How to Start Growing Weed Indoors

How to start growing weed indoors
By A.J. Herrington Published December 6th, 2024

Fact-checked by Alexandra Arnett, MS

Key Takeaways

  • Check your state regulations before growing cannabis.
  • By controlling the conditions, you can grow high-quality cannabis indoors.
  • The right lights and soil can make a huge difference. Complete kits are available to make getting started easier.

For many patients, prices at licensed dispensaries can make it difficult to fit cannabis into their monthly budget. Luckily, many states allow adults to legally grow weed indoors, making it much easier to afford the cannabis they need and want without breaking the bank.

Learning how to grow weed indoors has many other benefits. Retailers offer cannabis seeds representing thousands of cultivars, making it possible for the home grower to have their favorite cultivars whenever they want them. Growing weed indoors also allows you to control the growing environment, giving you the flexibility to cultivate year-round.

If you give it a shot, you will likely find that growing weed at home can be a fun and rewarding experience. Learning the basics of indoor cannabis cultivation is key.

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Is Growing Weed Indoors Legal?

Before you start planning your indoor weed grow, you should ensure that home cannabis cultivation is legal in your state. While 38 states have legalized cannabis for medical use and 24 have legalized recreational weed, not all of them have approved home cannabis cultivation. 

Before starting your garden, be sure to check the cannabis laws in your state. Some states also limit how many plants can be grown at home, so you’ll also want to familiarize yourself with your area's plant count regulations

Setting Up Your Indoor Cannabis Garden

Growing indoor weed: setting up

The first step to setting up your indoor cannabis grow is choosing an appropriate location. Most cannabis cultivars produce buds only when the day length is closely controlled, so selecting a location that can be made light-proof is critical. For many gardeners, growing cannabis in small spaces such as a closet can be ideal. If securing a light-proof area for the garden isn’t practical, a grow tent can be the perfect option for an indoor weed garden.

Once you know where to grow weed indoors, it’s time to acquire grow supplies. Just like any other plant, cannabis needs water, light, air, and nutrients to grow.

Soil and Containers

Most novice indoor cannabis gardeners start by growing in soil in containers, and many experts believe it’s the best way to learn. Growing in soil is the easiest and most forgiving method, making catastrophic mistakes less likely. Specialty soil mixes are available at some retailers, but good quality general-purpose potting soil from any home garden center will work just fine. Once you’ve mastered growing in soil, you can decide if you would like to try other methods of growing cannabis indoors, such as hydroponic gardening.

Many different types of containers for growing cannabis plants are available, including plastic or clay pots and lightweight fabric grow bags. Choose what works for you and your budget. Just be sure the container will let any excess water drain away from the plant’s roots.

Choosing a Grow Light for Your Indoor Weed Grow

The most important piece of equipment needed to grow weed indoors is a grow light. Retailers offer many different grow lights, including top-of-the-line models that let you control factors such as intensity and the light’s color spectrum. Modern LED lights use significantly less electricity than their predecessors, making indoor cannabis growing more sustainable and affordable.

For the best results, choose the best grow light your budget will allow and make sure the light adequately covers the space. Larger gardens require multiple lights, so consult with the manufacturer or retailer to ensure proper coverage. You’ll also need a timer to control the time the lights go on and off, so be sure to get one that will handle the lights you choose.

Other Essentials for the Indoor Cannabis Grow

All grow lights produce heat, so you will also want to incorporate a ventilation system into your indoor weed garden. Grow tents are made with special ports for ventilation, allowing you to install a fan to bring fresh air into the growing area. If your garden is in a closet or spare room, set up a system to bring fresh air from outdoors or an adjacent room. Ensure your ventilation system doesn’t let light into the growing area.

Many companies offer all-in-one indoor weed growing kits, which often include a tent, light, ventilation system, timer, and other essentials for a starter cannabis garden. These kits have nearly everything you need to start and are often quite affordable.

Additionally, you’ll need some basic gardening supplies for your indoor weed grow. A watering can, garden trowel, and extra buckets for mixing nutrients are all handy. Saucers or trays under your containers can keep the floor dry, but don’t let water remain in the saucer. 

Starting Your Indoor Grow: Seeds or Clones?

How to grow weed indoors

Once your indoor weed cultivation area is prepared, you can begin growing. You can start your plants one of two ways– from seeds or clones. Both have advantages and disadvantages, so weigh your options and decide which is best for you.

Growing plants from seed offers the indoor weed grower the choice of thousands of cannabis cultivars, each with its distinctive flavor, aroma, preferred growing conditions, and effects. 

Starting plants from seeds, however, can be difficult for some, with problems including spotty germination or seedlings succumbing to disease. Other cultivators swear by seeds and appreciate the variety of cultivars available from online seed banks. Choosing feminized seeds almost guarantees all your plants will be female, which is necessary to produce the buds sought by growers and consumers alike. 

In some areas, small cannabis plants known as clones are available from licensed dispensaries. Clones are produced with plant material from mother plants rather than seed, ensuring that the new plants are genetically identical to the source strain. Because they are already small plants, clones will give the grower a head start compared to seeds. However, clones may not be as potent as cultivars grown from seeds. Likewise, the availability of clones can be inconsistent, and the number of cultivars is limited, so growers may not always be able to get their preferred cultivar.

The Four Stages of Plant Growth

Cannabis plants go through four stages of plant growth

The first stage is germination, or the sprouting of seeds. 

The young plants then begin the second stage, or seedling stage, which lasts about two to three weeks. 

The third period of growth is known as the vegetative stage, during which the plant receives about 18 hours of light per day until it reaches the desired size. 

At this point, the light cycle is changed to 12 hours of light and 12 hours of complete darkness per day to initiate the final flowering stage. 

After about eight to 10 weeks of flowering, the plants are ready for harvest so that the buds can be dried and cured.

Plants should be watered when the soil is beginning to dry out while being sure to avoid overwatering. Plants also need nutrients to reach their potential and produce a strong yield. Nutrients developed especially for cannabis are available from several manufacturers. Feed your plants according to the directions, including changes in the nutrient mix as the plants go through the four growth stages.

What Can Go Wrong: Pitfalls of Growing Weed Indoors

Pitfalls of an indoor weed grow

While growing weed at home can be a fun and rewarding hobby, things can sometimes go wrong. Mold and mildew can cause plant diseases such as bud rot that can ruin your crop. Common plant pests such as aphids and spider mites can sap the strength of plants and make buds unusable. Cannabis plants grown indoors are also subject to nutrient issues, including nitrogen or calcium deficiencies. Check on your plants often (daily if possible) and be on the lookout for signs of problems such as yellowing or curling leaves. Consult a reputable cannabis growing guide for solutions to common issues.

With some knowledge, work, and experience, it won’t be long before you’re growing indoor weed that you’ll be proud to share. Give it a try!

Frequently Asked Questions About Growing Indoors

Is indoor-grown weed good? 

With a bit of experience, home-grown cannabis can easily approach the quality of weed found in dispensaries. 

Does growing weed indoors use a lot of electricity? 

“A lot” of electricity can be subjective. Today’s LED grow lights are far more efficient than previous lighting solutions. Consult the manufacturer to determine how much energy a particular light uses.

What is the best weed for beginners to grow indoors? 

Some cultivars can be more difficult to grow than others. Many novice gardeners successfully grow resilient cultivars such as Blue Dream, Northern Lights, and Granddaddy Purple.

What is the best temperature for growing indoor weed? 

The ideal temperature for growing cannabis indoors is 70-85°F while the lights are on (depending on the strain) and about 10°F cooler when the lights are off.

How long does it take to grow weed? 

From seed to harvest, growing cannabis indoors can take from three to five months. Factors that make it vary include the strain, growing environment, and more.

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The information in this article and any included images or charts are for educational purposes only. This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about laws, regulations, or your health, you should always consult with an attorney, physician or other licensed professional.

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