Tips for Growing Hemp Indoors: A Farmer’s Guide

Hemp extracts are increasingly being used in a variety of products every day such as CBD (cannabidiol) extracts, non-dairy milk, textiles, and food to name a few. And now that it can be grown legally in all 50 states, industries are hopping on to its production and launching their hemp products. With all this newfound abundance comes forward the problem of identifying and purchasing authentic hemp products that are worth your money. Thus it is no surprise that nowadays people are opting to grow their own hemp plants, this helps them keep the whole process in check and control it. Hemp manufacturers on a large scale might not pay as much attention while harvesting as a single owner may give, this effort may produce drastic changes in the quality, aroma, and flavor of the yield. 

However, for successful hemp growing, there are several factors that come into play.

Ensure ample space 

Hemp requires good airflow to yield to its best potential and since it typically takes around four months to get ready for harvesting there is a need for enough space and depth for the hemp to thrive. Growing them indoors can go wrong if you do not consider this requirement as basic. 

Select and prepare seeds properly 

While choosing hemp seeds keep in mind that female plants are the ones that produce buds so if you’re looking for planting hemp flowers buying feminized seeds is the better option. After you’re done with that you need to start with the germination phase wherein the seeds need to be pre-soaked for around 8 to 12 hours. You will need a small pot to germinate those seeds for said hours, you can also find seed starter kits which are much more helpful in making the seeds grow. 

Optimal temperature 

After you’re done with the germination, you can plant them one inch deep in moist soil, but before that ensure that the temperature is between 65 – 70 degrees F, having a thermostat to control the temperature is very important for precision so that the seeds germinate properly. You should also use a humidity dome for proper management of germination humidity. Healthy germination of seeds in an ideal environment is a crucial step since their growth conditions during the first phase mainly determine how the plant will grow over time. 

Lightening  

High output LEDs or fluorescent grow lamps do good in making your hemp plant thrive, make sure to place your lights several inches above the seedlings. Hemp is a photoperiodic plant, which means it requires a certain amount of time in darkness for the plants to initiate flowering. You will need them to enjoy almost 12 hours of darkness for them to start with the flowering process and a minimum of 18 hours of light to commence the vegetative growth stage. 

Feed 

Farmers use water-soluble fertilizer that is rich in nitrogen with a target 3:1:2 NPK ratio at ¼ the recommended application strength. The components present in such fertilizers help your plants perform photosynthesis better as they are a major substance present in chlorophyll. 

Transplanting 

For outdoor harvesting, the ideal time to grow hemp is spring and plants can be harvested around September – October, but these external factors do not come into play in the case of indoor farming. Here you will have to transplant your seedlings once they show roots at the bottom. Use a five-inch container for transplanting. The plant might need some assistance to adjust to its new pot and for that, you can use a transplant mix that provides it with all the nutrients required. 

After you transplant them the final step of the process will commence when your plants reach the bottom of the pot again, now you’ll have to transplant them to an even bigger pot and add a compost mix to nourish them. Now for the flowering process to start you will need to make new adjustments with temperature and humidity. And switch to the 12/12 light and dark system. 

Check out how to make your plants flower smoothly and follow through with it for best yields.