Cannabis plants are known for their resilience and ability to grow all over the planet, in a variety of climates and settings. Those features are responsible for the common misconception that cannabis is easy to grow; while not impossible, achieving the premium quality level of strains sold in today’s ever-growing market by home-growing your own cannabis is no piece of cake.
There’s a lot of different variables that you need to consider before venturing into this home-growing experience, and you should do extended research before getting your seeds: soil pH balance, climate, potency and effects, growth rate, light, nutrients, etc. One of the most important factors, of which you are probably aware by now, given that you’re reading this article, is that the marijuana seeds you choose have to be the right ones to cultivate in your available space, be it indoors or outdoors.
But let’s look at it from the beginning. Below, we’ll examine the questions you might have when searching for the right seeds to start growing your own cannabis indoors.
Why is Space Important?
Space is a major factor when growing cannabis, as the size of the available room impacts your choice of strain. You wouldn’t grow a ganja tree inside your apartment, right?
Certain strains thrive outdoors, and some do better in an enclosed space. The latter begins from those referred to as ‘indoor seeds’, and are generally much more compact and convenient for the home-growers that have limited space available and grow their plants inside their home.
The height your plants may potentially reach is another essential factor to consider. And it’s not just the space confinements: some of the cannabis users indulging in home-growing their own plants prefer to do so discreetly, as the nature of cannabis use remains a taboo for some, even in areas where it’s legal to use and cultivate. Therefore, strains that don’t have the potential to grow too tall and possibly draw attention are generally preferred.
Why Grow Indoors?
Growing cannabis indoors is convenient and effective. It’s a practice most popular in countries with extreme weather conditions or cold climates in general. Inside a confined space, you can be in total control of the environment, light intensity and watering, while also venturing on your cannabis growing experience in private. Also, note that you might need to invest in some equipment, like a grow tent, LED lights, a carbon filter, etc.
When growing indoor plants, you can optimize the climate conditions to what is best suited for the strain you're growing. Plus, seasonal changes and outside conditions won’t affect your cultivation throughout the year, and it’s far easier to keep pests and parasites away than it is for outdoor growers.
How to Choose Seeds
Taking that you’re searching for seeds to grow your own cannabis plants, you might already have a favorite strain; if not, you probably have a general idea of what you’re looking for, in terms of flavor, potency, and effects. Whether your purposes are medicinal, and you’re aiming for a harvest that will help you relieve symptoms, or you want a strain to relax and/or get you going, there is definitely a strain tailored to your needs.
Renowned seed banks like Zamnesia always provide the genetic background, potency, and terpene profile of the seeds, and describe the flavor, aroma, and effects of the accordant strain ―along with growth time, yield expectancy, and potential height reach. This makes it easier for you to judge whether a specific kind of seed suits your settings, time, and budget.
There’s a lot of factors to consider when growing indoors and you have to pick the right seeds: should you get Indica or Sativa? Regular, feminized, or auto-flowering seeds? What are the most popular options for indoor growing?
Indica or Sativa?
It’s known among cannabis users that the two main subspecies of the plant are Sativa and Indica. Sativa varieties typically present slender leaves and grow bigger and taller, whereas Indica strains are bushier with broader leaves.
Moreover, there’s also Cannabis Ruderalis, which is not as popular as indica and sativa due to the low THC levels contained ―and finally, there are hybrids. The latter occurs when cross-breeding strains in order to make the best of them: to increase the resulting potency, or yield and effects ―and even to combine flavors. Actually, hybrids are the most popular varieties available in the market, due to the rarity of 100% pure Indica and Sativa strains.
Obviously, the genetics of the seeds is crucial to the plants’ growth. Since the most popular strains are those featuring varying ratios of both sets of genetics, we suggest the Indica-dominant varieties. Given that you’re growing indoors, strains that tend to reach smaller heights are definitely a better suit for limited space. Plus, their flowering time is shorter, so that’s a bonus if you’re a beginner and can’t wait to harvest your buds.
Also, it’s known that strains of the Indica variety are generally a lot more forgiving and easier to maintain than most Sativa plants; if you’re not set on only growing Sativa, say for medical reasons, it’s definitely safer to go with some Indica seeds, if you have limited experience. You can always move to more difficult and bigger plants when you’re ready.
