How To Grow Hydroponic Marijuana
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How To Grow Hydroponic Marijuana
This is an attempt to explain how to grow hydroponic marijuana indoors. It is meant to be used in areas where growing marijuana is legal or tolerated because of medical reasons, etc. Do not use this information to break the law.
Last Update February 2006
How To Grow Hydroponic Marijuana Introduction
Expect to pay about 600.00 to 1200.00 for lighting, hydroponic garden, seeds, grow books, and other basic items you will need to grow hydroponic marijuana indoors.
You can spend as little as three hundred dollars if you have the equipment to build everything yourself or you can spend an unlimited amount, if money is of no concern. But $600.00 to $1200.00 is a good amount to budget for a personal garden (5 to 30 plants).
Once you get things set up you can continue to grow hydroponic marijuana with your set up and only have to spend money on nutrients, bulbs, and other maintenance. A very wise investment of money for any user.
Also important is the fact that when you grow hydroponic marijuana yourself, if you started with a good seed strain, the crop will be potent and clean. Something you can't always count on when buying from someone else. This is especially important if you are growing for medical reasons.
If you do things properly, you will get about a half ounce to one and a half ounces of premium marijuana per plant every 3 to 4 months. This amount will depend on several factors including the marijuana seed strain, amount of light, size of plant, etc.
The first time my garden was set up, I built my own light and hydroponic system to save money. So I've provided instructions on how you can do so also. For people who are not comfortable working with electronics and plastic tubing, I've provided links to most of the items mentioned.
Here's how it works, a plant cutting (clone) or seed that has been germinated and sprouted a root (seedling) is placed in a hydroponic system and supplied with nutrients and light. After this the plant develops more roots to search for nutrients and leaves to obtain energy in the form of light. When growing hydroponic marijuana indoors this stage usually lasts for a week or two.
The next stage of the marijuana life cycle is called the vegetative phase. During this phase the light source is on 18 to 24 hours a day. When growing hydroponic marijuana indoors the vegetative growth stage usually lasts 2 to 6 weeks. You can let this stage last longer than 6 weeks with no negative effects on the plant.
The next stage is called flowering. When growing indoors, the flowering stage is started by cutting the light down to 12 hours per 24 hour period. The flowering stage lasts about 8 to 10 weeks and is when the most THC (the primary chemical that produces intoxication) is produced. Flowering may take 12 weeks or longer with some strains.
At the end of flowering, plants are harvested then cured.
Where To Grow Hydroponic Marijuana
This guide is about growing hydroponic marijuana indoors, so the growing will be done indoors. Where to grow your marijuana depends on what space you have available. An attic, closet or similar space will do, but a room dedicated to growing is preferred.
One important factor to consider is how clean the growing environment will be. After you have decided where you are going to grow, you have to clean the area and keep it clean. That means scrubbing walls, cleaning equipment, washing floors and carpets, etc.
Everything in the growing area should be cleaned then sterilized with something like lysol or some other germ killer to prevent the marijuana plants from being harmed by germs, bacteria, molds, etc.
The floor where the hydroponic system is placed should be covered with something that will protect it from water and nutrient spills that will happen. I use a thick drop cloth (the plastic sheets painters use to protect items from paint damage).
Once clean you can put aluminum foil or a commercial reflector like mylar on the walls to reflect any light back to the plants. Commercial reflectors are better but they are more expensive than aluminum foil. Do not use mirrors because they absorb light. Painting the walls and ceiling with white paint will reflect light in a closet or small space.
aluminum foil is about 60% to 70% reflective
gloss white paint is about 70% to 75% reflective
flat white paint is about 75% to 80% reflective
mylar is about 90% reflective
Hydroponic System For Growing Marijuana
Now you have a basic idea of how things work, let's get into more detail. If you are going to be growing hydroponic marijuana and have chosen a suitable location, you will need a hydroponic system, also called a hydroponic garden.
There are 6 basic types of hydroponic systems. They are aeroponics, drip, ebb and flow, n.f.t. (nutrient film technique), water culture, and wick systems. There are hundreds of variations on these basic types of systems, but all hydroponic methods are a variation (or combination) of these six.
If you would like to know more about the different types of hydroponic systems visit simply hydro, they show illustrated examples of all six. Ebb and flow systems have served me well, it's the only type I've used. Other growers I know, use ebb and flow, NFT, or aeroponics. The method you choose should meet your budget and be able to fit in your growing area.
The number of plants your garden can sustain and the area your garden covers will determine how much light you need. Read the section in this guide about lighting before deciding on a hydroponic system.
A hydroponic system is made to grow plants without soil. Plant nutrients are 'delivered' to the plants roots by a pump or other method. This delivering of nutrients means that the plant doesn't have to use as much energy making roots in search of the nutrients it requires.
Since you aren't using soil in a hydroponic garden, some types of hydroponic gardens (wick systems, drip systems, ebb and flow systems) need a substitute so the roots have somewhere to anchor the plant. This substitute for soil is referred to as growing medium or media. The media will provide no nutrition, it is just a support for the roots. All nutrition comes from the nutrient solution.
There are various types of media available to grow hydroponic marijuana in. Rockwool is one common type of media, but there are others. Rockwool comes in blocks of solid material that are very similar in feel and appearance to fiberglass insulation used in housebuilding.
There are some types of media that is made up of loose particles like soil. Stay away from these unless your hydroponic garden is designed to use this type of media. Particles can drain into the nutrient reservoir and eventually ruin the pump.
The media you use is up to you. Follow what the manufacturer of your hydroponic garden recommends. If you aren't sure, get rockwool or another solid type of media. You can buy rockwool in slabs that can be cut to fit into your garden or you can get it in various pre-cut sizes.
There are also small rockwool cubes designed for starting clones or seeds on. You can germinate seeds right on these. Once you've grown a crop or two you can experiment and see if changing media has any effect.
Rockwool must be soaked in water overnight before use. Sometimes this should be water of a certain pH. This is to ensure that the rockwool has a neutral pH level. Follow the manufacturers directions.
If there are no directions, soak the rockwool in a clean pot or container with tapwater overnight. Next day, discard the water, and fill again with boiling water to kill any unwanted organisms that might have a negative effect on your plants.
After a minimum of ten minutes in the boiling water, you can drain the container and wait for the rockwool to cool to room temperature. Once cool, they are ready for use.
Energy not used looking for food is used to make the plant develop its leaves and flowers faster than they would if grown in soil. It's not uncommon for marijuana plants in hydroponic garden to grow as much as 1 to 2 inches or more, per day, during the vegetative growth phase.
For a personal garden Hydroponic marijuana plants should be grown about eight to sixteen inches apart. Some strains are bushy, these will require more space but produce a larger yield than a slender strain. Unless you plan on growing small plants, the roots require a fairly large area to grow in. A three inch opening or larger is needed for a plant that will produce an ounce or more.
Hydroponic Marijuana Garden
The hydroponic garden pictured here is one of many sold at various hydroponic stores. It's 24 inches off the floor and covers a 48 inch by 48 inch area.
Openings for the plants are a little over 3 inches by 3 inches and will hold 3 inch rockwool blocks. It can hold 23 plants spaced about 9 inches apart.
All strains I've grown have required more than 9 inch spacing. Plants grown 9 inches apart will only be able to branch 4.5 inches away from the main stem before competing for light with adjoining plants. I grow 9 to 12 plants with this particular garden and a 400 watt lighting system.
If you want to save money, rather than buying a commercial unit, you can make an ebb and flow hydroponic system yourself. Instructions can be found at hydroponics online. They are not hard to make and almost any building supply store should have the majority of stuff required.
If you would rather buy a hydroponic system, expect to pay $250 to $500 or more. There should be a hydroponics store in your area where you can compare prices and decide on the right system for your needs. If you can't find a hydroponic supply store locally, you can order online. Sources that I have ordered hydroponic system and parts from include ebay and shaman shop.
Lighting For Growing Hydroponic Marijuana
Choosing a hydroponic system will necessitate the consideration of the right grow light for your needs. Metal Halide (mh) and/or High Pressure Sodium (hps) are the lighting systems you need to grow hydroponic marijuana. They can be found at any hydroponic store.
The sun emits light energy that spans from the red to the blue end of the light spectrum. As far as marijuana plants are concerned, in spring-summer when plants start to grow (vegetative growth) there is more blue spectrum energy and that promotes plant growth. In summer-fall when plants produce flowers there is more red spectrum energy and that causes hormones in plants to increase flower and THC production.
Metal halide light fixtures produce large amounts of blue spectrum energy and are best for vegetative (beginning) growth. The light produced looks similar to the 'cool' fluorescent light found in schools, offices, stores, and other high traffic areas.
A single 400 watt metal halide bulb delivers about as much light energy as twenty 'cool' fluorescent 40 watt bulbs. What that means is that fluorescent bulbs use about twice as much electrical energy to produce the same amount of light as metal halide bulbs.
High pressure sodium light fixtures produce large amounts of red spectrum energy and are best for flowering (later) growth. The light produced looks similar to the 'warm' incandescent lights found in most homes but has a deeper orange-red color. The street lamps in many cities are hps lights.
A single 400 watt high pressure sodium bulb delivers about as much light energy as about forty 'warm' incandescent 100 watt light bulbs. What that means is that incandescent bulbs can use as much as ten times as much electrical energy to produce the same amount of light as high pressure sodium bulbs.
What light should you get?
In a perfect world both metal halide (mh) and high pressure sodium (hps) would be used during both the vegetative and flowering stages of growth.
For example, a garden with 15 plants or less would use a 250 watt hps and a 250 watt mh lighting fixture. A garden with 25 plants or less would use a 250 watt hps and a 400 watt mh lighting fixture.
This is not always possible because the cost of two light fixtures will be more that of a single fixture. Two lights will also use more electricity, take up more space, and produce more heat than a single unit.
You can run
1. hps light through both stages of growth (ok).
2. mh light through both stages of growth (better).
3. run a mh light through the veg phase of growth followed by hps light through flowering (very good).
4. run both mh and hps light through both stages of growth (best).
Plants grown with hps light only, tend to grow tall and thin. That means a smaller harvest. Plants grown with mh light only, tend to take longer to flower but the harvest will be larger. If you were to only use one type of light, metal halide is suggested.
You can't use a standard high pressure sodium bulb in a metal halide fixture, but you can use a metal halide bulb in a high pressure sodium fixture of the same wattage. I didn't think this was possible till several years ago when someone trusted told me it would work. I have used hps bulbs in mh fixtures, whenever needed arises, ever since.
When I only had a single light, a 400 watt metal halide bulb was used in a 400 watt high pressure sodium fixture during the vegetative growing stage. The light was on 18 to 24 hours a day.
When I wanted the plants to start flowering, I replaced the 400 watt metal halide bulb with a 400 watt high pressure sodium bulb. During the flowering phase the high pressure sodium light cycle was changed to 12 hours on and 12 hours off a day.
I saved enough money to get another light before the next crop was started, but it does work. There are special hps bulbs that can be used in a mh fixture and vice-versa. But these bulbs cost about double the price of a standard bulb.
If you can only afford or only want a single fixture, I strongly recommend getting a high pressure sodium fixture with a high pressure sodium bulb and a metal halide bulb both bulbs rated for the same wattage as your light fixture. Use the metal halide bulb for vegetative growth and the high pressure sodium for flowering.
The list below gives an approximate idea of the area covered and how many marijuana plants can be grown with a certain wattage light system in a dark room. Any sunlight you can give the plants will increase the number of plants you can grow, and will help the plants grow faster.
The number of plants is based on growing fairly bushy indica strains that take up a larger area than some slender sativa strains. If you know the strain you will be growing is slender, you can grow more plants in the same size area.
* A 250 watt fixture will supply enough light to cover a 2.5 foot by 2.5 foot grow area. (6 plants or less)
* A 400 watt fixture will supply enough light to cover a 4 foot by 4 foot grow area. (12 plants or less)
* A 600 watt fixture will supply enough light to cover a 6 foot by 6 foot grow area. (18 plants or less)
* A 1000 watt fixture will supply enough light to cover a 9 foot by 9 foot grow area. (30 plants or less)
If you use two fixtures, you can grow a few more plants than adding the values in the list above. A single 250 watt fixture will produce enough light for about 6 plants. Because the light is spread over a larger area with two fixtures, you can grow up to 15 plants.
In order for the heat produced by a light system not to harm the plant, a 250 watt light system should be placed 18 to 30 inches above the tops of the plants, a 400 watt light system should be placed 3 to 4 feet above the tops of the plants, a 600 watt light system should be placed 4 to 5 feet above the tops of the plants, a 1000 watt light system should be placed 5 to 8 feet above the tops of the plants.
These are approximate values with a new light bulb, as the bulb ages it will produces less light and might have to be moved closer to the plants. You will have to figure out the optimal distance yourself because it will vary depending on things like the bulb efficiency, quality of reflector, and other things. Whatever your light source, replace bulbs after 6 to 12 months of use or more often.
One note about replacement bulbs, they can be divided into three categories: vertical, horizontal, universal. Vertical bulbs have to be used with fixtures in the vertical position. Horizontal bulbs have to be used with fixtures in the horizontal position. Universal bulbs can be used in a horizontal or vertical position. If you aren't sure what to buy, make sure you get a universal bulb. It will work in either type of fixture.
The standard ceiling is 8 feet (96 inches) from the floor, most hydroponic systems are on a platform that is 18 to 30 inches off the floor, the light will be 6 to 18 inches tall, and plants will probably be 18 to 36 inches tall when fully grown.
In most cases if your ceiling isn't more than 8 feet (96 inches) from the floor the largest light system you should get is 400 watts. 400 watt systems are used by a majority of marijuana growers who are growing for personal consumption.
Experienced growers know how to limit the height of a plant by making plants grow horizontally as opposed to the natural vertical growth marijuana plants follow. Even so, 600 and 1000 watt systems should be used in areas with ceiling heights of 10 feet (120 inches) or more.
If you want to build your own metal halide light fixture to grow hydroponic marijuana, plans are located here. By adapting the plans you can also build a high pressure sodium fixture by getting an hps ballast and socket. If you decide on buying a light expect to pay $225.00 to $500.00 for a single 250, 400, 600, or 1000 watt lighting system designed for growing plants.
An alternative to a single large fixture is two smaller fixtures that add up to a wattage similar to the single large fixture. For example, instead of a single 400 watt fixture, use two 250 watt fixtures (one mh fixture - one hps fixture). Instead of a single 1000 watt fixture, use two 400 watt lighting fixtures (one mh fixture - one hps fixture) and a single 250 watt hps fixture that can run a mh if necessary.
This will allow you to spread light more evenly over a larger area. It also enables you to use both metal halide and high pressure sodium light at the same time, and it will reduce the ceiling height needed since a smaller wattage bulb can be placed closer to the plants. The drawback is the higher cost of two or more fixtures compared to only buying one.
Here are some grow lights broken down into wattage values. This should provide you with an idea of which light is right for you and what it will cost.
430 watt or smaller high pressure sodium fixtures
400 watt or smaller metal halide fixtures
600 watt high pressure sodium fixtures
1000 watt high pressure sodium fixtures
1000 watt metal halide fixtures
Using 400 watts as an example. You can find 400 watt lighting systems that range in price from about $250 to $500. More expensive units usually last longer, are more efficient, and come with better bulbs than cheap models.
If you have the money, get the best light system you can afford to grow hydroponic marijuana. If money is limited get a cheaper model but be aware of the reasons for the lower price. Sources that I have ordered high pressure sodium and metal halide grow light fixtures from include ebay and shaman shop.
Seeds Or Clones To Grow Hydroponic Marijuana
Now you have a hydroponic system and grow light, it's time to decide on seeds or clones. If you know someone who grows, ask them for a few female clones. If you don't have access to clones you will have to get seeds. If you don't already have some, you can ask your friends to save you seeds out of any good weed they may come across.
The better the weed that the seeds come from is, the better your crop will be. If the weed the seeds came from was no good, your crop will probably not be any better.
If you have no source for seeds, you can buy marijuana seeds online at amsterdam marijuana seeds. They have info about all of the strains they sell (including white widow) so you can decide which is right for you. They ship almost anywhere in the world.
Once you grow hydroponic marijuana from seed, you should clone your plants. Once you know how to clone marijuana, you will not have to buy seeds again.
Set up your hydroponic garden and check your light before you germinate the seeds or get clones. Add plain water with no nutrient solution and start your hydroponic system. Make sure everything works and there are no leaks. Let it run for a day or more before putting the plants in.
When you are sure that your garden functions properly, you will need to germinate your seeds. If you germinated the seed directly onto your growing medium, you can put it in the garden when you know the seed has sprouted.
If you started the seed on paper towel, wait till after the seeds have germinated and the root is about a quarter of an inch long. When you see that it is, place the seed (root down) in the hydroponic system growing medium according to the manufacturers instructions.
If you have obtained clones, put them in the hydroponic system according to the manufacturers instructions. Mix your hydroponic nutrient solution to 50% or less of the normally recommended full strength (for the first two weeks). Add the nutrient solution to your hydroponic garden.
After the seeds or clones are put into the hydroponic system, allow them to remain in darkness for 8 to 10 hours before turning on the light. This is to allow for recovery from the shock of transplanting, this is more important for clones than seeds.
Start the seedlings or clones off with a fluorescent light turned on for 18 hours a day until you are ready to grow under HPS or MH. Use one or two standard double light 48 inch fluorescent fixtures with two 'cool' 40 watt bulbs placed about 3 to 10 inches above the tops of the plants.
4 to 6 inches is ideal, but you might have to raise the light a bit higher so all the plants get some light. Depending on the size your setup you might need two or more fixtures.
The reason for starting off with fluorescent lighting is to not give the plants too much light. Let them build up to it as they would in nature where the seedlings would take root in spring when the sun is not as strong as it is during summer.
When the plants have a solid root system, they will start to produce leaves. After a minimum of two or three sets of leaves have appeared (usually in 1 to 2 weeks) the plants are ready to really start growing.
Start Growing Hydroponic Marijuana
Now the plants are ready to start growing. The hydroponic system is working and the plants have two or more sets of leaves. Remove the fluorescent lighting then install and adjust the height of your metal halide or high pressure sodium fixture. The height from the top of the plants to the light source should be about:
* 18 to 30 inches for 250 watt systems
* 3 to 4 feet for 400 watt systems
* 4 to 5 feet for 600 watt systems
* 5 to 8 feet for 1000 watt systems
For the first week, have the light on 18 hours a day and off 6 hours a day. After the first week you can add an hour of light a day until the light is on 19 to 24 hours a day. The longer the light is on, the faster the plants will grow, but the higher you electricity bill will be. I usually give the plants 20-23 hours of light per 24 hour period.
If the parts of the plants closest to the light dry out, raise the height of the light source, they are too close. If the plants are too far from the light they will stretch and be tall but not have much bud. That is a waste of space.
Start high and lower the light an inch or two daily until you think the height is right and don't forget to raise the light as the plants grow. I've had plants grow close to 3 inches in a single day.
As the plant grows, some leaves will die and should be removed from the plant by cutting them rather than pulling them off by hand. You may also want to prune your plant, see why and how to prune and pruning tips for an explanation.
Hydroponic Marijuana Flowering
Flowering is the phase of marijuana growth that produces the most THC (the primary chemical that produces intoxication). You can start flowering when the plants are a minimum of about six inches high and have at least four sets of leaves.
Starting the flowering process when the plants are about twelve to twenty inches tall (usually after 4 to 8 weeks of vegetative growth) is recommended. Any taller and the bud isn't as potent, any shorter and the harvest is too small.
As you gain experience raising crops you can experiment with this as it will vary depending on many factors including lighting, the seed strain, etc. The higher the wattage of your light, the taller (more buds) your plants can be without loosing potency.
To start flowering, turn off the light and allow the plant to remain in complete darkness for 24 to 36 hours (you don't have to do this but I've found the plants flower faster by doing so). Then start a light cycle of 12 hours a day on 12 hours a day off.
You can have the light on as little as 10 hours a day or as much as 14 hours a day. Less than 12 hours light a day and the plants will be ready to harvest sooner but will produce a smaller yield. More than 12 hours of light a day and the plants will produce a lager yield but it will take longer to harvest.
When you grow hydroponic marijuana indoors the height of the plant will continue to increase for about two to four weeks after flowering has been started, after that all the female plants energy will be used for flower production, unless pollinated when some energy will be used to produce seeds.
The flowering cycle lasts about eight to twelve weeks, depending on the type of seed. So the total length of time to raise a crop will be about twelve to sixteen weeks with an indoor hydroponic garden.
During flowering the dark period must be perfectly dark. No room light, sun light, or any other light should reach the plant in the 12 hours of darkness that the plant must get everyday.
The strongest light that should reach the plant during the dark period of flowering would equal that of moonlight and only for short periods. Stronger light than this will delay flowering, and if it continues there is a chance that the plant will not flower, but stay in the vegetative phase.
This is more important in the fist 4 weeks of flowering. When the plants have started to flower for over a month, small amounts of light for short periods of time during the dark period are not as harmful.
You will know the plants are flowering when you see what look like little white hairs (pistils) developing at bud sites of female plants. They should be visible after about two weeks of the flowering light cycle. These will eventually be the red hairs that you see on good bud that you have probably smoked in the past or are smoking now.
How To Tell Male From Female Marijuana Plants
If you have started from clones you can skip this part as the clones you obtained were female but if you have grown from seed, you will have to separate the male plants from the female plants before the male plants flower and produce pollen unless you wish to produce seeds. There is approximately a 50% chance a seed will be either male or female.
Male plants are worthless for smoking purposes and the pollen male plants produce will pollinate (fertilize) the female plants. The fertilized female plants will then use some of their energy to produce seed rather than the THC and other chemicals that are desired by most growers.
Assuming all the seeds are of the same strain, the male plants will probably mature before the females. The male plant will have small oval pollen sacks that the female lacks. Once you see these sacks, remove the male plants from your garden unless you want to produce seeds. More male plant pictures can be found at erowid.
Harvesting And Curing Hydroponic Marijuana
After about 8 to 12 weeks of flowering it will be time to harvest. It is very important to harvest at the right time. Follow the harvesting directions located here. Once the plant has been harvested, it should be cured by following the curing directions here.
Storing Hydroponic Marijuana
If your weed is going to be stored for more than a year it should be wrapped in an air tight container and be stored somewhere that is dark and cool. A freezer is best, but a fridge, basement, closet, or something similar will do. Dry it first if you grow your own, or if the stuff you have is very moist. And remember that light, air and heat are the things to avoid.
If the instructions presented here are hard to visualize, get some kind of illustrated instructions in electronic or book form to supplement those given. Images will make learning and understanding easier. I have compiled a list of books for the first time grower, it's located here. A more comprehensive list of marijuana growing books is located here.
Various Extras
----- Do not use chemicals to clean anything that the water and nutrients will come into contact with, like the inside of nutrient reservoir or hydroponic garden. Use hot water to clean these.
----- Never touch a metal halide or high pressure sodium bulb with your hands. Body oils will shorten the life of the bulb. If you do touch a bulb, wash it off with a clean cloth that has been dampened with water. Wait till the bulb is dry before using, water can cause the bulb to crack. A lit bulb can explode if it comes in contact with liquids like water.
----- Heat can be a problem because grow lights get hot, if the temperature gets too hot it could have a negative effect on the plants by slowing down growth or killing them. I prefer to use an air conditioner to cool the air, some people prefer to vent hot air from the ceiling into an attic or outside through the roof or wall. Your local hardware store should have some kind of exhaust system. I've seen bathroom fan, dryer vent, and other similar systems adapted to serve this purpose.
----- Growing (and smoking) marijuana will produce odors. Sometimes they can be strong enough to attract attention. If you would like to eliminate the smell from growing and/or smoking marijuana the best thing to do is build an ozone generator. If you would rather buy a commercial unit there are several models at shamanshop and there are usually some listed on ebay.
----- You can only use a bulb of the wattage you light system was designed for. A 400 watt system only uses 400 watt bulbs. Don't use any other wattage than the one listed on the ballast of your light system.
----- You can use hydroponics to grow outdoors but temperatures must remain within the tolerance of the plant. That means in most parts of the world, you would only be able to grow for several months of the year. Temperatures must also remain higher than the freezing point of water.
----- When you enter the growing environment. You should be as clean as possible. Taking a shower and changing clothes prior to entering would be a good idea but time consuming. Try to at least wash your face and hands and have clean clothes on prior to entry. This will minimize the chance of contamination.
----- You will need a timer to turn your light on and off. If you have a lighting systems that is 400 watts or less, get a heavy-duty grounded timer rated at 500 watts or higher and 10-15 amps. You can find these for $30 or less at most hardware stores in the U.S. and Canada.
A 600 watt lighting systems would require a timer rated at 800 watts or more and 12-15 amps and a 1000 watt lighting systems would require a timer rated at 1400 watts or more and 15 amps. You can find these for $50 or less at most hardware stores in the U.S. and Canada.
----- As the plants grow, the light system will have to be raised in order to keep the height from the top of the plants to the light constant. You can figure a way to do this with items you can find at a hardware store or you can buy a pre-made kit.
----- An alternative to growing under mh during vegetation and hps during flowering is to set up a vegetative area, and a flowering area.
The vegetative area would use a cloner or something similar that would allow seeds or clones to grow and two standard 24 inch or 48 inch fluorescent tubes, turned on 24 hours a day.
You can build a very good cloner yourself with the instructions found at overgrow. If you prefer buying a cloner, you can find various models at ebay or shaman shop.
The flowering area would use a standard hydroponic set up with hps and/or mh fixtures turned on for 12 hours a day. While the flowering plants are going through their cycle with the hydroponic set up, the germinated seeds or clones will have a 8 to 10 weeks to develop in the cloner.
After the flowering plants have been harvested, the plants in the vegetative area are ready to move to the flowering area. New seedlings or clones can then be started in the cloner.
There are three main benefits to this kind of set up. Electricity use will be about 25% to 35% less because the mh or hps light is only on 12 hours a day. The longer a plant has been growing in the vegetative phase, the quicker it will flower.
You will be able to produce more weed because you will harvest about once every 6 to 10 weeks, rather than only being able to harvest about once every 12 to 16 weeks with a single growing area.
The only drawback I have found is the extra area needed to set up two different grow areas. Since the flowering plants need absolute darkness during the dark phase, the light from the vegetative area can't reach the flowering plants.
These areas will have need to be isolated from each other and other sources of light either by using curtains (or something similar) or by being located away from each other.
Any available sunlight will help in the vegetative area, but there must be a way to block sunlight and all other light for twelve hours a day during the flowering stage.
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Books
Indoor Marijuana Horticulture
The Indoor Bible
Concentrating on growing indoors, this is a very good book for the first time grower with some content that might be of use to more advanced growers. It covers most topics necessary to grow your crop. From setting up your grow room to breeding.
Easy for beginners to understand. Over 400 pages with chapters on lights and electricity, water and fertilizer, soil mixes, and more. Uses photos to make the text easy to follow.
Indoor Marijuana Horticulture
Marijuana Hydro Gardens: The Techno Grow
If you have grown weed in soil successfully and want to start growing hydroponically, this book and info you can find on this page should be all you need to get started. The first time grower who wants to start growing hydroponic marijuana should (in addition to this book) get another general book about growing weed like the cannabis grow bible or indoor marijuana horticulture.
Easy to follow text and photographs make this a good book about growing hydroponic marijuana for the beginner. Shows how to set up your garden, use basic techniques, and maximize production and potency.
Marijuana Hydro Gardens...
The Cannabis Grow Bible:
The Definitive Guide to Growing Marijuana
for Recreational and Medical Use
An very good source of information covering all aspects of growing, from seed selection to harvest, curing and more. Over 300 pages with almost 200 color and black-and-white photographs, charts, and tables. Recommended for indoor and outdoor growers.
A great growing guide for beginners and those more experienced. Includes chapters on seeds, propagation and germination, growing indoors, growing outdoors, hydroponics, pre-flowering and flowering, predators, pests and plant fungi, breeding, and more.
The Cannabis Grow Bible
This is an attempt to explain how to grow hydroponic marijuana indoors. It is meant to be used in areas where growing marijuana is legal or tolerated because of medical reasons, etc. Do not use this information to break the law.
Last Update February 2006
How To Grow Hydroponic Marijuana Introduction
Expect to pay about 600.00 to 1200.00 for lighting, hydroponic garden, seeds, grow books, and other basic items you will need to grow hydroponic marijuana indoors.
You can spend as little as three hundred dollars if you have the equipment to build everything yourself or you can spend an unlimited amount, if money is of no concern. But $600.00 to $1200.00 is a good amount to budget for a personal garden (5 to 30 plants).
Once you get things set up you can continue to grow hydroponic marijuana with your set up and only have to spend money on nutrients, bulbs, and other maintenance. A very wise investment of money for any user.
Also important is the fact that when you grow hydroponic marijuana yourself, if you started with a good seed strain, the crop will be potent and clean. Something you can't always count on when buying from someone else. This is especially important if you are growing for medical reasons.
If you do things properly, you will get about a half ounce to one and a half ounces of premium marijuana per plant every 3 to 4 months. This amount will depend on several factors including the marijuana seed strain, amount of light, size of plant, etc.
The first time my garden was set up, I built my own light and hydroponic system to save money. So I've provided instructions on how you can do so also. For people who are not comfortable working with electronics and plastic tubing, I've provided links to most of the items mentioned.
Here's how it works, a plant cutting (clone) or seed that has been germinated and sprouted a root (seedling) is placed in a hydroponic system and supplied with nutrients and light. After this the plant develops more roots to search for nutrients and leaves to obtain energy in the form of light. When growing hydroponic marijuana indoors this stage usually lasts for a week or two.
The next stage of the marijuana life cycle is called the vegetative phase. During this phase the light source is on 18 to 24 hours a day. When growing hydroponic marijuana indoors the vegetative growth stage usually lasts 2 to 6 weeks. You can let this stage last longer than 6 weeks with no negative effects on the plant.
The next stage is called flowering. When growing indoors, the flowering stage is started by cutting the light down to 12 hours per 24 hour period. The flowering stage lasts about 8 to 10 weeks and is when the most THC (the primary chemical that produces intoxication) is produced. Flowering may take 12 weeks or longer with some strains.
At the end of flowering, plants are harvested then cured.
Where To Grow Hydroponic Marijuana
This guide is about growing hydroponic marijuana indoors, so the growing will be done indoors. Where to grow your marijuana depends on what space you have available. An attic, closet or similar space will do, but a room dedicated to growing is preferred.
One important factor to consider is how clean the growing environment will be. After you have decided where you are going to grow, you have to clean the area and keep it clean. That means scrubbing walls, cleaning equipment, washing floors and carpets, etc.
Everything in the growing area should be cleaned then sterilized with something like lysol or some other germ killer to prevent the marijuana plants from being harmed by germs, bacteria, molds, etc.
The floor where the hydroponic system is placed should be covered with something that will protect it from water and nutrient spills that will happen. I use a thick drop cloth (the plastic sheets painters use to protect items from paint damage).
Once clean you can put aluminum foil or a commercial reflector like mylar on the walls to reflect any light back to the plants. Commercial reflectors are better but they are more expensive than aluminum foil. Do not use mirrors because they absorb light. Painting the walls and ceiling with white paint will reflect light in a closet or small space.
aluminum foil is about 60% to 70% reflective
gloss white paint is about 70% to 75% reflective
flat white paint is about 75% to 80% reflective
mylar is about 90% reflective
Hydroponic System For Growing Marijuana
Now you have a basic idea of how things work, let's get into more detail. If you are going to be growing hydroponic marijuana and have chosen a suitable location, you will need a hydroponic system, also called a hydroponic garden.
There are 6 basic types of hydroponic systems. They are aeroponics, drip, ebb and flow, n.f.t. (nutrient film technique), water culture, and wick systems. There are hundreds of variations on these basic types of systems, but all hydroponic methods are a variation (or combination) of these six.
If you would like to know more about the different types of hydroponic systems visit simply hydro, they show illustrated examples of all six. Ebb and flow systems have served me well, it's the only type I've used. Other growers I know, use ebb and flow, NFT, or aeroponics. The method you choose should meet your budget and be able to fit in your growing area.
The number of plants your garden can sustain and the area your garden covers will determine how much light you need. Read the section in this guide about lighting before deciding on a hydroponic system.
A hydroponic system is made to grow plants without soil. Plant nutrients are 'delivered' to the plants roots by a pump or other method. This delivering of nutrients means that the plant doesn't have to use as much energy making roots in search of the nutrients it requires.
Since you aren't using soil in a hydroponic garden, some types of hydroponic gardens (wick systems, drip systems, ebb and flow systems) need a substitute so the roots have somewhere to anchor the plant. This substitute for soil is referred to as growing medium or media. The media will provide no nutrition, it is just a support for the roots. All nutrition comes from the nutrient solution.
There are various types of media available to grow hydroponic marijuana in. Rockwool is one common type of media, but there are others. Rockwool comes in blocks of solid material that are very similar in feel and appearance to fiberglass insulation used in housebuilding.
There are some types of media that is made up of loose particles like soil. Stay away from these unless your hydroponic garden is designed to use this type of media. Particles can drain into the nutrient reservoir and eventually ruin the pump.
The media you use is up to you. Follow what the manufacturer of your hydroponic garden recommends. If you aren't sure, get rockwool or another solid type of media. You can buy rockwool in slabs that can be cut to fit into your garden or you can get it in various pre-cut sizes.
There are also small rockwool cubes designed for starting clones or seeds on. You can germinate seeds right on these. Once you've grown a crop or two you can experiment and see if changing media has any effect.
Rockwool must be soaked in water overnight before use. Sometimes this should be water of a certain pH. This is to ensure that the rockwool has a neutral pH level. Follow the manufacturers directions.
If there are no directions, soak the rockwool in a clean pot or container with tapwater overnight. Next day, discard the water, and fill again with boiling water to kill any unwanted organisms that might have a negative effect on your plants.
After a minimum of ten minutes in the boiling water, you can drain the container and wait for the rockwool to cool to room temperature. Once cool, they are ready for use.
Energy not used looking for food is used to make the plant develop its leaves and flowers faster than they would if grown in soil. It's not uncommon for marijuana plants in hydroponic garden to grow as much as 1 to 2 inches or more, per day, during the vegetative growth phase.
For a personal garden Hydroponic marijuana plants should be grown about eight to sixteen inches apart. Some strains are bushy, these will require more space but produce a larger yield than a slender strain. Unless you plan on growing small plants, the roots require a fairly large area to grow in. A three inch opening or larger is needed for a plant that will produce an ounce or more.
Hydroponic Marijuana Garden
The hydroponic garden pictured here is one of many sold at various hydroponic stores. It's 24 inches off the floor and covers a 48 inch by 48 inch area.
Openings for the plants are a little over 3 inches by 3 inches and will hold 3 inch rockwool blocks. It can hold 23 plants spaced about 9 inches apart.
All strains I've grown have required more than 9 inch spacing. Plants grown 9 inches apart will only be able to branch 4.5 inches away from the main stem before competing for light with adjoining plants. I grow 9 to 12 plants with this particular garden and a 400 watt lighting system.
If you want to save money, rather than buying a commercial unit, you can make an ebb and flow hydroponic system yourself. Instructions can be found at hydroponics online. They are not hard to make and almost any building supply store should have the majority of stuff required.
If you would rather buy a hydroponic system, expect to pay $250 to $500 or more. There should be a hydroponics store in your area where you can compare prices and decide on the right system for your needs. If you can't find a hydroponic supply store locally, you can order online. Sources that I have ordered hydroponic system and parts from include ebay and shaman shop.
Lighting For Growing Hydroponic Marijuana
Choosing a hydroponic system will necessitate the consideration of the right grow light for your needs. Metal Halide (mh) and/or High Pressure Sodium (hps) are the lighting systems you need to grow hydroponic marijuana. They can be found at any hydroponic store.
The sun emits light energy that spans from the red to the blue end of the light spectrum. As far as marijuana plants are concerned, in spring-summer when plants start to grow (vegetative growth) there is more blue spectrum energy and that promotes plant growth. In summer-fall when plants produce flowers there is more red spectrum energy and that causes hormones in plants to increase flower and THC production.
Metal halide light fixtures produce large amounts of blue spectrum energy and are best for vegetative (beginning) growth. The light produced looks similar to the 'cool' fluorescent light found in schools, offices, stores, and other high traffic areas.
A single 400 watt metal halide bulb delivers about as much light energy as twenty 'cool' fluorescent 40 watt bulbs. What that means is that fluorescent bulbs use about twice as much electrical energy to produce the same amount of light as metal halide bulbs.
High pressure sodium light fixtures produce large amounts of red spectrum energy and are best for flowering (later) growth. The light produced looks similar to the 'warm' incandescent lights found in most homes but has a deeper orange-red color. The street lamps in many cities are hps lights.
A single 400 watt high pressure sodium bulb delivers about as much light energy as about forty 'warm' incandescent 100 watt light bulbs. What that means is that incandescent bulbs can use as much as ten times as much electrical energy to produce the same amount of light as high pressure sodium bulbs.
What light should you get?
In a perfect world both metal halide (mh) and high pressure sodium (hps) would be used during both the vegetative and flowering stages of growth.
For example, a garden with 15 plants or less would use a 250 watt hps and a 250 watt mh lighting fixture. A garden with 25 plants or less would use a 250 watt hps and a 400 watt mh lighting fixture.
This is not always possible because the cost of two light fixtures will be more that of a single fixture. Two lights will also use more electricity, take up more space, and produce more heat than a single unit.
You can run
1. hps light through both stages of growth (ok).
2. mh light through both stages of growth (better).
3. run a mh light through the veg phase of growth followed by hps light through flowering (very good).
4. run both mh and hps light through both stages of growth (best).
Plants grown with hps light only, tend to grow tall and thin. That means a smaller harvest. Plants grown with mh light only, tend to take longer to flower but the harvest will be larger. If you were to only use one type of light, metal halide is suggested.
You can't use a standard high pressure sodium bulb in a metal halide fixture, but you can use a metal halide bulb in a high pressure sodium fixture of the same wattage. I didn't think this was possible till several years ago when someone trusted told me it would work. I have used hps bulbs in mh fixtures, whenever needed arises, ever since.
When I only had a single light, a 400 watt metal halide bulb was used in a 400 watt high pressure sodium fixture during the vegetative growing stage. The light was on 18 to 24 hours a day.
When I wanted the plants to start flowering, I replaced the 400 watt metal halide bulb with a 400 watt high pressure sodium bulb. During the flowering phase the high pressure sodium light cycle was changed to 12 hours on and 12 hours off a day.
I saved enough money to get another light before the next crop was started, but it does work. There are special hps bulbs that can be used in a mh fixture and vice-versa. But these bulbs cost about double the price of a standard bulb.
If you can only afford or only want a single fixture, I strongly recommend getting a high pressure sodium fixture with a high pressure sodium bulb and a metal halide bulb both bulbs rated for the same wattage as your light fixture. Use the metal halide bulb for vegetative growth and the high pressure sodium for flowering.
The list below gives an approximate idea of the area covered and how many marijuana plants can be grown with a certain wattage light system in a dark room. Any sunlight you can give the plants will increase the number of plants you can grow, and will help the plants grow faster.
The number of plants is based on growing fairly bushy indica strains that take up a larger area than some slender sativa strains. If you know the strain you will be growing is slender, you can grow more plants in the same size area.
* A 250 watt fixture will supply enough light to cover a 2.5 foot by 2.5 foot grow area. (6 plants or less)
* A 400 watt fixture will supply enough light to cover a 4 foot by 4 foot grow area. (12 plants or less)
* A 600 watt fixture will supply enough light to cover a 6 foot by 6 foot grow area. (18 plants or less)
* A 1000 watt fixture will supply enough light to cover a 9 foot by 9 foot grow area. (30 plants or less)
If you use two fixtures, you can grow a few more plants than adding the values in the list above. A single 250 watt fixture will produce enough light for about 6 plants. Because the light is spread over a larger area with two fixtures, you can grow up to 15 plants.
In order for the heat produced by a light system not to harm the plant, a 250 watt light system should be placed 18 to 30 inches above the tops of the plants, a 400 watt light system should be placed 3 to 4 feet above the tops of the plants, a 600 watt light system should be placed 4 to 5 feet above the tops of the plants, a 1000 watt light system should be placed 5 to 8 feet above the tops of the plants.
These are approximate values with a new light bulb, as the bulb ages it will produces less light and might have to be moved closer to the plants. You will have to figure out the optimal distance yourself because it will vary depending on things like the bulb efficiency, quality of reflector, and other things. Whatever your light source, replace bulbs after 6 to 12 months of use or more often.
One note about replacement bulbs, they can be divided into three categories: vertical, horizontal, universal. Vertical bulbs have to be used with fixtures in the vertical position. Horizontal bulbs have to be used with fixtures in the horizontal position. Universal bulbs can be used in a horizontal or vertical position. If you aren't sure what to buy, make sure you get a universal bulb. It will work in either type of fixture.
The standard ceiling is 8 feet (96 inches) from the floor, most hydroponic systems are on a platform that is 18 to 30 inches off the floor, the light will be 6 to 18 inches tall, and plants will probably be 18 to 36 inches tall when fully grown.
In most cases if your ceiling isn't more than 8 feet (96 inches) from the floor the largest light system you should get is 400 watts. 400 watt systems are used by a majority of marijuana growers who are growing for personal consumption.
Experienced growers know how to limit the height of a plant by making plants grow horizontally as opposed to the natural vertical growth marijuana plants follow. Even so, 600 and 1000 watt systems should be used in areas with ceiling heights of 10 feet (120 inches) or more.
If you want to build your own metal halide light fixture to grow hydroponic marijuana, plans are located here. By adapting the plans you can also build a high pressure sodium fixture by getting an hps ballast and socket. If you decide on buying a light expect to pay $225.00 to $500.00 for a single 250, 400, 600, or 1000 watt lighting system designed for growing plants.
An alternative to a single large fixture is two smaller fixtures that add up to a wattage similar to the single large fixture. For example, instead of a single 400 watt fixture, use two 250 watt fixtures (one mh fixture - one hps fixture). Instead of a single 1000 watt fixture, use two 400 watt lighting fixtures (one mh fixture - one hps fixture) and a single 250 watt hps fixture that can run a mh if necessary.
This will allow you to spread light more evenly over a larger area. It also enables you to use both metal halide and high pressure sodium light at the same time, and it will reduce the ceiling height needed since a smaller wattage bulb can be placed closer to the plants. The drawback is the higher cost of two or more fixtures compared to only buying one.
Here are some grow lights broken down into wattage values. This should provide you with an idea of which light is right for you and what it will cost.
430 watt or smaller high pressure sodium fixtures
400 watt or smaller metal halide fixtures
600 watt high pressure sodium fixtures
1000 watt high pressure sodium fixtures
1000 watt metal halide fixtures
Using 400 watts as an example. You can find 400 watt lighting systems that range in price from about $250 to $500. More expensive units usually last longer, are more efficient, and come with better bulbs than cheap models.
If you have the money, get the best light system you can afford to grow hydroponic marijuana. If money is limited get a cheaper model but be aware of the reasons for the lower price. Sources that I have ordered high pressure sodium and metal halide grow light fixtures from include ebay and shaman shop.
Seeds Or Clones To Grow Hydroponic Marijuana
Now you have a hydroponic system and grow light, it's time to decide on seeds or clones. If you know someone who grows, ask them for a few female clones. If you don't have access to clones you will have to get seeds. If you don't already have some, you can ask your friends to save you seeds out of any good weed they may come across.
The better the weed that the seeds come from is, the better your crop will be. If the weed the seeds came from was no good, your crop will probably not be any better.
If you have no source for seeds, you can buy marijuana seeds online at amsterdam marijuana seeds. They have info about all of the strains they sell (including white widow) so you can decide which is right for you. They ship almost anywhere in the world.
Once you grow hydroponic marijuana from seed, you should clone your plants. Once you know how to clone marijuana, you will not have to buy seeds again.
Set up your hydroponic garden and check your light before you germinate the seeds or get clones. Add plain water with no nutrient solution and start your hydroponic system. Make sure everything works and there are no leaks. Let it run for a day or more before putting the plants in.
When you are sure that your garden functions properly, you will need to germinate your seeds. If you germinated the seed directly onto your growing medium, you can put it in the garden when you know the seed has sprouted.
If you started the seed on paper towel, wait till after the seeds have germinated and the root is about a quarter of an inch long. When you see that it is, place the seed (root down) in the hydroponic system growing medium according to the manufacturers instructions.
If you have obtained clones, put them in the hydroponic system according to the manufacturers instructions. Mix your hydroponic nutrient solution to 50% or less of the normally recommended full strength (for the first two weeks). Add the nutrient solution to your hydroponic garden.
After the seeds or clones are put into the hydroponic system, allow them to remain in darkness for 8 to 10 hours before turning on the light. This is to allow for recovery from the shock of transplanting, this is more important for clones than seeds.
Start the seedlings or clones off with a fluorescent light turned on for 18 hours a day until you are ready to grow under HPS or MH. Use one or two standard double light 48 inch fluorescent fixtures with two 'cool' 40 watt bulbs placed about 3 to 10 inches above the tops of the plants.
4 to 6 inches is ideal, but you might have to raise the light a bit higher so all the plants get some light. Depending on the size your setup you might need two or more fixtures.
The reason for starting off with fluorescent lighting is to not give the plants too much light. Let them build up to it as they would in nature where the seedlings would take root in spring when the sun is not as strong as it is during summer.
When the plants have a solid root system, they will start to produce leaves. After a minimum of two or three sets of leaves have appeared (usually in 1 to 2 weeks) the plants are ready to really start growing.
Start Growing Hydroponic Marijuana
Now the plants are ready to start growing. The hydroponic system is working and the plants have two or more sets of leaves. Remove the fluorescent lighting then install and adjust the height of your metal halide or high pressure sodium fixture. The height from the top of the plants to the light source should be about:
* 18 to 30 inches for 250 watt systems
* 3 to 4 feet for 400 watt systems
* 4 to 5 feet for 600 watt systems
* 5 to 8 feet for 1000 watt systems
For the first week, have the light on 18 hours a day and off 6 hours a day. After the first week you can add an hour of light a day until the light is on 19 to 24 hours a day. The longer the light is on, the faster the plants will grow, but the higher you electricity bill will be. I usually give the plants 20-23 hours of light per 24 hour period.
If the parts of the plants closest to the light dry out, raise the height of the light source, they are too close. If the plants are too far from the light they will stretch and be tall but not have much bud. That is a waste of space.
Start high and lower the light an inch or two daily until you think the height is right and don't forget to raise the light as the plants grow. I've had plants grow close to 3 inches in a single day.
As the plant grows, some leaves will die and should be removed from the plant by cutting them rather than pulling them off by hand. You may also want to prune your plant, see why and how to prune and pruning tips for an explanation.
Hydroponic Marijuana Flowering
Flowering is the phase of marijuana growth that produces the most THC (the primary chemical that produces intoxication). You can start flowering when the plants are a minimum of about six inches high and have at least four sets of leaves.
Starting the flowering process when the plants are about twelve to twenty inches tall (usually after 4 to 8 weeks of vegetative growth) is recommended. Any taller and the bud isn't as potent, any shorter and the harvest is too small.
As you gain experience raising crops you can experiment with this as it will vary depending on many factors including lighting, the seed strain, etc. The higher the wattage of your light, the taller (more buds) your plants can be without loosing potency.
To start flowering, turn off the light and allow the plant to remain in complete darkness for 24 to 36 hours (you don't have to do this but I've found the plants flower faster by doing so). Then start a light cycle of 12 hours a day on 12 hours a day off.
You can have the light on as little as 10 hours a day or as much as 14 hours a day. Less than 12 hours light a day and the plants will be ready to harvest sooner but will produce a smaller yield. More than 12 hours of light a day and the plants will produce a lager yield but it will take longer to harvest.
When you grow hydroponic marijuana indoors the height of the plant will continue to increase for about two to four weeks after flowering has been started, after that all the female plants energy will be used for flower production, unless pollinated when some energy will be used to produce seeds.
The flowering cycle lasts about eight to twelve weeks, depending on the type of seed. So the total length of time to raise a crop will be about twelve to sixteen weeks with an indoor hydroponic garden.
During flowering the dark period must be perfectly dark. No room light, sun light, or any other light should reach the plant in the 12 hours of darkness that the plant must get everyday.
The strongest light that should reach the plant during the dark period of flowering would equal that of moonlight and only for short periods. Stronger light than this will delay flowering, and if it continues there is a chance that the plant will not flower, but stay in the vegetative phase.
This is more important in the fist 4 weeks of flowering. When the plants have started to flower for over a month, small amounts of light for short periods of time during the dark period are not as harmful.
You will know the plants are flowering when you see what look like little white hairs (pistils) developing at bud sites of female plants. They should be visible after about two weeks of the flowering light cycle. These will eventually be the red hairs that you see on good bud that you have probably smoked in the past or are smoking now.
How To Tell Male From Female Marijuana Plants
If you have started from clones you can skip this part as the clones you obtained were female but if you have grown from seed, you will have to separate the male plants from the female plants before the male plants flower and produce pollen unless you wish to produce seeds. There is approximately a 50% chance a seed will be either male or female.
Male plants are worthless for smoking purposes and the pollen male plants produce will pollinate (fertilize) the female plants. The fertilized female plants will then use some of their energy to produce seed rather than the THC and other chemicals that are desired by most growers.
Assuming all the seeds are of the same strain, the male plants will probably mature before the females. The male plant will have small oval pollen sacks that the female lacks. Once you see these sacks, remove the male plants from your garden unless you want to produce seeds. More male plant pictures can be found at erowid.
Harvesting And Curing Hydroponic Marijuana
After about 8 to 12 weeks of flowering it will be time to harvest. It is very important to harvest at the right time. Follow the harvesting directions located here. Once the plant has been harvested, it should be cured by following the curing directions here.
Storing Hydroponic Marijuana
If your weed is going to be stored for more than a year it should be wrapped in an air tight container and be stored somewhere that is dark and cool. A freezer is best, but a fridge, basement, closet, or something similar will do. Dry it first if you grow your own, or if the stuff you have is very moist. And remember that light, air and heat are the things to avoid.
If the instructions presented here are hard to visualize, get some kind of illustrated instructions in electronic or book form to supplement those given. Images will make learning and understanding easier. I have compiled a list of books for the first time grower, it's located here. A more comprehensive list of marijuana growing books is located here.
Various Extras
----- Do not use chemicals to clean anything that the water and nutrients will come into contact with, like the inside of nutrient reservoir or hydroponic garden. Use hot water to clean these.
----- Never touch a metal halide or high pressure sodium bulb with your hands. Body oils will shorten the life of the bulb. If you do touch a bulb, wash it off with a clean cloth that has been dampened with water. Wait till the bulb is dry before using, water can cause the bulb to crack. A lit bulb can explode if it comes in contact with liquids like water.
----- Heat can be a problem because grow lights get hot, if the temperature gets too hot it could have a negative effect on the plants by slowing down growth or killing them. I prefer to use an air conditioner to cool the air, some people prefer to vent hot air from the ceiling into an attic or outside through the roof or wall. Your local hardware store should have some kind of exhaust system. I've seen bathroom fan, dryer vent, and other similar systems adapted to serve this purpose.
----- Growing (and smoking) marijuana will produce odors. Sometimes they can be strong enough to attract attention. If you would like to eliminate the smell from growing and/or smoking marijuana the best thing to do is build an ozone generator. If you would rather buy a commercial unit there are several models at shamanshop and there are usually some listed on ebay.
----- You can only use a bulb of the wattage you light system was designed for. A 400 watt system only uses 400 watt bulbs. Don't use any other wattage than the one listed on the ballast of your light system.
----- You can use hydroponics to grow outdoors but temperatures must remain within the tolerance of the plant. That means in most parts of the world, you would only be able to grow for several months of the year. Temperatures must also remain higher than the freezing point of water.
----- When you enter the growing environment. You should be as clean as possible. Taking a shower and changing clothes prior to entering would be a good idea but time consuming. Try to at least wash your face and hands and have clean clothes on prior to entry. This will minimize the chance of contamination.
----- You will need a timer to turn your light on and off. If you have a lighting systems that is 400 watts or less, get a heavy-duty grounded timer rated at 500 watts or higher and 10-15 amps. You can find these for $30 or less at most hardware stores in the U.S. and Canada.
A 600 watt lighting systems would require a timer rated at 800 watts or more and 12-15 amps and a 1000 watt lighting systems would require a timer rated at 1400 watts or more and 15 amps. You can find these for $50 or less at most hardware stores in the U.S. and Canada.
----- As the plants grow, the light system will have to be raised in order to keep the height from the top of the plants to the light constant. You can figure a way to do this with items you can find at a hardware store or you can buy a pre-made kit.
----- An alternative to growing under mh during vegetation and hps during flowering is to set up a vegetative area, and a flowering area.
The vegetative area would use a cloner or something similar that would allow seeds or clones to grow and two standard 24 inch or 48 inch fluorescent tubes, turned on 24 hours a day.
You can build a very good cloner yourself with the instructions found at overgrow. If you prefer buying a cloner, you can find various models at ebay or shaman shop.
The flowering area would use a standard hydroponic set up with hps and/or mh fixtures turned on for 12 hours a day. While the flowering plants are going through their cycle with the hydroponic set up, the germinated seeds or clones will have a 8 to 10 weeks to develop in the cloner.
After the flowering plants have been harvested, the plants in the vegetative area are ready to move to the flowering area. New seedlings or clones can then be started in the cloner.
There are three main benefits to this kind of set up. Electricity use will be about 25% to 35% less because the mh or hps light is only on 12 hours a day. The longer a plant has been growing in the vegetative phase, the quicker it will flower.
You will be able to produce more weed because you will harvest about once every 6 to 10 weeks, rather than only being able to harvest about once every 12 to 16 weeks with a single growing area.
The only drawback I have found is the extra area needed to set up two different grow areas. Since the flowering plants need absolute darkness during the dark phase, the light from the vegetative area can't reach the flowering plants.
These areas will have need to be isolated from each other and other sources of light either by using curtains (or something similar) or by being located away from each other.
Any available sunlight will help in the vegetative area, but there must be a way to block sunlight and all other light for twelve hours a day during the flowering stage.
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Books
Indoor Marijuana Horticulture
The Indoor Bible
Concentrating on growing indoors, this is a very good book for the first time grower with some content that might be of use to more advanced growers. It covers most topics necessary to grow your crop. From setting up your grow room to breeding.
Easy for beginners to understand. Over 400 pages with chapters on lights and electricity, water and fertilizer, soil mixes, and more. Uses photos to make the text easy to follow.
Indoor Marijuana Horticulture
Marijuana Hydro Gardens: The Techno Grow
If you have grown weed in soil successfully and want to start growing hydroponically, this book and info you can find on this page should be all you need to get started. The first time grower who wants to start growing hydroponic marijuana should (in addition to this book) get another general book about growing weed like the cannabis grow bible or indoor marijuana horticulture.
Easy to follow text and photographs make this a good book about growing hydroponic marijuana for the beginner. Shows how to set up your garden, use basic techniques, and maximize production and potency.
Marijuana Hydro Gardens...
The Cannabis Grow Bible:
The Definitive Guide to Growing Marijuana
for Recreational and Medical Use
An very good source of information covering all aspects of growing, from seed selection to harvest, curing and more. Over 300 pages with almost 200 color and black-and-white photographs, charts, and tables. Recommended for indoor and outdoor growers.
A great growing guide for beginners and those more experienced. Includes chapters on seeds, propagation and germination, growing indoors, growing outdoors, hydroponics, pre-flowering and flowering, predators, pests and plant fungi, breeding, and more.
The Cannabis Grow Bible