Self-cultivation: How to grow cannabis in your apartment?
In countries that have legalized, more and more people are choosing to grow their own cannabis. Cheaper and of better quality, there are many reasons for switching to self-cultivation. People living in apartments constitute a large part of the population. This means that a lot of people self-cultivate cannabis in their homes. Many of them achieve successful harvests through home cultivation. By familiarizing yourself with a few techniques, this process remains fairly straightforward.
Different ways of growing at home
Successful cannabis cultivation could mean growing weed outdoors or using an indoor facility. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Even if the experts will not share all their secrets, there are a few basics to know that make it possible to produce successfully.
The pros and cons of growing at home
If you prepare yourself for growing cannabis indoors, you will find that you have a lot of control over it. These include: lighting, temperature, humidity and CO2 levels. This gives the producer a chance to be very specific. And that precision will most likely make it possible to cultivate premium cannabis. Understand, however, that these powerful returns come at a financial cost.
The money to set up an indoor grow op can be very high. You need to take care of the lights, tents, fans, humidity control and odor elimination. In addition, you will have to be very careful after setup to make sure that these factors stay within the optimal range.
How to grow cannabis at home indoors means stop pest infestation. If mold or mites take hold, it can lead to the loss of the entire crop. This is because the conditions are ideal in a closed system. But pest conditions are also ideal. This allows the pests to establish themselves firmly and to populate quickly.
Hide the smell of cannabis
Unless you have a tolerant neighborhood, the smell of cannabis plants can potentially be a concern. It is imperative to be prepared for this situation, and to be able to mask the scent coming from the plants.
It will be necessary to have an exhaust duct accompanied by an activated carbon filter. An exhaust fan pulls the odor-laden air through the duct and filter which will eliminate the odor.
Have good ventilation
Plants, like humans, need to breathe. Except that they breathe carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen.
Ventilation not only ensures good air quality, but prevents overheating. If the grow box gets too hot the plants may stop growing. A constant flow of air helps the plant to stay healthy.
Controlling humidity is also crucial. Too much humidity can cause mold that can destroy cannabis. A dehumidifier or humidifier in the box helps maintain a balance for this reason. The humidity should be between 50 and 70% for vegetative growth and between 50 and 60% for flowering.
LEDs: the best compromise for self-cultivation
LED lights are ideal for growing in an apartment. This is because LEDs do not produce as much heat as high intensity lighting.
Fortunately, LEDs also use a lot less energy than MH and HPS lights. This helps offset the somewhat higher initial purchase cost. The fact that the LEDs run quieter is also a big advantage in keeping things low-key.
Yet another reason why LEDs are ideal for indoor growing is the lack of risk to plants, even in close proximity to LEDs. When planting cannabis in a box, space is limited, this can be important. It would be a shame to accidentally burn one of the plants with a too hot lamp.
The closet, the growth tent or the culture box?
These are the three main options available for indoor growing.
Closets are usually one of the first places future home growers think of. However, can present challenges with airflow, temperature and humidity. It will be necessary to invest in air exhaust systems.
Grow tents are a second option, quite well suited. They are available at reasonable prices and are easy to install. While they help prevent moisture damage, temperature control is sometimes more complicated.
Grow boxes remain the best option for apartment cultivation. These self-contained grow spaces can even come pre-equipped with what you need to grow cannabis. This means that by investing in an all-in-one grow box complete with lighting, ventilation, you no longer need to worry about anything. This is ideal when you are a beginner ... or even experienced.
The best strains for self-cultivation in apartments
To grow in a limited space, one must think about the selection of strains. We will ideally choose more compact varieties for a more confined space.
Indica plants may be best suited to a grow space. Another factor to consider is how easy a strain is to grow. Thus, for a novice grower it is recommended to choose a strain that is not too difficult.
Sativas, on the other hand, can get quite large, even being able to exceed e meters. You can grow them in small spaces, but it takes experience and pruning.
Autoflowering varieties are a good option. These strains begin to bloom without changing the light cycle. They usually start to flower at around five weeks and remain compact in size. They will be ready to harvest about seven weeks later.
To read : Culture Guide
