The Ultimate Guide To Micro Growing Weed
Indoor growing has plenty of advantages—mainly the fact you can keep an eye on the entire growing process. Micro growing weed has the same benefits, except you can do it in a fraction of the space.
Think empty bar fridges or old speaker cases.
Micro growing is the new trend blowing up the 420 cultivation forums by challenging the norm of growing weed at home.
Thanks to a boom in available information and improved equipment, micro-growers can easily pump out excellent harvests in tiny spaces.
We’ll take you through everything you need to know about micro growing weed and setting up your station in practically any space.
What is micro growing?
Micro growing is the same as normal indoor growing but on a much smaller scale. It allows you to grow top-tier weed with all the flavor, potency, and aromas you love—in a confined space.
Think smaller. Imagine your seed popping in your old, hulled computer tower. Some growers prefer to use stealth grow boxes that come ready-made.
You’ll need at least 13x13x30 inches to pull off a micro grow setup. To make up for the lack of space, you’ll need to adjust the lighting and ventilation.
Consider your chosen strain and growth medium carefully.
3 benefits of micro growing weed
As living spaces become smaller each year, not everyone has the room to operate a full-sized grow tent. That’s where micro growing comes in.
Growing high-quality weed in limited space is now easy with excellent equipment to hand and cultivation techniques.
Let’s check out some of the other benefits.
Ideal for beginners looking to try out cannabis growing
It’s perfect for newbies. The startup costs are low enough that you won’t feel like you’ve wasted anything if you decide that growing isn’t for you.
Compact and manageable
Thanks to the tiny nature of micro grow setups, it’s super easy to manage—even if you’re a complete novice.
Discreet and easy to hide
It’s easily stashed away in a cupboard or next to a desk. If you have some friends or family that aren’t completely 420 friendly, you can simply hide it from them.
4 different types of small weed grow setups
Now that you’re convinced that micro growing weed is your next step, let’s take a look at the most popular setups.
Closet micro weed grow
Staying in the closet is one of the perks of micro growing methods—and a great way to start on your cultivating journey as a beginner.
Every home has a closet—irrespective of its actual user intent—that can easily provide enough space for different types of small weed grow setups. All it takes is a little cannabis-growing customization, and Bob’s your uncle!
Another great benefit of micro growing weed is that you don’t have to overthink—or overspend—for adequate lighting. Take into consideration that your plant will be up close and personal with the light. All you’ll need is a small, moderately powerful, full-spectrum LED lamp.
Although hydroponics as a micro growing medium is a tad more expensive at the offset, it’s handier than a soil medium—especially inside your closet. It also allows you to get into a new routine without all your new cannabis plants dying of thirst.
If you opt for hydroponics, remember to change the water when needed and maintain the required PH levels, and you're good to go! If you choose soil in your micro grow setup, it’s just as good, so don’t stress about this choice. Use whatever is right for you.
Now that you’ve chosen your micro growing medium and the right nutrients, you can focus on getting a vent fan; 10–12cm will work just fine. You must install the fan outside the closet. You can either use a vent tube or cut a hole in the closet door for the fan. Proper ventilation promotes healthier growth and odor control.
Now make sure your drying space is clean and keep the temps at around 68°F. Soon you can enjoy your first closet grown nugs.
Computer tower marijuana micro grow
If you like taking your hobbies to the next level, how about micro growing your weed in your computer tower? We can’t guarantee that your DOTA 2 team will approve, but hey, they don’t need to know everything.
If you want to be discreet, then this is the perfect option to explore. It’s quite popular, and you can find companies that sell specifically modified towers for this purpose with a bit of in-depth research online.
Small and powerful LEDs are perfect for computer tower micro grown cannabis due to the limited space. You won’t need too many, and they’re easy on your pocket thanks to their energy efficiency.
The rest of your small weed grow setup resembles closet grow solutions, and you can again opt for soil or hydroponic. In this case, the second option is best as it’ll save you from manually watering your plants in such a confined space.
You can manage the odor control by placing a gel cube inside the tower or lining it completely with duct tape. Installing regular PC fans is sufficient to provide your micro grow setup with the needed air filtration.
For drying your little gems, you can use the same procedures as for the above closet grown weed. Always disinfect the surface properly, and you can light up and enjoy your first harvest in no time.
Micro cannabis grow in stealth grow boxes
If you’re ready to scale up your hobby—or you’re simply not into sketchy growing techniques in your tower or closet—consider micro growing your weed in stealth grow boxes.
There are many options to choose from, but not all come equipped to get the job done perfectly. To ensure that you get the best box for stealth, always read the product descriptions thoroughly. If you don’t, you might end up with an extremely noisy operation.
The benefits of using grow boxes are that it mostly comes fully fitted with the lights and fans needed to provide a healthy micro growing environment and control odor and filtration.
You also don’t have to concern yourself with choosing between hydroponics or soil—the box comes pre-fitted with one or the other.
Your grow box will also have carbon filtration systems or a gel block installed to control odor. It’s a very effortless way to kick off your new marijuana micro grow project. Ensure you check that the fans aren’t too noisy or too weak to protect your babies from heatstroke.
Micro marijuana grow in small tents
Grow tents are a great option if you enjoy variety. They’re available in multiple sizes, making it easy to choose the perfect size for your micro growing needs. The variety also gives you a wider price range to choose from.
Unlike grow boxes, the tents don’t have any of the pre-installed bells and whistles. Setting up your structure requires a bit more effort.
Not to worry—the grow tents are designed to easily fit all the required lights and fans for a healthy growing environment.
It can be an advantage if you want to opt for a more affordable micro grow setup at the start of your growing journey. For lighting, you can stick to LEDs here. It ensures enough light without exposing your plants to excessive heat.
In a grow tent, you can choose either soil or hydroponics as a growth medium. Both work equally well. It’s a matter of personal preference. Get some gels inside your tent to control odors, as they don’t come included with the tent purchase.
3 Best strains for small indoor weed grow
Now that you’ve seen your micro growing options and how super easy they are to manage, you’re probably ready to buy the first seeds available. Steady now; this isn’t a decision you want to rush. Not all strains thrive in these tiny environments.
Choose cultivars that have a compact structure. The genetics that produce small plants are critical when every inch of space is a luxury. These are at the top of our micro growing list.
Critical Kush feminized
Critical Kush is perfect if you’re looking for a legendary indica-dominant strain.
Known for its euphoric full-bodied stone that could bring down Goliath—Critical Kush adds some mental stimulation to the mix.
Take into consideration that these are bushy plants, so topping them early is ideal. Perfect for micro growing, these plants handle the stress from trimming well.
- Type: Indica-dominant
- Height: 35–47 inches
- THC: 19–25%
- CBD: 0.8%
- Flowering time: 7–9 weeks
Amnesia Haze feminized
Amnesia Haze has a variety of genetic influences that all contribute to it being perfect for micro growing weed.
The sharp flavors and high THC levels inspire creativity. The cerebral high induced by this lemony sativa induces an incredibly euphoric experience when used in a positive setting.
The indica and sativa mix is evident in the plant’s build—it’s short and slim. The dense buds glitter in a resinous coat.
- Type: Sativa-dominant
- Height: 31–47 inches
- THC: 19–25%
- CBD: 0.7%
- Flowering time: 8–9 weeks
Grapefruit auto
The sativa-dominant Grapefruit auto is perfect for wake and bake. It offers a feel-good high that sets you up for a great day.
Thanks to its Cinderalla99 heritage, this strain offers massive yields and an unforgettable mental high—even when grown in a micro growing setup.
The other unknown parent donates a scrumptious grapefruit flavor. Focus on proper ventilation, and you’re good to go.
- Type: Sativa-dominant
- Height: 23–35 inches
- THC: 16–19%
- CBD: 0.4%
- Flowering time: 7–8 weeks
Special considerations for a successful cannabis micro grow
Here are a few things to take into consideration when getting started with your micro grow setup.
- Lighting: Always be sure to get the right light, especially as micro grows do not enjoy excess heat. Having a light that’s too powerful and close by can cause damage to your plant.
- Ventilation: Airflow is especially important when micro growing weed. An easy way to achieve optimal ventilation is by using computer fans. They’re small and require little power.
- Equipment: Using your hands to prune or trim your plant gets the job done, but making use of proper equipment could make the job easier. When using either equipment or your hands, it needs to be 100% sterile.
Techniques to enhance your cannabis micro grow yield
Before starting your new micro growing adventure, here are a few techniques that could be of use.
Topping
When you want to flatten the canopy of your micro weed plants and promote lighting at the same time, topping is the way to go.
All you need to do is remove the main stem of the plant, and it grows two top colas.
Fimming
Similar to topping, but a little less tidy, fimming can be used to produce four new top colas of your plant. To FIM the plant, simply cut off 75% from the tip of the main stem.
Screen of green (ScrOG)
Used to make plants grow horizontally rather than vertically, the ScrOG technique is perfect for micro growing in places such as a stealth grow box.
To achieve this, cover your plant with a screen that allows you to weave the branches but not strangle the nodes and leaves.
Schwazzing
Basically an intense form of defoliation, growers use schwazzing to promote bud development.
All it entails is getting a little trigger-happy with your trimming scissors, which increases the yield and allows more light into your small weed grow setup.
Key takeaways about small indoor cannabis grow
If you’ve been wondering how to grow cannabis indoors when you have no space, you’re in luck—micro growing weed is a trend that’s here to stay. Whether you opt for a space bucket, stealth grow box, or computer tower, there’s no right or wrong way.
Make sure you choose a strain that won’t grow too big and focus on lighting and ventilation inside your micro grow setup. Check out how other growers in the community are micro growing weed at the Homegrown Forum.
About the author: Derek LaRose
Also known as Kronic from The Cannabis Kronicles, Derek LaRose is a young ambitious cultivator and a staple educator for indoor cultivation.