Recreational marijuana has been legally available in weed shops in Denver for years now. While that means you can legally purchase your favorite strain at any time, it also means you’re free to grow a few choice plants in the comfort of your own home. Even if you’re an experienced smoker and have used marijuana for decades, growing may be something you’ve never explored. Unlike growing tomatoes in the garden, weed takes a bit more finesse and effort. Here’s what you need to do to start growing your own pet pot plant.

Set Up The Right Environment

Growing outside is not always the best idea. After all, your neighbors, landlord, and onlookers might take offense. Worse, thieves might just steal your plant right out of the garden. Find a large pot that can accommodate your growing cannabis plant. If you’re on a budget, you can use a 5-gallon bucket with holes drilled in the bottom for ventilation and drainage. Then, you’ll need to select a good potting soil. Any standard potting soil will work well, especially as you’re starting out.

Once you have your pot established, you’ll need to control the light the plant is exposed to. New plants need around 12 hours of consistent light in order to keep the plant from blooming. When plants are young, they produce very few buds. In order to produce a quality yield, they’ll need to grow larger. For at least a few weeks, let the plant grow under light so it can get large enough to support the buds you’re looking to harvest.

Trick the Plant Into Blooming

Once your plant has grown to an appropriate size, you’ll need to trigger its bloom cycle. To do this, the plant needs to be exposed to 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of dark each day. This means you’ll want to keep your plant in a room where light is easy to control. Set up a grow lamp on a timer and set it for the recommended 12 hours. Once the timer cycle is over, the light will turn off, giving the pot plant the trigger it needs to start producing blooms.

Consider using blackout curtains to completely block out light and encourage the plant to produce buds. Remember, any amount of light introduced to the space during the required 12 hours of darkness can confuse your plant. The end result is unsuitable bud at best or a poor harvest at worst.  

Growing your own marijuana can be a great side project for summer, but the number of plants allowed in most residential settings may not be enough to give you all the weed you need to relax. If you find your stores dwindling, stop by one of Altitude Dispensary’s three locations and pick up some fresh locally-grown weed to satisfy your craving. Not sure what you want? Our budtenders are happy to help you find your new favorite way to get high. Check out our selection online and see the difference that quality can make in your next high.