How to Grow Cannabis Indoors

Growing cannabis indoors can seem like a daunting task for a first-timer.

Between trying to create the perfect environment for your cannabis plants, picking which strains to grow, or buying the right setup, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

But, with a bit of guidance, growing your own cannabis indoors is not only possible, it’s easier than you think. Take it from a team with decades of indoor cannabis grow experience: you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to grow cannabis at home.

This guide breaks growing cannabis indoors into 4 simple steps to get you up and running on the right foot.

Step #1: Picking Your Indoor Cannabis Growing Area

The first step in your indoor growing journey is selecting the right spot in your home. This area should be as stable as possible — both temperature and humidity. Avoid rooms with extreme heat—like that top-floor bedroom or office that faces the sun. Set up away from exterior doors and windows to minimize contamination.

Also: Don’t put your grow somewhere you have to move it often. You want to minimize disruptions to your grow, including physically moving it from place to place, room to room.

Step #2: Shopping for Cannabis Growing Supplies

To get started, you’ll need a few essential grow supplies:

• A grow tent for creating an optimal environment
• A grow light to simulate sunlight
• At least one inline fan for ventilation and one interior fan for air circulation
• Growing containers and medium for your plants
• Saucers and risers for drainage
• High-quality cannabis seeds
• Optional: A carbon filter for odor control

There are some great all-in-one setups with everything you need – excluding seeds. These can be a great option if you want a plug-and-play path to getting started. Just make sure you’re buying from a reputable brand that you’ve seen other growers use.

A note on budget: For your first modest indoor grow setup, you’re looking at $500-1000 all in. This can vary depending on whether you use an all-in-one setup or not, which lights, and types of nutrients you plant to use, as well as you access to hand-me-downs from fellow growers.

Step #3: Choosing The Best Cannabis Seeds

Genetics > everything.

Ok, you need a grow setup, too (see Step #2), but after the physical space, genetics are the most important facet of your grow.

When shopping, it’s easy to get seed fatigue; there are so many options.

To help narrow it down, consider the following:

• Your End Game: What are you growing for — Flower or Hash? Pick seeds that speak to these goals.
• Seed Bios: Pay attention to the strain descriptions, including terpene profiles, effects, and cannabinoid content.
• Growth Profiles: Understand the growth profile (i.e. plant height, bushiness). This is why it’s important to pick your space and buy your setup BEFORE you buy seeds. If you buy a plant that’s known to grow 15′ tall, and your brand new grow tent is 4x4x6, you’re going to have a bad time.
• Seed Type: Which type of seed best suits your goals — Regs, Fems, or Autos?
  • Regs: Regular Male/Female Seeds made with a male parent and a female parent
  • Fems: Feminized seeds made with 2 female parents; 99%+ female plants
  • Autos: Seeds possessing autoflowering traits (which will grow into plants that transition to bloom without lighting cues).
  • We recommend feminized or autoflowering feminized seeds. These are great for beginners for their simplicity and quick results. With fem seeds, you won’t have to worry about pollen from males seeding your harvests. And, with autos, you can go from seed to harvest in as little as 70 days, compared to 3-4 months for a traditional reg or fem seed.

A plant’s genetics are the key to how it responds to your growing environment. These will determine what traits it expresses, how well it fends off pests and pathogens, as well as how much variance you’ll see from seed to seed, plant to plant. Strong genetics will ensure the best experience for you as a grower, and the best results from your plants.

Step #4: Setting Up Your Indoor Grow Space

Begin by setting up your grow tent, followed your ventilation and grow light. We recommend setting up ducting, as well as any fans and filters, before hanging your lights. This ensures that any ventilation inside your tent does not get in the way of your lights.

Once your grow is set up, prep your pots by filling them with soil or coco or other growing medium of choice. Then, water 5-10% of the total container volume (5-gallon container, water in 1000-2000ml). This gives your pot time to evenly regulate moisture prior to planting. Plus – watering beforehand avoids creating dense areas that can be hard to root in.

Lastly, plant your seeds. Some growers germinate directly in the soil or coco such as planting seeds in a field. We prefer to germinate in a sterile environment, whether that’s the old-school paper towel method or in a small rock wool cube. Whatever your preference, get that seed rooted; those first few days are crucial!

Once you’ve got a healthy sprout, you’re off to the races!

It’s never been easier to start growing cannabis indoors.

Seeds and cannabis growing supplies have never been more accessible. New growers have tons of grow information at their fingertips. Plus – you can grow indoors year-round, regardless of what mother nature has in store.

Are you ready to start growing? You’ll need some seeds, and we’ve got you covered. Remember, genetics are the most important part of a quality harvest. Make sure you’re starting with stable, high-quality seeds such as Happy Valley Genetics. Check out our new HVG crosses that are bred for stability, uniqueness, and premium profiles.

START YOUR INDOOR GROWING JOURNEY TODAY

Explore Feminized Autoflower and Photoperiod Seeds today!