Whether you use it for medicinal purposes or recreationally, you might be thinking about giving cultivating marijuana on your own a shot.
Perhaps it’s because you don’t want to deal with finding a reliable source, you’re tired of paying exorbitant prices, or you’re interested in becoming a supplier for others; no matter the reason, growing your own weed can be quite rewarding, but it isn’t without it’s challenges.
In addition to needing the right conditions – and, of course, the right seeds – you also need to have an appropriate environment to actually find success in your growing journey.
A lot of people opt to grow their cannabis outdoors, in a greenhouse, or in a dedicated corner in their home. While these locations are all well and good, they may not be suitable options for you. Instead, you are seeking a spot where you can sprout your weed in privacy – a stealth growing operation, so to speak.
There’s lots of reasons why you might want to grow your marijuana privately; you live with your parents and don’t want them to know, you have roommates who aren’t keen on smelling weed, you have kids and you feel having your ganja crops out in the open isn’t appropriate, or you’re concerned about Big Brother’s prying eyes spotting your yields, for example.
Whatever the case may be, if you’re looking to grow weed covertly, there’s a simple way that you can stay under the radar. How? By growing it in a closet! That’s right, a closet.
While using a closet as a weed “farm” (for lack of a better word) might sound like a difficult feat and even downright impossible, believe it or not, it’s actually doable; in fact, lots of people have successfully grown cannabis in closets.
All you need to get started is a little bit of knowledge and you, too, can transform a closet into not only a suitable, but an ideal environment for growing your own buds. Yes, it really is as simple as that, there’s a reason they call it “weed” and that’s because it grows like weeds!
3 Great Reasons to Grow Your Own Cannabis
First, let’s explore some of the benefits of growing ganja in a closet. Here’s a look at some great reasons why transforming a closet into your designated weed cultivation spot.
1. Save money.
First and foremost, one of the biggest benefits of growing weed in a closet is the cost. Given the super high costs that off-market dealers and dispensaries charge, becoming your own cultivator, no matter what location you decide to use, is way more cost-effective.
Even more budget-friendly, however, is using a closet as your designated “farm”. Unlike an outdoor garden or a greenhouse, a closet doesn’t require a lot of space or supplies; hence, growing in a closet is a more economical option.
2. Stealth operations.
If you want your weed growing endeavors to be a covert operation, a closet is the perfect local. By choosing a closet that is removed from the living areas of your home and has a door (not a curtain), incorporating proper ventilation, and making sure the space stays off-limits, a closet is a logical and easy way to keep your cannabis growing venture on the down-low.
3. Total control and better results.
When you cultivate weed in a closet, you’ll have total control over the growing process, and you’ll get much better results. Outdoors, you really don’t have control over the environmental conditions, so you’re limited by Mother Nature. In a greenhouse, you’ll have an easier time maintaining the climate, but doing demands a lot of work, patience, and quite frankly, sheer luck.
In a closet, however, you’ll have a much easier time controlling the environment. Your plants won’t be exposed to the harsh conditions that nature can throw your way (including pests) when you grow outdoors, and you won’t have to struggle with trying to attain and maintain the appropriate conditions in a larger greenhouse.
You’ll have a much easier time establishing and maintaining the ideal conditions in a closet, and of course, when your weed grows in the ideal environment, naturally, your buds are going to be a whole lot better.
Can you really grow weed in a closet?
Now that you know just some of the advantages of cultivating ganja in a closet, you’re probably wondering if it’s actually possible. Clearly, it is, as many have managed to successfully do so; in fact, people have been using their closets for cannabis production for decades (this method of growing has been practiced for so long that it’s actually been given its own term: “closet grow” and now we have grow tent brands whose namesake is built off the closet grow, like fan favorite SuperCloset for example).
However, just because other growers have done it, you’re probably thinking to yourself, “that doesn’t mean that I’ll be able to do it”.
Trust us, it is possible. You absolutely can grow weed in a closet! To do so, all you need is a closet (obviously), a few basic supplies, a little bit of knowledge, and some patience. Heck, you can buy a complete all-in-one kit to get started that has every thing you need. As long as you have these things, there’s no reason why you can’t become a successful “closet grower”.
How do you turn a closet into a weed “farm”?
Okay, so how do you go about transforming a closet into your weed growing haven? It’s actually a lot easier than it sounds. Here are some tips to get you started.
Choose a Closet
For starters, you need to choose a closet. Closet growing is intended to be a small space cultivation solution, but how big of a closet do you need? Well, it depends on your specific circumstances, including how many plants you plan on growing and the supplies you’ll be using.
We suggest basing the number of plants you’ll be growing on the size of the closet you’ll be growing them in, as you definitely don’t want to overload the area. You also want to be sure that you have enough room to accommodate your equipment, including grow lights and ventilation.
The lights need to be hung up, so you need to ensure that there will be enough space for that. It’s also crucial to have enough vertical space for your plants can grow without interruption, otherwise they’ll be stunted and they won’t reach their full potential.
With all of that said, the minimum size of the closet you use as your cultivation location should be 36 inches wide and 24 inches deep. Most full-sized closets are larger than this, but if you aren’t sure, take some measurements to be certain.
Grow Lights
Obviously, all plants, including weed, need light in order to grow. Since most closets are windowless, they’re naturally dark, but even if the closet you’re using does have windows, your plants won’t receive adequate amounts of sunlight, so you definitely need to get some grow lights.
The more lights, the more plants you’ll be able to grow, and the better the quality of the lights, the better the quality of the plants. In other words, the type of lights you use will have a direct impact on the outcome of your cannabis, so you want to be sure that you choose your lights wisely.
While there are several different types of grow lighting options available, we highly recommend opting for LED. Why? Because it has been proven time and time again to yield unbeatable results; plus, LED lights don’t emit a lot of heat, and as such, they’re well-suited for growing cannabis in an enclosed space, like a closet. There are several top-quality, reliable LED grow lights, and some of the options that we recommend include:
- Viparspectra 600 Watt Reflector Series, which not only output an optimal amount of PAR during the flowering stage of plant growth, but they’re also super-efficient and budget-friendly.
- Roleadro GalaxyHydro 1000 Watt LED Grow Light offers full-spectrum light and a solid lumen output.
- Phlizon 1200 Watt LED Grow Light, which actually produces 1000 watts and uses just 340 watts, and has been proven to deliver outstanding results, and offers stable heat dissipation.
- AGLEX COB 2000 Watt LED Grow Light also offers full-spectrum light, including red, blue, white and IR for a full coverage area of up to 5x5ft which makes this more appropriate for walk-in-sized closets.
Grow Medium
When you’re growing weed in a closet, grow medium options are the same as they would be when growing anywhere else. A small-scale hydroponic system is one option, which offers easy to maintain irrigation and provides better control; plus, plants tend to grow faster with hydroponic systems.
You can also use soil, of course. If you’re going to opt for soil, using an organic option, such as super soil, is your best bet, as you won’t have to worry about your plants being contaminated with chemicals and other pollutants, and they’ll receive the nutrients that are needed to support optimal growth.
Some of our recommendations for both options include the following:
Hydroponic systems
- HTG Supply Bubble Brothers DWC Hydroponic System, which is a deep water culture hydroponic system that features a unique aeration system and is quite easy to use.
- General Hydroponics Waterfarm GH4120 Complete Hydroponic System Grow Kit, a grow system that is specifically designed for beginners. The drip-feed ensures plants receive adequate amounts of highly oxygenated water.
Soil
- Black Gold 1302040 8-Quart All Organic Potting Soil, which features perlite and fertilizer that creates a nutrient-rich soil that will ensure your plants are properly fed.
- FoxFarm FX14054 Happy Frog Potting Soil, a leading brand in the soil world, particularly among cannabis growers, as it’s packed with all of the essential nutrients that cannabis requires at all stages of growth.
Ventilation
Ventilation tends to be the hardest part of setting up a marijuana grow closet. That’s because closets are usually dark, compact spaces. Grow lights are necessary, but due to the tightness of the space, the heat that lights produce could end up accumulating within the closet, and thus, your plants could end up being damaged.
While you could simply set up a fan in the space, if you’re serious about getting great yields and you want to ensure the best possible results, investing in a ventilation system is highly recommended. A system that features entrance and exit vents, will allow fresh air to flow in, and stale air and heat to flow out. Examples of some reliable, high-quality ventilation systems include:
- The VIVOSUN Grow Tent ventilation Kit with 6-Inch Fan, Carbon Filter, and Ducting, as it comes with everything you need to ensure the space – and your plants – are properly ventilated, and the carbon filter traps those pungent odors that cannabis plants put off. It’s also very easy to set up.
- The PrimeGardn Grow Tent Ventilation Kit with 4” Fan, Carbon Filter, Ducting, Speed Controller, Thermometer, and Timer; in other words, everything you need to keep the air flowing in your closet and around your ganja plants, as well as a carbon filter that will capture those odorous scents.
Air Purification
It’s no secret that cannabis creates an unmistakable odor, and while that smell might be delightful to your nose, it can instantly blow your stealth closet growing operation. In order to combat the problem, you’re going to want to invest in air purification for your closet.
If you choose one of the ventilation systems listed above, you’ll already have a filtration; however, if you’re opting for another ventilation method or system that doesn’t come with filtration, we strongly recommend investing in a HEPA air purifier. The OdorStop HEPA Air Purifier is a great choice, as it does a fantastic job capturing and filtering out odor-causing particles that float of those ganja plants.
Seeds or Plants
Last but certainly not least, you’re going to need to get yourself some seeds of plants. If you opt for seeds, you’ll likely save some money, but it may be more time-consuming and challenging to get them started. Instead, you could opt for plants that have already sprouted, which will be easier to maintain, but it might be harder to find them and may be more costly.
Herb CEO Summary
Your first closet grow can be a little intimidating; however, with the right supplies, set-up, and patience, you should be able to successfully cultivate your very own ganja under the radar of prying eyes (and noses).
Or maybe you aren’t successful. But hey, that’s all part of learning and we all have to start somewhere. If you are active in your local community, it wouldn’t hurt asking people’s opinions and advice at the local stores where you get supplies or even at dispensaries as a lot of people who are “active in the local scene” also may have experience you lack.
If not, or you’re just not social, there are plenty of great books with pictures out there that walk you through the growing process. Just remember, it’s a learning process, you are unlikely to strike it out of the park with your first attempt but cannabis is a resilient plant so even “fails” are still able to be enjoyed!