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Growing Weed Indoors vs. Outdoors: The Key Differences
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Cannabis is one of the oldest crops in the world. It appears to have been cultivated more than 12,000 years ago! Cannabis may be grown in its natural environment without fear of being persecuted for millennia. Marijuana went from a herbal cure to an illegal drug in the United States during the 20th century, however.
Cannabis was banned by the state of Massachusetts in 1911. In 1937, the federal government passed a stringent anti-marijuana law known as The Marihuana Tax Act. The nail in the coffin for cannabis came with The Controlled Substances Act of 1970, which labeled it a Schedule I substance “with no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”
The passage of stricter marijuana laws in 2014 resulted in significant modifications to cannabis cultivation methods. To avoid committing a crime, producers switched to indoor production to stay out of sight. However, the relaxation of marijuana restrictions now allows cannabis cultivators in certain states to produce lawfully again.
This article will clarify the main distinctions between growing herbe plants indoors and outside, as well as the cost differences.
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Indoor Growing – Pros
Indoor marijuana production has several advantages. Indoor growers have more control over variables like temperature and humidity, which allows them to reduce some of the hazards associated with outdoor cultivation, such as rain or extreme heat.
Another advantage of cultivating cannabis indoors is the opportunity to produce all year.
Another benefit of cultivating cannabis indoors is that you can produce all year long. You won’t have to wait for a growing season, allowing you to harvest several times each year. With 3-4 harvests per year, you’ll be well ahead of the game when it comes to outdoor marijuana cultivation.
Cannabis can also increase the likelihood of staying on the right side of the law. Indoor farming is becoming more popular in a growing number of states. However, people must conceal their plants from view in states where cannabis growth is still prohibited. It’s considerably simpler to do so when cultivating cannabis indoors.
Indoor Growing – Cons
Indoor lighting can assist you in growing aesthetically beautiful cannabis plants with high THC levels. However, no lighting system can compete with the power of the sun. The sun generates enough energy to light 2,880 trillion light bulbs. It also gives our planet 35,000 times more energy than those of us who use electricity on Earth!
As a result, California’s magnificent sunshine will produce vastly superior marijuana yields over those produced by indoor plants. To imitate natural light in an indoor grow room is quite expensive. In the ‘Cost of Growing Weed Indoors’ section below, we’ll go through this in further depth.
Indoor cannabis growth does not guarantee that your plants are bug-free. Pests, such as aphids and spider mites, can wreak havoc on your plants if they are not given adequate protection.
Outdoor Growing – Pros
Cannabis has been cultivated outside for tens of thousands of years, and it has adeptly adapted to its natural environment. Although cannabis plants are vulnerable to pests and disease when they are outside, they benefit from the assistance of Mother Nature. Ants, ladybugs, and wasps all eat mites and other pests that can damage an outdoor crop.
Because of their enormous size and the space required, certain marijuana strains develop to be unsuitable for indoor cultivation. You won’t be able to grow a 15-foot plant indoors unless you have access to a warehouse!
Another advantage of growing weed outdoors is the prospect for a significantly greater harvest. Outdoor farms usually have considerably higher yields than their indoor counterparts. Outside, certain strains achieve far greater yields than inside, simply because they enjoy being outside.
All plants require carbon dioxide (CO2) to flourish. Using equipment like CO2 canisters to increase or duplicate CO2 levels inside is possible, but it’s pricey. Naturally, since outdoor growers don’t have to worry about this, outdoor cannabis growers do not have to spend money on that.
Another advantage of growing weed outdoors is that since the plants are fed with nutrients, they feed off them. As a result, feeding cannabis plants outside is less expensive since to the amount of natural elements available in the soil.
From an environmental standpoint, there is no comparison between growing weed outdoors and indoors. Outdoor crops have a significantly lower carbon footprint than indoor grows. The enormous energy consumption (not to mention the expense) involved in operating indoor equipment is nothing short of astonishing. Consider how much electricity would be consumed over many years to power the lighting, dehumidsifiers, exhaust fans, and so on for each grow cycle.
Outdoor Growing – Cons
Crops cultivated outdoors have a longer development period and are entirely dependent on their natural lifecycle. As a result, you may be able to harvest your crop only once a year. Nature also presents its own set of problems. If the weather in your area is particularly dry or wet this season, it might create issues.
Extreme cold, on the other hand, can harm your plants. Plant mold and/or bud rot are two risks associated with too much rain. Excessive temperature may also kill your plants. Fires, tornadoes, and storms may destroy an entire harvest in a few hours.
Only a few states allow cannabis farming, but with the condition that it be done indoors.
Squirrels are known to eat cannabis plants. Larger predators such as deer have been documented eating cannabis crops, and there is little question that the weather has become less predictable in recent years.
Finally, you may not be allowed to grow marijuana in violation of the law. In Colorado, residents can produce cannabis without a business license. The majority of states that allow cultivation have agreements in place stating that the plants must be grown in an enclosed location and hidden from public view. It’s critical to note that local laws and rules differ significantly, as do state regulations and customs.
Prices of Growing Cannabis Indoors Versus Outdoors
There is no doubt that indoors cannabis cultivation is more expensive. first-time growers are frequently stunned by the list of equipment they’ll require. The cost of an indoor climate control system may be thousands of dollars each year.
If you grow indoors, you’ll have to deal with constant turnover. Pruning, watering, feeding, trellising, and harvesting are just a few of the activities involved.
Cost of Growing Weed Indoors
Although you may get several harvests each year, it implies continuous effort. Lighting alone might be a financial nightmare. We’ve heard tales of home growers who have monthly energy expenses of more than $4,000!
Also, if you choose a non-soil growing medium, you’ll to spend money on nutrients. Then there’s the expense of the gardening equipment, such as:
- A hygrometer for measuring humidity
- A thermometer for ensuring your plants are growing in the ideal temperatures
- Humidifiers and dehumidifiers
- Lighting equipment
- Ventilation systems
On the good side, you may be able to recoup some of your expenses since you can produce three to four harvests a year. Assume that the souche you’re producing costs $250 per ounce and that you yield 20 ounces per operation four times a year. You’ll have $20, worth of cannabis every year after taking into account all expenses. You may grow strains that are unsuitable for the climate where you reside while growing indoors.
However, several states prohibit home growers from generating a profit on their cannabis. Keep this in mind before attempting to become the world’s first billionaire marijuana grower.
Cost of Growing Weed Outdoors
The majority of your outdoor growing expenses will be incurred during the start-up phase. In an ideal climate, you don’t have to worry about lighting or ventilation systems. You don’t even have to pay for nutrients if you have access to fertile soil! However, you’ll need somewhere to grow that’s out of sight from prying eyes.
During the start-up of your operation, most of its expenses will come during this period.
If you already have land, great. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay to rent it as well as ensure that the owner doesn’t mind marijuana being cultivated on their property. Furthermore, if you run a large business, you’ll need to hire a few workers. Of course, investing in security measures to protect your crop from things like pests, inclement weather, and robbers is necessary.
Quality of Cannabis Grown Indoors vs. Outdoors
Indoor Growing
Indoor cannabis has grown significantly better in terms of quality owing to technological improvements and the availability of a lot of readily accessible knowledge on the internet. Being able to design ideal growing conditions indoors allows you to optimize your yields.
Cannabis grown in an indoor setting, on the other hand, does not suffer from the same issues that outdoor cannabis does, such as wind and rain.
Because of its low ripening rate, the buds are kept in excellent condition throughout the growth process and just begin to deteriorate after harvesting. Because you’re working with a tiny number of plants, picking them when they’re at their best is simple. The same also goes for drying and curing a small crop.
Outdoor Growing
Outdoor cannabis plants are vulnerable to their natural surroundings. As a result, their ideal form will most likely be lacking. When cultivated in rich soil outside, though, they should have a greater flavor and fragrance profile than those grown indoors.
Even today, marijuana farms in states where it is legal to cultivate cannabis must worry about being arrested by federal law enforcement.
Growers in states where outdoor cultivation is prohibited are taking significant chances. Because of the worry of being discovered, outdoor cannabis is frequently picked too early, and curing and drying are almost non-existent.
Final Thoughts on Growing Weed Indoors vs. Outdoor
To summarize, there is no right or wrong answer to the question, “Is it better to grow marijuana indoors or outdoors?” You must determine which option is best for you and most practical. If you live in an area where it is possible to cultivate cannabis organically and have secure land available, outdoor growing should be explored. Outdoor cultivation might be beneficial if you live in an area where it is appropriate to produce marijuana and have ready-made property.
If you live in an area where marijuana cannot be cultivated outdoors, you have little option but to cultivate it indoors.
If you can’t grow cannabis outside, it’s your only option to do so. The advantages of indoor farming are minimal: significant start-up costs and frequent maintenance. On the other side, you may cultivate many batches of crops each year. You’ll discover that indoor farming is considerably less difficult than you anticipated when you get used to it.
Commercial greenhouses have increased in use since then, as they strike a balance between indoor and outdoor growth. Cannabis cultivated in this manner to date has delivered excellent results, which is an innovative development. Above all, you must continue to educate yourself if you want to cultivate marijuana. Finally, the more you learn – and the more cannabis you produce – the better your outcomes will be.
