Today, we venture out to discuss a hot topic - growing cannabis outdoors. If you’re one of the lucky ones, you have enough space (and privacy) to grow marijuana under the sun. The rest of us are growing in our tents...not that I’m complaining; you work with what you’ve got. But we’re not here to debate whether growing indoors or outdoors is better - we’re here to provide you with our top 3 tips for growing cannabis outside.
-
Location, location, location
Picking a spot in your garden is one of the most important factors to consider when setting up an outdoor grow. First you want to make sure your plants will be in a spot that receives unrestricted sun for the majority of the day. You don’t want to place your plants in a spot where they’ll be in the shade for a large part of the day. It’s all about maximizing your plant’s time in the sun.
It is also important to ensure your plant is protected from strong winds. If you’re in an area where strong winds occur, choose a protected location, or at least plant the seeds close to bushes or in between other plants.
You also want to strategically place your plants away from any areas that are particularly susceptible to insects or animals. We don’t recommend placing your plants near your birdhouse or the one spot where your dog loves to let loose. It may be worthwhile to invest in fencing off the area for increased protection with light wiring.
-
To pot or not to pot
Your next big decision is whether you will grow your cannabis in a pot or directly in the ground/soil beds. Here is what you need to consider: do you want to be able to easily move your plants to follow the sun or have access to water? If yes, pot it. If you don’t mind your plant being stationery during its grow cycle, let it grow in the ground.
If you decide to pot your plants, don’t buy a black pot. Pick any other colour that your heart desires. Black absorbs a lot of heat which may stress your roots. In addition, make sure you place your pots directly on the grass. Do not place your pots on tiled floors or other surfaces that absorb more heat and can stress your roots. Happy and stress free roots are the key to a successful grow.
For those growing in a soil bed, make sure to space your seeds at least two feet apart, to give them the space they need to grow freely. If you like your plants large and bushy, you should double that distance.
-
Get in the zone
Growing outdoors means you are not fully in control of your plants’ environment. While you can do your best to control what is in your power, like location, feeding and watering schedules, you resign some of the control over to mother nature. The number one tip we can give you is to ‘let it go.’
Once you acknowledge and accept it, you will be able to take on any challenge thrown your way. You will be a force against nature, getting your plants through torrential downpours and desert-like conditions. You will be your plant’s savior to the holy land of consumption.
---
With these three tips in mind, your foundation is set and you are ready to begin the planning process. However, there is so much more that goes into successful growing outside. One example is selecting the right strain that suits your environment. Other factors to consider include testing your soil, testing your water, deciding where to germinate, deciding when to start growing outdoors, watering at the right time, protecting against pests and everything else under the sun.
Stay tuned as we will write more about it in upcoming blogs.
If you are growing outdoors this summer, we want to know what your experience has been like. Has it been easy? Would you do it again? What’s one thing you wish you knew before you started?
Leave us a comment below!
Leave a comment