Common Sensi
Cannabis cultivation is an art as much as it is a craft — and urban living in our New England climate presents a gamut of indoor-gardening challenges for novices and pro growers alike.
So, you're officially a certified medical-marijuana patient in Massachusetts, and you're ready to grow your own medicine. Where to begin? Cannabis cultivation is an art as much as it is a craft — and urban living in our New England climate presents a gamut of indoor-gardening challenges for novices and pro growers alike. I visited two established local grow shops to find out how they help newcomers to the DIY medical-marijuana tribe.
THE BOSTON GARDENER
A cozy little agricultural oasis in Dudley Square, the Boston Gardener has a laid-back, rustic feel; on this chilly day, the shop's windows are fogged up from dewy greenhouse displays. Once inside, my senses are met with organic aromas and the calming hush sound of bubbling hydroponics.
It doesn't take long for shop employee Jay Haile to warmly offer assistance. I ask him what first-time indoor gardeners need in order to start growing their own medicinal cannabis.
"It doesn't matter what you're growing," he says. "I'd first ask about the space you have and how much light you get in that space. The closer to the window, the better."
Then there's the eternal question: soil or hydro? Haile says both methods come with pros and cons. It's easier to grow organic marijuana using soil — but soil can be prone to bugs. Hydroponic plants also grow faster. Nevertheless, Haile says, as an "old-school" gardener, he prefers soil over hydro.
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