Outdoor Cannabis Growing can be one of the most cost-effective and efficient ways to grow our favourite Marijuana plant. I stand with the belief that what the sun can do no other artificial light will be able to do even though the efficiency of most of the grow lights is pretty high. The best thing about it? Lighting is free and ventilation is free.
It can be a little more tricky than growing weed indoors as you have much less control over the environment in which your plants are being grown, however, if done right, outdoor cannabis by far outperforms indoor grown when it comes to yield and quality of our favourite buds. Indoor-Grown Cannabis is more famous for the enhanced terpene and cannabinoid profile present in each and every plant.
Outdoor-grown cannabis is grown facing elements such as heat, wind, rain etc. which may, at times enable less terpene production. Having said that, it has been proven time and time again that outdoor-grown cannabis is in fact superior to indoor-grown cannabis.
What Types Of Cannabis Seeds Should I Use?
It is often recommended to stick feminized or regular seeds when trying to grow outdoors as they are simply known to thrive in such environments while Autoflowering plants are known to thrive when grown indoors. There are many exceptions to the above as no one cannabis plant is the same however if you are looking for impressive yields, exceptional quality and a delicious terpene profile feminized are the seeds to go for when trying to grow outdoors.
The below strains are known to thrive outdoors:
Climate
With so many cannabis strains available to us nowadays, it is important to keep in mind that there are cannabis strains which are known to do well in each type of climate. Generally, strains which are classed as “sativa” are known to do better in hot, environments while strains which have been classed as Indica are known to thrive better in colder more humid environments. Always read the product description in order to achieve desired results.
Weed plants like temperate climates, typically between 60-75°F. Anything under 50°F can slow a weed plant’s growth and negatively impact the plant. Below that and plants can freeze.
Temperatures of 75-85°F are at the high end of the hot climate for weed plants. Anything above 85°F can negatively affect plants and cause them to wilt. When it gets hot, plants will need more water than usual.
Lighting
Cannabis, like any other plant, requires a light source to grow towards, If you live in a country where the sun just never shines, or in an area where there is no direct sunlight, it might be better to consider greenhouse or indoor growing.
Make sure that the plants are receiving a minimum of 6 hours of daily direct sunlight. The plant will simply not grow properly without this amount of lighting, this may result in plants dying, deformed plants, and a longer time to grow. It is also recommended, to put a grow light on top of the plant itself when it goes dark, in order to achieve maximum results with an 18/6 or even 20/4 light/dark schedule. Please keep in mind that any seed except auto-flowering requires a 12/12 light schedule in order to be able to go into flowering. So keep in mind to turn this light off for the ‘extra’ hours when you decide you would like to send your plant into flowering.
Wind
Having a constant breeze is good for your plants, especially in hot climates. But if you live in an area with a lot of high winds, consider planting near a windbreak of some sort, like a wall, fence or large shrubbery.
Space
Whether you are growing in your own backyard, your own field or farm or you are looking to do some Guerrilla growing there are some things you may need to consider.
First of all, keep in mind that some cannabis strains do tend to grow really, really big. I’m talking human height big! While this is undoubtedly a desirable trait when growing bud do keep in mind to always allow enough space.
If you are guerrilla growing (no judgement here) keep in mind to choose your strains wisely. There are some strains which do tend to remain quite small, making it better to keep away from unwanted eyes. Another recommendation would definitely be, to plant other seeds around your plant, such as tomatoes, basil and other vegetables or flowers to make your operation covert. (Please do not take this as advice to do anything illegal in your country)
Check out the below strains which would be perfect for any guerrilla growing.
Preparing Your Soil
Whether you are growing in your backyard, your garden or any other place. Make sure the soil is healthy enough and packed with enough nutrients to create an ideal habitat for the seed to grow in. The soil in most places may be dry and not worth much any more due to the lack of nutrients present in the soil due to previous growing or time facing the elements. I would recommend buying a bag of super soil mix or heavy soil mix. These kinds of soil are simply packed with all the nutrients your lovely cannabis plant will need to live. It will provide all the nutrients your plant will need for the first few weeks and then you can start with your nutrient plans.
Soil has three basic consistencies, in various ratios:
- Clay
- Sand
- Silt
Soil also varies in:
- pH level
- Water retention
- Texture
- Nutrient makeup
- Drainage
Having said that:
Check out the below BioTabs products which have been proven time and time again to be the best kinds of nutrients packed with all the nutrients your plant will need to produce those delicious and abundant buds.
Pests And Microbes
One major danger when growing outdoors is that your plants are vulnerable to any sort of pests and microbes present in the outside world. While there are some products and remedies which will be able to help in such instances prevention is always better than cure.
1) Choose a pest-resistant strain
Make sure that you choose seeds which are resistant to pests and microbes. It will say in the product description if the plant is resistant to the elements and which kind of seed is more suited for your environment.
2)Water your plants with an antiseptic remedy at least once a week
The antiseptic remedy we have found most useful is as follows
- 500ml of water( ideally with a PH of 5.8-6.5 depending on your growing medium)
- 1 garlic clove chopped
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp dish soap
i) Mix 500 ml of water with the garlic clove and the cinnamon and let it sit in water for 24 hours so that all the antiseptic qualities can be transferred into the water.
ii) Once 24 hours are over, add the 1/2 tsp of dish soap, mix thoroughly and spray onto the plant.
The above process will keep any pests at bay while killing any which may have started to form on your plants.
What To Do If Your Plant Is Infested?
My advice again would simply be to stick to the process above. I would recommend staying away from any products such as Neem Oil, I have seen one too many plants which have died with such a product, try to use organic as much as you possibly can, especially when treating your plant from an infestation.
How To Tell If Your Plant Is Infested?
Changes in leaf colour or texture can signal an insect problem. Leaves may become spotted, speckled or yellowed when insects are present. Leaves might also become distorted or misshapen, often looking cupped or pinched. You may spot webbing draped along leaf undersides or where leaves attach to stems.
Often enough you should be able to see the actual microbe if you look with a telescope closely enough. This is not always possible due to the plant’s structure, pests may be hidden towards the inside of the plant where it is not so easily accessible with a microscope.
Different Types Of Pests
Below are some different types of pests which are known to destroy outdoor cannabis crops particularly
Spider Mites
Cannabis Aphids
Caterpillars
Leaf Miners
Thrips
Whiteflies
Best Pest-resistant Strain
- A strong robust outdoor plant suitable for all climates
- It produces extremely high yields
- Prize winning hybrid with beautiful purple colours and great mold resistance
- For many years the favourite strain for outdoor growers worldwide
Also Interesting
How To Germinate Cannabis Seeds Outdoors
As already discussed in a previous article, there are many many ways to germinate cannabis seeds but today I will only discuss my two favourite ones for outdoor growing.
Paper Towel Method
I have to admit that out of all the germination options available out there this is by far my favourite one and the one I use the most frequently. It has a 90% success rate and it is very easy and straightforward to do.
Step 1) Dip your cannabis seeds in water and let them sit overnight to soften the shells.
Step 2) Put a paper towel in water and wrap your cannabis seed in it
.
Step 3) Place the paper towel with the cannabis seeds inside a sealable plastic bag and close everything in a container with a lid and store inside a dark place.
Seeds will normally germinate within 24-72 hours.
Germinating Directly In The Soil
This method again is very simple to use, I find the paper towel method to be much more effective however optimal results have been achieved with this method too.
Step 1)Once your soil has been prepared, make a hole into the soil about half an inch down with your finger, and place the seed.
Step 2) Spray Water onto the seed every morning and every evening
The plant will normally sprout within 3-10 days.
When is the best time to plant cannabis outside?
In the Northern hemisphere, outdoor weed growers usually put their plants outside in April Or May, depending on the specific climate—for example, it will be a little earlier in California, and a little later in Washington state. Before then and it might be too cold for delicate seedlings.
Growers often start germinating seeds and growing seedlings inside in warm, controlled environments weeks or months before, so that plants have longer to grow and are sturdier when they are transplanted outside in the spring.
What size pot do I need?
In general, 5-gallon pots are a good size for small-to-medium outdoor plants, and 10-gallon pots or larger are recommended for big plants. Regardless of size, you’ll want to protect the roots of your plants from overheating during warm weather, as pots can quickly get hot in direct sunlight. This will severely limit the growth of your plants, so be sure to shade your containers when the sun is high in the sky.
So Why Should I indulge in Growing Cannabis Outdoors?
First of all, it has been time and time again proven that outdoor-grown weed is simply superior in yield and quality to weed grown indoors with the same methods and by the same grower. This is simply because the plant is meant to be in nature. Even though the process of feminized cannabis seeds to flower is always longer, it is worth the wait for the spectacular yields they tend to produce.
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