Recently, media reports have focused on the dangerous pesticides that have been found on even the most regulated forms of medical marijuana. In response, many people are looking into growing their own instead. What stops the majority of would-be home weed producers is the fear that setting up a DIY cannabis greenhouse or grow room will be prohibitively expensive. The good news is that you can create your own cannabis greenhouse for around $200. Here’s how!
Requirements For Your Cannabis Greenhouse
Although indoor growing will involve spending some money, the high yields and control over the end product will make the financial outlay worthwhile. You’ll need to consider several factors that will affect the growth of your plants: temperature, humidity, ventilation, nutrients, and lighting.
Here are some must-haves for your greenhouse:
Light-proofing. You need to have absolute control over the light to which your plants are exposed as they need varying amounts according to their stage of development. During the plants’ vegetative phase, they need 18 hours of light and six hours of darkness every day. During their flowering phase, the proportion should be 12 and 12.
Keep it airtight. In short, you don’t want the strong smell of weed to escape and be noticed by your neighbors. Use a carbon filter for any escaping air.
Air extractor with a carbon filter. This will remove the marijuana smell and the heat from your grow lamps.
Access to fresh air. Make some ventilation to ensure that your plants continue to get the carbon dioxide they need to grow.
Heat supply. Although you will not need this while the lights are on, there may be times at night when you do.
Flowing air. Use a fan to distribute the fresh air to all of your plants.
Waterproof flooring. This can be helpful, particularly if you have leaks or if you decide to boost humidity by pouring water on the floor.
Reflective walls. These will maximize the available light in your grow room, saving you money on adding more lighting for your space.
Grow Tents
For the indoor grower, grow tents take a lot of the guesswork away. That’s because they’re already reflective, light-proof, airtight and waterproof. You can zip them up to close out the external world while still allowing fresh air to come in through a hole. Just hang your air extractor and 600-watt lamp from hooks on the framework, and you’re ready to grow.
The tent is so effective and discreet that you can put it in virtually any room in your house. Your yield will be unaffected by the external environment, and the smell is hardly noticeable.
Equipment For Your DIY Greenhouse
The following supplies can give you exactly what you need for your low-budget growing operation:
Grow Light-Light is what makes your plants flourish. Most experienced growers choose to use one HPS light for every 13 square feet while the plants are flowering and a 400-watt model for every 13 square feet while the plant is vegetating. Fluorescent lights are cheaper and still effective although LED lights, while costly, will last much longer.
Reflector-This helps to direct the light onto your plants. An inexpensive set will contain a bulb, reflector and ballast.
Ballast-This helps to conserve the energy your lamp uses.
Time Switch-This enables you to pre-program the light cycle for your plants at various growth stages.
Air Extractor-The best ones come in insulated boxes and help to remove the heat from your grow room. A good rule of thumb is to have 17600 cubic feet of extraction per each 600-watt lamp.
Carbon Filter-To neutralize the smell. Change after every six harvests.
Air Intake w/fan-This’ll bring fresh air into your DIY cannabis greenhouse.
Rotating Fan-This should be turned onto the oscillating setting and be placed between your lamp and your plants to keep air circulating and minimize the chances of mold growth.
Thermometer-By attaching it to the outside of your grow tent, you can check the temperature without disturbing the environment.
Hygrometer-This tests the humidity level of your grow room or tent.
Water Tank-This is needed for making your nutrient solution. You should make five gallons for every 600-watt lamp.
EC Meter and PH Meter-To measure nutrient levels before feeding the solution to your plants.
Watering Can or Pump-Which one you use depends on the size of your operation.
Growing your own marijuana is both an art and a science. With care and attention to detail, you can cultivate extremely high-quality plants under conditions that you control from beginning to end.
Putting It All Together
Sometimes videos are just better. So we scrounged up the best videos for building a greenhouse on a budget. For detailed instructions on setting up your cannabis greenhouse, check out the following: