Hemp has been bred for thousands of years to address several needs; among its multiple uses, its production to generate CBD extracts and products has rocketed the US economy, allowing farmers and companies to gain profits from this little plant.
However, with so many brands coming forth with a wide variety of products, consumers may feel overwhelmed by their lack of transparency. Nowadays, many products like hemp flower can be sold at low prices without actually containing any hemp and being just synthetic marijuana. Even though the USDA tries to thoroughly regulate the hemp industry, not every product that comes out on the market gets to be tested, putting at risk the consumer’s health.
For this reason, people have started to show interest about growing their own hemp plant. This allows them to oversee the whole planting process and get to control the way their hemp grows. If you want to learn how to grow a hemp plant indoors or just want to know more about hemp, Botany Farms has created this guide to walk you through the whole process.
Thus far, you are aware of all the advantages of growing a hemp plant indoors. From quality to taste and aroma, this method is used by many farmers to deliver a great product. However, when it comes to growing your own hemp plant, you must know all the hemp laws of your state.
Growing hemp without a license is only possible for people who live in states like Colorado, where having hemp plants for recreational or medical purposes is completely legal. For that reason, you may want to check out the regulations of your state to avoid any inconvenience.
When it comes to harvesting hemp flowers, you typically grow female plants, since these seeds are the ones that produce the buds. Any cannabis plant usually generates both male and female flowers, which can also be used to obtain hemp fiber.
To begin with the germination phase, you will need to pre-soak your seeds for 8-12 hours. In case you want to grow hemp flower, it is better to buy feminized seeds to obtain the buds. Additionally, you will need a small pot to germinate the seeds. Nowadays, you can find seed starter kits to aid your seeds grow faster and much better.
Once your seeds have been soaked, plant them 1-inch deep in moist soil. The ideal temperature is usually between 65-10 degrees F. It is important to have a thermostat to control the temperature of the soil to make sure your seed will germinate properly, since the way they grow in their first phase will determine how the plant will grow over time.
When it comes to light, having high-output LEDs or fluorescent grow lamps will help the hemp plant thrive. Make sure the light is placed several inches above your seedlings. Your plants will need between 18 and 24 light hours per day. Once they start to stretch, you will need to adjust the lamps closer to them.
To feed them, farmers use a water-soluble fertilizer rich in nitrogen. This component is vital since it is a major substance present in chlorophyll, which will help your plants perform photosynthesis in a much better way.
The ideal season to grow hemp is spring, and the plant is usually ready to be harvested around september-october. However, indoor-grown hemp does not depend a lot on external factors, since a specific environment has been created for it to thrive.
Once your seedlings show roots at the bottom, transplant them into a 5-inch container. You can use a transplant mix in this step to provide all the nutrients the plant needs to adapt to its new pot. The final step comes when the plant has reached the bottom again; this time, transplant it to a bigger container and a compost mix to help your hemp plant thrive.
Why growing hemp indoors?
Before jumping into action, it is important to understand why hemp plants are better when grown indoors. When it comes to hemp fibers and seeds, the care and maintenance companies have to give to their crops are minimal, but it is not the same case for hemp flowers. Depending on the environment the herb is cultivated in, the quality, flavors, aroma and overall experience it delivers change completely. The biggest hemp companies usually grow their seeds outdoors in immense fields. Once the crops have matured, they are harvested by a machine, and in most cases, the buds are trimmed by an auto-trimmer. In terms of costs, this reduces the amount of money invested in the harvesting process, but the quality of the CBD flower decreases; you won’t find many trichomes and terpenes in this kind of crop, which add richness to the smoking experience. To have a better understanding of the advantages of growing a hemp plant indoors, we have collected the most important aspects:Light control
When growing hemp outdoors, farmers are totally dependent on the sun hemp crops need to grow. Even though sunlight can be strong during the early days of the plant’s growth cycle, light availability will decrease over time, which will affect the quality of the flower. On the other hand, indoor-grown hemp will always have the needed light -UVA and UVB have shown to be the best types of rays for hemp plants. Thanks to the creation of LED lights, indoor hemp plants thrive much better than those that are outdoor-grown. Farmers can control the light duration and illumination levels without depending on any external factors.Temperature control
Even though hemp is known for being a very adaptable crop, the most optimal environment for it to thrive is a humid place with moist soil. A 65-70% humidity range is considered to help hemp seedlings perform best, and the soil must allow the water to easily drain, since hemp does not require constant watering. For this reason, outdoor environments aren’t ideal for growing hemp plants. Sometimes the conditions can be too dry and the plants are exposed to more toxins like heavy metals, fungicides and pesticides. Even if farmers do not use these products on their crops, neighbors who do can ultimately harm hemp plantations.Dense Flower
With so many different environmental conditions to affect the crop, outdoor-grown hemp buds tend to have a low-density. A dense bud is a must not only for more desirable visuals but also for higher yields. The more tissue a hemp flower has, the more it is going to last in your bong bowl.Higher cannabinoids concentration
Since indoor-grown hemp is constantly controlled and maintained, there’s no wonder the concentration of CBD or CBG increases. While outdoor-grown hemp plants produce at the very least between 10-15% of CBD levels, indoor hemp herbs yield almost 15-25% of this substance’s concentration.Better aromas
When hemp is grown indoors, the terpenes and cannabinoids in the flower remain free of contaminants, which express better taste and produce a mild smoke. Hand-trimmed CBD flowers like Botany Farms’ are most likely to retain the terpenes of the buds while removing excess leaves that decrease the quality of the smoking experience.How to grow a hemp plant indoors
Thus far, you are aware of all the advantages of growing a hemp plant indoors. From quality to taste and aroma, this method is used by many farmers to deliver a great product. However, when it comes to growing your own hemp plant, you must know all the hemp laws of your state.
Growing hemp without a license is only possible for people who live in states like Colorado, where having hemp plants for recreational or medical purposes is completely legal. For that reason, you may want to check out the regulations of your state to avoid any inconvenience.
When it comes to harvesting hemp flowers, you typically grow female plants, since these seeds are the ones that produce the buds. Any cannabis plant usually generates both male and female flowers, which can also be used to obtain hemp fiber.
To begin with the germination phase, you will need to pre-soak your seeds for 8-12 hours. In case you want to grow hemp flower, it is better to buy feminized seeds to obtain the buds. Additionally, you will need a small pot to germinate the seeds. Nowadays, you can find seed starter kits to aid your seeds grow faster and much better.
Once your seeds have been soaked, plant them 1-inch deep in moist soil. The ideal temperature is usually between 65-10 degrees F. It is important to have a thermostat to control the temperature of the soil to make sure your seed will germinate properly, since the way they grow in their first phase will determine how the plant will grow over time.
When it comes to light, having high-output LEDs or fluorescent grow lamps will help the hemp plant thrive. Make sure the light is placed several inches above your seedlings. Your plants will need between 18 and 24 light hours per day. Once they start to stretch, you will need to adjust the lamps closer to them.
To feed them, farmers use a water-soluble fertilizer rich in nitrogen. This component is vital since it is a major substance present in chlorophyll, which will help your plants perform photosynthesis in a much better way.
The ideal season to grow hemp is spring, and the plant is usually ready to be harvested around september-october. However, indoor-grown hemp does not depend a lot on external factors, since a specific environment has been created for it to thrive.
Once your seedlings show roots at the bottom, transplant them into a 5-inch container. You can use a transplant mix in this step to provide all the nutrients the plant needs to adapt to its new pot. The final step comes when the plant has reached the bottom again; this time, transplant it to a bigger container and a compost mix to help your hemp plant thrive.
