Growing Weed at Home in a Wardrobe and What to Consid

Have you toyed with the idea of growing weed at home, but do not have a spare room or even enough space for a grow tent? There are still many ways to get started as a cannabis cultivator, and one of those is to use small spaces such as a closet or wardrobe. In this article, I will highlight everything you need to consider to set up a low-budget grow space!

How Big Should the Grow Space Be?

Converting a cupboard, wardrobe, or storage space is inexpensive and effective if properly sealed and ventilated. Most of us have an old clothes cupboard with enough space to hang a light, install an extractor, a carbon filter, and room for 2-4 plants.

• The space should be big enough to hang equipment comfortably
• You can drill a hole of the size to insert a 4-inch aluminum ducting
• The doors should be able to close, creating a lightproof environment
• The space needs to be odor-controlled using a carbon filter
• Noise levels should not be noticeable when switched on

Which Strains Are Best for Growing Weed In a Wardrobe?

The faster you can flower and be ready for harvest, the more advantageous it will be when growing weed in a small, controlled space. I suggest growing fast-flowering autoflowers and indica-dominant strains that take no more than 56 days to finish before they can be chopped down. 

Autoflowering Cannabis Plants

45-day Autoflowers will stay compact and transition to flowering automatically. They’re ideal for tight spaces and beginners due to their short life cycle and manageable size. Autos will flower automatically after 4 weeks from the day the seeds are germinated, and be grown under an 18/6 or 20/4 light cycle. Autos make great candidates for first-time growers who want a low-maintenance and stress-free growing experience. 

Fast Flowering Photoperiods

Zkittlez is a reliable and quick-to-finish cultivar that would be well-suited for a small grow space. You should avoid any long-flowering hybrids if it is your first attempt at growing weed at home. Indicas will be fast-flowering and do not grow tall once flowering.

What Grow Light Will I Need Inside The Wardrobe?

To make sure that the grow room is well illuminated and does not become too hot, you will need to make sure you have the right grow light inside. Below are some of the different options that you can pick from, depending on which is most practical based on your budget and environmental conditions.

250 – 400w HID

It may not sound much on paper, however, as long as you have the lights close enough to your plants, a 250-400w metal halide or high-pressure sodium will provide plenty of intense light and will not use tons of electricity. If you have a kit with a dimmable ballast, then you have much more freedom in the amount of watts used, light intensity and potential heat output.

Compact Fluorescent (CFL)

I would recommend that if you are using CFL, then you buy only the T5 strip light version. These lights will be great for vegetation; they lack the intensity and PAR that cannabis plants need to produce a good quality yield.

LED Lighting

Modern LEDs offer high efficiency, strong PAR output, and low heat. There are so many different LED lights now on the market that finding a small-sized dimmable unit that can fit inside a 1m x 0.5m x 0.5m grow space. I would recommend using LED lights because they are efficient in terms of electricity use and spectrum output.

How To Correctly Smell-Proof and Ventilate The Wardrobe

There is no point in growing weed at home if, once you start flowering, the smell is overwhelming and cannot be controlled. Odor control is an essential part of any grow room and should be taken seriously. Below is an explanation of how to correctly smell-proof your grow space.

• You will have to buy an extractor for sucking air out 
• A carbon filter is attached to the extractor using ducting
• Aluminum ducting is attached, creating an air-tight fit
• Fresh air should be pulled into the grow space
• The temperature should be 75 degrees Fahrenheit
• Use a small oscillating fan to create fresh air inside

How to Make The Inside Reflective

You will use reflective mylar to create the optimal grow space that will provide your plant with as much light as possible. Mylar rolls are cheap to buy, and all you need to do is attach the mylar to the cupboard walls using duct tape. It is important to cover the entire inside and the doors.

My final Thoughts

Starting off growing inside a converted wardrobe is a quick and low-cost way to kick-start a career as a home grower. You will also learn a great deal about plants and their requirements in terms of lighting, temperature, humidity, and the cannabis plant life cycle. You can always buy a grow tent if you want to take things a step further, however, I encourage all home growers to make the most out of their spare wardrobes and clothes cupboards!

Feature photo: This grower plants autos inside a 0.8, x 0.8m grow tent. Photo credit: Stoney Tark.