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How to Grow Weed in a Greenhouse
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Are you new to growing herbe in a greenhouse? Learn the basics, and pros and cons for starting out.
Nurturing a garden is a fulfilling endeavor. It’s similar to the anxiousness and excitement you felt as a kid waiting for Christmas morning. But if you treat your plants with love and care, they will yield plentiful rewards. Our greenhouse guide provides useful tips on what to grow based on cost and space so that you can produce healthy plants indoors all year round—no matter what crop you choose to cultivate.
What is a Greenhouse?
A greenhouse is a structure ususally outdoors, made of tough materials like wood or aluminum. It’s covered with a transparent layer of specialized plastic, which allows growers to cultivate fruits and vegetables, herbs, plants–and marijuana.
People usually opt to use a greenhouse instead of growing outdoors because they can exert more control over the environment. Greenhouse weed often grows at a quicker pace and yields superior results because the plants are shielded from harsh weather conditions, have an abundance of carbon dioxide, and benefit from consistent temperatures.
There are many different materials you can use to make a greenhouse, and they come in all sorts of styles and sizes. For example, if you’re tight on money but have some space, you could make a hoop house out of PVC pipes and painter’s plastic. If budget isn’t an issue for you however, you could build an industrial-sized greenhouse with fancy features like automated ventilation and temperature controls.
There are many different shapes that greenhouses can come in such as gothic, A-frame, dome, tunnel, lean-to, gable etc. to fit your needs and the amount of space you have. Remember to put it in a spot where it will get at least six hours of sunlight each day.
What to Grow in a Greenhouse
A greenhouse is a multifunctional tool for gardeners to grow almost any type of plant. With the use of pots, raised beds, hanging planters, and trellises, you can also grow plants directly in the ground. Greenhouses excel in developing starts that will be transferred outdoors or act as a permanent home for plants.
Flowers grow best in hot, humid conditions found in a greenhouse. Even cold weather crops like lettuce, broccoli, and peas fare well inside a non-heated GH. During the peak summer months you’ll see tomatoes, squash, and cucumbers bloom rapidly under these scenario; however be sure to hand pollinate unless you have open-door access for pollinators to come inside.
An increasing number of people are building greenhouses for cannabis and creating wonderful harvests. By growing cannabis in a greenhouse, you get the best of both worlds – taking advantage of the sun like you would if it was fully outdoors while also having the benefits that come with an indoor grow space.
How Many Cannabis Plants Can You Grow in a Greenhouse?
The number of marijuana plants that can be grown per household varies by state in the U.S.. For example, each household can grow up to four recreational plants recreationally in Oregon. However, if you have a medical marijuana card, you can grow six plants per patient medically . The requirements for these numbers also differ between states.
Once you know your limits, it’s time to get a space that can accommodate your plants. If you use high-quality marijuana fertilizer and provide your plants with the best soil and sunlight possible, then you should expect enormous cannabis come harvest time.
When you’re growing weed in a greenhouse, it’s usually best to use pots so that you can move them around if necessary. If you choose this method, make sure you have at least an 8×8 foot area for each plant once it’s in its final container. Your plants need plenty of room for proper airflow, and it’s difficult to work in and around overcrowded plants.
Depending on the size of your mature plants, you might choose a final pot that is 65 gallons or smaller. However, some California and Oregon growers end up harvesting in 100 or 200-gallon pots.
Can You Grow Weed in a Greenhouse Year-Round?
The ability to grow weed in a greenhouse all-year long varies depending on your location and setup. A well-functioning greenhouse can support life no matter the climate, but even places with severe winters can maintain growth year-round by incorporating heaters. Aside from heating elements, you’ll probably need extra lighting to make up for shorter days. Even though these lights don’t create enough warmth to stop frost from harming your plants, they will offer some protection.
Gothic and A-frame structures are the best styles of greenhouses to prevent damage from heavy snowfall.
Items Needed to Start a Greenhouse Grow
These are the items you need to start a greenhouse grow, aside from cannabis seeds or starts:
- Greenhouse framing materials
- Durable covering
- Fans / ventilation
- Smart pots or something similar
- Soil or growing medium of choice
- High-quality nutrients
- Water reservoir and access to plenty of fresh water
- pH meters and adjusters
- Thermostat
- Trellis materials
If you want to increase your weed production, a light deprivation system might be the way to go. Light dep allows farmers to grow more than one crop per year by maximizing output.
How Much Does it Cost to Start a Greenhouse
It is tough to accurately price a greenhouse until you determine the precise size. A standard DIY greenhouse with aluminum framing and one layer of polyethylene (PE) plastic generally costs approximately $15-20 per square foot, independent of the cost lights, heat, or other growth materials. Conversely, a custom made greenhouse including an automated light dep system would be priced at around $35-40 per each square foot.
If you’re good at construction and want to get the most efficient greenhouse possible on a budget, you can build a light dep system into a 1,000 square foot greenhouse for around $10,000.
In addition to the initial cost of building your greenhouse, you’ll need to factor in the Material Costs for each individual plant. This includes any necessary lighting and heating equipment. Always be sure to have a calculator on hand so that you can accurately estimate these costs before getting started. There are plenty of other expenses associated with setting up your greenhouse grow operation, so it’s important to do your research beforehand!
Pros & Cons to Growing Weed in a Greenhouse
Weigh the pros and cons of a greenhouse before making your decision on whether to grow your plants indoors or outdoors.
Pros
- Extended growing cycle option for year-round growth.
- No matter the season, your family and garden are safe from common pests.
- Control over a microclimate to dial in ideal plant needs
- Enjoy a bountiful harvest each and every year.
- Growing hydroponically is environmentally-friendly and also cheaper than growing indoors.
Cons
- Depending on the climate, energy costs may go up if you need to heat or light your home during the winter.
- The smell and look of the property may not be pleasing to those living nearby.
- Can quickly occupy a lot of space that could be useful for other things.
- The cost of construction depends on the selected materials.
- Indoor grows are generally more high-maintenance than outdoor ones.
If you want to build a greenhouse, don’t make the mistake of thinking you can estimate what size you’ll need. Do some research on plant strains first so that you have an idea of how big your plants might be when they reach full maturity. Also, if you want to add some variety to your garden, leave extra space for vegetables like tomatoes or cucumbers. Doing this will allow you enjoy fresh produce during the summer months!
Best Strains to Grow in a Greenhouse
If you’re looking to grow cannabis in a greenhouse, autoflower or photoperiod feminized strains are your best bet. This is because autoflowers switch from the vegetative stage to flowering on their own, so you won’t need to worry about light schedules. Some of our recommended autoflowering strains include Purple Punch, Strawberry Banana, Frisian Dew, Wedding Glue, Northern Lights and White Widow.
If you’re looking to grow feminized seeds in your greenhouse, photoperiod strains are the way to go. They’ll do best with a light dep setup, and will flower as the days start getting shorter in late summer/early fall. Some of the highest-yielding strains for greenhouses include Blue Dream, Sour Diesel, Super Silver Haze, Critical Kush and Skunk XL.
Is Greenhouse Growing Right for Me?
After asking yourself the following questions, decide whether or not traveling is the best choice for you.
- Can I find the time and money to construct and run a greenhouse?
- Do I have the space to accommodate my plans?
- Is there fresh water available at this location, and is it easy to access?
If you’re looking to take your cannabis cultivation indoors, starting a greenhouse is a great solution. You’ll learn plenty along the way, and with any luck, end up harvesting some amazing buds.
