Knowing what to buy for the first time growing cannabis can be tough. In this article we will help you understand the most important things to have for your very first cannabis growing setup. Not only that but we will also give you our opinion on what we think you can wait on and also some things that are “nice to have items” but as a new grower you don’t need them right out of the gate.
Setting up a new growing tent or growing room is the first most important step to a successful cannabis harvest. We believe that your cannabis will only grow as well as the grow setup that you have, and making sure you have the correct stuff is of utmost importance.
Quick Checklist of the Most Important Things for new cannabis growers
- Seeds or clones
- Growing medium (soil or hydroponic setup)
- Lighting (LED or HID)
- Climate control (heating, ventilation, air conditioning)
- Nutrients for plants
- Pots or containers
- Water source and pH tester
- Trimming and harvesting tools
- Pest control products (optional).
- Smell Control (optional)
We will go into details about each of these things for your growing space below.
Seeds or Clones
Well first and also most important because without them you will have no cannabis plants in your grow room no matter how well it is set up. So first you will need to get either some good cannabis seeds or cannabis clones. There are pros and cons to each of these methods to get started growing cannabis plants. We recommend reading this article to help you understand the differences between clones and seeds. Either will do that job, to get you started in your cannabis with your new cannabis growers checklist. If you are looking for seeds to get started with as a first time grower here are some that we recommend below.
Growing Mediums for Cannabis Plants
There are so many types of growing mediums out there. How do you know which ones to get started with? While there is no simple answer to this question there are some mediums that we recommend for new cannabis growers. If you are just getting started and learning how to grow we recommend using a “full meal deal” cannabis soil. What does this mean? Well it means that for new cannabis growers they should select a cannabis medium like organic soils, that come pre-made with everything your cannabis plants will need from start to finish. These types of soil are made with the correct drainage for cannabis, all the nutrients they will require from seed germination to flowering stages of growth. Now that cannabis is becoming legal in more places in the world you can find soils that are made ready to plant your cannabis into. In our opinion there are the easiest mediums for new cannabis growers to get started growing cannabis plants with.
Sure these types of soils can cost more, however they will save you tons of time and energy in your cannabis growing journey.
We recommend this cannabis growing soil (this is an unpaid recommendation).
Cannabis Growing Lighting
In today’s cannabis market in 2023 there is really only one type of light that we recommend for new cannabis growers and that is LED lighting. LED grow lights come in all shapes, sizes, prices, and wattages for you to manage them in your growing space. Whether your space is a 2X2 growing room or a 20X20 foot growing space, there is a great LED light that will grow amazing cannabis plants.
For new cannabis growers, LED lights are often recommended as the best option for growing cannabis because they:
- Use less energy than HID lights
- Generate less heat
- Require less maintenance
- Have a longer lifespan
- Offer adjustable spectrums to meet different stages of plant growth.
Climate Controls
One thing that practically every new cannabis grower will run into is a grow space that is either too hot, or too cold. Either of these issues can kill your beautiful crop of cannabis overnight and we know you don’t want that! This is why you will need to have options in your growing space to either cool your growing space in the summer time or keep that same space warm for your cannabis plants in the winter time.
For a cannabis grow room, you need climate control to maintain the following optimal conditions for plant growth:
- Temperature: 68-77°F (20-25°C)
- Humidity: 40-60%
- Air circulation: Good air flow is important for preventing mold, pests and diseases.
To achieve these conditions, you will need:
- Heating and cooling system (air conditioner, heater)
- Ventilation system (exhaust fans, air intake fans)
- Humidifier and/or dehumidifier
- Thermometer and hygrometer to monitor temperature and humidity.
- A good fan to move air over and around your plants
You never want to wait on theses things as they are very important, as a new cannabis grower you don’t want to find out in the middle of winter, when the temperature drops to -34.9F (-38C) that your small heater is just not going to cut it at keep the space warm. Make sure that you can account for the hottest and coldest days of the year in your growing space.
Cannabis Plant Nutrients
If you followed our advice above and purchased premade cannabis soil, then this may be somewhat less important. However you will need cannabis nutrients for your plants. As a new grower there may come a point in your first growth that you will need to supplement your plants with extra nutrients. This could come in the form of extra nitrogen to keep your plants green in the vegetative stage of growth or potassium in the flowering stage of growth.
No matter what type of growing mediums that you start with it is always a good idea to have some extra all purpose nutrients in your growing space just in case you need them at some point in your growing journey. You never want to run into times when you have a major nutrient deficiency and have nothing to work with to correct it.
Here is a quick list of different nutrients that your cannabis will need in order to grow healthy and produce a good harvest.
- Nitrogen (N) – promotes foliage growth
- Phosphorus (P) – promotes root and flower development
- Potassium (K) – promotes overall plant health and disease resistance
Secondary nutrients include:
- Calcium (Ca)
- Magnesium (Mg)
- Sulfur (S)
Plants also require trace elements, including:
- Iron (Fe)
- Manganese (Mn)
- Zinc (Zn)
- Copper (Cu)
- Boron (B)
- Molybdenum (Mo)
Nutrient needs vary depending on the stage of growth, so it is important to use a balanced fertilization plan tailored to the specific needs of the plants.
Pots and Containers
Once you start shopping for cannabis growing containers and pots you will come to realize that there is no end to the shapes, sizes and types that you can buy to home your new cannabis plants in.
For growing cannabis, containers can be made of various materials, including:
- Plastic pots
- Fabric pots
- Air-pots
- Smart pots
The size of the container depends on the size of the plant, with larger containers being appropriate for larger plants. The most common sizes range from 1-5 gallons. When choosing a container, make sure it has enough space for root growth and adequate drainage.
If you would like to read more about cannabis growing containers we recommend reading this article.
A Good Water Source and Meters (Optional)
All new cannabis growers on this planet are going to need a source of good clean water for their cannabis plants. There is no “ifs”, “ands” or “buts” when it comes to this requirement. Cannabis needs water just like all other plants. If you do not have access to a good supply of water then you will not be able to grow cannabis.
Water is essential for the growth and survival of cannabis plants. It performs several important functions, including:
- Providing the necessary hydration to sustain plant life
- Dissolving and transporting nutrients to the plant
- Regulating temperature and maintaining turgor pressure within the plant cells
- Supporting photosynthesis
- Flushing excess salts and nutrients from the soil to prevent buildup
You may also want to purchase a PH meter and a PPM meter. Both of these meters can help to guide you if you have any issues with your plants water and nutrient contents and are great to have on hand in case you have any issues.
It is important to monitor the pH and EC levels of the water to ensure it is within the proper range for cannabis growth. Tap water can contain minerals and chemicals that can affect the growth of the plant, so it may be necessary to use purified or distilled water. Over-watering or under-watering can cause serious problems, so it is important to understand the water needs of the plants and to water them appropriately.
A good Pair of Trimmers or Scissors
At some point in your new growth you will require some way to trim your cannabis plants. This could come in the form of cannabis defoliation and regular plant pruning. Either way you will need something to do that with. New growers want to find something that is easy to clean, and will stay sharp for years to come. You may even want to get to pairs as one seems to always be hiding, as in our case all the time.
You can use your trimmers to trim bottom leaves of the plant, excess branching, and the tops of the plants.
Pest Control Produces (Optional)
We are not going to say that having pest control products is a must in your grow room, however they do come in handy when needed. Keeping some as simple as some neem oil in your growing space can be a life saver for your cannabis plant in the event of a pest attack. Most of the time in your grow space the bugs are well underway before the grower even notices them. This is when having something to remove them can be very important. If you get something like spider mites on your plants, they can completely take over while you’re waiting for your pest control to arrive in the mail.
Having something like neem oil to control pests is great and may even rid you of them. However it is also great to have on hand to control the pests until you can get something stronger to control them.
Cannabis Smell Control (Optional)
Smell control for cannabis used to be much more important back in the days before legalization. Nowadays it can depend if you need it in your growing space or not. If you live somewhere legal then you may just want to have it in place for peace of mind, as the smell may not attract the police but it can still attract thieves. If you live somewhere cannabis is still illegal it can mean the difference between jail and freedom.
Depending on how important your smell control is you will want to look into purchasing a good carbon filter for your growing space. These can be hooked up to your room ventilation to scrub the smell of your flowering plants before the air leaves your growing room giving you peace of mind that no one nearby will get a good strong whiff of your flowering buds.
This is by no means a complete list of things you can buy for your new cannabis growers room. There are also things like CO2 emitters, fan controllers, high tech grow room controllers. We do think this is a good list of everything that new cannabis growers will require at a minimum to get the best results when starting out cultivating cannabis.
Final Thoughts
This is by no means a complete list of things you can buy for your new cannabis growers room. There are also things like CO2 emitters, fan controllers, high tech grow room controllers. We do think this is a good list of everything that new cannabis growers will require at a minimum to get the best results when starting out cultivating cannabis.
