Hello,
Now that marijuana has been legalized in most states either for medicinal, recreational or both. There are still some states that are illegal for both in some states. Marijuana has some nice health benefits. In this post I will discuss how to grow your own marijuana garden, the difference between THC and CBD, how to grow plants indoors and outdoors, which states have legalized marijuana.
Disclaimer – if you are under the age of 21, this website does not recommend growing marijuana in any form, in any state.
How to Grow your own Marijuana Garden
To get started, you either need to start the plants from seed or purchase some clones from a dispensary or someone you know who grows clones. If you are starting from seed, you can do the wet paper towel method. This is done by placing your seed(s) in a wet paper towel, then put it in a plastic bag in a warm, dark spot. Once you see the seed starting to germinate, using tweezers, place the seed in a good organic soil.
Don’t let it sprout too long in the paper towel because the tap root may get stuck on the paper towel and detach from the seed, then it won’t work. You can also soak the seeds in water for a bit to soften them up then place in the soil. The seed will usually germinate 24 hours to 2 weeks.
Marijuana is an annual plant. When growing marijuana you want to make sure you are using feminized seeds. The female plants grow the buds. There are also 2 types of plants, photo-period and auto-flower. These plants have a different grow length.
The photo-period is usually about 6 months or harvest in fall and auto-flower takes about 3 months. Don’t over water the plants. Error on the side of caution, water when the top soil is dry or when you lift the plant it feels light.
It is recommended to use organic nutrients and to stop nutrients 2 weeks before harvest. Some people also recommend flushing the plants those 2 weeks before harvest. Flushing is giving the plant water until the container can’t hold anymore. Then let the water drain.
This removes any chemical taste to the bud. There are 7 stages for a photo-period plant. Read the directions for dosages and water mix. There is 3 different kind to use for during vegetative stage, flower stage and bud stage. Auto-flower has the same stages, just a shorter time period. These are good for when you have a shorter growing season.
- Germination – 24 Hours to 2 weeks
- Seedling Stage – 2 to 3 weeks
- Vegetative Stage – 3 to 8 weeks
- Flower Stage – 6 to 8 weeks – most important stage
- When to Harvest
- Pruning
- Prepare for next cycle’s season
What’s the Difference between Marijuana and CBD
You are able to grow plants that are more CBD then THC, a combination of both or just THC. It depends on what you want to use this product for. Growing your own plants could save money versus going to a dispensary to purchase the CBD oil or THC products. THC and CBD are chemically similar which interact with your neurotransmitters. The neurotransmitters are the chemicals responsible for sending messages within your brain between cells and play roles in stress, immune function, pain and sleep.
CBD is the non-psycho active where THC is the psycho active part of the bud. Depending on what you are looking for, research the plant that either have more CBD or THC, if you want more non-psycho brain activity or if you want a high sense of euphoria.
There are some amazing health benefits, pain management, which includes arthritis, fibromyalgia, migrains and endometriosis. It is also know to help minimize reactions from chemo therapy, like loss of appetite. It has also been know to reduce inflamation and neurological and mental disorders.
How to Grow Marijuana Indoors
It is possible to grow marijuana indoors. If you need to grow discrete or if you just don’t have a place outdoors to grow. When growing indoors, there should be a dedicated grow room or you can use a grow tent. Having a grow room or tent, you will need a fan(s) and a ventilation system to keep the smell out of the house, condo or apartment. You might also want a small thermostat to show what the temperature and humidity is in the grow area.
Growing indoors helps with bug infestation and other unfavorable outdoor conditions. Having a grow room or grow tent, you can control the temperature and environment for better growth production. When growing indoors, you will want to keep the temperature in the 70s and low humidity, during bud season, keeps the mold chances low.
Once the seeds have sprouted and the small container you stared them in are getting root bound, transplant them in their final pot. If growing photo-period plants, I recommend using 3 to 5 gallon fabric pots with handles and for auto-flower use 1 to 2 gallon fabric pots. These fabric pots allow the roots to breath and more resistant to disease.
How to Grow Marijuana Outdoors
Growing marijuana outside is almost just like growing any other plant. You need to have a place where they plant can get full sun for the majority of the day. Starting the plants indoors, especially if you live in a northern climate, would be best to start them indoors.
When it gets close to planting the plants outside, you will want to gradually place them outside to start getting used to the outdoors. Again, check your state laws before planting. Some states have strict growing rule.
The plants outside in the northern climate planting season is usually end of May to beginning to mid October. Make sure you plant them where they will get the most sun.
Which States is Marijuana legal – Updated 03/06/21
Here is the list of all US states and where they stand with the legalization of marijuana. These can change, so you will want to make sure the laws in your state before starting. If your state is only legal for medicinal marijuana, there are also different laws to follow by, when growing, indoors and outdoors.
The states that are still fully illegal
Recommend not growing in these states
- Alabama
- Idaho
- Kansas
- Nebraska
- North Carolina
- Tennessee
- South Carolina
- Wyoming
States that are Medical Decriminalized, Decriminalized or Medical
If you decide to grow, please check your state laws first.
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
States that are Fully Legal
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Illinois
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- Oregon
- South Dakota
- Vermont
- Washington
Happy Planting!
Whether you plan on growing indoors or outdoor, please review your state laws before planting. More and more states are starting to lift restrictions but again, check your state laws first. For the people who live in states that are completely legal, I hope you find this post helpful.
Looking for Indoor Grow Tent Kits? Check out my Review – Indoor Grow Tent Kits – By Clicking This Link Now!.
Cheers!
Chris
Please leave a comment!
I am impressed!
Thanks for visiting! I plan on blogging more gardening tips. Keep visiting my website for more gardening information!
Chris, thank you for this comprehensive article on starting a marijuana garden. Hopefully one day soon, all the states will be legal and the days of hiding plants in a closet with a grow light will be gone. Now that I read this, I’m very surprised that there are states who have not decriminalized and/or approved it for medical use. Do you have any suggestions for where to get the supplies I might need for starting a garden inside?
Hi Cynthia, yes The Budgrowers sell a complete kit, see my review https://simongettinorth.com/indoor-grow-tent-kits-review-the-bud-grower/. They sell everything but the seeds and water, including dirt. The tents are 5ft all where some of the competitors the height is only 4 ft. They have various widths and sizes.
I’ve learned something today. How to grow my own.
Thank you for your comment. Stop by for more gardening tips
I read your topic on Grow your own Marijuana, and I do like how you placed a disclaimer for under 21 at the top before going any further into your topic.
I never knew how to start growing Marijuana. I was reading with interest the steps involved but thought it would have been a good idea to list the process as steps.
I have to admit I was surprised to learn there are two types of plants, the male and female.
What if CBD and THC?
I liked how you have provided a list of places where the plant can be grown legally. I live in Australia, and I wouldn’t know if I am allowed to grow it. Not that I would want to as I don’t smoke.
My opinion on the topic is one of awe! You will attract lots of visitors to this page. Well done.
Thank you for the comment, in addition to male and female plants, each strain is different. You can get more CBD strains vs THC. Really growing cannabis isn’t much different then growing any plant.
Hi Chris, Thank you for your article. I love how you have included the states where it is still not legal or only partially legal. Another aspect i appreciate is that there is a difference between the medicinal and the recreational use of marijuana and that there are different types of the plant seeds.
Thank you for your comment. If people need to have medicinal, they have the resource to learn how to grow it themselves. Once the states go legal, purchasing at a dispensary, you get the normal sales tax then a marijuana tax too.
A powerful post that comes at great timing for my family and me. See my brother has bone-on-bone arthritis in his lower back. I have bone spurs in my neck, bad hips, and knees, and suffer from a bipolar and social anxiety disorder. We have not had the money to afford medical use cards but in November Arizona legalized for purchase and self-growth for citizens over 21 years of age.
I have been using Marijuana since January to treat my pain issues and was surprised how much better my whole health is doing. I am losing weight, my eyesight is improving, my blood sugars have been better, my joints not only ache less but move more freely which is a sign it’s not masking pain but instead is attacking the inflammation of the disk.
I only smoke lightly in the evening before bed, and I sleep better and wake refreshed with restored clarity. I feel at least 10 years younger. The best part is my often violent mood swings have not happened since starting this as a treatment but I do advise that you don’t eliminate your psych meds unless advi8csed by the doctor because the meds and the pot seem to work together. Socially I have less stress, and creativity has been amazing.
We still can’t afford to buy pot but once and a while so once we are in our new place we will be looking to grow our own. Arizona is very Hot especially here in Yuma, so we are looking at Indoor for smaller plants and then maybe an outdoor greenhouse for larger mature ones. Your article is perfect for getting us started as Novice personal use growers.
Hey Andy,
That is great that Arizona legalized for purchase and self-grow. Check out The BudGrowers – Grow Kits, they have grow kits that supply everything but the seeds and water. They are discrete too! I will need to update my post with the states who have changed their laws recently. Thanks for your comments and stop back! Also check out the BudGrowers grow kits – they are also taller then some of the competition.
This is a very useful post on starting your own marijuana garden. With more states and countries legalizing or decriminalizing the use of marijuana, it is natural that those that use it on a regular basis, would want to grow their own and save some money.
My nephew is growing marijuana indoors in his garage, but he also has some outdoor pots, so I have been learning a few things about growing marijuana. He has referred to the fact that you do not want male plants, but why would that be? And how do I recognise a male plant to get rid of it?
Hi,
Thank you for your post. I am not sure. When you purchase seeds, you would only want to purchase female seeds or purchase female clones. Female plants are the ones that produce the buds. You want to know what you are planting, when growing marijuana. People use it for the many benefits and every strain does something different. Good Questions!
Mary Jane used to grow wild in my Indiana county and I even saw it grow along the side of the road. I believe It was in the early 1960’s that law enforcement started eradicating all wild growing marijuana and pretty much eradicated it. Back then you never heard of anyone smoking it, but I’m sure there were some that did.
Hi Robert,
I am not aware of marijuana growing wild unless someone actually planted it there but I guess it’s possible. It had to get here somehow, right? The 60’s was a time where marijuana was popular with the flower children back in the day, and the cloud of smoke at Woodstock. I believe Nixon was the president that demonized and criminalized marijuana. It also got a bad rap, as he didn’t like the studies that came back and had them all destroyed. Then convinced the conservatives in the USA that it was bad as heroin, which is totally false. Glad it’s getting legalized now for whoever wants to partake with it.
Thank you for commenting
Chris