Growers with various experience levels can optimize nature’s provisions to grow cannabis and achieve the highest yields. Many cultivators prefer growing their crops outdoors to expose them to natural sunlight. This natural exposure creates a wider cannabinoid and terpene variance than crops grown under artificial grow light.
Our post shares more details on how to grow your cannabis outdoors. We will also give you tips for selecting the right strain that fits your climate. Remain on this page to learn and benefit more.
Table of Contents
Why Should You Grow Cannabis Outdoors?
Let’s start by looking at why growing cannabis outdoors is the best option for experienced and novice growers.
- Lower cost. Outdoor cannabis growing provides your crops with the essential elements for healthy growth: warmth, air, and sunlight. Depending on how you want to grow your marijuana, you may need fertilizers, pots, and seeds. However, you won’t incur the extra electricity costs of producing artificial lighting.
- Bigger harvests. Growing your marijuana outdoors produces higher yields if you do it correctly in ideal conditions. Your plants feel freer and grow taller without any limitations.
- Environmental friendliness. Outdoor growing is a natural method that consumes less energy. Additionally, it lets you enjoy growing by connecting with nature.
- Easy to work with. Lastly, any grower can work with this method because it requires no additional or extensive experience. Unlike other artificial methods like hydroponics, you only need to know how to handle your crops’ basic needs. You won’t require additional training to set up and maintain the system because it’s all-natural.
Three Primary Considerations When Growing Outdoor Marijuana Seeds
Contrary to Western beliefs that claim cannabis grows better indoors, the truth is that these plants have grown in different climatic conditions for thousands of years. Our fathers cultivated this plant outdoors from Asia to Africa and South America. So, it can survive the cool and arid Afghanistan mountain ranges the way it does thrive in humid Colombian regions.
The only challenge facing cannabis is extreme weather conditions like heavy winds or frost that can break its branches and cause mold. However, all other plants can also suffer from the same adverse weather conditions. But granted, proper timing and maintenance are necessary for growing cannabis outdoors – learn more on this subject at https://askgrowers.com/seeds/outdoor.
Therefore, we recommend intimately familiarizing yourself with your local seasons and climatic conditions. Although cannabis cultivars vary, the following general rules apply universally regardless of your chosen strain.
Temperature
Cannabis needs daytime temperatures between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Exposing your plants to temperatures above 88 degrees Fahrenheit or below 60 degrees Fahrenheit could retard their growth. Naturally, cannabis tolerates heat, but persistent highs and extreme lows can adversely affect it.
Season
Pay attention to seasons before planting and harvesting your cannabis. Knowing the right timing ensures you don’t waste your time in a process that won’t yield satisfactory returns. In the Northern Hemisphere, you can plant cannabis in early to mid-spring and harvest it in mid-fall, depending on your preferred cultivar. In the Southern Hemisphere, you can reverse the growing season, plant in early to mid-fall, and harvest in the middle of spring.
Light
Lighting and exposure to light are another critical factor. In the season’s first half, the daytime duration increases until the summer solstice, occurring in the Northern Hemisphere around June 21 and Dec 21 in the Southern Hemisphere. Your cannabis’ vegetative stage happens with increased daylight hours. During this phase, cannabis develops the roots and stems that serve as its growth foundation until blooming.
Tips for Growing Cannabis Outdoors
Here are quick and actionable tips for growing marijuana crops outdoors.
Pick the Right Strain
You must select the best strain for outdoor growing because some cultivars are ideal for indoor cultivation, indoor growing, and/or both. Choosing an outdoor strain ensures your plantation survives outdoor elements. The strain must suit your region’s particular climatic conditions to survive and yield optimal results.
Start Your Cannabis Indoors
We recommend starting your cannabis plants indoors under artificial lighting for a week or two. This way, you protect your seedlings against birds or insects that could eat their tender shoots. Moreover, your plants get a positive head-start if outdoor conditions remain unfavorable. You may pass your cannabis through this hardening period to make them gradually accustomed to environmental changes.
Choose the Correct Soil or Pots for Outdoor Growing
You must select the right growing soil or pots for your outdoor cultivation. We recommend choosing pots or soil after closely examining their relative advantages and disadvantages.
Select the Right Location
Selecting an ideal planting location is necessary for successful outdoor growing. The cultivation spot must be sheltered, sunny, properly irrigated, and have excellent drainage. The location must be far from human activity within your vicinity. For instance, choose a forest clearing that receives sufficient sunlight amount and is sheltered from the wind.
Timing Is Crucial
In successful growing, timing is as important as investing time in growing cannabis. Pay attention to your region’s seasonal temperatures, rainfall, and daylight hours. Consider this element because it determines the most suitable planting and harvesting time.
Care for Your Cannabis
Successful growing requires caring for your marijuana. Check your plants regularly, especially when cultivating them in outdoor pots without groundwater access.
Your plant will need more water for healthy growth during hot temperatures. Therefore, water them on time and adequately to guarantee their proper growth. The frequent examination also helps you detect any challenges, such as nutrient deficiency or pests.
Choosing the Right Cannabis Strain for Your Region
Now comes one of the most vital components of successful outdoor growing suitable for your region. As a rule of thumb, study your region’s climatic conditions well before choosing a strain. This consideration lets you understand the best strains that survive in your locality. For example, farmers should plant tropical weed strains in Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and the Gulf Coast.
It would help to choose your strain based on your region’s seasonal changes. For example, a strain originating in California thrives in the Californian season growing. Such a strain might not attain its full potential outside its native climate because it might have a shorter growing season.
No matter which strains you select for your location, always choose seeds that germinate into healthy plants. This choice is the only way to guarantee a bumper harvest that will be worth your investment. So, pay attention to your seeds’ genetics.
You can get over this issue by buying seeds from a reputable vendor if you don’t know how to make yours. But if you know how to make your seeds, go ahead and do it.
Parting Shot
Growing cannabis outdoors shouldn’t be a hassle if you know how to do it and choose the most appropriate strains for your region. We shed light on this matter to help you get the best returns on your investment. Go ahead and use this information to boost your cultivation.
The author of this article is Lana Braslavska, an expert in cannabis growing and an experienced PR manager for various cannabis brands. Lana works on user and grower education to spread word of mouth about the essentials of weed growth and bridge the gap between aspiring cultivators and big, rewarding yields. She shares her insights and tips as a full-time blogger at AskGrowers.