Growing Cannabis On Your Windowsill

Growing cannabis at home offers a host of benefits, including reduced overall costs and a sense of self-sufficiency. However, not everyone has space indoors to set up a grow tent, or room in their garden to cultivate weed. If this sounds like you, then know that cultivating cannabis on your windowsill offers a pragmatic alternative. While not as bountiful as growing in full sun outdoors or directly under grow lights, this approach serves as a fun project that will still yield a rewarding end result—so long as you pick the right strain for the job. Continue reading to master the art of windowsill cannabis cultivation.

Why grow weed on a windowsill?

Growing cannabis on a windowsill is a great option for several reasons. First and foremost, it allows cultivators with limited space an opportunity to grow their own weed. If you don’t fancy sacrificing a room to set up a large grow tent, or simply don't have the space to pull it off even if you wanted to, then a windowsill grow still offers a means of raising plants.

Secondly, and often of equal importance, it’s a very cost-effective method. By doing away with lights, tents, and ventilation systems, you bypass the most expensive pieces of equipment usually associated with an indoor grow. Finally, it can be a good option for beginner growers. Given the space needed and the affordability, it can be a good way to get acquainted with these plants without putting in too much effort or making a big commitment.

A bonus point: It looks great! Add some life to your home by growing a crop of weed on the windowsill—just make sure you're on good terms with your neighbours!

Pros and cons of growing weed on a windowsill

There are distinct pros and cons to growing weed on a windowsill compared to in a tent or the garden. Discover the advantages and disadvantages of this method below to see if it’s a good fit for you.

The pros of growing weed strains on a windowsill

There are some impressive benefits of forgoing complex indoors growing setups in favour of simply placing a container on a windowsill. The major pros of this method of cultivation include:

• Natural light: Growing weed on a windowsill makes use of sunlight. This cuts the cost of expensive electricity bills that result from running powerful grow lights. A south-facing windowsill will provide plants with enough light to stay healthy without stretching excessively.
• Convenient access: You won’t have to step outside into your garden in poor weather or unzip and navigate a grow tent every time you want to tend to your plants. Instead, simply step up to the windowsill, water, feed, and train your plants, and enjoy the view!
• Cheap: Growing weed on a windowsill drastically reduces the usual costs of growing indoors. You won’t need to invest in the usual equipment, and you’ll save a bunch of money on energy bills. 

The cons of growing weed strains on a windowsill

While cultivating marijuana on a windowsill helps to slash costs significantly, it also comes with some downsides that can impact yield and compromise stealth. Check out the drawbacks of this approach below:

• Limited light: Even plants grown on a south-facing windowsill won’t receive as much light as those cultivated in tents under 18/6 or 24-hour light cycles, a factor that impacts growth and yield.
• Temperature fluctuations: Despite their warmth during the day, windowsills can get considerably cold during the night, especially at the beginning and towards the end of the growing season. This can also impact growth and reduce productivity.
• Space constraints: Windowsills are often narrow and tight, making it impossible to grow large plants in most circumstances.
• Lack of discretion: Having a cannabis plant standing in a window comes with the obvious risk of being seen. Use a window that’s relatively out of sight, if possible.

Growing cannabis on your windowsill

Growing cannabis on your windowsill involves a few key steps to ensure your plants thrive. From choosing the right spot to selecting the best strains, here's everything you need to know about growing weed on your windowsill. The good news? It’s very straightforward.

Choosing the right spot

If you even have multiple spots to choose from, then selecting the best location can make all the difference when it comes to plant health and yield. Consider the following:

• Sunlight exposure: Choose a south-facing window if possible, as it will receive the most sunlight throughout the day. Plants situated on north-facing windowsills will require supplementary lighting to thrive.
• Privacy: Ensure the spot is discreet and not easily visible from outside to avoid any unwanted attention. If this is not possible, consider the risk carefully.
• Space: Make sure there is enough room for your plant to grow without being cramped. Consider how large they will grow, and any larger pots you might transplant them into. Also consider how easy it will be to open the window behind them, as this might become a nuisance.

Natural or artificial light?

While natural sunlight is ideal, it may not always be sufficient. For those with north-facing windows or whose light is blocked out by other buildings, you do have some options. Indoor grow lights can be used to supplement plants growing on a windowsill, and generally LED lights are considered the best for this. If you choose to use artificial lights, take into account how this might look outdoors, as it could be very obvious what you’re up to.

Pot & soil choices

Choosing the right pots and soil is essential for healthy plant growth. Small pots are best, as you need to restrict the size of your plants if they’re growing on a windowsill. Go no larger than 11L. Another way to pick the right pot size is to ensure that the diameter of the pot is no larger than the width of the window sill. Given that most windowsill growers seek ease and simplicity, we recommend soil for this sort of cultivation. Organic soil, supplemented with organic nutrients, will be sufficient to see your plants happily through to harvest.

Picking the right strain

You need to pick the right strain to make this endeavour a success. Autoflowering varieties are particularly well-suited for this environment due to their compact size and shorter growth cycle. What’s more, as they don’t rely on a change in light exposure to transition into flowering, they can tolerate less-than-adequate lighting conditions, in which photoperiod strains might struggle. Check out three of the best cannabis strain for windowsill growing below.

Monster Dwarf Automatic (Zamnesia Seeds)

Monster Dwarf Automatic is an excellent choice for windowsill growing. This strain stays small and manageable (around 60–75cm), making it perfect for smaller spaces. Despite its size, it produces a generous yield of high-quality, skunky buds.

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Monster Dwarf Automatic (Zamnesia Seeds) feminized

(166)

Parents: Skunk x Ruderalis

Genetics: Sativa-dominant Auto

Flowering Time: 8-9 weeks from seed to harvest

Potency: 12%

CBD: 0-1%

Flowering Type: Autoflowering

Lemon Wonder Automatic (Zamnesia Seeds)

Lemon Wonder Automatic is another great option. Offering a citrusy aroma and flavour, this strain is easy to grow and thrives in smaller pots. It’s a resilient plant that can handle a range of conditions, making it ideal for beginner windowsill cultivators. Expect buds with a THC content of around 12% after a rapid growing cycle of just 8 weeks!

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Lemon Wonder Automatic (Zamnesia Seeds) feminized

(141)

Parents: Lowryder x Lemon OG

Genetics: Indica-dominant Auto

Flowering Time: 8-9 weeks from seed to harvest

Potency: 12%

CBD: 0-1%

Flowering Type: Autoflowering

Critical Automatic (Zamnesia Seeds)

Critical Automatic thrives on neglect and adapts well to different growing environments. Its compact size and rapid flowering time make it perfect for windowsill cultivation. With a medium THC content of around 16%, it produces a moderate, enjoyable high. Expect a rewarding yield and delicious flavours and aromas of fruit, spice, and skunk following a growing cycle of 10 weeks.

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Critical Automatic (Zamnesia Seeds) feminized

(120)

Parents: Critical x Ruderalis

Genetics: Indica-dominant Auto

Flowering Time: 9-10 weeks from seed to harvest

Potency: 15%

CBD: 0-1%

Flowering Type: Autoflowering

Grow yourself some windowsill weed today

Growing cannabis on your windowsill is an accessible and enjoyable way to cultivate your own supply at home. By carefully choosing the right spot, providing adequate light, selecting suitable pots and soil, and picking the best strains, you can achieve impressive results. While we've highlighted a few strains, there are plenty of other options available to suit your needs. Visit the Zamnesia shop for a wide selection of seeds and start your windowsill growing journey today!

Weed Seeds

Click here to browse countless varieties of regular, feminized, and autoflowering cannabis seeds from the best banks in the world.

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Max Sargent

Max has been writing for over a decade, and has come into cannabis and psychedelic journalism in the last few years. Writing for companies such as Zamnesia, Royal Queen Seeds, Cannaconnection, Gorilla Seeds, MushMagic and more, he has experience in a broad spectrum of the industry.

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