To many, growing marijuana indoors seems like a private and ideal way to maintain control over temperature, and manage other threats that might shrink plant yield. However, that is not always the case. There are many advantages of outdoor growing, many of which will be discussed below.
Why it is better to grow marijuana outdoor
How to find a suitable growing location
Minimizing risk and avoiding discovery of your crop
Projected growth of an unattended, outdoor garden
Disadvantages of indoor growing
Outdoor plants produce higher yields
Reduced costs associated with growing outdoors
Outdoor growing improves the quality of your buds
Why it is better to grow marijuana outdoor
Many growers choose outdoor sites because it only takes a decent location and proper care, to enjoy healthier, stronger plants that produce a greater yield.
Indoor plants, on the other hand, are almost always smaller. So to produce the same amount of cannabis buds, you will need to harvest more indoor plants. This requires more time, effort and work. Compare that to the advantages of outdoor growing, which include:
- Increased security
- Greater yields
- Reduced expenses.
These considerations make outdoor growing the optimal choice.
How to find a suitable growing location
The federal prohibition on marijuana challenges many growers to find a suitable outdoor growing site. It is difficult but possible. Marijuana is a very adaptable plant and can grow in a variety of locations and climates.
In the 1960s, people planted their marijuana plants on their own property and in their backyards. But since the War on Drugs, growers need to be wise and avoid criminal penalties. Right now, to become a successful grower you need to think about the stealthiness of your site. You also need to be certain that, if discovered, nothing is left behind that can trace back to you. More about finding the right grow location in my free grow bible.
Minimize risk and avoid discovery of your crop
There are a few things you can do to minimize risk and avoid discovery of your crop. You can try planting on southern hillsides. Make sure those hillsides are on public property – this will minimize your liability. Also, make sure the site is one you can easily return to on a regular basis and that there is access to sufficient water and light.
Projected growth of an unattended, outdoor garden
Because of marijuana’s versatility, within just a few short months of planting and tending your crop, you can expect beautiful, profitable plants.
With the proper nutrients, light and water, marijuana easily reaches seven feet (or even taller) within a single season. Sativas reach as high as 12 feet tall! The reason for such rapid growth in such a short span of time can be attributed to marijuana plants having a large number of leaves.
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The more leaves a plant has, the more surface area it has to absorb the sun’s energy and use that energy for growing. Remember, leaves get their energy through photosynthesis. When the growing season nears its end, the energy that has been stored in the leaves is then directed into the flowering of the large, thick buds.
Disadvantages of indoor growing
If you grow in your apartment, garage, or some other area on your property, you have virtually no defense, or no ability to shift blame, should your plants ever be discovered.
If you do grow indoors, it’s important that you’re selective in who you tell. While you might tell more receptive family members and close friends, you will want to steer clear from sharing information about what you’re growing inside your home with your neighbors.
To successfully grow plants inside your home, it requires one to not only dedicate an entire room in their home to the growth, but it requires the use of expensive growth equipment to simulate the light and water conditions that your plant would get outdoors.
Regarding related expenses, because the plant requires lights and heat to be constantly running on a tightly controlled schedule, utility bills will quickly mount.
The smell associated with the growth will also be extremely difficult if not impossible to disguise. Although you might elect to use an activated carbon filter in an attempt to lessen the odor, it will not eliminate the odor completely, especially when your plants are almost ready to harvest and have the most potent odor.
Outdoor plants produce higher yields
Although growing your marijuana indoors is clearly a good way to have better control over external environmental differences important to growing healthy plants, as referenced above, they will never get to the size of healthy outdoor plants.
Plants grown outdoors can double the size of plants grown indoors while using about half as much energy. This will not only result in larger buds but requires much less expertise and time in doing so.
Download my free marijuana grow guide and learn how to grow like a pro
Under the most perfect of conditions, with your outdoor plants, expect yields that reach up to 17.5 oz (or 500 grams) of marijuana per plant. To do this, you will need to have a large parcel of land that allows you to space your plants 3 to 5 feet apart.
To ensure this high level of growth, you will also need to make sure the outdoor plants receive enough water, nutrients, protection from pests and disease. You also need to take care to germinate marijuana seeds early on as this is key to plants having the necessary time to grow large.
Reduced costs associated with growing outdoors
Aside from space and electricity concerns associated with growing your marijuana indoors, the expensive equipment needed to do so includes both a lighting and air system, as well as measuring tools, none of which are cheap.
The only expenses associated with growing your marijuana outdoors are marijuana seeds, something to germinate it in, and some fertilizer. All other necessary ingredients like the sun, rain, temperature and humidity, wind, and nutrients are naturally produced and free to all.
Perhaps the only downside to growing outdoors is needing to occasionally check for bugs or diseases, or adding a few extra nutrients. These factors would not have to be as closely addressed if growing indoors. Provided you can find a suitable area to grow your plants outdoors, you should be able to easily and cost-effectively manage your crop without the added expense of growing indoors.
Outdoor growing improves the quality of your buds
Although growing your own marijuana can give you the gratification of having a lovely plant to look at, knowing that you grew it from the seed up, most growers do not place this at the top of their list regarding why they choose to do what they do.
Instead, they are looking for a great high. And when it comes to the best quality high, you should focus on all aspects. Everything is important and impacts the end results – including the seeds, strain, and the time and effort you put in. A better high comes from growing top quality weed.
When you are growing your own weed, you can have complete control over its quality. When you choose to grow your marijuana outdoors, you’ll experience a higher yield that lasts long (saving you time and money).
You also have a guarantee of freshness, in addition to a certain degree of peace of mind in knowing that no one could have tampered with it.
If you’ve ever walked down the street in a large city, you’ve probably realized how easy it is to purchase weed. You may have also realized that the quality of that weed is much different from what you might find if you‘ve known the grower or you‘ve grown your own. When it comes to those purchased on the street, not only are they lighter than what you expect, but they’ve had fillers included in them including both leaves and stems.
Marijuana that has a dull brown color can be unpleasant to smoke and may easily cause a headache instead of a great high. This type of marijuana is caused by picking and drying methods that cause it to lose its normal green and purple colors. It is not worth the money.
Therefore, if you are looking to experience a better high and taste, you need to grow your own plants to ensure it’s of the quality you desire. So, find a good growing spot, get your seeds and start growing your own marijuana!
Fun fact: Five to seven large marijuana plants will yield an entire one-year supply for a single person.
Thanks for reading. Please leave comments or questions below and don’t forget to download my free grow bible.