How to grow cannabis on budget?

So you want to try growing your own marijuana indoors, but you don’t have much of a budget for equipment? You’ve looked around the web and it feels like you need to spend hundreds or thousands to get up and running? It seems daunting to invest so much money when all you want to do is give it a try?

Don’t panic and don’t give up. Though there are many companies and experienced marijuana growers who thrive on expensive equipment and extensive grow spaces, these are not requirements for growing healthy, potent cannabis plants. In fact, there are many budget-friendly ways to set up a cannabis grow that will still produce bountiful buds and very stony heads.

It is possible to get a small grow box setup running without spending too much; there are areas where you can save money especially if you’re prepared to spend a little time making things rather than buying them at a premium. There are also some areas where trying to save a little cash could lead to a substandard harvest that needlessly puts you off growing again. This guide should help you identify the areas where you can apply those principles without breaking the bank.

Seeds

Actually this is the one thing we don’t advise saving money on. If you choose carefully you should be able to get five seeds delivered from a reputable source for under $50. Yes, not as free as the ones out of the last bag you bought but really it isn’t where you should save. If you start with good genetics you will see it in the end product. Maybe check out Herbies Cheapest Seeds. 

Cannabis Lighting System

By far, the most cost-effective grow light is the sun. Its powerful UV rays provide deep penetration (which encourages the growth of dense buds) and its seasonal photoperiod removes the need for timers to switch the grow phase from vegetation and flower. Furthermore, naturally occurring sunlight minimizes (or eliminates) the cost of electricity associated with maintaining a grow operation.

Of course, using the sun as your cannabis light source is best for those of us who actually experience an outdoor grow season. In regions that experience extensive cold seasons, greenhouses and cold frames can be an easy solution (albeit a bit of an investment at first).

For those with limited outdoor space, time, or start-up budgets, indoor LED lights are another budget-friendly lighting option. LED lights have dropped significantly in price over the last ten years, now running as low as $50 for some models. Not only that, but LEDs are also significantly cheaper to run and maintain than traditional HID lighting systems (and they don’t require a ballast to keep them from overworking an electrical source). LEDs also produce minimal heat (seriously, you can touch them even after they’ve been on all day) which reduces the need for cooling systems and nearly removes the risk of burnt leaves.

Full spectrum LED grow light provides plants in all stages from veg to flower with everything they need in the natural sunlight.

Despite their many benefits, LED lights do not offer the same level of light penetration that the sun does, which means that the buds may be a bit fluffier when grown under this light source. For this reason, many growers use LEDs as supplemental lighting alongside other light sources like HIDs (for indoor grow ops) or in greenhouses to extend outdoor grow seasons. However, advances in LED lighting mean they can now be used as stand-alone lighting systems – they are no longer only for secondary purposes.

The Importance of Grow Lights for Cannabis

The more light you have the bigger your yield is going to be. Think of it as the engine, the bigger it is the faster you can go. While lighting for cannabis is a highly debated subject, our team at A Pot for Pot believes that the best form of light for your plants is the sun. First and foremost, it is a giant fireball in the sky that is free! Not to mention it is a true full spectrum light source that the plant evolved to grow under.

A sunny window with 4 hours of direct sun will grow a couple baggies. With full sun all day, you will send your yields through the roof. But having too much pot has never been a problem. If you live in a house that gets very little direct sunlight, you can always supplement with a natural spectrum COB LED grow light. These grow lights for indoor plants are affordable to buy, have low energy costs, and emit a natural spectrum of light that can proudly sit over your cannabis plant in the corner of your living room.

The grow space

You need something to grow your plants in. There are a huge assortment of custom marijuana grow tents, grow boxes and the like available on the market and many are excellent, but you can grow marijuana in just about anything. Got a closet or an old decent sized wardrobe you’re not using? That’s now your grow space. If you don’t have anything suitable yourself ask around friends or on internet sites likes freecycle and you can often find something that will do the job for free.

If it’s large enough for your requirements, sturdy enough to hang a light in and you can make the relevant holes in it for ventilation then it will do the job. With a little construction you could even join a couple of smaller wardrobes together to make a larger grow space, or if you’ve got construction materials leftover from a recent project then build something from scratch.

Spending a small amount of money can optimize this space – having light reflective material on a grow space’s walls maximizes the amount of light available for your plants, and one of the best materials for achieving this is Mylar but Mylar is not cheap. The best budget option is simple flat (or matt) white paint. Maybe more fun to get the closet outside and grab a spray can. Gloss paint looks shiny but actually reflects less light. Common metal foil is also a bad choice as it can create hot spots, and it does actually burn if ignited.

Growth medium

To be totally blunt (no pun intended), hydroponic and other advanced systems when used correctly get better results. They also involve buying a lot more equipment and have a greater initial setup cost than more traditional methods. If this is your first grow and you’re trying to save money you’re going to be growing in soil, or possibly coco. The main difference being that in a good soil you may not need to add any extra nutrients or feeds for the first stage of the plant’s life while with coco you will need to provide all your plants nutrient needs from day 1 – much like a hydroponic system but without the need to buy trays, pumps and the like.You can always move on to a hydroponic system later when you’re skills and budget have increased. 

Ventilation

One area where we do not recommend trying to cut corners is your main exhaust or extraction fan. This is one area where you really want a unit that is designed to do the job properly. However, proper in-line exhaust fans are well made and last for years so it’s worth checking on ebay for a second hand unit (always checking the seller’s ratings of course). Make sure you know the cubic feet per minute (CFM) that you are aiming for and look to buy a fan that can offer more than what you require and has a speed setting if your budget allows.Where you can save money (potentially LOTS of money) is on odor control by constructing your own carbon filter. Many growers have had success in this area and there are many example builds on the internet. 

Nutrients

Nutrients are of course key to the health and wellbeing of your plants as well as the quantity and quality of your eventual harvest. Specialized marijuana nutrients are custom made to provide marijuana plants with the levels of nutrients they need and really should be used wherever possible instead of generic fertilizers and nutrients.If you do find yourself tempted with a special offer at the local generic garden supply store though, follow this rule: only buy nutrients that are designed for edible plants like strawberries.

Some flower feeds may contain chemicals you really don’t want in your body, but if it’s made for an edible crop it should be safe for use in marijuana.It’s also true that there are many marijuana nutrients and supplements on sale that do an excellent job but are often not strictly necessary. Boosters will boost your crop’s THC levels or total yield, but they are not the foundation of a healthy plant.

The only two must-have feed products for a successful marijuana grow in soil are a good grow nutrient (Nitrogen heavy) and a good bloom nutrient (Potassium and Phosphorous heavy).If your plants do end up missing any other nutrients they will show signs and then you can buy the appropriate product to fix this when you actually need it.It is more than possible to simply use good quality soil bought from your local DIY store and not have to add any additional nutrients bar some phosphate possibly later on in small amounts if you want to. This can be a successful and basic system that will provide a very organic grow.

A good money saving tip for a late in flower boost is molasses mixed with your feed water. Molasses is available in most health food stores for a fraction of the cost of many marijuana-specific carb-boosters and does a very similar job; it is the by-product of sugar refinement and contains plenty of the carbohydrates that marijuana uses when budding. We discuss nutrients in real depth here.

Cheapest Indoor Grow Setup

The cheapest indoor grow setup can be as simple as this - an LED grow light hanging above your cannabis in a fabric pot, allowing your plant to breathe and preventing overwatering. The fabric pot sits in a saucer to collect runoff water. You don’t have to create a special room or space for your cannabis plant, since these materials fit easily in any living space and the light can be hung from the ceiling. A little bit of natural sunlight can enhance the effects of your LED grow light.

We also recommend protecting your cannabis plant from pests and mites. To do this, you can use diatomaceous earth for your soil and natural leaf shine for your leaves.

So what’s the cheapest way to get all this? The complete marijuana grow tent kit. Once you have this, your grow lights and your cannabis seeds, you’re ready to go. Our kit has everything you need to set up your grow space and keep your soil enriched, plus scissors, a smartphone camera magnifier, and a watering can to aid the cultivation and harvesting process.

Final Thoughts

Growing your own cannabis doesn’t have to be expensive. Aside from a few simple necessities, the setup is actually quite affordable. Best of all, once a solid system is in place, the expenses drop significantly.

Remember that the cheapest way to grow pot does NOT mean skimping out on nutrients and accessories. It means not being a maximalist, but still providing everything your plant needs for healthy soil and steady growth. In addition to the tools you need (scissors, watering can, a pot, and lights), soil nutrients and natural pest control will increase your yield and help you get more bang for your buck.

Happy growing!