So you wanna grow your own weed, but every time you search how, you get buried in Reddit rabbit holes, $800 grow tent kits, or endless YouTube bros rambling about pH and “calyx development.” Forget all that. Here’s the no-BS guide I wish I had when I got started—with links to real products that’ll get you growing today, without the weed tax.

Let’s get you from “WTF is a node” to watching your first baby plant stretch toward the light—with minimal effort, solid gear, and fast results.

💸 What’s This Gonna Cost? (Initial Investment Breakdown)

If you follow this guide, here’s what your first grow will cost:

👉 Total without tent: ~$260
👉 Total with tent: ~$350–$400

This is your initial investment—most of this gear is reusable for years.

• With autoflowers, you’ll need to buy new seeds each run. But everything else is one-and-done.
• With photoperiod strains, you can clone your plant and keep growing forever without buying seeds again. Learn how in our How to Clone Weed Fast guide.
• You can also recycle your soil by re-amending it with more Dr. Earth after each harvest.

Step 1: Buy the Gear (Only What You Actually Need)

Here’s the full shopping list—all available on Amazon, all stuff I’ve used or would trust:

🔆 Grow Light (The Engine of Your Grow)

👉 Spider Farmer SF1000 LED Grow Light (Amazon)

🪴 Grow Bag (Rain Science = Game Changer)

👉 Rain Science 5 Gallon Grow Bag (Amazon)

🌱 Soil Base: Happy Frog + Dr. Earth

• 👉 Fox Farm Happy Frog Potting Soil (Amazon)
• 👉 Dr. Earth Home Grown 4-6-3 for Veg (Amazon)
• 👉 Dr. Earth Flower Girl 3-9-4 for Bloom (Amazon)

How to Use:

• Mix 2 tbsp of Home Grown per gallon of soil.
• Top dress with Flower Girl at the start of flower, then every 2–3 weeks.

⛺ Grow Tent (Optional, But Pretty Damn Nice)

• 👉 AC Infinity 2x4 Grow Tent (Amazon)
• 👉 Vivosun 2x4 Grow Tent (Amazon)

🌾 Seeds (Autoflowers Are Easiest—But Photos Are Cool Too)

Our quick autoflower recommendations:

• Cosmic Cupcake Auto
• Pineapple Coconut Auto

Notably fast photoperiod recommendations:

• Blueberry Cupcake
• Dream Queen

Step 2: Germinate Your Seed (Don’t Overthink It)

1. Wet a paper towel, squeeze it so it’s damp but not dripping.
2. Place your seed inside, fold it over, and put it in a sandwich bag or between two plates.
3. Keep it in a warm, dark place (top of fridge works).
4. Check in 24–48 hours—when the taproot pops, you’re ready.

Step 3: Plant and Watch It Grow

1. Fill your Rain Science grow bag with the Happy Frog + Dr. Earth veg mix.
2. Poke a ½ inch hole and drop your seed (taproot down if visible).
3. Mist the top with water, keep it moist (not soaked).
4. Put your grow light about 24” above the bag and turn it on for 18 hours/day.

Boom—you’ve got a baby weed plant.

Step 4: Veg and Flower Basics

How you manage your plant during veg and flower depends on what type of seed you planted—autoflower or photoperiod. Here’s how to handle both:

🌿 Autoflowers

No light change needed—they flower automatically.

Weeks 1–4 (Veg)

• Water when the top inch of soil feels dry.
• Don’t overwater.
• No extra feeding needed if you pre-mixed Dr. Earth.

Weeks 5–10 (Flower)

• Pistils appear.
• Top dress with Flower Girl.
• Keep on 18/6 light cycle.

🌿 Photoperiods

You control when they flower by flipping the lights.

Weeks 1–4+ (Veg)

• Use 18/6 light schedule.
• Veg 4–6+ weeks depending on plant size.
• Top dress with Home Grown every few weeks.

When You’re Ready to Flower:

• Flip light to 12/12 (12 hrs on, 12 off).
• Top dress with Flower Girl.
• Expect buds within 7–14 days.

Want to never buy seeds again? Learn how to clone photoperiods.

Weed Wisdom: Avoid the “Weed Tax”

90% of what’s marketed to weed growers is just regular gardening gear with a weed label.

• Tents = blackout fabric and zippers
• Nutrients = plant food + hype
• Most “grow kits” = overpriced junk

Stick to good light, soil, airflow, and genetics. That’s all you need.

Final Thoughts: Just Grow It

You don’t need a PhD or $2,000 in gear to grow fire weed at home.

✅ Out the door for $250–$400, you’re growing your own.

Once you’ve got the gear:

• Autos: just restock seeds.
• Photos: clone forever.
• Soil: reuse and re-amend.

Bookmark our Speed Up Your Grow Guide for tips, and don’t hesitate to reach out. We’ve got you.