Saturday December 8, 2018
Growing
Just because it’s a little cold outside doesn’t mean you can’t grow your own weed at home. Growing cannabis indoors is a great way to keep a healthy, steady harvest year-round and choosing the best strains for indoor grows will ensure the process is as easy – and rewarding – as possible.
Things to Consider when Choosing Indoor Strains
Before you fill up your online shopping cart or buy the first bag of cannabis seeds you come across, take some time to consider all you have to work with.
Space
Most indoor grow spaces are smaller than outdoor grows so you’ll need to look for plants that will produce dense flowers in small spaces, especially when growing in a small tent or closet. You’ll also need to calculate how many plants you’ll keep in your grow space.
Remember that different states have different laws regarding the legal plant count so always be sure to check your local laws.
Generally, you'll be limited to a certain number of both flowering and vegetative plants. Seedlings aren’t usually considered to be part of the plant count but will take up space no less so add them as well.
Time
Though the grow cycle of most cannabis plants is determined by their photoperiod (which allows growers to manipulate them into flowering on their own time), the rate of growth will vary by strain. For example, most indica strains grow short and stalky and produce dense nugs resulting from their evolution in variable climates.
Pay close attention to your plant's growth rate to ensure smooth sailing!
Conversely, sativa strains, which evolved in more temperate climates, have adapted by growing tall and thin and tend to take their time to reach full size. This means that indica plants, though smaller by nature, can produce more weight in a shorter amount of time than their sativa counterparts.
Special Care Instructions
Not all strains of cannabis grow well under the same conditions. Some have special cultivation requirements if they are to grow at optimum capacity. Check with your breeder regarding special care instructions for the strain you choose.
Best Plants for an Indoor Grow
Okay, now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s get down to the heart of the issue: which strains work best for indoor grows. Because of their small size, quick grow time, and dense flower production, most indoor growers prefer indica strains. Easy beginner indica strains include Northern Lights because of its high yield, small size, and powerful, long-lasting high; Hash Plant because of its amazing flavor, high trichome production, and ability to withstand stress; and Twilight for its stress resistance, high resin production, and theraputic high.
Make sure you choose the right strain for your own specific needs/space! photo credit
Of course, not all indica strains are ideal for all users. Indicas tend to be very sedative and may be finicky if exposed to high temperatures. In these cases, some sativa strains may be better for indoor grows. Though they tend to take longer to grow full size (which is much taller and fluffier than indica strains), they are better able to handle the sometimes high temperature of grow rooms, especially those equipped with High Intensity Discharge lights (HIDs).
For those who prefer sativa stains, we recommend Chemdawg because it trains well using the SCROG method to produce a large harvest from a single plant. It can also handle slight droughts and grows best in temperatures between 68 degrees and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Other great sativa strains for indoor grows include Durban Poison, Tangerine Haze and LA Kush.
Growing cannabis indoors is both fun and rewarding, and with the proper indoor setup, you can have a fresh harvest every month or two. For the most success (and fewest headaches), we suggest choosing strains based on your indoor environment and therapeutic requirements.
Do you have a favorite indoor strain to grow? Let us know in the comments below!
