Want to grow awesome indica marijuana? These steps will help you. The laws in Canada don’t just allow adults to buy and use marijuana, but as long as you don’t live in Quebec or Nunavut, you can also grow marijuana at home. Marijuana can be grown either indoors or outdoors, although you’ll need to follow certain rules and regulations.
Many growers prefer to grow indica strains, especially as they’re smaller, quicker, and easier to grow than sativa strains. With that said, it’s important to choose the right strain, the right seeds, and make sure you’re well prepared even before you start growing. Here are 7 important steps for growing indica marijuana.
1. Choose A Strain
Before anything else, you’ll need to choose what strain you plan to grow. Indica strains are known for their relaxing and soothing qualities, but each strain differs a little in terms of its taste, appearance, and effects. Some have higher levels of THC or CBD whereas some are more pungent or flavorful.
More importantly, each strain grows differently. Some indica strains produce better yields whereas some are quicker and easier to grow than others. It’s best to do your research before you choose which strain you want to grow.
2. Pick The Best Seeds
Picking a strain isn’t the only important choice you need to deal with. You also need to make sure you get the best type of seeds. When you buy seeds from a cannabis store or seed bank, you’ll notice there are a few different types of seeds to choose from no matter which strain you grow.
Regular seeds are seeds that can produce both male and female plants. However, male cannabis plants don’t produce THC and, as such, are useless unless you’re planning on breeding plants. It’s best to use Feminized seeds instead- these seeds are genetically enhanced to grow female plants full of cannabinoids.
Another option is Autoflowering seeds. Autoflowering seeds are seeds that have been crossed with Ruderalis cannabis, a fast-growing type of cannabis that’s incredibly easy to grow. As such, Autoflowering seeds are great for beginner growers who want their plants to flower quicker.
3. Set Up An Indoor Growing Space
The next step is to set up your growing space. Although you can grow marijuana outdoors, indoor growing is usually better for growing indica marijuana. Growing marijuana indoors gives you more control over the conditions, meaning you can produce higher yields and make your plants grow faster.
You’ll need to invest in some equipment for growing indoors. Artificial lights (LED, HFL or HID) help you control how much light your plants get each day. You’ll also need a small air conditioning unit or fan, plant pots, soil, and nutrient-enriched water.
It’s also important to have an enclosed space for growing your plants. For instance, some growers use a tent or a box for controlling the amount of light and heat their plants get. Some stores even sell Grow Tents or Grow Boxes kitted out with everything you need for growing marijuana indoors.
4. Germinate Your Seeds
Before you start growing your plants, it’s best to germinate your seeds. Germinating is a process that involves making your seeds sprout, leading to a faster and more successful grow. It’s easy to germinate your seeds using wet paper towels and a couple of plates.
Place two damp paper towels on a plate and spread your seeds across them. Put two more damp paper towels on top and place another plate face-down over the top. Germination can happen rapidly or take a few days, so check regularly to see if your seeds have sprouted. Spray some extra water on your paper towels if they become too dry.
5. Start Growing Your Indica Marijuana
Once your seeds have germinated, it’s time to start growing. Carefully transfer the seeds to pots of loose soil using tweezers and spray them with water until you see a seedling begin to grow. You can then put the pots in your growing space.
In the early stages of growing, keep your plants at a temperature of around 70-75°F and give them 18 hours of light a day and enough water to keep the soil moist. Marijuana plants also need nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium for optimal growth. You can either use nutrient-enriched water or nutrient-enriched super soil for this.
Continue this process for around four to six weeks until you notice your marijuana plants beginning to flower.
6. Prepare For Flowering
Once you see your plants start to flower, you’ll need to change up the amount of light and heat you give them to spur on the final stages of growth. At this point, keep your plants at a temperature of around 65-70°F and give them 12 hours of light a day.
Your plants will generally need another two or three months until they’re ready to harvest, although they may grow faster if you’re using autoflowering seeds.
Check the flowers of your plants regularly to see how the hairs and trichome crystals develop. You’ll know when your plants are ready to harvest when the hairs on their buds begin to darken and the trichomes become cloudy.
7. Dry And Cure Your Buds
When your plants are ready to harvest, it’s time to dry and cure your buds. Start by trimming your plants until you’re left with nothing but the buds of weed. Place these buds on a dry rack or drying line in a cool, dry room with a temperature of around 60-70°F. Keep the room at a relative humidity level of 50-60% using a dehumidifier.
Check your buds regularly until they’re completely free of moisture. This process can take anywhere from three to ten days. Once they’re dry, place them in clean glass containers such as Mason jars and store them somewhere cool and dry such as a cupboard or drawer.
At this point, your indica marijuana is ready to use. However, the longer you store it away, the more time it has to cure- a process that can result in your weed becoming even more powerful.
Conclusion
Growing marijuana takes a lot of time and effort, but these steps will help you grow some amazing indica marijuana. The same rules can also be applied to growing other types of marijuana. Whichever way, make sure you prepare well and give your plants plenty of care. As rewarding as growing marijuana can be, you can always buy weed online if you don’t want to go through the whole process.
