Growing your own cannabis at home can be a rewarding experience. It gives you full control over the process and lets you choose exactly what you consume.
With the right setup, growing weed is easier than many people think. Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to refine your skills, this step-by-step guide will walk you through the entire process.
How to grow a cannabis plant?
Cannabis plants require light, water, nutrients, and air to grow. The process includes several distinct stages—from germination to harvest.
Each step matters, and small mistakes can affect your final yield.
We’ll explain how to grow cannabis at home in a simple and easy-to-follow way. Let’s get started.
Why grow your own cannabis?
Growing cannabis at home offers many benefits. Firstly, it saves money in the long run. You’ll also know exactly how your plant was grown—no pesticides, no surprises.
It’s also a fun and satisfying hobby. Watching a seed turn into a flowering plant is incredibly rewarding. And for those interested in sustainability, it reduces packaging and transport waste too.
1. Choose Where You Will Grow
Indoors
Growing cannabis indoors offers year-round control. You can set the temperature, light, and humidity to suit the plant’s needs. Many home growers use tents or cupboards to contain their setup.
An indoor setup will need proper ventilation and fans. The main benefit is privacy and consistency—but there are some upfront costs to consider.
Outdoors
If you have access to a secure outdoor space, you can grow your plants in natural sunlight. This saves money on electricity and equipment.
However, outdoor growing relies on the seasons and weather. It also means your crop is at risk of pests, diseases, and theft. For beginners, indoors might offer more predictability.
2. Choose A Grow Light
If you're growing indoors, lights are essential. Cannabis needs different types of light during each stage of growth.
LED grow lights are energy-efficient and great for small spaces. They don’t get too hot and can be adjusted for different stages.
High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) lights are stronger and often used during the flowering stage. However, they generate more heat and use more electricity.
For beginners, a full-spectrum LED light is the easiest choice.
3. Choose Your Growing Medium
You can grow cannabis in soil, coco coir, or a hydroponic system.
Soil is the most natural and forgiving medium. Look for organic soil rich in nutrients. It’s great for beginners and requires less daily monitoring.
Coco coir is made from coconut husks. It offers faster growth and better control over nutrients but needs more attention.
Hydroponics uses water instead of soil. While it allows for rapid growth, it requires more equipment and experience.
4. Choose Your Nutrients
Cannabis needs three main nutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). During the vegetative stage, it needs more nitrogen. During flowering, it needs more phosphorus and potassium.
Buy cannabis-specific nutrients. These are designed to provide the right balance for each stage.
The Importance of Root pH
The pH of your soil or water affects nutrient uptake. Aim for a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 in soil. In hydroponics or coco, aim for 5.5 to 6.5.
Use a pH meter to check regularly. If your pH is off, your plant might suffer from nutrient lockout.
5. Get Your Cannabis Seeds (& Choose Your Strain)
Your cannabis plant starts with a seed. Choose from feminised, autoflowering, or regular seeds. Each has its pros and cons:
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Feminised seeds are bred to produce only female plants, which grow the buds you want. Some popular feminised seed strains at BudMother include Barney’s Farm Gelato and Sensi Research Blackberry Cake.
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Autoflowering seeds are easy to grow and don't need a specific light cycle to start flowering.
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Regular seeds can grow into either male or female plants. You’ll need to identify and remove males early. Some popular strains at BudMother include Old School Genetics Petrol Skunk and Barney’s Farm CBD Caramel.
Explore high-quality cannabis seeds from our BudMother cannabis seed collection. Whether you're after relaxing indicas or uplifting sativas, there's a strain for everyone.
6. Germinating Your Cannabis Seeds
Germination is when the seed starts to sprout. The paper towel method is the most common for beginners:
- Dampen two paper towels.
- Place your seeds between them.
- Put the towels in a plastic container or between two plates.
- Keep it warm and dark.
After 2–7 days, you’ll see a small white root appear. Once the root is around 1–2 cm long, plant the seed into your chosen medium.
7. Vegetative Stage
In this stage, your plant focuses on growing stems and leaves. Indoors, provide 18–24 hours of light per day. Outdoors, this stage lasts until the days begin to shorten.
During this phase:
- Water when the top inch of soil is dry.
- Feed nutrients with a focus on nitrogen.
- Use fans to strengthen stems and improve airflow.
- Train your plant if you want to manage its shape and height.
This stage can last 3–8 weeks depending on your strain and growing goals.
8. Flowering Stage
Your plant will now start to grow buds. Indoors, change the light cycle to 12 hours on, 12 hours off. Outdoors, this happens naturally as the season shifts.
In this phase:
- Switch to bloom nutrients with less nitrogen.
- Check for pests and mould.
- Remove any male plants if using regular seeds.
- Keep humidity lower to avoid bud rot.
The flowering stage usually lasts 6–10 weeks.
9. Harvest Your Weed
Look at the trichomes (tiny crystals on the buds). When most turn milky white with a few amber ones, your plant is ready to harvest.
Use scissors to cut the branches. Trim the leaves carefully, leaving the dense buds intact.
Harvesting too early or too late can affect the potency and flavour, so keep a close eye.
10. Dry Your Buds
Hang your branches upside down in a dark, cool room with good airflow. Aim for 50% humidity and a temperature of 18–21°C.
This process takes 7–14 days. Once the stems snap (not bend), your buds are dry enough to cure.
Place the buds in airtight jars, opening them daily for a few minutes. Curing can take a few weeks but greatly improves taste and strength.
Growing cannabis step by step at home might seem complex at first. But with the right tools and a little patience, you’ll find it a very manageable process.
Choose the right seeds, control your environment, and follow each phase carefully. With practice, growing weed becomes not just easy—but enjoyable.
Looking to start? Explore top-quality seeds from our cannabis seeds collection.