Back10 top tips for maximising the growth of cannabis in small spaces

Growing cannabis in reduced spaces can be a rewarding task that allows you to enjoy a personal supply of high-quality buds without the need for a huge grow. With careful planning and smart techniques, you can maximise your yields even in the smallest areas.

 

 

 

Cannabis is such a versatile plant that it can grow almost anywhere if given the right light and nutrients. You don’t need a huge grow room, a commercial greenhouse, or a large garden to grow plants with delicious and potent flowers – you can do it in a cupboard, an old piece of furniture, an empty computer tower, or even in the corner of your room where you may already have some indoor plants. Growing in a reduced space also has its advantages, as small cannabis plants are easier to handle and hide, so you can grow them more discreetly. In addition, a small grow doesn’t produce as much odour or machine noise, so it attracts less attention. But growing cannabis in tight spaces also requires a combination of creativity and technical expertise, as you will see with these 10 basic tips that will get you closer to success.

 

Every good grow starts with a good strain. Look for shorter, bushier varieties, which are more suitable for small areas. Sativas are known for their lanky appearance and a more open bud structure, whereas indicas tend to grow short and robust and produce denser buds. Hybrids may have features of both. For a small grow, indicas will probably be easier to maintain. And you can certainly try to grow autoflowering cannabis plants, which grow in half the time, so they’re perfect for this.

 

If you grow indoors, you will need artificial lighting, unless you have a windowsill with some hours of direct sunlight. Grow lights get very hot and should be kept at a safe distance from the plants so that the buds and leaves don’t get burnt. That’s why LEDs are really changing the game for small grows, as they provide high-quality full spectrum light whilst emitting minimal heat, which in turn reduces the need for climate control equipment to reduce the temperature in the grow.

 

In confined spaces, plants can be kept short using certain growing techniques which can also lead to increased yields. Low stress training (LST) involves tying the branches in a more horizontal plane to maximise the exposure of the shoots to light and air to help create additional colas. High stress training (HST) is a more aggressive method, as it uses pruning techniques, such as topping or super cropping, to increase the number of buds and to promote a more uniform canopy.

 

 

 

Climate control is certainly crucial in a small grow. The temperature should ideally be maintained at 20 - 25ºC, with a relative humidity of 40 to 75%, depending on the plant’s stage of growth. Using LED lights will reduce the overall temperature and the need to cool your grow, but you’ll still need good ventilation. Fresh air will give your plants a boost to grow, so use small, oscillating fans strategically placed to achieve this.

 

Opt for compact-sized pots or fabric grow bags, which can fit well into a limited space. It may seem obvious, but small pots are for small plants and large pots are meant for big plants. Autoflowering strains don’t require the same amount of space as many vigorous indica-sativa hybrids for their roots to develop properly. 6 litre pots should be big enough to comfortably grow the majority of squat autos and indicas.

 

 

Your choice of growing medium will significantly affect the health and yielding potential of your plants. Soil is a traditional option that can be quite forgiving for rookies but can also be rather bulky. For smaller spaces, consider hydroponic systems, which use nutrient-rich water and reduce the need for large pots. Another effective method is coco coir, a lightweight and reusable medium that provides excellent drainage and aeration.

 

In small spaces, it is essential to avoid overfeeding or nutritional imbalances. If you use quality soil or a hydroponic setup, simply following the nutrient plan recommended for a specific strain is more than enough. Regularly monitor pH levels and electrical conductivity to ensure your plants receive the necessary nutrients without wasting any resources. And always remember: in small spaces, less is more. It is easier to correct a nutrient deficiency than to deal with an excess of nutrients.

 

Watering in small spaces should be accurate to avoid a lack or an excess of nutrients. You may consider using a drip irrigation system, but manual watering is most effective. Allow the soil to dry out slightly between irrigation sessions to prevent root rot and other problems associated with excessive moisture. In other words: the less soil there is, the faster it will dry up. Be aware that you’ll need to water frequently, so do yourself a favour and make sure you can water the plants comfortably and efficiently.

 

If you grow a feminised photo-dependent plant, these will typically double in size during the flowering phase. You can shorten the vegetative cycle to keep your grow at a reduced height – in indoor grows, you can reach the desired size and have strong root development in just 3 or 4 weeks. In addition to adjusting the size, short cycles also reduce the risk of diseases or pathogens: the faster the plants are harvested, the less time there is for any problems to manifest.

 

 

Finally, as with any cannabis grow, it’s important to set some realistic expectations regarding the size and quality of your harvest, as well as the time it will take to get from seed to harvest. Generally speaking, if you grow in a small 35 x 35 x 75 cm space and use an average of approximately 30W of light during the whole grow cycle, you can expect to harvest between 25 and 45 g. This is obviously dependant on the variety, your nutrient regime, the training techniques used, and your skill level. You can usually go from seed to harvest in 3 - 4 months, depending on your light cycle and the genetics of your plants. As you can see, it is possible to get a good crop in a small or even tiny space, but it can be difficult if you don’t have much growing experience. Therefore, it is essential that you know all about the basics, how to train the plants, and everything you will need for the specific setup you will be using to grow. Once you have all this information, growing small plants is then basically the same as growing large plants, so don’t be afraid to give it a try because it’s definitely worth it!