Growing cannabis outdoors is an enjoyable and fruitful activity only if you correctly understand how to do it. It is not something where you throw seeds on the ground and expect them to grow miraculously.
The outdoor growth of cannabis requires a lot of research. You need to assess the soil type, know the site, choose the proper pest-control techniques, and carry out a thorough inspection regularly.
Plus, you also need to know whether you want to grow indoor or outdoor. Both aspects have different stipulations for healthy growth and ideal harvest. Today, we focus on growing cannabis outdoors. The best thing about growing outdoors is a minimal investment and higher returns.
Here, we present to you the top 9 essential factors to consider for growing cannabis outdoors. You can start with the process by buying the best seeds from leading cannabis seeds supplier websites like i49.net.
So, get your notebook quickly and save all the tips for the best outdoor growth this season.
1. Choosing The Right Strain For Growing Cannabis Outdoors
You must choose the right strain of cannabis when growing outdoors. This choice of strain mainly depends on the location and climate of your growing spot. Picking the appropriate strain means aligning it to the environment where you will grow.
Cannabis Strains For Cold Temperature
Short summers and winter frosts can adversely affect the quality of your cannabis growth. People living in cold temperature climate places like northern Europe have to pick their strain accordingly. Jamaican Pearl is one of the ideal strains for growing in this cold temperate climate.
Cannabis Strains For Warm Temperature
Growers have a little more advantage when growing in a warm, moderate climate. Most of the commercial strains are developed for the specific purpose of growing in warmer temperatures. Cannabis grows best in mild winters and long summers. Sativa and Indica are the best strains to grow in these climatic conditions.
2. Start Germinating And Growing Plants Indoors For A Week Or Two
Most outdoors growers prefer to germinate their seeds indoors. It is best to give them time to grow in pots for about a week or two under artificial lighting like CFL lights.
This will help you protect the seedlings from getting attacked by birds or insects in their initial tender stage. It is also ideal if the outside condition is still a bit cold.
Your cannabis plants must go through the phase of hardening to get used to the outdoor environment for optimal growth. You have to put the plants outside a few times while protecting them from harmful elements.
Within a week or two, they will get used and hardened for further growth outside without hassle.
3. Choosing Pots Or Soils For Outdoor Growth
You can either sow your seedlings directly into the ground or place them in a pot. Both of these growing medium choices have their own benefits, which are stated below.
Benefits of Growing on Ground
- No restriction on the amount of moisture and nutrients available in the ground soil.
- Your cannabis plants can grow to their full potential, which is reaching the maximum height without any restriction of root growth.
- You can enjoy maximum yield for the season.
- Cost-saving as there is no need to buy growing pots.
Benefits of Growing In Pots
- Growing pots give you the flexibility to shift the plants anywhere you want, especially if you are growing in a rainy area.
- You have maximum control over the growing size and growth rate of your cannabis plants.
- You will enjoy contamination-free soil for the optimal health of your cannabis plants.
4. Good Soil Preparation For Growing Cannabis Outdoors
You must prepare the soil efficiently for the best growth of your plants. Look out for the pH level of the soil. If it’s too low, then add lime to increase or make it alkaline. If the ph is too high, add Sulphur to decrease or make it acidic.
Also, check for the consistency of the soil. Cannabis grows best in loamy soil or soil with high content of silt and sand with a minimal amount of clay in it. For soil fertility, you can add manure or mulch to increase the amount of nutrients in it.
5. Choosing The Right Spot
Any spot that is well-irrigated, sunny, and sheltered with a good drainage facility is the best spot for growing cannabis.
You can pick a forest clearing spot that receives a good amount of sunlight and is sheltered by the wind. If you want to grow in a hilly area, look for the aspect. The south-facing side of the hilly terrain is the best spot to grow cannabis as it enables maximum hours of sunlight with south winds.
6. Pick The Appropriate Timing For Outdoor Growth
You must be aware of the changes in rainfall patterns, seasonal temperatures, and daylight hours of your growing area. For instance, in temperate regions, the daylight hour changes are considerable between seasons. This helps the photoperiod plants determine whether to perform the vegetative growth stage or start the flowering stage.
If you wish to have vegetative growth of your plants in the time of early spring, you may get a shortage of hours of daylight. So, it is best to wait for mid-April in the northern hemisphere regions or mid-October in the southern hemisphere regions to get your seedlings for vegetation.
If you’re a resident of a warmer climatic region, then consider yourself lucky as you can harvest more than once a year. Areas near the equator can take advantage of their abundant sunlight and warm temperature to yield a maximum harvest. Monsoon is the time to avoid vegetation, as your cannabis plants are highly likely to carry molds.
7. Proper Care of The Outdoor Plants
You must check your outdoor cannabis plants frequently. If you’re growing the plants on pots outside, they will need your special care as they cannot access any groundwater.
In hot temperatures, your cannabis plants will need a great deal of water for growing. It is crucial to give them plenty of water supply to avoid dry out and enable their optimal growth.
Also, regular checking will help you identify any issues with your plants, such as nutritional deficiency or pest attack. If regular checking of your plants is not possible, you can apply the drip-feeding method to ensure that the plants stay hydrated.
8. Pick the Appropriate Timing For Harvesting Outdoor Plants
Harvest time is the most awaited moment by the growers where they enjoy target fruitful results of all their hard work. However, many new growers compromise the quality of their final cannabis product, the buds, by an extremely early or late harvest.
You must keep two essential things in mind when you’re wondering the time to harvest:
- Your observation while monitoring and evaluating the cannabis buds on its flowering stage.
- The variety of cannabis plants that you are growing.
You will find a label of indication for the flowering stage while buying the particular cannabis seed you’re growing. This is an excellent way to know the right timing for your harvest.
One of the most effective ways to determine when to harvest the outdoor cannabis plants is proper inspection. With the help of a magnifying glass, you have to observe two things when your buds will come close to the end of their flowering stage.
- Look for the color of the tiny hair-like protrusions, known as pistils.
- Check the color of the trichomes of the buds.
You will notice that the pistils will slowly change their color from white to dark reddish color. If you want the maximum THC level from your buds, wait for 60% of the pistils to get curly and darkened.
If you want maximum CBN effect (more calming and less psychoactive), then wait for 70-90% of the pistils to get darkened and curled in.
You can also check the trichomes to know the harvest time. With the help of magnifying glass, you can notice the trichomes turn from white to amber or golden in color. This means that the THC level is at its maximum in the buds.
If 30% of the trichomes become amber, you can consider it the ideal time for harvest. If the trichomes have turned grey, the perfect time to harvest has gone.
So keep calm and regularly inspect to get the ideal yield expected from your plants.
9. Practice To Become Perfect
All of the tips mentioned above may look daunting but don’t get carried away with the idea. Growing cannabis outdoors is one of the most exciting, relaxing, and rewarding experiences for growers.
Growing cannabis is not only about harvesting and enjoying the final buds but also about the knowledge and connection between plants that human beings have loved for centuries.
If you’re growing cannabis outdoors for the first time, the results may not be perfect. The only solution to mastering this art is to practice every season for the best results. Nobody becomes a master overnight. So take your time and keep growing.
Final Thoughts
From this comprehensive guide, you must have known the essential tips to consider while growing cannabis outdoors. So, you can bookmark this article for your best use to become a master in growing cannabis. Ensure to follow all the tips and get satisfying results.
Keep Growing! Happy Smoking!
