How long weed grow outdoors

Plastic containers are also light and inexpensive but tend to retain more heat than fabric pots. Flowering plants need a container that is at least 5 gallons Planting directly into the ground or a raised bed requires a bit more preparation but has its benefits as well.

Without a container to restrict growth, roots can grow deep and thick to support a strong plant. The added surface area also allows the plant to access a greater quantity of nutrients and water in the soil, compared with a container garden. The major downside is that the plants cannot be moved and could require additional structures to protect them in the case of extreme weather.

Cannabis requires more nutrients than many of the other plants you may have in your garden. Quality soil contains enough organic nutrients to start the growth cycle, but as your cannabis plant grows and transitions into flowering, it may deplete the available nutrients and require additional fertilizers.

The three primary nutrients required for cultivating marijuana are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. During the vegetative phase, plants need more nitrogen in order to create the roots and leaves that serve as the base for flowering. During the start of the flowering cycle, the plants will require more phosphorus and potassium than nitrogen.

Towards the end of the flowering cycle, once the majority of the nitrogen has been depleted, the plants will focus their attention on using the remaining nutrients.

The lack of nitrogen is largely responsible for the vibrant purple and orange hues that can be seen on large fan leaves and throughout the plants' colas. Avoid all-in-one fertilizers as they can be too high in nitrogen for the flowering cycle and damage any beneficial microorganisms that may be present in the soil.

Instead, choose a line of nutrients created specifically for cannabis, and use its suggested feeding charts to avoid over- or under-feeding. Organic sources of nutrients are best, as they are a great source of beneficial microbes, but they may take longer to break down and become available to the plant. Both types of nutrients can be found in dry, pre-blended powders or liquid emulsions, but can also be made from scratch with the right ingredients.

Organic compost tea , which includes nutrient-rich ingredients, like molasses and earthworm casting compost, is a popular homemade brew for cannabis farmers. Organic sources of nutrients include alfalfa meal, bone meal, kelp meal, bat guano, fish emulsion, dolomite, and earthworm castings. Each contains different ratios of nutrients that can be used for different phases of the plants' growth cycle.

The amount of water a plant needs largely depends on its size, the size of its container, the soil type, and general environmental conditions such as the weather and the intensity of the sun. Larger plants in warmer environments tend to use more water than smaller plants in cooler weather. The amount of water needed will change throughout a plant's life cycle. During the vegetative stage, water your plants thoroughly, then not again until the top 1 inch 2.

This can be every day or every four days, depending on conditions, but the time between watering will become shorter as the plant grows its roots.

Container gardens tend to dry out faster than soil beds, so they'll need to be watered more frequently. Wilting plants and dry soil are a direct sign that plants need water. Droopy leaves along with wet soil are a sign of overwatering. Both are common mistakes and can be avoided with some practice.

For a small garden, hand-watering is the easiest, cheapest way to go. It also allows you to get familiar with each cultivar's needs, and gives each plant the exact amount of water it requires. Irrigation systems can be convenient for a large number of plants or for times when you cannot be in your garden.

Pests and wild plants are an inevitable occurrence when cultivating cannabis outdoors. Most issues can be avoided with proper planning. Clearing a buffer area around your plants can go a long way, but your first line of defense is a healthy plant that can defend itself naturally.

Pests come in many forms , from large deer and gophers to small slugs and spider mites. Larger animals and pets can be kept out of the garden with fencing, while gopher wire beneath your soil beds can keep rats and gophers from eating the plants' roots.

Weeds will not damage cannabis, but they will compete for the nutrients in the soil and reduce the quality and yield of your crops. A light layer of mulch on top of your soil can prevent weeds from sprouting in the middle of your plants' cycle. Avoid spraying synthetic insecticides on your cannabis plants as further research is needed to determine the health effects of smoking plants treated with synthetic chemicals.

Organic pesticide and insecticide solutions can be effective if used properly. If you can avoid it, it is always best to not spray anything on your plants while they are flowering. Beneficial insects, fungi, and bacteria can also be used to protect your plants from their parasitic or predatory counterparts.

Jumping spiders, ladybugs, and other native, beneficial predatory insects can clear your crop of insects such as aphids and whiteflies. When sourcing beneficial insects, fungi, or bacteria, it's important to research those which are native to your region.

Even if it is legal to grow cannabis outdoors where you live, you should still take some precautions to hide the plants from public view. And it's often required by law.

Apart from light and nutrients, growing plants also require proper hydration and humidity levels. The growing season in the northern hemisphere starts at the beginning of spring, and the harvesting period is early autumn.

Keep in mind that only feminized seeds grow into female plants that produce psychoactive cannabis buds, while male plants pollinate the female plants in order to produce more cannabis seeds, which is why you should keep male and female plants separated.

The first stage in the cannabis growth cycle can last anywhere between 3 and 10 days which is sufficient time for the marijuana seeds to sprout or pop. Germinating happens after a minimum of 24 hours of soaking your plants in water. During this stage, the seeds increase in size as a result of absorbing water, breaking the shell open, and forming taproots.

The seedling stage lasts between 2 and 3 weeks during which the initial leaves appear. Your cannabis plants are considered seedlings until they develop their first leaves with an adequate number of blades on them.

This is the stage during which your cannabis plant will be the most vulnerable, therefore you should make sure it has enough light, humidity, and nutrients.

Some outdoor growers even start their seeds under a grow light to ensure their plants have enough light about 16 hours of light. The vegetative phase is when your plants get taller and grow stems and leaves but not buds , and can last between 3 to 16 weeks.

For outdoor growing, your plants will need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight and a few more hours of indirect sunlight during the vegetative stage. The flowering stage is the final stage in the cannabis growth cycle. But how long is flowering stage outdoors?

Once your female plants reach this stage, you need to switch them to a light cycle 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness so they can start growing even faster.

A few weeks into the flowering stage, your plants will start producing budlets. Be sure to give it plenty of light. Even if growing outdoors, a lot of growers will start their seeds inside under an artificial light to help them through this delicate stage of marijuana growth.

If you buy a clone from a grower or breeder it will be a seedling, so you can skip the seed germination phase. This is also the time to begin topping or training your plants. Be mindful to increase your watering as the plant develops. Vegetative plants appreciate healthy soil with nutrients. Feed them with a higher level of nitrogen at this stage. If you need to determine the sex of your plants to discard the males , they will start showing sex organs a few weeks into the veg stage.

The flowering stage is the final stage of growth for a cannabis plant. This is when plants start to develop resinous buds and your hard work will be realized. Most strains flower in weeks, but some can take even longer, especially some sativas. Outdoors, flowering occurs naturally when the plant receives less light each day as summer turns into fall. Indoor growers can trigger the flowering cycle by reducing the amount of light marijuana plants receive from 16 to 12 hours a day.

There are a number of changes to consider once plants go from the vegetative stage to the flowering stage:. Buds typically grow the most toward the end of the flowering life cycle. Buy marijuana seeds on Leafly. By submitting this form, you will be subscribed to news and promotional emails from Leafly and you agree to Leafly's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.