Watt Mh Kit
Growing Marijuana Indoors: An Overview
This how-to guide will teach you about each step in the process of growing your first marijuana plant indoors. From seeds and nutrients to lighting and hydroponic systems, this guide is a basic overview for the novice indoor marijuana grower.
Seeds
For your first grow operation I recommend you seeds that are easy to obtain, such as those found in your own bud. Once you get some experience growing you may want to consider buying cannabis seeds. There are many types of marijuana seeds out there and many different strains. There are feminized seeds which yield only female plants, and there are low-rider dwarf plants that flower automatically. There are many varieties of Sativa, Indica, and hybrid (containing genetics from both Indica and Sativa strains). Sativa and sativa-dominant strains tend to give the user more of a head high as opposed to a body high; whereas Indica-dominant strains tend to give you that couch-lock stoney high. Step 2 Growing Method
There are many methods of growing cannabis but we will only talk using soil here, as this is a beginners tutorial. Hydroponic growing will be a topic of a future tutorial.
Growing in soil is also the method suggested by the Cannabis Chef when the marijuana will be used in foods. Soil will provide the most natural flavor for cannabis and is best for cooking.
Germinate Seeds
It is extremely helpful to germinate the seeds before starting an indoor soil grow operation. To germinate the seeds, simply place them in a folded dampened paper towel and leave over night. Check the seeds, if the sprout has begun to break through the husk of the seed then it is ready. If not, re-dampen the paper towel and continue this process until the seed germinates. If the sprout does not break through within five or so days, it is most likely a dud. Toss, and start again.
Prepare the Space
You will need a space to grow your plants. Where ever you chose to grow, make sure you prepare the space properly. I suggest lining the floor with trash bags or plastic drop sheets to prevent water damage. It is also a good idea to line or paint the walls with a white material. This will help reflect light back at the plants. If this is not an option you may use aluminum foil. Make sure the dull side of the foil is facing outwards towards the plants. Aluminum foil is not a great choice however it is better than nothing.
Choose and Install a Light
The Cannabis Chef suggests staying away from florescent light bulbs, but if you must always use a CFL (compact florescent light) and at least 100 watts for one plant. Your plant will most likely grow, however you will also likely be disappointed in your crops. We suggest using between 250-400 Watt HPS (High Pressure sodium) or HID MH (high-intensity discharge metal halide) lights. You will want to mount the lights in a way that allows you to move them up as the plant grows. For safety we suggest using a reflector on the light, and a fan in the space you are using. Not only will the fan prevent it from getting to warm in the space it will also help to circulate oxygen to the plants.
Setting up the Plants
For each plant you are growing you will need one 3-5 gallon bucket. You can find these at Home Depot or almost any department store. You could also find a great deal at amazon.com. Make sure you poke about 5 small holes in the bottom of the bucket to allow excess water to drain. You may use the lid of the bucket as a water catcher by placing it underneath the bucket.
Next, fill each bucket with soil, leaving about 4 inches at the top. We suggest using organic potting soil. Test the soils PH using a PH Meter. The soil should be somewhere between 6.0 and 7.0. Remember adding nutrients will increase the acidity of the soil. There are PH balancing kits available to help achieve the perfect balance. This is important for a healthy plant.
Using your finger, push a small whole about quarter to a half inch deep into the soil in the center of the bucket. Know place the seed or clone in and cover with soil. The soil should be packed firmly but not so dense that the sprout will not be able to push through.
The Light Routine
We recommend using 16 hours of light and 8 hours of dark for the first two weeks. After the first two weeks you may increase the amount of light by one hour each day until you are using between 18 and 24 hours of light in a 24 hour period. After the plants reach desired height (probably around 12 depending on the strain) you may decrease the lighting to just 12 hours on and 12 hours off. This will trigger the flowering cycle of the plant. This is the time the buds will begin to form. This is also the time where you must remove any male plants. Male plants can be detected by their pollen sacs. These are small pod-like plant structures which will fertilize the female plants (causing seeds and less potency!). So be sure to remove the males as soon as can spot them.
The Nutrient Routine
For the first two weeks after germination we suggest using only water to feed the plants. For the next two weeks slowly increase the nutrient solution to the suggested amount. This will help prevent against burning or shocking the plants. During the vegetative stage we suggest using N-P-K (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) ratio of about 30-15-15. For the flowering stage use a 15-30-30 ratio. This is only what we recommend, and every strain will do better using a different regiment. If you bought your seeds from a legitimate source it may come with documentation with a N-P-K suggestion.
Harvesting
Harvesting is a huge topic that involves many things including drying, curing, trimming and more. Here we will only get into knowing when to harvest. Look forward to future material about the harvesting process. You will want to harvest the cannabis plants when the trichomes (small hair-like glands found on the marijuana buds) are an amber color. Use a magnifying glass to examine the buds. When around 90% of the trichomes are amber in color, it is time to harvest!
About the Author
For more information see Jorge Cervantes Ultimate Grow and for cooking info see Cannabutter.
|
|
400 Watt Digital Metal Halide Grow Light Kit Reflector MH bulb Lamp 400W Ballast $134.95 |
|
|
Virtual Sun 400W HPS MH Grow Light Tube Reflector Hood Digital Kit- 400 Watt 3Pk $567.00 |
|
|
Virtual Sun 400W HPS MH Grow Light Tube Reflector Hood Digital Kit- 400 Watt $189.50 |
|
|
New MTN 600 Watts HPS MH Digital Dimmable Ballast Grow Light Kit 600W Yoyo Timer $189.95 |
|
|
1000 Watts HPS+MH Digital Ballast Grow Light Kit 1000W $259.95 |
|
|
New 600 Watts HPS + MH Dimmable Digital Ballast Grow Light Kit Reflector 600W $189.95 |
|
|
600 Watts HPS+MH Digital Ballast Grow Light Kit 600W $209.95 |
|
|
400 Watts HPS+MH Digital Ballast Grow Light Kit 400W $159.95 |
|
|
400 Watt Digital Ballast Grow Light Kit HPS and MH Bulbs Bat Wing Reflector 400w $96.01 |
|
|
400 Watt Digital Metal Halide Grow Light Kit Reflector MH bulb Lamp 400W Ballast $134.90 |
|
|
1000 Watt DIMMABLE DIGITAL HPS MH BALLAST AIR COOL HOOD GROW LIGHT KIT 1000W $259.99 |
|
|
Virtual Sun 400W HPS MH Grow Light Hood Reflector Magnetic Ballast Kit 400 Watt $209.99 |
|
|
Virtual Sun 400W HPS MH Grow Light Winged Reflector Hood Digital Kit -400 Watt $169.00 |
|
|
Virtual Sun 400W HPS MH Grow Light Tube Reflector Hood Magnetic Kit – 400 Watt $189.99 |
|
|
600 watt DIGITAL GROW LIGHT 600w HPS BALLAST SODIUM BULB w HOOD AIR COOL KIT MH $139.95 |
|
|
600 watt DIGITAL GROW LIGHT 600w HPS BALLAST SODIUM BULB w HOOD AIR COOL KIT MH $219.95 |
|
|
600 watt DIGITAL GROW LIGHT 600w HPS BALLAST SODIUM BULB w HOOD AIR COOL KIT MH $254.95 |
|
|
600 watt DIGITAL GROW LIGHT 600w HPS BALLAST SODIUM BULB w HOOD AIR COOL KIT MH $254.95 |
|
|
600 watt DIGITAL GROW LIGHT 600w HPS BALLAST SODIUM BULB w HOOD AIR COOL KIT MH $277.95 |
|
|
600 watt DIGITAL GROW LIGHT 600w HPS BALLAST SODIUM BULB w HOOD AIR COOL KIT MH $257.95 |
|
|
600 watt DIGITAL GROW LIGHT 600w HPS BALLAST SODIUM BULB w HOOD AIR COOL KIT MH $279.95 |
|
|
600 watt DIGITAL GROW LIGHT 600w HPS BALLAST SODIUM BULB w HOOD AIR COOL KIT MH $257.95 |
|
|
600 watt DIGITAL GROW LIGHT 600w HPS BALLAST SODIUM BULB w HOOD AIR COOL KIT MH $257.95 |
|
|
600 watt DIGITAL GROW LIGHT 600w HPS BALLAST SODIUM BULB w HOOD AIR COOL KIT MH $267.95 |
|
|
600 watt DIGITAL GROW LIGHT 600w HPS BALLAST SODIUM BULB w HOOD AIR COOL KIT MH $277.95 |
|
|
Revlon Hot Air Kit $20.49 Titanium Technology Titanium is a superior conductor of heat. It transfers heat faster than other materials so you get better results in less time. The faster heat transfer causes less damage to the hair since there is a shorter exposure to the harmful heat levels. High-grade titanium produces substantially more beneficial negative ions than other types of ionic barrels. More negative ions means m… |
|
|
LumaPro 1XUD8 HID Ballast Kit, Metal Halide, 150/175W $88.83 HID Ballast Kit, Core And Coil, Metal Halide Lamp Type, Number of Lamps 1, 150/175 Lamp Watts, M57/H39/M107 ANSI Code, 215 Input Watts, 120/208/240/277 Input Voltage, 60 Hz, 1.9 Operating Amps @ 120V, 1.1 Operating Amps @ 208V, 1 Operating Amps @ 240V, 0.8 Operating Amps @ 277V, Insulation Class H, Min Starting Temp -20 F, Length 3 15/16 In, Width 2 4/5 In, Height 2 13/16 In, Includes Capacitor, … |
|
|
Advance 71A6572001 – 1000 Watt – Metal Halide Ballast – 4 Tap – ANSI M47 – Power Factor 90 – Max. Temp. Rating 212 Deg. F – Includes Oil Filled Capacitor and Bracket Kit $102.43 HID Ballasts/Ignitors Type: Ballast Ballast Type: QuadriVoltÖ Type of Lamp: Metal Halide Wattage: 1000 Circuit: CWA… |
|
|
Ac Adapter Power Supply Charger for Hp 463958-001 Ppp009l Pa-1650-02hn 463552-001 Laptop $0.59 Compatible Part Numbers: ED494AA#ABA, 391172-001, 384019-003, PA-1650-02HC, 384019-001, 384021-001, 391173-001, 384020-001, 384020-003, 409992-001, ED495AA, PA-1900-18H2, PPP014L-SA, 384019-002, 384020-002 Fit Laptop Models: |
|
|
AC Adapter/Power Supply for HP Pavilion dv1000 dv4000 dv5000 dv6000 $0.01 AC Adapter for HP Compaq Notebooks ; Compatible Models: HP Pavilion dv1000 dv4000 dv5000 dv6000 ; 100-240 2.5A(2,5A) 50-60 Hz ; 18.5V(18,5V), 3.5A(3,5A)… |
|
|
Kingston ValueRAM 2 GB (1×2 GB Module) 1333MHz DDR3 DIMM Desktop Memory KVR1333D3N9/2G $10.50 ValueRAM is Kingston”s high-quality line of ”by spec” generic memory designed with the price conscious system builder, assembler and white box markets in mind. ValueRAM is backed by a lifetime warranty and is 100% tested both internally and through Advanced Validation Labs (AVL). AVL testing ensures all modules comply with JEDEC specifications…. |
|
|
600w Galaxy Digital HPS Ballast $179.95 600 watt Digital Galaxy HPS/MH Ballast Extruded aluminum housing is engineered to dissipate heat and keep the components cool. Smart Volt feature allows ballast to run on 120v, 208v or 240v power. Detachable power cord allows easy change over. Comes standard with 120v cord, purchase 240 volt cord separately (part #903082). There is also a resettable circuit breaker for short circuit protection. La… |
|
|
Motorola MH230R 23-Mile Range 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio (Pair) $59.99 - Up to 23-mile range- iVOX hands-free communication- 11 NOAA weather channels with alerts-Quiet talk(TM) filter-10 call tones- Rechargeable- Battery save feature- Mini-USB charging port. Item is water resistant…. |
Have you read these ?
Hydroponics & Seed Starting | adminbr April 28, 2005