TOOLS OVER FOOLS – WHAT DOES IT COST TO GROW YOUR OWN CANNABIS
Home-grown cannabis is currently attracting a lot of attention in Germany, which is probably due to the recent change in the law called partial legalisation. And just as great as the interest in the plant is the number of questions about it. How do I grow cannabis? Where do I grow cannabis? Where do I buy weed? Where do I buy cannabis seeds? And in Scooter’s words: “How much is the fish?”. So let’s talk numbers.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO MAKE CANNABIS?
One thing is self-explanatory: growing requires a certain financial investment, especially when it comes to the necessary equipment. To successfully grow cannabis indoors, you need a grow box that includes powerful lights, a cooling unit and a ventilation system.
The cost of the equipment varies, of course, as there is now a seemingly endless range of products on offer, from the Mercedes of Grow Tents to affordable lighting kits. But a rough estimate for pots, seeds, soil, fertiliser, reflector, lamp, filter, fan, grow tent, pH meter, thermometer and hygrometer, timer and ballast is around 450 to 600 euros. For larger cultivation areas and extremely good quality, which in turn also reduce running costs such as electricity, the price can quickly rise to 800 euros and more.
HOW MUCH ELECTRICITY DO I NEED TO GROW CANNABIS?
Electricity consumption for cannabis cultivation can vary depending on the cultivation techniques used, the size of the plant and the lighting systems. Indoors, growing cannabis requires continuous and powerful lighting during the vegetative and flowering stages, which accounts for the majority of electricity consumption.
Traditional grow systems using high-pressure sodium vapour lamps (HID lamps) tend to consume more electricity than modern LED lamps, which are more efficient and generate less heat. Cooling the facility through ventilation and air conditioning systems can also contribute to power consumption, especially in warmer environments. It is important to note that electricity consumption can be higher during the flowering phase, as the plants need more light to produce flowers. To optimise power consumption in cannabis cultivation and reduce costs, some growers are opting for energy-efficient lighting systems, using timers for light cycles and optimising ventilation systems to reduce energy consumption.
Assuming that the cannabis plants are illuminated in a 4-week vegetative phase with an 18/6 light cycle and 12/12 in a 7-9 week flowering phase, the running costs for operating light, air and ventilation can be around 400 euros.
IS IT WORTH GROWING YOUR OWN MARIJUANA?
So the question remains, is home-growing worth it? Apart from the factors that having your own Grow Garden gives you full control over the entire cultivation cycle, including the choice of cannabis varieties, growing medium and nutrients, cannabis lovers are asked whether the investment pays off. And to reduce costs, there is also outdoor cultivation, where natural sunlight takes over for the LEDs and a grow tent is not required. So if you want to be part of your cannabis plant’s journey and have attention and love to share, you will appreciate growing your own plants when you harvest them… including the priceless feeling of having grown your own babies.
