Grow weed indoors in a light-proof space with an exhaust fan, a carbon filter, and a timer. Photoperiod plants need 18 hours of light per day in vegetative growth and 12 hours in flower. Most plants finish in 10 to 16 weeks from seed. A 4 by 4 foot tent with 480 watts of LED light yields 300 to 500 grams for a grower with a few harvests of practice.
Set up the space
Use a tent, closet, or spare room. Block every window and every LED indicator light. A 4 by 4 foot tent holds 4 to 6 plants in 5 gallon pots. Line the walls with white or reflective film. Keep the floor dry. Run a dedicated circuit for the light and fan. A 4 by 4 tent pulls about 480 watts at the wall.
growing cannabis at home guide
Pick a light and a schedule
LED boards and bars run cool and use 30 to 40 watts per square foot. Hang the fixture 18 to 24 inches above the canopy in veg and 12 to 18 inches in flower. Set the timer to 18 hours on and 6 off for photoperiod plants in veg. Switch to 12 on and 12 off to start flower. Autoflower plants flower on age, not light cycle, so growers run them at 20/4 or 24/0 and harvest 70 to 90 days from seed.
Move air
An inline fan and carbon filter remove heat and odor. Size the fan to replace the tent volume every 1 to 3 minutes. A 4 by 4 by 6.5 foot tent holds 104 cubic feet, so a 200 CFM fan works. Add one oscillating fan above the canopy and one below it. Keep leaves in motion. Still air leads to mold.
growing cannabis at home guide
Choose a medium and containers
Soil mixes buffer pH and suit beginners. Coco coir and hydroponic systems need calcium and magnesium supplements. Use 3 to 5 gallon fabric pots for soil. Drainage holes are required. Reuse medium after you flush it and check it for pests.
Water and feed
Target pH 6.0 to 7.0 in soil and 5.5 to 6.5 in coco or hydro. Water when the top inch of soil is dry. Feed every other watering in veg and every watering in flower at lower strength. Keep air at 68 to 77 F. Hold humidity at 60 to 70 percent for seedlings, 40 to 60 percent in veg, and 40 percent or less in late flower.
Timeline from seed to jar
- Germination: 1 to 7 days in a wet paper towel or a soaked cube.
- Seedling: 2 to 3 weeks under 18/6 light.
- Vegetative: 4 to 8 weeks. Top the plant once or twice to build branches.
- Flower: 8 to 11 weeks under 12/12 light.
- Dry: 7 to 14 days at 60 F and 60 percent humidity.
- Cure: 2 to 4 weeks in glass jars. Open the jars each day for the first week.
Problems to watch
- Light leaks in the dark period can force male flowers.
- Temps above 85 F slow growth and cut yield.
- Humidity above 60 percent in late flower invites powdery mildew and bud rot.
- Brown leaf tips point to nutrient burn. Cut feed strength in half.
Where convenience fits
Kits bundle a tent, light, fan, filter, and duct in one box. Autoflower seeds skip the light-cycle switch. Self-watering bases and controllers cut trips to the tent. These products shorten setup time and daily work. They do not replace light, air, and pH checks. Bud rot and light leaks still end grows.