Start Here
Your first grow, planned before it starts
Most first grows fail on decisions made before germination. Work through these four steps in order and you remove the majority of that risk.
Four steps
The order that matters
Each step depends on the one before it. Skipping ahead is the most common reason a build ends up mismatched.
- STEP 01
Fix the space
Measure the footprint and, more importantly, the height. Everything downstream is sized from these two numbers.
- STEP 02
Size light and air together
Extraction has to remove the heat your fixture produces. Choosing them separately is how rooms end up too hot.
- STEP 03
Choose one medium and one feed line
Mixing systems on a first run makes problems impossible to diagnose. Pick a combination and stay with it for a full cycle.
- STEP 04
Match genetics to the plan
Only now choose a strain. Height, flowering time and difficulty should fit the space and schedule you already committed to.
Roadmap
The seven stages of a grow
What each stage is for, how long it lasts and what to verify before you move on.
- 01
Seed
1-3 days · Germination
Consistent moisture and warmth until the taproot appears.
- Stable warmth
- Never fully dry
- Handle the taproot as little as possible
- 02
Seedling
1-3 weeks · Root establishment
Low intensity light, gentle airflow and almost no nutrients.
- Soft light
- High humidity
- Water in small volumes
- 03
Vegetative
3-8 weeks · Structure
Build the frame that will carry flower weight later.
- Train early
- Even canopy
- Steady feeding rhythm
- 04
Flowering
7-12 weeks · Bulk and ripening
Manage stretch, then hold a calm, drier environment as density builds.
- Control stretch
- Lower humidity
- Watch for late deficiencies
- 05
Harvest
1-2 days · Timing
Read trichomes and pistils; the window matters more than the calendar.
- Loupe check
- Clean workspace
- Plan the dry room first
- 06
Drying
10-14 days · Terpene retention
Cool, dark and slow, with indirect airflow only.
- No direct fan
- Stable humidity
- Test small stems for snap
- 07
Curing
2-8 weeks · Smoothness
Jar, burp on a schedule and measure humidity instead of guessing.
- Hygrometer in jar
- Daily burping at first
- Taper over time
Where to go next
Pick your next move
Guides & education
Learn
Structured guides that take you from first seed to cured jar.
Strains & equipment
Decide
Strain and equipment knowledge that narrows your options fast.
Planning tools
Build
Planning tools for space, budget and setup decisions.
Symptom-first help
Troubleshoot
Symptom-first diagnosis when a grow starts going sideways.
Recommended
Read these first
How To Grow Cannabis Indoors For Beginners
A complete beginner walkthrough of an indoor cannabis grow: choosing a space, buying the right gear, germinating seeds, running the environment, feeding, flowering, harvesting, drying and curing — plus the mistakes that cost first-time growers most of their yield.
The First Grow Checklist
Everything you need decided before a seed goes into medium — space, light, air, medium and schedule.
Understanding VPD Without the Math
Vapour pressure deficit explained as a practical dial you adjust, not a chart you memorise.
FAQ
Beginner questions
Free Grow Guide
The complete beginner grow guide, free.
A 40-page walkthrough covering space, light, air, medium, feeding and harvest timing — written as a plan you can follow, not a wall of theory.
- No account needed
- Print-friendly checklists
- Updated every season