The Weekend Grower: A Lazy Person’s Guide to Great Bud

Not everyone has the time (or energy) to babysit cannabis plants 24/7. Enter: the weekend grower. If your green thumb only shows up on Saturdays - or you just prefer a more “hands-off” vibe - this lazy grower’s guide is your cheat code to getting solid homegrown weed with minimal effort. Yes, you can be laid-back and still grow legendary bud. Here’s how.

1. Choose the Right Strain (It’s Half the Battle)

Lazy growers need strains that thrive on autopilot. Look for genetics known for:

• Resilience: Choose strains labeled as pest-resistant, mold-resistant, or “easy to grow.”
• Short lifecycle: Autoflowers are your best friend. Most are ready to harvest in 8–10 weeks from seed.
• Low maintenance: Indicas tend to be bushier and require less training than lanky sativas.

Top picks:

• Northern Lights (classic, chill, easy)
• Blue Dream Auto (tough and tasty)
• Zkittlez Auto (low-stress, high reward)

2. Go Autoflower or Go Home

Autoflowers thrive without light schedule changes and finish faster than photoperiod strains. That means fewer weeks of worrying and less time obsessing over timers and tent tweaks.

Lazy Benefits:

• No light switching
• Compact and stealthy
• Great for quick, single-season harvests

3. Set Up Once, Then Chill

Your grow setup should do the work for you.

Minimum-effort setup checklist:

• Vivosun Grow Tent 4x4 – Big enough for 1–3 plants, small enough to hide in the corner.
• Spider Farmer 3x3 Grow Light – Plug it in and forget it. Look for “daisy chain” models for future upgrades.
• Programmable Outlet Timer – 18/6 for autos. Let it run itself.
• Fabric Grow Pots (5 Gallon) – They air-prune roots, so you don’t have to stress over repotting.
• Soil mixes or super soil – No mixing nutrients every week. Just water and watch.
• Oscillating Grow Tent Clip Fan – One and done. Keeps airflow healthy with zero micromanaging.

Optional upgrade: Smart plugs + app timers. Adjust from the couch.

4. Water Smart, Not Often

Don’t want to hover over your plants? Make watering low-lift:

• Use 5-gallon fabric pots with a deep watering every 3–5 days.
• Try blue mat systems or wicking trays to automate hydration.
• Mix in perlite and coco coir to help with drainage so your roots never sit soggy.

Lazy grower tip: If you’re hand-watering, do it once a week with a solid soaking. Skip the daily misting madness.

5. Skip Bottled Nutrients - Use “Set It and Forget It” Soil

Feed your soil, not your plant. Pre-amended super soils or living soils provide a buffet of nutrients so you don’t need to measure pH, EC, or dilute mystery bottles.

• Try BuildASoil, Coast of Maine, or your own blend of compost, worm castings, and dry amendments like Gaia Green.
• Top-dress halfway through the grow (around week 4) with more amendments to keep the soil active.

6. Minimal Training, Maximum Results

No time for daily LST (low-stress training)? Go simple:

• Topping once (early veg) + letting the plant do its thing = better than nothing.
• Try mainlining or manifolding if you want to invest just one weekend upfront.
• For autoflowers, skip training entirely - just let them grow.

Lazy but effective: Prop up lower branches with soft ties or bamboo stakes near the end of flowering. Done.

7. Watch for Problems... Once a Week

Even a lazy grower needs to look at the plants occasionally. Use your Saturday check-in to:

• Look under leaves for pests
• Check the soil surface for mold or dryness
• Make sure buds are stacking and pistils are changing color
• Smell for anything weird (yes, your nose can detect early rot)

Bonus: Take a pic each week - you’ll thank yourself later when you’re showing off your “lazy weed”.

8. Drying & Curing: Don’t Rush the Final Step

You worked so little to get here - don’t ruin it now. Drying and curing is 50% of the final bud quality.

• Hang dry in a dark, cool space with airflow. 60°F and 60% RH is ideal.
• After 7–14 days, trim and cure in glass jars with Boveda packs.
• Burp the jars once a day for the first 2 weeks, then once a week after.

Lazy pro move: Use grove bags after drying. Skip the jars entirely.

Can Lazy Growers Still Get Dank Weed?

Absolutely. The trick is to be lazy about effort, not results. With smart strain choices, passive systems, and a little weekend attention, you can pull off sticky, stanky, high-grade bud without going full-blown plant parent. So go ahead - be a weekend warrior. Your weed won’t mind.

At HomeGrow Helpline, we’re here to help you grow smarter, not harder - because cannabis should be relaxing, even when you’re growing it.