Did you know that nearly 50% of adults in the United States have used marijuana, and for some, it is a regular habit?

Marijuana has been shown to help people relax, relieve pain, and prevent health conditions from getting worse.

If you are a cannabis user and have an interest in growing plants, there are a couple of things you must do.

Continue reading to discover the key steps for growing cannabis that will get you some of the best buds you’ll ever smoke!

Research Your Local Laws

The first thing you should do when you are growing cannabis is research your local laws.

Marijuana is still considered to be illegal at the federal level, however, some states and counties have approved of its use. Depending on where you live, you might be able to legally use medicinal or recreational marijuana.

Researching laws and regulations for growing weed is essential if you don’t want to get fined or in trouble with the law. Some of the most common regulations include the number of plants you can grow, where you can grow, and who has access to the plants.

Identify Key Details

One of the most important things to do when growing cannabis is to determine where it will be growing and how you want to start.

Growing indoors versus outdoors has different directions that influence your harvest. You should also figure out if you will be starting with seeds or a plant that has already sprouted. Most people have better luck with sprouted seeds because they are already working towards producing leaves.

Starting with a seed is also a great option. Make sure that you get feminized seeds so that it produces the THC. You might want to buy multiple seeds at a time, as some of them might not sprout.

Prepare Your Gardening Area

Whether you are growing cannabis indoors or outdoors, there will be some preparation that you need to do.

If you live in a warm climate, you can grow outdoors each year in the same spot. Most people recommend treating the soil so that it has a balanced pH for the sprout to thrive in. The soil can impact the growth of your plant if it is too dense or loose.

Sand and clay aren’t good types of soil to grow cannabis. The sand doesn’t allow water the time it needs for the roots to absorb it and the clay can become too dense for growth.

Gardening indoors means that you will need to purchase artificial lights that will keep your plants warm. You will also need to add ventilation in the room that you grow in if it doesn’t already have it. Since marijuana grows best in warm climates, you should try to keep the air humid and hot in the room.

Plant Your Roots

Now that you have prepared the growing room, you can finally plant your seeds and let the journey begin.

It is helpful to get soil that is treated with vitamins and nutrients to provide extra care for your sprout. Gently replant your sprout or seed in the soil about an inch below the top. You should space the seeds out from each other or plant them in separate containers to prevent them from tangling or running out of growth space.

Take Care of the Plant

Planting the seed isn’t the end of the story, it is only the beginning of a lengthy process.

Make sure that your cannabis plants are in a location that is getting a lot of sunlight. The more sunlight or artificial light that you give your plant, the more flowers that it will produce. Aim to give your plant 12 to 18 hours of sunlight each day.

Watering your plants will change depending on what stage of growth you are in. In the beginning, you must keep the soil moist to encourage growth. As the plant matures, you won’t have to water it as much, especially before harvesting because you want the leaves to be dry.

Make Adjustments

Growing weed for the first time might not produce as large of a success as you imagined.

Throughout the growing process, you will need to make adjustments to keep your plants healthy and thriving. The temperature and humidity might need to be adjusted, along with the airflow in the growing room.

When you have to make adjustments, try to write them down or remember them. Much like growing vegetables in a garden, you will learn tricks and tips with the more experience that you get. Don’t get discouraged if you wanted a larger harvest, instead, take note of things that you can change for the next batch of plants.

Harvest Your Weed

Cannabis harvesting is the most exciting part of the experience.

All of your hard work and time turned into marijuana buds that are ready to be dried and smoked. Before your flowers turn into weed, however, you need to cut down your plants. After the plants are cut down, you can trim the branches and hang them up to dry.

It takes a couple of weeks to several months for the plants to fully dry. Once they have dried, you can throw them in your grinder and it should produce a smooth hit. There is nothing more satisfying than smoking homegrown buds that you tended to.

Knowing how to harvest cannabis ahead of time will help you be more prepared with the right equipment and materials.

Are You Interested in Growing Cannabis?

Growing cannabis can be a wise investment if you are a regular user or want to take on a project.

Many people find it relaxing to care for a plant, especially when they can benefit from it in the future. Depending on where you live, you can plant indoors or outdoors to provide your plants with the best environment.

Don’t underestimate the time that it takes to grow marijuana. The process takes patience and practice, but it will get easier over time.

Be sure to check out our blog for more articles about cannabis growing for beginners and finding natural solutions to ailments!

Samantha Gaines wrote this article on behalf of FreeUp. FreeUp is the fastest-growing freelance marketplace in the US. FreeUp only accepts the top 1% of freelance applicants. Click here to get access to the top freelancers in the world. 

GreenState and Hearst partners may earn revenue when readers click affiliate links in this article.