HPS, MH, and CMH lamps, or T5. Each type has pros and cons worth considering.
LED
LEDs produce specific wavelengths of light. You can see many different types of LED colors. But this is not as important as you can adjust the LED wavelengths to suit the cannabis and the growing stage.
Another advantage that cannot be ignored is that LED lights use less energy. According to some studies, LED lights save up to 60% more than traditional light bulbs.
In addition, according to a recent report, lighting cannabis with LEDs will cause cannabis flowers to have higher concentrations of CBD and THC than normal. Specifically, LEDs’ rich spectrum of short wavelength radiation will make THC 26-36% higher than growing cannabis with other lamps, such as HPS lamps.
Bringing many benefits, LED lights also have a disadvantage: cost. However, in terms of energy savings, LED lights are still the first choice when you start growing cannabis indoors.
HIDs
HIDs refer to high-intensity discharge lamps such as HPS, MH, and CMH.
With an HPS lamp, when current flows through a tube containing an inert gas and a mixture of sodium and mercury vapor, the electricity is converted into light energy. The light of the lamp is in the spectral region of about 2200K.
HPS lamps have only about 3% of the blue color in the spectrum.
If you don’t delve too deeply into the colors, just knowing the number above means that the lamp’s light can help the cannabis produce high yields and large volumes of buds during the flowering stage. However, because the ratio is so small, HPS lights can also prolong the flowering time of cannabis.
MH stands for Metal Halide. MH are metal halide HIDs. When an electric current is applied, an electric arc is emitted between the two electrodes. The light of the lamp has a blue wavelength. The spectrum of the lamp is particularly well suited to cannabis in its growing stage.
Another type of HID lamp is CMH, which stands for Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH). In terms of performance, CMH is much higher than HPS.
However, the disadvantage of this type of lamp is that you have to use separate ballasts. Besides, the cost of CMH is also more expensive than MH and HPS.
Although the light of HIDs is extremely suitable for cannabis, especially during the flowering stage, you need to be aware of the temperature that the lamp emits. If you want to use HIDs when growing cannabis indoors, you should consider some temperature control devices.
T5 (Fluorescent Grow Lights)
T5 is a tube type fluorescent lamp. The first advantage of the T5 is that the lamp is limited in heat generation. Therefore, you can hang the T5 light closer to the cannabis without worrying about burning the plant or similar phenomena.
T5 does not have a high light intensity like some of the lamps above. However, T5 is still an economical and effective option for those who grow cannabis indoors.
4. Air Circulation
Making sure your growing room always has clean air circulating is one of the most important issues. There are several reasons for this preference:
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- Firstly, maintaining the circulation of air will prevent the accumulation of foul mood. Your cannabis, like any other plant, needs fresh air. Otherwise, plant growth will be markedly reduced.
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- Secondly, the always-moving air will help strengthen the cannabis. You certainly don’t expect your cannabis to withstand the storm. However, a gentle breeze is needed so that at least the cannabis won’t break easily.
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- Finally, airflow control also helps you control temperature and humidity.
Intake
The ventilation system of the cannabis growing room is indispensable for air intake.
You can set up a simple air intake system using an air intake and exhaust fans. This active air absorption is also a way to help circulate air more efficiently.
However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use passive ventilation. Sometimes, letting the airflow into the room through the vent is also a simple, economical but effective measure.
Exhaust
New air always needs replenishment. That also means regular removal of old air. Normally, the air in your room or tent should be renewed every 1-3 minutes. Lucky for you, the exhaust system isn’t too complicated. You only need a pipeline and a large capacity fan.
The ventilation capacity of the fan is measured in CFM units or cubic feet per minute. You need to calculate the volume of the room from which the CFM is derived. Then choose a fan with a CFM rating or cubic feet of air output per minute at the maximum speed that suits your purpose.
Oscillating Fans
The oscillating fan helps reduce the heat emitted by lights and other devices and maintains the breeze that blows up the plant, making the cannabis stronger.
When using an oscillating fan, a good tip is to place one fan low and one level with the tree canopy. This position will make ventilation more circulating and efficient.
Filtration
The filter will help remove odors in the air. The most common filter is the activated carbon filter.
However, what you need to keep in mind is not merely the type of carbon filter to use. The problem is that the carbon filter will usually reduce the fan’s performance by about 25%.
Therefore, you should consider choosing a fan with a capacity of about 25% larger than originally planned.
Ducting Ventilation or Duct Connector
The duct is an indispensable profit connecting equipment such as an exhaust fan, exhaust fan.
And like the carbon filter, ductwork can also affect fan performance. You should increase fan power by 10% for every 10 feet of ductwork for best system performance.
Reflective Material
You can completely increase cannabis production with Reflective Material because Reflective Material will not make any light worthless.
Cultivation tents will equip you with reflective material. And if you want to choose the type of material according to your needs, here are a few names worth considering:
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- Mylar: Mylar is probably the most popular reflective material on the market. The material is able to reflect more than 95% of the light hitting the surface. The price of Mylar is quite low, and you can easily use it. The only downside is that the Mylar sheets are too thin, usually only about 1-2mm thick.
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- Foylon: Foylon has the ability to reflect 95% – 100% of the light hitting the surface. However, along with the ability to reflect good light is a large amount of radiant heat. Therefore, ventilation measures need to take into account the factor of reflective materials in general and Foylon in particular.
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- Film: for the ability to reflect light no less than the above two materials. However, you should note that the Film is made of plastic. Therefore, placing the reflectors of this material near the lamp is the fastest way for you to meet them. And of course, molten plastic is not an effective light reflector.
5. Environment Control
One of the top advantages of growing cannabis indoors is that you can adjust factors such as temperature, humidity, and light to suit the stages of cannabis growth. So how can you control these important factors? The equipment needed below is the answer.
Thermometer
The preferred temperature of cannabis varies with the stages of plant growth. During the vegetative period, the most suitable temperature is 68 to 77 degrees F. Meanwhile, in the flowering stage, the best temperature should be between 65 and 85 degrees F.
Temperatures lower than above will make plants stunted, reduce photosynthesis, and slow down growth. Living in a constant 60F environment can kill marijuana.
Meanwhile, too high a temperature causes cannabis to have problems with burning nutrients, reducing the flavor of the buds. In particular, during the flowering phase, temperatures above 80°F (26°C) will slow bud growth.
Therefore, temperature monitoring in the tent/cannabis room needs to be frequent and rigorous. The thermometer will help you in this case.
But the question is where you should put the thermometer in your grow room/tent? Here are some notes you should consider:
- If you use an HID lighting system, do not place the thermometer near a light source. Because as you know, HID lamps emit more heat than any LED. Even if you have a well-functioning cooling system, errors will still occur if you measure the temperature near the HID lamp.
- For accurate results, you should still purchase more than one thermometer. Then place those thermometers in different locations to get temperature readings at the roots, roots, and canopy. In addition, you also need to change the location of the thermometer regularly.
Hygrometers
A hygrometer is a device used to measure the amount of moisture in the air. In addition, the device can also be used to measure water in the space of the tent.
Cannabis will grow well when the air humidity fluctuates between 40 and 70%. Depending on the stage of growth, the optimal moisture for cannabis also varies.
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- Germination stage: Cannabis needs around 65 to 70% humidity.
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- Growing stage: You should gradually reduce the humidity until the cannabis blooms. Usually, the discount will be 5%.
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- Flowering stage: Humidity should be maintained between 40 and 50%.
Dehumidifiers
A dehumidifier is a device used to reduce humidity in a particular area.
With cannabis growers, it is impossible to have a perfect environment without the support of a dehumidifier. There are two popular types of dehumidifiers on the market:
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- Refrigerated dehumidifier: This type of dehumidifier will have a cooling coil. The air in the grow room/tent will pass through the coil. The water in the air that gets cold will condense, removing a large amount of water vapor from the air.
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- Dehumidifiers with desiccants: These dehumidifiers will have a wheel filled with desiccants such as silica gel. The machine will absorb water in the air, thereby effectively reducing humidity.
CO2 controller
The CO₂ controller helps to increase the amount of CO₂ entering the cannabis room/tent.
Why do you need a device that increases CO₂ and not O2?
Because cannabis, like every other plant, needs CO₂ for photosynthesis. In some studies, if you add the right amount of CO₂, cannabis can give you up to 20% more yield.
Humidifier
In contrast to a dehumidifier, a humidifier is a device that increases the humidity of a space. One of the most common types of humidifiers is the nebulizer.
Humidifiers are great for use in the early stages of cannabis. Because the machine will help increase the germination rate significantly. If you maintain the right humidity for your cannabis with a humidifier, the risk of plant disease will also be greatly reduced.
Besides, the humidifier also helps reduce heat effectively, so you will not have to spend too much on the cooling system.
Heaters
Heaters are the solution you need to consider when the temperature of your cannabis room/tent is low. There are three main types of heaters as follows:
Radiant Heater
Radiant heaters do not heat the room. The machine will radiate heat directly to the objects in front of the device.
In your case, the radiant heater will heat the cannabis now. Therefore, radiant heaters are an energy-saving solution. However, you cannot choose this type of heater for a large planter room.
Ceramic Fan Forced Fireplace
This version helps to warm the entire room quickly. Heaters are the best choice for large rooms.
Floor Heater
Floor heaters are stationary heaters. The machine can heat up quickly, and at the same time, cool down quickly. Therefore, you can rest assured when using the device in your cannabis growing room.
Timer Control
Cannabis, in order to grow, needs to go through a cycle of light and darkness. During the growing phase, cannabis requires 18 hours in the light and 6 hours in the dark. When cannabis begins to flower, light and dark times balance at 12/12.
Of course, it is difficult to adjust the light and shadow precisely manually. Instead, a time controller will help you do everything without error.
Timer Control is responsible for turning on and off the lighting system at a predetermined time. This device is quite useful, especially when you are often not at home.
6. Monitoring Nutrition: pH & PPM Levels
Environmental control is not just about adjusting temperature and humidity. There are two other important factors you need to control: pH and PPM. These two indicators are directly related to the nutrients that cannabis absorbs.
pH
pH is an indicator of acidity or alkalinity.
With cannabis, the most suitable pH to grow is 6-7. If the pH of the medium is higher or lower than the upper threshold, your cannabis will not be able to absorb nutrients, even if you have supplied it.
To control the pH, you should invest in a pH meter. Besides, you should also have products that increase or decrease the pH to quickly adjust before the cannabis falls into a “nutrition lock” and becomes stunted.
PPM Levels
PPM (parts per million) is a measure of the concentration of minerals and dissolved substances. To put it simply, measuring PPM means measuring the number of nutrients present in the medium you use to grow cannabis.
Normally, you would want to provide a large number of nutrients to cannabis. However, at each stage, cannabis requires a different amount of nutrients. Therefore, PPM Levels will also change.
500 – 600 PPM is the right level for first stage cannabis. During growth, the appropriate amount of minerals will be 800 – 900 PPM. Meanwhile, the flowering of cannabis requires a mineral level of 1000 – 1100 PPM.
Similar to pH, you also have tools to help test PPM. A TDS meter that measures total dissolved solids is one of the most popular options.
7. Grow Medium
Each Grow System will have its characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages. Therefore, it is safe to say that the controversy regarding the best Grow System for cannabis has not ended.
However, you can completely choose the Grow System, which may not be the best, but best suited to your farming experience and goals.
Soil
A lot of beginners will choose to grow cannabis on the ground. It can be said that this method is quite simple; you do not have to spend a lot of time setting up the Grow System. Besides, the soil contains a large number of nutrients. Therefore, adding nutrients to cannabis will be gentler than the methods below.
However, if you want to shorten the growing period of cannabis, growing cannabis on the ground will not be a wise choice.
Potting Soilless Mix
Potting Soilless Mix Grow System is a medium that does not contain soil, instead of inorganic and organic substrates. Common substrates in cannabis cultivation are mixtures of coir, perlite, and vermiculite.
Cannabis grown in Potting Soilless Mix will probably never be infected with pests or fungi. Besides, the plant’s root system will also develop better because it is not as compact as it is in the soil.
However, you need to pay attention to adding nutrients and watering regularly when growing cannabis in Potting Soilless Mix.
Hydroponics
Hydroponics, like Potting Soilless Mix, is a soilless method of growing cannabis. However, instead of using a substrate, hydroponics uses water as a medium for cannabis to grow.
Water in hydroponics will be full of nutrients and oxygen. Cannabis is immobilized in a bucket filled with an inert substrate, the roots exposed to a mixture of water and nutrients.
Water and all the water-related issues are what you need to pay attention to when growing cannabis hydroponically. You will have to pay attention to frequent water changes and take care of the ratio of nutrients in the solution and many other issues.
Difficulties always bring worthy results. The hydroponic method presents many advantages. The most striking thing is that compared to growing cannabis in the ground, hydroponically grown cannabis will grow up to 30-50% faster. At the same time, productivity also increased significantly.
In addition, hydroponically grown cannabis reduces the risk of pest infestation.
Conclusion
This 7 Checklist For Indoor Grower’s – When Buying Your Equipment has provided you with a complete list of issues to consider when preparing to grow cannabis indoors.
And now it’s your job. Will you choose the grow room, or the grow tent? What kind of lights do you want to use? Will you select hydroponics or traditional growing?
It may be difficult for you to decide and prepare all the devices on the list. However, as mentioned in the first lines, growing cannabis is a difficult and exciting process. Therefore, the final advice is: Do not ignore any information, be patient and work hard; you will have perfect results.
If you have any questions regarding this topic, please leave a comment to receive timely advice.
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