If you’re looking to start growing your own Cannabis in a legal state, you may be researching a method called Hydroponics. The term itself means “working water.” What that means for growing Cannabis is that you’ll use a water-based system for stimulating your plants.
It may seem like an overwhelmingly technical process. We aren’t going to lie, it isn’t as easy as setting up a home garden. However, with a little research and troubleshooting, you’ll be growing high quality marijuana in no time!
Let’s go over the basics every beginner should know about how to grow weed with hydroponics.
Your Space
You can pretty much grow weed anywhere, but you’ll have to purchase more or less equipment depending on your space. You need to have ample room for hanging lights, wall mounted reflectors, tables, plants, and your water system.Also, make sure your space has adequate ventilation for weed growth. Otherwise, you’ll end up spending a fortune on equipment to ensure that it does.
Gather Your Equipment
A lot of technical equipment is required for water-based growing. It’s important to do your research, and select the best equipment for your space, grow size, and budget. The main items you need to invest in are lighting, ventilation, pumps, dehumidifiers, and reflectors.
Lighting
You’ll need to invest in enough LED lighting for your space and grow size. You can use this grow light calculator to figure how many lights you’ll need.
For example, 200 watts of LED lighting will be sufficient for 100-200 grams of weed growth.
You can do a lot of research into different types of LEDs, but traditional panels are the preferred favorite for beginners. HydroCrunch has a great 300 watt option for under $200 a panel.
Ventilation
Your ventilation type is going to depend on your space and your lighting. Most people are able to purchase a kit that will integrate into existing ventilation in their space.
The essentials you’ll need are an intake fan, an exhaust fan, ducting, and duct tape. You want to make sure all ventilation entrances and exits are fully sealed. Overall, your system should exchange air every 60-120 seconds.
Pumps
As the term Hydroponics suggests, water is a crucial part to this growing method. You need to invest in a high-quality pump system. The Weed Scene recommends a submersible pump that will rest in your reservoir tank.
You’ll also need an air pump that rests outside of the reservoir. There are several varieties out there, but here’s our list of six that we recommend you choose from.
Dehumidifiers
Most hobby growers won’t need a dehumidifier if their grow area is well ventilated. However, investing in one can prevent your plants from absorbing excess amounts of water.
Reflectors
Reflectors help your crop continue the process of photosynthesis indoors. If you want to know how to go weed of an outstanding quality, this is the key. 101 Growlights specifies that reflectors will increase your light output by 30% and reduce energy costs.
The Setup
Once you have your location and your materials, you can begin your setup.
You’ll want to place your plants in buckets on tables above the ground. Next, set up your water reservoir at ground level. Your air pump will go on the side of your reservoir farthest from your plants, and feed into the reservoir through a tube.
Submerge your water pump on the side of your reservoir closest to your plants. Tubing will run from your pump across to each of your plants. Drip lines will provide the correct amount of water to each one.
You will also want to set up a drain line for excess water to run from your plants back into your reservoir. Clay pellets at the base of each plant will help with drainage. Hang your lights and reflectors according to your space.
Getting your system ready to go is just one of the many steps to a successful weed harvest. It’s also important to choose the right marijuana seeds for your needs. Check out our blog for reviews on many popular strains. Then, head over to our Seed Bank section to find the best distributors in your area.
