The Benefits of Homegrown Weed

Cannabis legalization continues to spread to states all over America. It opens doors for medical patients nationwide to enjoy the benefits of cannabis. 

While there are many products for consumers to choose from, homegrown weed is one of the best ways to ensure consumers get exactly what they need. 

There are many benefits of doing a home grow instead of just visiting the local dispensary. However, many consumers, especially new ones, have questions about cannabis cultivation.

Why is Homegrown Weed Different From the Dispensary?

Cannabis sold in dispensaries and homegrown weed differs in several ways.

Quality

Homegrown cannabis can be exceptional in quality. It is often done in small batches and allows for complete control over the cultivation process. Growers can use their preferred organic methods and tailor nutrient regimens. This personal touch often results in high-quality, customized cannabis and a purer product free from pesticides.

Meanwhile, cannabis sold in a dispensary is typically grown by a team of cultivators, often in mass quantities. It typically undergoes stringent testing for potency and contaminants, ensuring consistent quality.

Bud Characteristics

Cannabis sold in a dispensary is grown for consistency. However, it's also grown for mass production, which may lead to less attention paid to each individual plant. Home growers may be able to cultivate strains with richer terpene and cannabinoid profiles with closer attention to fewer plants.

Homegrown cannabis, especially when you’re just starting to learn to grow, often gets a reputation for having less visually appealing nugs, but they are just as consumable and enjoyable as buds from a dispensary.

Cost and Convenience

Home growing can be more cost-effective indoors, in a greenhouse, or sun grown. 

Indoor-grown and greenhouse-grown cannabis can require a larger financial investment in equipment and supplies, while sun-grown cultivation still requires a few more basic gardening supplies. Overall, though, indoor, greenhouse, and sun-grown cannabis grown at home can often cost much less than cannabis bought when visiting a dispensary, especially in terms of the amount of flower produced, which is great for high-volume consumers. 

Growing at home also provides the convenience of having a personal supply of cannabis — which means fewer dispensary trips.

Advantages of Homegrown Weed

Some medical patients and cannabis enthusiasts may find the advantages of growing cannabis at home appealing.

Access to Desired Strains

Most cannabis consumers eventually discover their strain preferences. Home growing means you can cultivate specific strains that best suit your needs. Some patients seek strains high in CBD, while others prefer a high-THC option or a particular terpene profile. For example, the best strains for ADHD likely vary from those ideal for insomnia. 

Other consumers might prefer a specific strain family, like the Diesel line. Home cultivation lets you choose exactly what you want, which may be particularly beneficial if your local dispensary doesn't carry your preferred strain.

Convenience and Availability

A home grow means access to your supply without visiting a dispensary. For patients on a fixed income or with mobility issues, or those who live in remote areas, frequent trips to dispensaries can be challenging. By growing at home, consumers have a more reliable and consistent source of cannabis. 

Dispensaries often have a limited selection of cultivars, which can be frustrating for consumers looking for a particular effect, terpene profile, or strain. Growing at home means having access to a desired cultivar that is readily available. This is especially beneficial to medical cannabis patients. 

Potential Savings

After investing in growing equipment and supplies, home growing becomes more cost-effective. Once you have the setup—soil, seeds, electricity for lights, fans if you’re growing indoors or in a greenhouse, and water—the cost per harvest decreases, yielding high-quality cannabis at a fraction of dispensary prices. As time passes, the savings can become substantial.

Control Over Quality

Home growers are responsible for their cultivation process and can utilize organic growing methods to avoid harmful pesticides. Growers can harvest when appropriate to capitalize on the peak freshness of the flower, its terpenes, and its effects. That level of control can result in higher-quality, purer cannabis strains.

Consumers are encouraged to experiment with different growing techniques, nutrient regimens, and curing methods. It’s best to focus on what aspect of the plant you want to optimize about the strain: potency, flavor, effects, or a combination of the three.

This level of control and customization is often not possible with dispensary bud, as it's produced on a larger scale for consistency.

Disadvantages of Homegrown Weed

While growing cannabis at home has many advantages, it may not be the right approach for every consumer. A few common challenges may deter some people from the process of cultivating homegrown weed.

Effort and Upkeep

Growing cannabis at home can take time and effort. Daily care, monitoring, and maintaining optimal conditions for specific strains involve many factors. Growers must manage light, temperature, humidity, and nutrients, which can feel demanding.

Initial Cost

The upfront investment for home growing can also be a barrier. Starting out means acquiring grow lights, ventilation systems, soil, nutrients, other equipment, and quality seeds. The bright side is that the savings on dispensary purchases can offset the cost over time.

Insufficient Space

Not everyone has the space needed to grow cannabis at home. Cannabis plants need adequate room to grow and thrive. The plants' specific environmental conditions may not be ideal in a small or shared living space (though micro grows may help solve this problem).

Matching Quality to Dispensaries

Achieving better quality than dispensary bud may be difficult— but not impossible — for home growers. Dispensaries often employ growers with years of professional growing experience. These professionals have access to advanced technology and commercial resources. Home growers may struggle with issues like nitrogen deficiency, calcium deficiency, or other common plant problems that can affect the final product's quality.

Legal Concerns

Is it legal to grow weed? It depends on your state and local laws, as it's not federally legal yet. And some states only allow medical cannabis patients, not recreational consumers, to grow plants at home.

Not all states allow people to grow cannabis plants at home. It may be strictly prohibited or limited to a select number of plants, licensed cultivars, or registered caregivers. Before starting your cannabis grow, it's important to understand local laws and regulations.

Difficulty Increasing Yield

Problems like cannabis leaves curling can impact plant health and yield. Achieving consistently high yields takes practice and experience, which may be daunting for new growers. Factors such as plant training, pruning, and nutrient management require skill and knowledge.

Tips For Growing Weed at Home

Growing cannabis at home can be a rewarding experience, especially when you're informed and prepared. Below are some tips to help get you started with homegrown cannabis.

Understand Your State's Home Grow Laws

Before starting your home grow, know the legality of growing cannabis where you live. Some regions permit home cultivation under specific conditions, while others strictly prohibit it. Some states even acknowledge the benefit to patients enough to provide useful info for setting up a home grow. Certain conditions might include how many plants you can grow, which varies by state. 

Be sure to check the laws and regulations in your area to ensure you stay compliant.

Find the Right Space and Equipment When Setting Up a Basic Grow

Here are the introductory steps to start growing at home quickly and cost-effectively.

1. Choose the Right Space

Select a spot that can accommodate your plants comfortably. Consider factors like light exposure, ventilation, and privacy. For those with limited space, micro-growing techniques can be highly effective.

2. Obtain a Cannabis Grow Kit

Investing in a cannabis grow kit can simplify the setup process. These kits often include everything to get started (grow lights, pots, nutrients, etc.). They're convenient for all experience levels, making growing more accessible to beginners.

3. Select the Right Soil

Take your time choosing the best soil for growing cannabis. Cannabis is a bio-accumulator, so the final product often reflects the soil quality in which it is grown. Nutrient-rich soil is crucial for healthy plant growth; look for well-aerated soil rich in organic matter.

4. Get the Required Equipment

Vital equipment includes grow lights, a ventilation system, and containers for your plants. Grow lights are particularly important for growing indoors. They provide the necessary light spectrum for photosynthesis. Likewise, proper ventilation helps maintain ideal temperature and humidity levels.

If you choose to grow your cannabis indoors or in a greenhouse, consider investing in the following equipment to increase your chances of a successful harvest.

• Grow Lights: LED or HID lights are popular choices for their efficiency and effectiveness.
• Ventilation System: Includes fans and filters to manage airflow and odor.
• pH and EC Meters: These are used to monitor the pH and nutrient levels in your soil or hydroponic system.
• Timers: These are used to automate light and watering schedules.
• Nutrient Solutions: Different ones are formulated for specific cannabis growth stages.

Avoid Common Pitfalls

New growers can mitigate challenges by understanding what pitfalls they might encounter ahead of time.

Overwatering

One of the common mistakes is overwatering, which can lead to root rot or other issues.

To avoid: Ensure your pots have proper drainage. Water the plants only when the top inch of soil is dry.

Improper Lighting

Providing the correct amount of light is critical. Too little light can stunt growth, while too much can cause heat stress.

To avoid: Research the light requirements for your specific strain and adjust accordingly.

Poor Nutrient Management

Nutrient deficiencies will impact plant health. Experiment with standard feeding regimens until you discover what makes the plants the happiest.

To avoid: Familiarize yourself with the signs of common issues. For example, plants can show visible signs of nitrogen or calcium deficiency, which causes changes in the colors of the leaves.

Harvesting Too Early

Patience is key when growing cannabis. Harvesting too early can result in lower potency and yield. It's important to understand the stages of a cannabis plant's growth and the correct timing to harvest. The trichomes provide key indicators that the cannabis is ready for harvest.

Improper Drying and Curing

Proper drying and curing are essential for preserving the quality and potency of your cannabis. Check out our step-by-step guide on drying and curing weed. It includes tips for beginners.

Top 5 Strains For Homegrow Beginners

Those just starting their home-growing journey should start with beginner-friendly strains. Below are five strains that are simple to grow, resilient, and popular among recreational users and medical patients.

Northern Lights

Forgiving minor mistakes, Northern Lights is an ideal choice for novice growers. It’s a classic strain known for its resilience and ease of growth. For convenience, it thrives in various conditions. Likewise, it has a short flowering time of only seven to nine weeks.

Northern Lights is popular for its relaxing and sedative effects, making it excellent for managing stress, pain, and insomnia symptoms. Its robust genetics also make it a staple in many homegrown cannabis setups.

Granddaddy Purple (GDP)

Granddaddy Purple is a hardy strain well-suited for indoor and outdoor cultivation. It flowers in eight to ten weeks and produces medium yields. GDP is known for its robustness and ability to withstand less-than-ideal growing conditions. It's an ideal choice for newbie growers just getting started.

GDP is popular for its powerful relaxing properties. It’s a go-to cultivar for chronic pain, insomnia, and stress and a favorite among medical patients​.

Blue Dream

Blue Dream is a versatile strain that grows well indoors and outdoors. Its moderate flowering time is nine to ten weeks, and it is known for its high yield. The strain is also resistant to common pests and diseases, providing a smoother growing experience for beginners.

Blue Dream offers balanced effects that promote relaxation and euphoria. It is commonly used to ease symptoms of stress, depression, and pain. 

Girl Scout Cookies (GSC)

Girl Scout Cookies is a strain that is easy to grow and highly resilient. It flowers in about eight to nine weeks and can be cultivated indoors, outdoors, or in a greenhouse. Its robustness and high yield potential make it a favorite among novice growers.

GSC provides a euphoric and relaxing high, potentially making it effective for managing symptoms like nausea and appetite loss. 

Super Lemon Haze

Lastly, Super Lemon Haze is a strain that combines the genetics of Lemon Skunk and Super Silver Haze. It's relatively easy to grow, requiring about nine to ten weeks to flower. This strain is known for its energetic and lively effects, perfect for those looking to stay active. Its mood-enhancing properties and uplifting nature may make it helpful in treating stress, depression, and more, according to some patients.

These strains offer an excellent starting point for beginner growers due to their ease of cultivation, resilience, and beneficial effects. Selecting any of these cultivars can help ensure a successful and rewarding home-growing experience.

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.