Everything You Need to Know About Micro-Growing Cannabis

We're sure most of you have considered growing cannabis at one point or another. For many amongst you, though, we can imagine one question has stopped you in your tracks: "Where would I grow it?". Sure, some are lucky enough to have spare rooms and backyards to work with, but you may not be so lucky.

If you're in that position, don't lose hope! Micro-growing cannabis has become a trend amongst aspiring growers with limited space. Even if you only have a spare closet, or even an empty computer tower, you can still grow some quality weed. Follow along with us as we break down what micro-growing is, how it's done, and which strains you should cultivate.

What Is Micro-Growing And How Does It Differ From Regular Cannabis Growing?

While the name is self-explanatory, some may wonder what micro-growing is, exactly. Well, as you might suspect, it involves growing a small number of cannabis plants (oftentimes just one) in a confined space. Micro-growers often have both vertical and horizontal space limitations to consider.

This, of course, is quite different from a standard cannabis growing operation. Non-micro personal and commercial growers enjoy more growing space, both vertically and horizontally. They could have dozens, even hundreds of weed plants, with plenty of strain variations between them.

Now, sure, that makes regular growing sound nicer. In some ways, it is; but you know what those growers also have? Piles of bills from maintaining their plants, and sore hands and bodies from tending to them all day. Micro-growers face a far lighter burden, and their operations are far more sustainable.

Different Types of Micro-Growing Setups

So, does it sound like micro-growing is for you? Perfect! Now it’s time to think of what setup you’ll be working with. This, of course, depends entirely on your available space and personal preference. Each will have its own set of advantages over the other, so don’t worry about which is “better” or “worse”. That being said, let’s look at each of the most popular methods.

Growing Weed in Your Closet

Growing weed in your closet is, of course, the most classic micro-growing method. The trend likely started before the term “micro-growing” even entered conversations, and we can see why. Most people have closets in their homes, whether big or small, and virtually all of them can be cleared out and customised to house cannabis.

First off, you don’t want to overthink the lighting. Since it’s a confined space where the light will be close to the plant(s), a small, moderately powerful full-spectrum LED grow lamp will be just right.

Then, as far as your growing medium, you’ll have a choice between soil and a hydroponic system. The latter is more expensive, obviously, but it’s a good bit convenient, and you won’t have to worry about watering! But, you'll still have to deal with changing out the water and maintaining its pH level. Soil works just as well, though, so don’t stress out about draining your bank account. So, really, it's up to personal preference.

After you get all that in order, along with getting your nutrients, you’ll need to get a vent fan. You’ll be fine with one roughly 10–12cm wide.

While you’ll want to keep the door completely shut, you’ll need to have the fan venting air outside of it. Not only will this keep your plants healthy, but it’ll ensure you can control the odour. You can either cut a hole big enough for it, or fit in a vent tube with the fan itself sitting outside of the closet. You’ll be fine either way, but growers who want to minimise the size of the hole prefer the latter.

Lastly, when your plants have successfully reached full maturity, get a small drying box or tent ready. Just ensure your drying space is cleaned with hydrogen peroxide beforehand, and maintain a temperature of 20ºC (68ºF) with 50% relative humidity.

Growing Weed in a Computer Tower

If you thought a closet was confined, growing cannabis in a computer tower will blow your mind. Some companies even offer modified ones that are made for discreet growing, but a bit of online research will prepare you to easily set up your own.

As far as lighting, LEDs will be your way to go, especially considering the space. They’re small and powerful, so you won’t have to worry about buying too many. They’re energy-efficient, too, so you won’t have to deal with an inflated energy bill.

Similar to closet growing, you’ll have the choice between soil and hydroponic growing. A hydroponic system in a computer tower may sound dubious, but so is having to water your cannabis plants manually.

Your next issues to tackle are odour control and air filtration. Starting with the former, control odour by lining the interior with duct tape and/or introducing a gel cube inside. To handle the latter, just outfit your PC with, well, PC fans! You can find ones that are optimised to fit your tower, so you won’t have to worry about making holes.

Lastly, the drying method is the same for this and the previous method. Get a small drying box/tent, clean out the drying room, and enjoy smokable cannabis in no time!

Growing Weed in a Stealth Grow Box

Closet and computer tower setups can be pretty sketchy, we’ll give you that. That may not put off many, but we understand if you want to run a more refined operation. For those people, we recommend utilising a stealth grow box.

Note that there are many different types of grow boxes out there, but only a few are specifically designed for stealth. If you opt for another, you may find yourself dealing with excessive noise that’ll blow your cover. Make sure you carefully read the product description of any grow box you’re considering.

As far as light, grow boxes will usually be outfitted with their own. If they’re not, just go with some LEDs. You also won’t have to worry about choosing between soil and hydroponic systems, as grow boxes will be outfitted for one or the other.

They’re also fitted with odour-absorbing gels and/or carbon filtration systems, so the smell shouldn’t be an issue. It’ll come with a fan system as well, so you just have to make sure you pick a model with quieter ones. Don’t get fans that are too weak, though, as heat will be the main issue you face with growing boxes.

Naturally, this will be one of the more expensive options on this list, but it’ll be worth it. You won’t have nearly as much of a headache setting things up, and you’ll know it’s optimised for what you’re trying to do.

Growing Weed in a Small Grow Tent

Similar to grow boxes, grow tents are made to house developing cannabis plants. You’ll be able to find them in any size, and there are cheap and expensive options alike. Really, it’ll come down to a balance of budget and desired quality.

It won’t come with lights and fans, but it’ll be designed to fit them with ease. As a result, they’ll often end up cheaper than grow boxes overall. As we suggested for the other setups, LEDs will work perfectly, as they don't run too hot and often come with a switch to tailor the light spectrum to the stage of growth. Your choice of growing medium will also come down to personal preference.

Odour control, as with the other factors, won’t be included with the grow tent, so you’ll have to get some gels for the inside.

Other than that, we’d just say you should try getting one with waterproof flooring, and consider options with tool pouches for convenient access.

Strains Sustainable for Micro-Growing

Now that we’ve gone through your options, we imagine you’re ready to buy the first seeds you can get your hands on! But don't rush to make a decision, as you’ll find that not every strain is suitable for confined spaces.

Others, however, can thrive even in the smallest environments. These compact strains still boast impressive yields and potency, but won’t grow out of control. Note that, in general, sativas tend to be unsuitable for confined spaces indoors, especially those deriving from Haze.

Techniques to Enhance Your Micro-Grow Yield

Before we let you go, we’d like to make sure you know some specific growing methods that’ll help you get the most out of your micro-grown plants.

These training techniques are specifically designed to maximise yields and ensure robust health, while keeping things compact and discreet. One of the most tried and tested, known as ScrOG, is meant to flatten the canopy and promote ample lighting for optimal bud growth. This method can be suitable for confined spaces as it allows growers to maximise results from a single plant.

There’s also schwazzing to consider. Essentially a step up from regular defoliation, schwazzing requires excessive pruning of the plant’s foliage to promote bud development. Interested in learning more? There are many other low and high-stress training techniques out there, and we discuss them all on our website!

Adam Parsons

Professional cannabis journalist, copywriter, and author Adam Parsons is a long-time staff member of Zamnesia. Tasked with covering a wide range of topics from CBD to psychedelics and everything in between, Adam creates blog posts, guides, and explores an ever-growing range of products.

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