The landscape for cannabis and cannabis products in South Africa has changed tremendously over the past several years. The stigma surrounding the cannabis plant is disappearing in South Africa as we move closer to the total legalization of the plant. As legalization approaches, there have been a lot of questions about cannabis in South Africa. A few of the more common questions we have seen typed into Google more over recent years is “How to grow cannabis” to “Can I grow cannabis in South Africa?” or “How to grow weed”

As the beginners guide above shows, there is a lot of information to work through when you want to start growing cannabis. See this as a starting point for your journey into the world of “How to grow cannabis”.

Can I grow cannabis in South Africa?

The answer to this question is a resounding yes! South Africa’s weather and climate are perfect for growing cannabis, or dagga (the local name for cannabis). We’ve all heard that cannabis is called weed for a reason. It grows like a weed. The cannabis plant is a hardy plant that easily grows and if you know what you are doing you can easily produce some of the dankest dagga in your own backyard. South Africa is perfect for growing outdoors, but because of the legality of the plant, a lot of growers op for indoor grow operations that will attract less attention from nosy neighbors. The last thing you want is your neighbor asking you to explain to him how to grow cannabis. Loose lips sink ships and all that.

Truth is that you should not be asking if you can grow cannabis in South Africa. Instead, you should be asking how to grow cannabis. With the right information and equipment, anyone can grow weed that is high quality. In South Africa, you can opt for growing outdoors or indoors, you just need to know how. And remember, you can legally buy everything you need to grow cannabis in South Africa via the internet. There are no laws against growing tomatoes, are there? Good news that growing cannabis in South Africa has also been decriminalized.

Is it legal to grow cannabis in South Africa?

Growing cannabis in South Africa is legal as long as it’s for private use. The guidelines for growing medical marijuana in South Africa has been created, but nobody has been able to obtain a license to grow cannabis in South Africa yet. We are due for the verdict on the Constitutional Court Case this month, with the potential to change everything. Time will tell.

Why should I grow my own cannabis?

Just like growing tomatoes is not for everyone, growing cannabis isn’t for everyone either. But there are some great advantages to growing your own cannabis that cannot be ignored. Here are some of the great reasons to grow cannabis yourself:

You know exactly what you are getting (smoking) because you grew it yourself

In the long term, it’s much more affordable to grow your own weed

There is something special about growing and using any plant yourself, be it tomatoes or dagga

This is anecdotal, but there is something therapeutic about taking care of a plant (even more so a cannabis plant)

Growing marijuana will give anyone that is a fan of cannabis culture a deeper understanding of the plant

By growing your own, you control the quality of the product you use, be that cannabis flowers, cannabis oil or even cannabis edibles

Should I grow cannabis indoors or outdoors?

Growing outdoors will cut out the cost of electricity, but it will also leave your plants exposed to the elements and nosy neighbors. Cannabis plants that grow outdoors can get huge and harder to manage compared to plants that grow indoors. An indoor grow is the perfect way for anyone to start growing weed while maintaining the ability to control the complete grow. You don’t need a whole bedroom to convert to a grow space. Look at some of the best grow tents and you will quickly realize that you can easily start growing cannabis in a small space, without having to spend buckets full of cash.

Grow tents (for growing indoors) are great options for those who want to keep their growing private, controlled and only have limited space to do so. Yes, you could probably manage the size of a plant in your backyard in a small pot too, but you will never get the same yield or privacy with an outdoor cannabis grow as you will get with an indoor grow. If on the other hand, you live in a secluded spot or if you live where it is legal to grow cannabis, then you can also grow outdoors. I have smoked outdoor grown and indoor grown cannabis that has knocked my socks off, so it really comes down to personal preference and what you can afford. If you live in the city or a small townhouse or flat, indoor growing is going to save you a lot of ball ache.

LED lights or HPS lights for my cannabis grow?

LED grow lights have a lot of advantages but are they better than HPS lights? LED grow lights will cut down on electricity cost and the heat produced by lighting your cannabis plants. LED lighting can also be much more compact and can be much closer to your plants than HPS lighting. Realistically you would have to go with what best suits your needs as a grower and what you prefer. Personally, I like LED lights because I’ve never had plants burn or overheat under LED lighting like I have had with HPS lighting. Is one better than the other? I don’t think so, it just comes down to personal preference.

How to grow cannabis?

Start by doing research. The first thing you want to look at is the strain that you want to grow. Each strain has different characteristics that respond differently to different environmental factors. Ultimately the strain you chose will play a role in whether you grow your cannabis indoors or outdoors, whether you use hydro or soil as a growing medium, whether you use LED or HSP. Once you have selected your strain, you will know what your grow tent/room/environment needs.

In the modern age of cannabis growing, the internet is your best friend. There is tons of information out there and plenty of experienced growers that would be more than happy to help you along the way. But no matter how you Google, the best way to start growing cannabis is to get seeds in the ground and your hands dirty. Practical experience and learning from your mistakes goes a long way in the weird and wonderful world of growing the worlds most popular weed. Now you know how to grow cannabis in South Africa, or anywhere else in the world.