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Growing marijuana plants can be an expensive hobby. However, if you compare its costs to how much you would have to spend on quality weed from a store, you may feel keener on investing in your cannabis plants.
If you decide on growing weed outdoors, you won’t have to buy much equipment. However, some people don’t have the privilege of having their own garden, which can be an issue. In such a situation, the only way you can have your plant is by keeping it inside your apartment.
Don’t worry if it seems like a challenging task. There are numerous cannabis growing guides on the web that you can make use of. They are very helpful when it comes to helping you understand how to take care of your plants.
Nevertheless, seeing the prices of the essential equipment may sometimes be intimidating. Even so, it is possible to set up a small growing box with only a little bit of work and without spending hundreds of dollars. If you want to know how to do just that, then you should keep reading!
Seeds
Seeds are the only thing you should not save money on. The better the quality of seeds, the better harvest you will have. It may seem counterintuitive to buy seeds when you can have them for free, but investing in them will save you money in the long run.
Starting with good genetics will make your life a lot easier. Do some research and find out which strain will best suit your needs and capabilities.
Grow Space
The first thing you need to think about is the space for your plans. You can find various grow tents and grow boxes that you can make use of online. Nevertheless, if you are looking for the cheapest option possible, you can grow marijuana in about anything you will find. You can use the old wardrobe you are not using, a big cabinet you are prepared to throw out, or a spare bathroom you won’t be needing anytime soon.
However, you need to make sure that your place of choice is big enough for your plant and equipment and that it’s steady enough to let you hang the grow lights. You can attach a light reflective material to your grow box’s walls or paint it white. Remember to use flat or matte paint, as the glossy one actually reflects less light.
Growing Medium
Cannabis farmers have quite a few mediums and techniques to choose from. The most advanced system you can use to get the best results is probably hydroponics. However, professional grower’s equipment can be costly, especially the initial setup.
For first-time budget growers, it is recommended that you use a mixed system. You can use coco coir instead of regular soil, as it will prevent you from overwatering the plant. Why is that the case? It will always hold about 30% of oxygen, so no matter how much you will water your plants, it will always hold that steady level. The only downside is that you will have to remember adding proper nutrients to it every once in a while.
Nutrients
Nutrients are a crucial component that helps your plant grow healthy and strong. Naturally, you can buy pre-made mixes in the stores, but if you want to spend as little as possible, you may want to think about composting your organic waste yourself.
Take into consideration that marijuana plants need three essential nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Here are a few of the best sources of these nutrients!
- Nitrogen – kitchen waste, fruits, vegetables, grass clippings, manure, coffee grounds, tea bags, green leaves and pruning wastes.
- Phosphorus – bat guano, bone meal, crab and shrimp waste, burned cucumber skins, hair and mushroom
- Potassium – banana peels, wood ash, greensand
In order to make compost, it’s not recommended to use salted preserves, diseased plants, dog or cat faeces, fat, or any material containing chemicals. The remains of fish, meat, milk, oil, or sauce can be added to compost, although it is not recommended if you are not that experienced.
Lighting
When it comes to lighting, you may want to think about buying second-hand bulbs. Most of them are designed to work for many years, and they can be bought on sites like eBay for much less than a new unit.
It is probably best for people on a budget to use LED lights, as they are much more efficient and cheaper to run than HID lights. Additionally, the light they emit is much cooler, which is an important factor given most indoor budget growers’ spatial limitations.
Ventilation
Aside from seeds, ventilation is the one thing you should not skimp on regardless of your budget. You want your unit to be as effective as possible. In-line exhaust fans are very well made, so you can check the web for pre-owned units.
There are two types of fans you should have: extractor fans and oscillating fans. The first ones will replace old air with new, oxygen-rich air and oscillating fans to make sure that the air moves around the grow box.
Always check their cubic feet per minute, and buy a unit with as much CFM as your budget allows. For proper ventilation, you’ll want to invest in a fan with cubic meters per hour that is at least 70 times higher than the volume of your space.
The Bottom Line
You can always find equipment that will suit your needs, even with a tiny budget. Growing cannabis can be a relaxing and fun process, which will provide you with cheap, quality weed and something to do in the afternoons.
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After a while, you can invest in more expensive and sophisticated equipment like a thermometer, hygrometer, pH meter, incubators, and other miscellaneous. It will help you harvest more and allow you to take care of your plants more effectively.
Remember that no one can do everything perfectly on their first try. The sooner you start, the sooner you will learn!