How to Grow Cannabis in Winter
If you’ve ever wondered whether you can grow cannabis in winter, the answer is yes, although it requires more effort than usual.
The easiest way is to grow indoors. However, if you live somewhere with mild winters and a warm spring, you can grow cannabis outdoors even in winter. Yes, really!
If you plan your grow properly, you can achieve both an early and a late harvest by growing cannabis in winter.
It may seem impossible to grow outdoors at this time of year, but your favorite seed bank is here to help with essential tips on how to grow cannabis in winter.
Discover How to Grow Cannabis in Winter: Key Tips
Make the Right Choice: Cannabis Genetics
You need to choose suitable genetics if you want to grow outdoors in winter.
Most cannabis strains prefer warm climates and long, sunny days, so there’s no point in choosing an exotic variety if you live somewhere with short days and long nights.
Unless you are growing indoors, autoflowering varieties are your only realistic chance of getting a winter harvest.
Thanks to the ruderalis gene, they are more resistant than photoperiod strains. They flower naturally and start their vegetative phase 2–3 weeks after germination, preventing re-vegetation when days begin to lengthen.
However, don’t assume you can simply plant a few autoflower seeds and leave them outside. There is much more to consider.
Start Your Cannabis Grow Indoors
Although these tips focus on outdoor winter growing, starting your plants indoors is not cheating—
it simply gives your seedlings the best possible start.
Autoflowers should germinate in a warm, humid environment and develop 3 or 4 nodes and strong stems before being placed outdoors.
Seedlings are fragile and have a much higher survival rate if they spend the first weeks protected indoors.
Gradually Transition from Indoors to Outdoors
You may consider moving your young plants outdoors in stages, bringing them back inside when the weather becomes too harsh or temperatures drop.
If you anticipate doing this, use smaller pots so they are easier to move; and always be cautious of temperature fluctuations, which can stress or shock the plant.
Signs of shock include stressed roots, discolored leaves, or curling foliage.
Generate Enough Warmth and Regulate Temperature
You cannot control outdoor temperature or humidity, but you can try to maintain the soil temperature at a minimum of 16°C.
If it drops below that threshold, the roots will suffer.
Using heat mats and insulating the outside of your pots can help maintain a stable temperature.
Protect Your Cannabis Plants from the Weather
The two most dangerous weather conditions for a winter grow are rain and frost.
Rain causes mold, mildew, and attracts pests, while frost can kill even the healthiest plant.
If you want to grow cannabis in winter, you must protect your plants from the elements.
Even in regions with mild winters, you are likely to face rain and bad weather occasionally.
The best way to protect your plants is by using a greenhouse or a protective cover.
Not everyone has access to a greenhouse, so many growers will need to move their plants indoors when the weather becomes too wet or too cold.
If you cannot protect your plants from the elements, outdoor winter growing is simply not an option.
Choose the Best Nutrition for Your Plants
You probably already have a feeding schedule: you know what products to use, when to use them, and in what quantities.
That knowledge remains useful in winter, but some adjustments may help maximize your harvest.
During winter, nutrient uptake may vary, so small changes in dosage can make a big difference.
Be Realistic About Your Harvest
Don’t behave like some people on dating apps—be realistic.
There’s no point dreaming of perfect 10/10 buds if you’re growing outdoors in mid-winter.
Growing cannabis in winter is like dating: lower your expectations and you’ll enjoy the process more.
You won’t get the same quality as a spring or summer harvest: no ultra-dense buds or heavily resinous flowers.
But if you follow these tips and get a bit of luck, you can still achieve a satisfying winter cannabis harvest.
Original version:
www.amsterdamseedcenter.com/en/blog/how-to-grow-cannabis-in-the-winter