The Guide to Legally Grow Cannabis as A Hobby
Growing cannabis at home as a hobby has come a long way from full restriction, with more jurisdictions now allowing cultivation. There has never been a better time in these legal states to take up growing as a pleasure.
Know the law
Despite the fact that marijuana is prohibited at the federal level in the United States, more than a dozen states have chosen to legalize it for adult consumption.
Colorado and Washington became the first two regions in the United States to allow cannabis for adult consumption in 2012. Many states have also jumped on the bandwagon.
More than half of the states that have legalized cannabis allow some kind of at-home cannabis planting, but with some certain limitations.
First, you cannot cultivate your own marijuana and start selling it to friends and family. You can grow up to 28.5 grams of cannabis for private consumption, but you cannot bring that amount outside of your residence.
Related article: 5 Reasons Why You Should Grow Your Own Weed
You can raise up to six plants on your premises too. But, it's safer to do so within an enclosed area because it's prohibited to grow pot in an area that can be observed by the general public
Nonetheless, when it comes to personal cannabis planting, each state has its own set of laws. Notably, certain states that have legalized adult-use cannabis make no difference between commercial and medicinal cultivation.
In general, home growing regulations in the United States concentrate on the quantity and development of cannabis plants in order to limit the amount of cannabis that people can plant at their property properties.
Choosing what and how to grow
The variety of cannabis seeds available is now greater than ever. Many inexperienced growers find that autoflower seeds are less challenging and easier to cultivate, making them ideal for novice growers.
Early spring is the best time to start developing autoflower seeds. It would then bloom during the summer's longest hours, taking advantage of the natural light to produce larger yields.
Another advantage is that autoflower strains do not require a lot of nutrients because they are compact and spend little time throughout their vegetative cycle.
When it comes to how you want to grow your plant, there are two common methods: seeds and clones.
Growers in commercial cannabis production will normally plant several crops of one strain and pick the strongest plant. They would then start taking clones from that single plant, allowing for consistent breeding for mass processing.
For the large majority of home growers, using cannabis seeds rather than clones is much more convenient. Trying to grow from seed will result in a stronger crop with more stable genetics.
The biggest disadvantage to cultivating from seed is that you never know what plant sex you'll get. A standard pack of cannabis seeds will contain a mixture of male and female crops.
One way to prevent this problem is to purchase feminized seeds, which guarantee that any seed you grow is a female. Female cannabis plants are responsible for producing THC-rich buds.
Related article: Best Cannabis and Hemp Seed Banks
Preparing the growing space
Local officials will make that decision for you in most states, with requirements on plant sites and amounts. When growing cannabis indoors, you must choose the best space for the task. An indoor cannabis plant can reach a height of five feet and a width of three feet.
Pose a few questions to yourself about your future growing area.
Is there enough air circulation? Do I need to make significant improvements to this space to grow cannabis? Will it be big enough to support one to six indoor hemp plants? Pay attention to these issues to get a deeper understanding of how well-equipped the room is for cannabis farming.
Related article: A Step by Step Guide - Growing Weed Indoors for Beginners
Indoor lighting can be used to manipulate the plant's body clock, causing it to grow faster. Rather than only one crop annually, three crops can be grown per year. The reliability of your lighting will determine the output of your indoor cannabis harvest. There are several different types of lights that perform well for home-growing cannabis, such as HID, LED, and fluorescent.
LED lights are ideal for home cannabis cultivation because they use less energy and generate less heat than HID systems. However, LEDs can be expensive, so be expected to spend a few hundred bucks on a decent LED system.
Fluorescent bulbs are another great pick for home-growing cannabis since they are cheap, don't produce too much heat, and have a broad spectrum of light. Fluorescent bulbs, regrettably, are less effective compared to LEDs or HID lamps. A greenhouse is a viable alternative. It protects the plant while still getting natural light from the sun and enough shading.
If you put plants in a greenhouse, they will flower right away. The plants may not be very large, but they would have an excellent light cycle, which is just what they require. Aside from illumination and air circulation, the soil you use is another factor to take into consideration. If you decide to grow your cannabis in soil, avoid products that use chemical fertilizer. Find healthy soil that has been pre-fertilized with the key nutrients your cannabis crop deserves.
Conclusion
Even if you don't consider yourself to be a green thumb, you must try raising cannabis at home at least once in your life. It can be an enjoyable experience, and it will undoubtedly save you money by eliminating the need to visit the dispensary regularly. Do some research, take the time to understand the regulations, then plan everything you'll need for the project, and you'll be well on your way to becoming a joyful cannabis home-grower.
