Amanda Howard
Most media inclusion of states with clinical and adult-use consumers, anybody more than 21 of age can legitimately purchase marijuana or accessories from licensed dispensaries. Until you’re ready for growing cannabis at home, you can utilize those items, ordinarily in a private space, and unafraid of criminal repercussions.
In any case, what you may not understand is that in the states with clinical and recreational guidelines, you are additionally allowed to grow your cannabis plants for individual use.
If you want to use your green thumb to grow some excellent, green herb, you might be able to! Read on to learn the basics of a beginner’s guide to growing cannabis at home.
Understand the Law
The first step to growing cannabis at home is always to understand the law. Unequivocally, read your state laws regarding cannabis cultivation. Many states have similar or even identical laws on the matter, which express something along the lines of:
An adult aged 21 or older can grow up to six marijuana plants, to be used for adult-use or medical purposes.
Some states are progressively exacting with respect to how many marijuana plants might be flowering at once. The maximum number of plants in a family unit with different grown-ups more than 21, and where plants might grow- e.g., inside, outside, taking into account general society, and so forth.
Additionally, many states make it clear how growing cannabis at home can be used. Almost across the board, it is illegal to sell any of the crops you grow in your house, even to friends and family. Some states allow you to give your goods away as gifts (to adults over 21), but many require that you use what you grow.
You need to research and understand the law to avoid getting in trouble with state or federal authorities. You can find your state’s unique cultivation laws online, by searching for your state and the phrase “home cannabis cultivation laws.”
Choose the Right Strain
Once you are confident that you are legally allowed to grow marijuana from home and understand the circumstances that make such cultivation permissible under your state’s law, you can begin developing the grow operations in earnest. However, as eager as you might be to start growing any old marijuana plant, you should put some time and effort into how to choose the right strain.
When you hear the term “strain,” you might think of the different kinds of psychoactive effects that marijuana produces. However, the truth is that different strains aren’t all that effective at differentiating between different types of high. Strains are more often ways for growers to understand and better manage growth cycles of their crops.
Instead of understanding Indica vs. Sativa as relaxation vs. exhilaration, you should look at these classifications as tools for proper care. More accurately, Indica plants are better for colder regions with shorter warm seasons. Sativa plants are suited to more temperate areas with higher temperatures. Thus, if you live in Alaska, you probably won’t find success growing pure Sativas like Jack Herer, Purple Power, or G13. Similarly, Arizona medical growers might struggle to maintain Indica- dominant strains like Northern Lights, Blueberry, and Master Kush.
Ultimately, the documented psychoactive effects of a strain should take a backseat to growth patterns, which will have a more significant impact on how successful your home cannabis crop turns out.
Caring for Your Cannabis Crop
Know the law; you have the seeds (or clones); at last, prepared to begin growing. Here are some healthy tips on caring for your cannabis crop without dramatically increasing your expenses:
- Plant your first crop in soil. Marijuana pros will use a complex hydroponics system. This system delivers minerals to crops through water and allegedly increases the growth rate. However, you do not need to invest in such a cost- and the energy-intensive system just yet. Instead, you can buy a typical potting soil or one that is rated suitable for tomatoes, which require similar nutrients and water retention as marijuana.
- Keep your crop dry. Cannabis comes from the Eurasian Steppe, an exceedingly dry region. While some strains have been adapted to withstand humidity, you should try to keep your crop relatively dry. You might invest in a dehumidifier if you live in a particularly moist region, like the PNW or the Southeast. Yet, you can’t forget to water your crop regularly, ideally with filtered water free from pollutants.
- Give your crop plenty of light. If you cannot move your crop outside to enjoy sunshine all day, you might purchase a grow light, which emits different kinds of light to stimulate different growth and rest cycles. However, if you have a bright window in your home, that will work fine, too.
It might be wise to begin your growing cannabis at home journey with one or two plants. This will allow you to get a feel for growth patterns, maintenance schedules, necessary tools, and the like. However, once you feel comfortable with your smaller crop, you can consider expanding — as long as your state law permits it.
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