What's the cost of growing your own cannabis?
And how to calculate it?

Home cannabis cultivation has become an increasingly popular option for many consumers, offering the opportunity to produce customized and cost-effective herb. However, it's essential to understand the costs associated with this endeavor, including those related to equipment, supplies, labor, and unforeseen circumstances. In this article, we'll delve into detail about the various aspects of the cost of home cannabis cultivation and how to calculate them effectively.

Necessary Equipment and Supplies :

Indoor :

• Lighting : LED (Light-Emitting Diode) , HPS (High Pressure Sodium) or CFL (Compact fluorescent lamp) are popular choices for indoor cultivation but can entail a substantial initial investment.
• Ventilation System : Fans, carbon filters, and extraction systems are essential for maintaining an optimal growth environment.
• Growing Space : Growing tents or chambers offer complete control over the growth environment and may require additional investment.
• Nutrients and Substrates : Suitable fertilizers and growing media are necessary to nourish and support plants throughout their life cycle.

• Seeds or Clones : Purchasing quality seeds or clones is often the first investment for outdoor growers.
• Organic Fertilizers : Outdoor growers may opt for organic cultivation methods, requiring organic amendments and natural fertilizers.
• Gardening Tools : Basic tools such as pruners, watering cans, and stakes may be necessary for maintaining outdoor plants.
• Pest and Disease Protection : Insect nets, natural repellents, and biological treatments may be necessary to protect crops from pests and diseases.

Labor and Contingency Costs :

In addition to material expenses, it's important to consider the time and effort required to maintain cannabis plants. This includes soil preparation, planting, watering, fertilizing, pruning, monitoring humidity and temperature levels, as well as harvesting and drying. Labor costs can vary depending on the size of the crop and the level of automation in the process.

Furthermore, it's crucial to allocate funds to address unforeseen circumstances such as plant diseases, pest infestations, adverse weather conditions, or equipment failures. These incidents can result in unexpected additional costs and may have a significant impact on the final yield of the crop.

Calculating Costs :

To estimate the total cost of home cannabis cultivation, it's recommended to keep detailed records of expenses, including initial costs of purchasing equipment and supplies, recurring costs such as electricity bills, and variable costs such as additional fertilizers or equipment repairs. By adding up these costs throughout the growing cycle, growers can obtain an accurate estimate of the total cost per gram of cannabis produced.

Comparison with Outdoor Cultivation :

While indoor cultivation offers complete control over the growth environment and can produce high-quality harvests year-round, outdoor cultivation can often be more economical. Outdoors, growers benefit from free natural light, requiring less energy and equipment than indoor cultivation. Additionally, labor costs may be reduced as nature takes care of some of the plant care work.

In conclusion, the cost of home cannabis cultivation can vary depending on many factors, including the type of cultivation (indoor or outdoor), crop size, cultivation methods used, and unforeseen circumstances encountered along the way. By considering these factors and carefully planning expenses, growers can maximize their yield while minimizing costs.

In Brief :
After conducting thorough calculations, it's worth noting that cannabis can be produced at different costs depending on various factors, such as the cultivation location and the quality of the final product. Here's a scale of estimated costs for cannabis production, both indoor and outdoor, with price ranges per gram (CHF/g) for different qualities :

Indoor Cultivation, experienced grower (5 Crops or more) with no problems encountered :

• Low Quality : 1 - 1,5 CHF/g.
• Medium Quality : 1 - 2,5 CHF/g.
• High Quality : 1,5 - 4 CHF/g.

Outdoor Cultivation, experienced grower (5 Crops or more) with no problems encountered :

• Low Quality : 0,2 - 1 CHF/g.
• Medium Quality : 0,3 - 0,8 CHF/g.
• High Quality : 0,5 - 2,5 CHF/g.

When crops are maximized and there is no loss or problem. In the event of a problem it could be “Quits or Double”. For retail resale, it is necessary to add elements such as cultivation risks, market risks, the cost linked to the sale and operation such as salaries, advertising, the website, resellers, losses, …etc. To see in our article“ What is the price of cannabis per gram.“.

Tips : avoid cheap flowers…

These estimates take into account costs associated with equipment, supplies, labor, nutrients, and potential unforeseen circumstances. Generally, indoor cultivation requires a higher initial investment in equipment and energy consumption, resulting in higher production costs per gram. On the other hand, outdoor cultivation benefits from free natural sunlight and often requires less equipment, which can reduce production costs

It's also important to note that these estimates may vary depending on many individual factors, such as crop size, specific cultivation practices, weather conditions, and resource availability. Individual growers can adjust these estimates based on their own situation and cultivation preferences.

" We encourage our readers to share their own experiences and opinions on cannabis production costs in the comments below ! "