Want to grow weed at home in New York? Here's what you'll need and how to start.

New York State law allows adults to cultivate cannabis for personal use at home.

Whether you’re growing indoors or outside, here’s a step-by-step guide to home cultivation.

Before you start

Know the rules.

Adults 21 and older can grow up to three mature plants and three immature plants at a time, according to the state Office of Cannabis Management. Cannabis can be grown in residences that home cultivators rent or own.

While New York has legalized recreational and medical marijuana, it's still illegal under federal laws. Landlords may prohibit cultivation if it threatens federal housing benefits, said Olivia Cahill, an educator with the OCM.

“Co-ops or condos are also able to implement a no-smoking or odor mitigation policy,” she added.

If planting outdoors, make sure the cannabis is not visible from outside or surrounding properties and is secured against theft, Cahill said.

Indoor cultivation requires ideal growing conditions.

“This includes monitoring the temperature, making sure you’re not using a CO2 machine or ozone generator because they’ll negatively impact their air," Cahill said. "We want to make sure we’re being eco-friendly. You also want to use LED lights because they don’t produce as much heat.”

Get the right equipment.

Before planting, purchase the essentials:

• Grow tent ($100-$400): Controls airflow, temperature and light.
• LED grow lights ($35-$100): Low heat output, energy efficient.
• Organic soil ($10-$30): Boosts potency and supports eco-friendly growing.
• pH meter ($7-$30): Keeps nutrients balanced (aim for low sixes).
• Dehumidifier ($150-$350): Prevents mold and improves indoor air quality.
• Feminized seeds ($11-$35): Only female plants produce buds.

Buy the seeds.

Adult-use consumers can purchase seeds or immature plants from licensed microbusinesses, retail dispensaries or — for medical patients — registered organizations. RISE Dispensary in Long Beach sells feminized seeds to medical cardholders.

A valid medical cannabis card is required to purchase from a medical dispensary. A timeline has not yet been announced for when licensed nurseries will begin selling seeds to the broader public, Cahill said.

Step 1: Germination

Duration: Three to 10 days

Optimal temperature: 75-86°F

Light: 16 hours daily

Germination is when a plant first emerges from its seed. This requires heat, moisture and light, said David Falkowski, of Open Minded Organics, a licensed commercial grower based in Bridgehampton.

He recommends investing in a grow tent to help regulate airflow, light and temperature.

Rick Warno, a 36-year-old home grower from Patchogue, said grow tents are ideal for beginners.

"Before you go for something totally DIY, they make it really easy now," he said. "You can get a full kit with ventilation, lights."

Warno also suggests starting with autoflower seeds, which transition from the vegetative to flowering stage automatically, without growers needing to control the light cycle.

He warns against overwatering: The plant can drown before it even sprouts, he said.

Step 2: Seedling

Duration: Two to three weeks

Optimal temperature: 68-77°F

Light: 18 hours daily

During the seedling stage, the plant needs limited nutrients. “A good potting soil has a charge,” said Falkowski, referring to a small, safe amount of fertilizer that’s already in the soil. Provide the plant with ample light. Air circulation is critical; Falkowski suggested growers use a fan near the soil during the seedling stage.

Step 3: Vegetative

Length: Three to 16 weeks

Optimal temperature: 68-82.4°F

Light: 18 hours daily

The cannabis begins to grow into an immature plant during the vegetative state. During this stage, the plant grows strong stems and leaves. Falkowski said this will require more water and nutrients and that a pH meter is important. A pH meter "checks the solutions of your water. It’s the key to unlocking nutrients, and if it’s too high or too low, people will experience nutrient deficiencies in the plant,” he said, noting that nutrient deficiencies can stunt the growth of the plant and ultimately kill it before it flowers.

Step 4: Flowering

Length: Eight to 11 weeks

Optimal temperature: 68-82.4°F

Light: 12 hours daily

This is when buds form. Falkowski advised growers to provide plants with the equivalent of full sunlight and to increase airflow, which builds strong branches. Consistent airflow helps regulate humidity and prevents excess moisture. Without it, plants become more vulnerable to pests such as flies, fungus gnats and spider mites, according to the OCM. The OCM recommends using a dehumidifier to maintain air quality during indoor grows, as growing indoors can cause high humidity.

Step 5: Harvesting, drying and curing

Cannabis plants are ready for harvesting when their trichomes — a small outgrowth of crystallized resin on the cannabis plant — have a cloudy and amber look, Warno said.

“Once they turn cloudy, they have THC in them,” he said.

The amber hue signals the presence of other cannabinoids, which are natural compounds in cannabis that affect how the brain and body respond to things like pain, stress, appetite and sleep.

Falkowski said growers should dry the plant in a dark, ventilated room at 60–65 degrees and 50–60% humidity. After about two weeks — when branches snap cleanly — the buds are ready to cure.

“That's how you know they're ready,” Warno said.

Growers should then put the buds in sealed glass jars for curing for up to six months, a process that helps break down chlorophyll, sugars and starches, which helps improve the flower’s taste and smoothness, Warno said.

If buds show signs of mold, discard them immediately.

Now what?

That's up to the grower and how they want to use or consume the flower.

It’s illegal to sell, barter or trade homegrown cannabis.

But giving it away as a gift is allowed.