Should You Grow Your Own Cannabis? Here’s What to Consider…

With cannabis, marijuana, weed or whatever you like to call it, becoming more accessible and legal in many places, a lot of people are wondering if it’s worth growing their own weed at home. The idea of harvesting your own buds is pretty exciting, but there’s more to it than just tossing some seeds in dirt. Before you jump into it, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons—especially when it comes to financial investment, time, and space.

Here’s a breakdown of what it takes to grow cannabis at home, and how to decide if it’s the right choice for you.

1. Financial Investment:
What Does It Cost to Grow Cannabis?

Let’s get one thing straight: growing marijuana isn’t free. In fact, there’s a range of costs involved, from basic supplies to ongoing expenses. However, once you’ve set up, it can be more cost-effective than buying from dispensaries in the long run.

Indoor Cannabis Growing: Initial Setup Costs

Seeds or Clones: You’ll need high-quality cannabis seeds or clones to get started. Prices vary based on the strain and whether you’re buying regular, feminized, or autoflowering seeds. Expect to pay $10–$20 per seed on average.

Grow Lights: Lighting is a crucial factor in indoor growing. A basic LED light for a small grow tent can cost around $100–$300, while higher-end systems for bigger grows might set you back $500+.

Grow Tent: A simple 2×2 or 4×4 foot grow tent can range from $50 to $150. If you have more space, you might opt for larger setups, which increase the cost.

Fans, Filters, and Ventilation: To keep air circulating and odors under control, you’ll need fans and carbon filters. This can cost around $50–$200 depending on your setup.

Soil or Hydroponic Setup: If you’re going with soil, good-quality organic soil will cost $20–$50 per bag. Hydroponic setups can be pricier, starting at around $100–$200.

Outdoor Cannabis Growing: The Cheaper Alternative
If you’re lucky enough to live in a climate that supports outdoor growing, this can be a much cheaper alternative to setting up an indoor grow.

Natural Light: The sun is free! One of the biggest savings with outdoor growing is that you won’t need to invest in grow lights. Your plants will thrive on natural sunlight—just make sure you pick a sunny spot where your plants can get at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day.

Space and Equipment: Outdoor grows don’t require tents or indoor ventilation systems, which can save you hundreds of dollars. However, you’ll still need basic equipment like pots, soil, and nutrients, which could cost $50–$150 depending on how many plants you grow.

Weather Considerations: Outdoor growing comes with the tradeoff of less environmental control. You’ll need to keep an eye on local weather conditions and potentially invest in protective covers, shade cloths, or other tools to protect your plants from unexpected storms, excessive heat, or frost.

Pests and Wildlife: Outdoor growers also face the risk of pests and wildlife. Basic pest control products (like neem oil) will cost about $20–$50. For areas with a lot of animals, you might need fencing to protect your plants.

Outdoor Grows: Expect to invest between $50–$300 upfront, with lower ongoing costs depending on your location. You’ll save on things like lights and ventilation since the sun and fresh air are free. After the initial setup, outdoor growing can produce a steady supply of cannabis at a much lower cost than buying from dispensaries, though weather and pests may require extra attention.

Bottom Line: Indoor vs. Outdoor Costs

Indoor Grow Costs: Expect to invest between $300–$1,000+ upfront, with ongoing monthly costs for electricity, water, and nutrients.

Outdoor Grow Costs: Outdoor growing can significantly reduce costs, with upfront expenses ranging from $50–$300, depending on your setup. However, you’ll need to account for potential weather-related risks and additional costs for protecting your plants.

2. Time Commitment:
Growing Isn’t a Set-It-and-Forget-It Deal

Total Time Commitment: Expect the full process—from seed to smoke—to take anywhere from 8–16 weeks depending on the strain and seed. Growing cannabis requires a consistent time commitment. It’s not as simple as planting seeds and walking away—you’ll need to tend to your plants daily to ensure they thrive. However, your time commitment can vary significantly depending on the strain you choose, whether you’re growing Sativa or Indica, feminized or autoflowering plants.

Daily Attention

No matter which strain you choose, all marijuana plants require daily care during their growing cycle. But some strains and seed types make this a little easier—or harder—depending on their characteristics.

Watering: Cannabis needs regular watering, especially during certain growth stages. Depending on your growing method (soil vs. hydroponics), this could mean watering daily or a few times a week. Missing a day here or there may not cause immediate damage, but a steady watering schedule is critical to healthy growth.

Light and Environment Monitoring: You’ll need to keep an eye on light cycles (for photoperiod strains), as well as temperature, humidity, and airflow. Regular checks will help you catch any issues early before they impact the health of your plants.

Training and Pruning: To maximize your plant’s yield, you’ll want to train and prune your plants. This can be as simple as bending branches (low-stress training) or as involved as topping and defoliation (more advanced techniques). While these tasks don’t take up a ton of time, they need to be done regularly for the best results.

Strain Selection:
How Time-Intensive Is Your Strain?

Not all cannabis strains require the same amount of time and effort. Here’s how to think about the strain selection process when it comes to time commitment:

Sativa Strains: Longer Grow, More Attention

Why They Take Time: Sativa strains take longer to grow because they evolved in tropical regions with longer growing seasons and more consistent daylight. For growers, this means that if you’re growing a Sativa, you’ll need to plan for a longer vegetative and flowering stage, with some taking up to 14 weeks just to flower.

Height and Space Considerations: Sativas grow taller and lankier, which often requires more frequent pruning, training, and managing to ensure the plant gets even light exposure.

Is It Worth It?: Sativas can yield large harvests and produce potent buds, but they require patience and more frequent care throughout their lifecycle. These are better suited for growers with time to dedicate to the process.

Time Commitment for Sativa Strains: High, with 12-16 weeks of growth and flowering, requiring regular training and environmental management.

Indica Strains: Shorter and Simpler

Why They’re Easier: Indica strains are generally easier and quicker to grow than Sativas. Originating from harsher, colder climates, Indica strains evolved to grow and flower more quickly to adapt to the shorter growing season. With shorter flowering times (usually 6-9 weeks), they mature faster, making them a better option for those looking to harvest more quickly.

Less Training Needed: Indicas grow short and bushy, which means they need less training and pruning compared to taller Sativas. Their compact size also makes them easier to manage in smaller grow spaces.

Is It Worth It?: If you’re a beginner or simply don’t want to invest as much time in daily plant care, Indica strains are your best bet. They’re more forgiving and require less hands-on work than Sativas.

Time Commitment for Indica Strains: Moderate, with 8-12 weeks of growth and flowering, requiring less maintenance and faster results.

Feminized vs. Autoflowering: Which One Saves Time?

The type of seeds you choose plays a huge role in the time and effort you’ll need to invest. Here’s how feminized and autoflowering seeds fit into the picture:

Feminized Seeds: Maximize Yield with More Attention

What They Are: Feminized seeds are bred to eliminate male plants, meaning your grow will consist only of bud-producing females.

Is It Worth It?: Feminized plants can yield higher quantities and are ideal for growers who are looking for maximum return on their time investment. If you’re willing to monitor your plants daily and fine-tune their light cycle, feminized seeds are a solid choice.

Autoflowering Seeds: Less Effort, Faster Results

What They Are: Autoflowering strains are bred to flower automatically after a certain period, regardless of the light schedule. These strains typically finish their lifecycle in 8-10 weeks, making them perfect for growers who want faster results.

Why They’re Easier: Autoflowers don’t require specific light schedules and can be grown with minimal changes to your environment. You can keep them on a simple 18/6 or 20/4 light cycle throughout their life, which means less stress for the grower. They also tend to stay smaller, so they need less training and pruning.

Is It Worth It?: Autoflowering strains are great for beginners or those who want a quick turnaround. While they may not yield as much as photoperiod strains, they’re much easier to manage and still produce quality buds.

Time Commitment for Autoflowering Seeds: Low to moderate, with fast-growing plants that require less daily care and minimal environmental adjustments.

Bottom Line: The Full Grow Process

Indica (Regular/Feminized): 10–14 weeks total from seed to harvest. Faster flowering, shorter vegetative phase, ideal for quick turnaround.

Sativa (Regular/Feminized): 14–18 weeks total from seed to harvest. Longer flowering and vegetative phase, ideal for those with patience and space.

Autoflowering (Indica or Sativa): 8–10 weeks total from seed to harvest. Fastest option with no need to control light cycles.

with an additional 2–4 weeks for drying and curing. You’ll need to check on your plants daily, but if you’re up for the challenge, growing your own cannabis can be incredibly rewarding!

3. Space Requirements:
Do You Have Enough Room?

When it comes to growing cannabis, space matters. The amount of space you need depends on how many plants you want to grow and whether you’re growing indoors or outdoors.

Indoor Growing
For an indoor grow, you’ll need enough space for a grow tent, lights, and ventilation. Even a small grow tent (like 2×2 feet) can yield a decent harvest if you’re only growing one or two plants. Larger setups will need more room.

Grow Tent Size: If you’re limited on space, you can easily tuck a small grow tent into a closet, spare room, or basement. Larger tents may take up part of a room or garage.

Odor Control: Don’t forget that cannabis plants smell, especially during flowering. If you’re growing indoors, make sure you have a plan for odor control with proper ventilation and carbon filters.

Outdoor Growing

If you’re growing outdoors, space is less of an issue, but you’ll need to think about climate, sunlight, and privacy. Outdoor cannabis plants can get big—sometimes over 6 feet tall—so make sure you have a sunny spot with enough room to grow freely.

Climate Considerations: Outdoor growing is best suited to warmer, dry climates. If you’re in a colder or wetter area, you’ll need to consider growing indoors or providing protection for your plants.

Bottom Line: If you’re indoors, a small tent can fit in tight spaces, but outdoor grows need a lot of room. Make sure you have the space, privacy, and proper equipment to manage your setup.

4. Is It Worth It? Weighing the Pros and Cons

Before you decide to grow your own cannabis, let’s sum up the pros and cons.

Pros of Growing Cannabis at Home

Cost-Effective: Once you’ve covered the initial investment, growing your own marijuana can save you money in the long run. Depending on your yield, you could grow enough to last several months or even a year.

Full Control: When you grow your own, you control the quality, strain, and growing conditions. No need to worry about pesticides, additives, or low-quality weed.

Satisfying Experience: Watching your plants grow and eventually harvesting your own buds can be incredibly rewarding. Plus, it’s a great hobby!

Cons of Growing Cannabis at Home

Initial Investment: The upfront costs can be high, especially if you want to set up a proper indoor grow space.

Time-Consuming: Growing cannabis is not a passive activity. It requires daily attention, and the full process takes months.

Space and Privacy: Not everyone has the space for an indoor grow, and outdoor growing may not be an option due to privacy concerns or local regulations.

Conclusion: Should You Grow Your Own Cannabis?

So, should you start growing your own cannabis? If you’re ready to invest the time, space, and money, growing at home can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to enjoy cannabis. You’ll have full control over your plants, and the satisfaction of enjoying something you grew yourself is pretty hard to beat.

However, if you’re not ready to commit to the daily attention and financial investment, it might be better to stick with buying from a dispensary for now. There’s no rush—when you’re ready to start growing, you’ll know it.

By considering the financial investment, time commitment, and space requirements, you can make an informed decision about whether growing your own cannabis is right for you.