How to Grow One Weed Plant Like a Pro

Learning how to grow one weed plant is a great way to learn the basics of cannabis cultivation on a small scale. It allows you to improve your skills on a budget and have a nice reward when it's time to harvest.

Our grow guide covers all the supplies you need and takes you through every step of the plant’s life cycle so you can grow like a pro.

How to Grow One Weed Plant and What You Need to Grow It

There are a handful of important items that are needed to learn how to grow one weed plant. Cannabis can be grown indoors or outdoors, depending on your state and local laws.

While both environments can produce great cannabis flowers, indoor cannabis production requires certain equipment to maintain optimal lighting, temperature, and humidity for your plant.

Here is what you will need to grow one weed plant like a pro.

• Cannabis seeds or clones: Which strain do you want to grow? Do you want to start with seeds or clones? Select a strain that works well in your region if you are growing outdoors or ensure you have the right grow space and supplies to grow your strain.
• Grow tent: If you will be growing indoors, a small 2×2 grow tent can accommodate a single cannabis plant.
• Ventilation: Proper airflow in a grow space can help reduce the risk of mold and mildew infestation. A small fan can be enough to circulate air indoors for one plant.
• Container: Grow pots range from flower pots to fabric pots. Sizes for cannabis pots range from 2 to 5 gallons. We recommend Smart Pots for any type of growing media.
• Grow medium: Cannabis can be grown in soil-based or soilless media. Growing in organic living soil is one of the best ways to grow a single plant.
• Temperature and humidity: Indoor-grown plants require a variety of devices to maintain the optimal temperature and humidity. A thermometer and hydrometer can help you monitor the temperature and humidity.
• Grow lights: A 250-watt high-pressure sodium (HPS) or metal halide (MH) bulb is affordable or you can go with fluorescent bulbs to supplement any direct light from a window.

How to Care for One Weed Plant Throughout Every Stage

Once you have got your grow space and supplies prepared, it is time to care for your plant throughout every stage of its life, from germination to harvest.

Germination and Seedling Stage

If starting from a cannabis seed, the germination process is the first step of how to grow one weed plant. Germination can be performed in a variety of ways but one of the most simple and effective techniques is using the paper towel method. Temperatures should be between 70 and 80º F and have a relative humidity of 100%.

Germination can take anywhere from 24 hours to several days, depending on your germination method. Keep in mind, we recommend starting off with feminized cannabis seeds that only grow female flowering plants. If using feminized seeds, germinate at least 2 seeds in case one does not fully germinate.

Regular cannabis seeds have a 50-50 chance of growing male or female plants. Autoflowering seeds are another alternative that can grow fast-flowering plants that do not need a change in the light cycle to begin flowering.

Germination is successful if at least one of your healthy seeds cracks and has a root popping through.  Once it is germinated, you can plant it in your grow media, and ensure the medium remains moist. As your seedlings grow, they need temperatures between 68 and 75º F and 100% relative humidity.

Vegetative Stage

During its vegetative stage, the young cannabis plant will focus on growing its foliage including its leaves and branches. Your plant will need about 18 hours of light during the stage. Keep temperatures between 72 and 77º F and relative humidity between 60 and 70%. Watering frequency depends on the dryness of the soil and the size of the container.

During this stage, your plant will need a variety of macronutrients, especially a high concentration of nitrogen and lower levels of potassium and phosphorus. Prune your plant as needed to ensure that the plant has proper airflow and light penetration.

Flowering Stage

When the days grow shorter outside or when your plant receives 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness, your plant will begin its flowering stage.

Flowering periods depend on the strain genetics and growing environment. At this stage, you can keep temperatures at about 75º F and relative humidity of about 45%.

Cannabis plants can double in size during this stage. You may need to remove fan leaves to ensure the plant has proper airflow and the lower buds in the canopy get plenty of light. Your plant will need a higher concentration of phosphorus and potassium and low levels of nitrogen during this stage.

During the final week or so of the plant’s flowering stage, many growers choose to flush out their nutrients salts from their growing medium. To do so, you will only feed your plant only water to remove its excess nutrients. Your plant’s leaves may begin to turn yellow which is a normal occurrence. Flushing is not required if you have organic living soil.

Harvesting

Harvesting requires careful timing. Harvesting too early can result in a weaker potency, flavor, and aroma of your plant. However, harvesting too late will result in your THC converting into CBN, a cannabinoid known for its sedative effects. This sleep-inducing compound can be beneficial for some users.

One of the most effective ways to determine when your flowers are mature enough is to look at their trichome colors. When half of the trichomes have turned from a milky white color to an amber color, you can begin to harvest your plant. A magnifying glass or a jeweler's loupe can give you a better look at these tiny resin glands.

Harvesting your buds is easy. Start by removing the larger fan leaves and then, using sharp pruners, cut the plant at the base of the main stem. Then, cut the plant into smaller pieces between 2 to 3 feet long. Make sure to cut the sugar leaves and prepare your branches to be dried.

Drying

Once you cut down your cannabis branches, it is time to remove the moisture through the drying process. You can hang them up or use a screen to dry them in a cool and dry space. Avoid rooms with excessive humidity which can increase the risk of mold and mildew.

The temperature should be between 65 and 75º F with a relative humidity of 40 to 55%. Ensure your space has proper ventilation to remove stale air and bring in fresh air. Generally, a plant branch is properly dry when the stems produce an audible snap when broken instead of just bending.

Curing

After your flower buds have sufficiently dried, it is time to fill an airtight container, commonly, glass mason jars, three-quarters full and allow them to dry more and reveal their flavor and aroma. How long you cure your buds depends on the strain you have and your personal preference.

Cannabis curing can take a few weeks or months but, generally, the longer you leave it to cure, the better. Keep in mind, you will need to release the CO2 and moisture from the sealed container a couple of times a day during the first week and then every other day until you think your flower buds are ready to consume. 

Curing is the last step in learning how to grow one weed plant.

How To Grow One Weed Plant FAQ's

Online Cannabis Cultivation Training

Ready to take your cannabis garden to the next level and step it up from learning more than just how to grow one weed plant? Enroll in Cannabis Training University’s online cannabis college to learn basic and advanced cultivation techniques from the pros.

Our curriculum covers every step of the cultivation process, from sourcing your seeds and growing supplies to creating a wide range of cannabis extracts and infusions with your harvested bud.