You can grow marijuana indoors at any time of the year and cultivate it outdoors during the summer months. However, can you also grow cannabis outdoors during the colder winter months?
This article answers that question, highlighting the many challenges you face and offering tips to increase your likelihood of success.
It Depends on the Temperature
First and foremost, you can only grow marijuana outdoors during the winter if you live in a place with a mild climate. The ideal temperature range for cannabis plants is between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and approximately 58 to 65 degrees at night.
Once the temperature falls to a certain level, it shocks the plant’s root systems. If the soil temperature gets below 54 degrees Fahrenheit, your plants’ metabolism will slow down rapidly. Consequently, they will have difficulties taking in nutrients, water, and oxygen from the growing medium. Also, most of the enzymatic processes required to aid growth will come to a shuddering halt.
In a nutshell, your plants will experience stunted growth at best. They may even stop growing altogether. If this becomes an issue, invest in heat mats to keep the soil’s temperature high enough for your plant to continue growing. Another option is to add a layer of mulch to protect the roots.
Overall, to get the best results, you need to keep the temperature of the soil between 60 and 68 degrees. Your plants will experience stable root growth within this range.
Don’t Forget About Light
The amount of sunlight your marijuana plants are exposed to plays a huge role in how well they grow. Remember, they require plenty of light for photosynthesis, the process of converting water and carbon dioxide into energy.
A lack of sunlight during the day is another huge challenge in trying to grow marijuana outdoors in winter. One option is to place them outside in a well-lit area during the day and move them into a grow tent with artificial light to ensure additional light exposure.
Choose Your Strain Carefully
Ultimately, you’ll have the best chance of success if you take a while to carefully decide which strain to grow. Ideally, you’ll forget about standard photoperiod strains and opt for an autoflowering strain instead. This type of strain flowers based on how long it has been growing rather than the level of light received.
Thus, you can rely on your strain to move from the vegetative stage into flowering without having to worry about light exposure. Autoflowering cannabis contains ruderalis genetics, which means it is tough enough to survive challenging growing conditions. Such plants produce a lower yield, but when trying to do something as difficult as growing weed outside in winter, you should take what you can get and be grateful for it!
Some worthwhile strains to consider include:
- Quick One Automatic
- Northern Lights Auto
- GG#4 Auto
Begin Indoors
No matter what, you should always begin the growing process indoors. Once you’ve germinated the seeds, you’ll need to protect the fragile seedlings. If you attempt to move the seedlings outdoors in winter, they won’t last very long.
Thus, begin growing your seedlings in a warm, humid environment indoors. It may also be worth your time to buy a seed starter kit to give your plants the best possible chance.
After a couple of weeks, your plants should begin vegging. You’ll know this is happening because they begin to come up through the soil. Don’t consider transplanting your seedlings outdoors until they have developed a strong stem and several nodes.
Another sensible option is to only leave the seedlings outside for a few days at a time. When the weather becomes particularly rough, bring them back inside.
Do You Have a Greenhouse?
In an ideal world, you’ll have a greenhouse, which makes the process of growing marijuana outdoors in the winter that much easier. Building a greenhouse doesn’t cost nearly as much time and money as you might think.
Growing your plants within this structure enables you to have greater control over temperature and humidity. A greenhouse also keeps your cannabis protected from frost, rain, and high winds.
Keep a Constant Eye On Your Plants
If you’re committed to growing marijuana outdoors in the winter, constant monitoring is a must. First and foremost, you need to regularly measure the outdoor temperature, not to mention the soil’s temperature.
The good news is that soil thermometers are inexpensive and readily available. When adding it to your outdoor garden, follow these instructions:
- Take the reading at the recommended planting depth, which is usually a few inches
- Use a screwdriver to create a pilot hole; this ensures that you don’t break the thermometer by pushing it into hard soil
- Measure the temperature in the morning and late afternoon and get an average of the two readings
If the soil’s temperature goes below 54 degrees, you have no option but to bring your plants indoors. Here are some other quick tips:
- Rather than trying to grow your marijuana plants directly in the ground, grow them in pots. This makes it easy for you to bring them in and out whenever you need to.
- The good news is that you can water your plants less often in winter. As it is usually colder and more humid at this time of year, your plants require less water.
- If possible, place your plants on a balcony or a south-facing terrace (if you live in the Northern Hemisphere).
- Try to find areas that are well-protected from drafts and cold temperatures.
- Start planting earlier in the year to ensure your plants aren’t outside during the harshest periods of winter.
- Moisture from frost, snow, or rainfall can become trapped on the flowers or leaves of your plants, increasing the risk of mold. Check your plants regularly and gently remove this moisture.
You Can Grow Cannabis Outside In the Winter In Certain Situations
Simply put, any attempt to grow marijuana outdoors in a harsh winter will lead to failure. You can only achieve a successful harvest if you live in an area that experiences mild winters. If the soil’s temperature gets too low, your plants WILL die.
If you insist on trying it, choose an autoflowering strain. This type of marijuana goes through the growing cycle relatively quickly and is capable of withstanding harsher growing conditions than other strains.
Grow your plants in pots, monitor them continuously and if the weather becomes too inclement, bring them indoors.