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How does growing weed in the winter affect cannabis plants?
Things to keep in mind when growing weed in winter
Are you thinking about cultivating marijuana outside or growing weed indoors during winter?
Even though marijuana plants flourish in warmer conditions, cultivating cannabis crops in cooler weather is feasible. It’s even less challenging if you're growing them inside.
There are several fundamental factors to incorporate if your goal is a healthy winter harvest. These elements include genetics, environmental control, lighting, and temperature consistency.
Are you ready to learn how to cultivate cannabis crops in the cold for a bountiful harvest? Keep reading to discover various tips and tricks for growing marijuana in frosty weather. We'll also explore the best way to set up your cultivation area to enhance your chances of success.
Let’s jump in.
Can weed grow in the cold?
Can you grow weed in the winter? Yes, if you choose the right strain, select quality seeds, and create the ideal environment.
Growers don't usually cultivate photoperiod outdoor weed seeds in winter, as they depend on specific light cycles to mature. Only a few of these strains have more robust qualities and can withstand cooler conditions.
Most outdoor cultivators opt for autoflower crops, as they’re hardier and thrive throughout the year, provided there's no frost.
In most cases, you have a better chance of a successful harvest if you opt for growing marijuana indoors during winter.
How does growing weed in the winter affect cannabis plants?
Weed plants typically thrive in warm, Mediterranean conditions with moderate humidity and plenty of sunshine. Some cannabis varieties also require specific amounts of daylight hours to transition to the final maturity phase.
As these crucial factors aren’t available in cold weather, what happens to crops when you grow weed in winter? Cannabis plants are resilient and sometimes survive in temperatures slightly below the optimal range. However, drastic weather may negatively impact their health.
When learning how to grow weed outside in the winter, there are two main things to look out for:
- Root shock
- Mold
When cultivating weed seeds in Alaska or another region with freezing temperatures, the soil usually drops below 60°F.
Once it cools to around 54°F, it negatively affects the crops’ roots. Your plants' metabolism slows, making it harder to absorb water, oxygen, and nutrients. Although this impact isn't visible immediately, crops start wilting after a while and display signs of stunted growth.
Growing weed outside in winter may cause hermaphrodite plants, in some of the newer strains, which leads to self-pollination and poor-quality buds.
The cold season also brings precipitation in certain areas accompanied by excessive moisture. When rain, frost, or snow settles on your marijuana crops, water may get caught in the crevices of the leaves and buds. The result is usually a mold problem that's tricky to remove.
How cold can cannabis get?
Can weed grow in the cold? It depends on a few factors.
The genetics of a strain help determine how hardy it is, and certain ones can survive in cooler environments.
Another essential element is the average temperature in the area. Regions with mild winters are typically safe for cannabis crops, but they won't mature in places with a bitterly cold season. Opt for an indoor grow if you want to cultivate weed seeds in North Dakota, for example.
Cannabis crops thrive in temperatures around 65–85°F, but the exact range varies according to each cultivar. If you're growing marijuana outside in winter, check the weather daily. Use pots and bring your plants inside, or consider a greenhouse if it's a particularly cold day.
Weed crops can handle slightly cooler temperatures around 59°F, but any lower puts their health at risk. The best strains to grow in winter are those that don't depend on specific light cycles and have resilient properties.
Things to keep in mind when growing weed in winter
In certain regions, growing weed in the winter outdoors requires added protection, like a canopy or greenhouse. These shelters allow you to create a conducive environment for your plants and maintain a consistent temperature for growing cannabis.
If you live in an area with mild winter weather, you could cultivate crops without a shelter.
Let's take a closer look at the fundamentals of how to grow weed outdoors in winter:
Pick the most cold-resistant weed strains
The genetic composition is vital when selecting a cannabis strain. While some photoperiod strains flourish in cooler climates, opting for an autoflower variant is usually safer.
Indica plants are typically hardier than sativas, but many hybrids are sturdy and robust enough to endure cold weather.
Here are five of the most cold-resistant cannabis strains:
1. White Widow autoflower: Veteran growers often select White Widow autoflower when growing weed in the winter. These plants have a compact structure and don't require much maintenance. The crops are tough enough to withstand cooler conditions.
This indica-dominant strain contains up to 20% THC. During the late flowering phase, crops exude herbal notes with refreshing hints of citrus. When growing winter crops, the indoor yield averages 10–15 oz./m² and 2–3 oz. per outdoor plant.
2. Skunk #1 autoflower: Growing cannabis in winter deprives your plants of warmth and makes the humidity levels less than ideal. Choose a strain resistant to mold and other pathogens that isn't fussy about moisture. Skunk #1 autoflower fits this profile perfectly.
It contains 10–15% THC and gives off earthy aromas with subtle sweet notes. Skunk #1 is indica-dominant and takes roughly eight weeks from seed to flower. Indoor yields average around 8–10 oz./m², while outdoor crops typically produce 1–4 oz. per plant.
3. Northern Lights autoflower: The development speed is another factor to consider when you grow weed in winter. A range of marijuana plants mature within a few weeks and still provide impressive harvests.
Northern Lights autoflower typically takes around eight weeks from seedling to harvest, even when growing weed in the winter. It's an indica-leaning hybrid that offers buds with 12–14% THC and sedating effects.
The nugs give off sweet aromas, and the indoor harvest is high for an autoflower. Inside, these crops produce 14–17 oz./m², while outdoor plants yield about 2–5 oz. each.
4. Green Crack x Core feminized: This cultivar is ideal for winter cultivation and has sativa-leaning properties. The crops are ready to harvest in roughly nine weeks and feature THC levels of around 15–18%.
Green Crack x Core feminized is sweet and fruity with hints of pepper and incense. Growers can expect a healthy harvest of 14–17 oz./m² indoors and 17–21 oz. per outdoor plant.
5. Critical 47 feminized: This hybrid strain is an excellent option for growing weed in the winter. Critical 47 feminized boasts indica-leaning traits and fruity flavors. It contains 15–18% THC and induces euphoric sensations.
Critical 47 feminized is hardy and robust, ideal for winter growing. It thrives when exposed to enough light. The foliage can get dense, so prune it regularly to enhance airflow and minimize the risk of mold. Expect 14–21 oz./m² indoors and 14–24 oz. per outdoor plant.
Germinate your seeds indoors (regardless of the season)
Starting your marijuana seeds indoors boosts their chances of growing into healthy plants. They need warmth, higher humidity levels, and minimal light exposure.
There are various ways to germinate your weed seeds. Once they pop, continue nurturing them indoors. This requirement is one of the main rules when learning how to grow a weed plant in winter.
Even in a grow room, temperatures might be low. Some cultivators use a seed starter kit with a heat mat and humidity dome to create the ideal germination environment. Consider using this technique when learning how to grow weed indoors in the winter.
If you want to grow outdoors, slowly introduce your plants to the cold weather when they develop some foliage. Take them outside for a few hours during the warmest part of the day, and bring them in at night. Give your crops time to adapt to the cooler temperatures.
Gradually increase how long you leave them outside. When your plants acclimate to their new environment, keep them in containers and bring them inside if it gets too icy.
Keep cannabis roots warm when growing weed in winter
Can you grow weed outside in the winter? Yes, if you keep the roots warm.
One of the main reasons marijuana crops wilt and die in winter is that the roots get too cold. When this happens, the plant's metabolism slows down, affecting its ability to retrieve water and nutrients from the soil.
Keep the roots warm to avoid these issues. If you're cultivating in containers, use heat mats. Crops planted directly in the ground should be able to retrieve heat from the soil.
Control the humidity and protect crops from rain and snow
Controlling the relative humidity (RH) indoors is straightforward, but outdoor growers don't have the same luxury. It’s vital to track the various environmental conditions when learning how to grow weed outside in the winter.
Before exposing your crops to the outdoors, ensure the temperature and humidity levels are within the ideal range. If your region is prone to precipitation, put up a shelter to guard your marijuana plants against damage. Heavy rain, snow, and frost can harm them.
Keep the RH around 40–70% indoors, depending on the specific strain and maturity phase. The higher end of the range is recommended during the early life stages. Keep it lower when the crops flip to flower.
Mind your nutrients when growing weed in winter
When it comes to supplementation, you need balance. Too few nutrients may result in a marijuana crop deficiency, while an excess could burn your plants.
The air is typically drier when growing weed in winter than in warmer months. Plants sometimes compensate for this by absorbing more water and nutrients.
Stick to moderate feeds to avoid over-supplementation, and keep the roots warm to ensure they function optimally. In cases where the plant’s metabolism slows down, the radicles can't retrieve nutrients, even if they're present in the soil.
Choose the right lighting for growing weed in winter
Growing marijuana indoors during winter requires specific lighting. Select between LEDs and old-school HIDs for the best results. Although the current trend favors the former, the latter may be better for cultivating in cold weather.
HIDs are affordable, reliable, and easy to set up, making them an ideal choice for growing marijuana indoors during winter. Regular growers don't use them due to the heat they emit, but this added warmth is a benefit in winter.
LEDs have a heftier initial cost, but they're more energy-efficient. They also run cooler than HIDs, and while this is helpful in warm weather, it’s a drawback in winter. If you opt for LEDs, regulate the temperature in your growing area accordingly.
Consider a greenhouse
A simple solution for growing weed outside in the winter is to use a greenhouse. It allows you to control the temperature and humidity levels more efficiently while making the most of the sun's energy.
In many ways, a greenhouse offers you the best of indoor and outdoor cultivation. The structure gives you the freedom to grow cannabis all year round while reaping multiple harvests. It also provides you with more privacy than a conventional outdoor setup.
One important consideration is cost. The initial installation of a greenhouse is quite pricey. However, it’s a worthwhile investment if you plan to grow all year round.
Let it snow
Now that you know how to set up an indoor and outdoor winter grow, you can cultivate cannabis in all four seasons. Start your marijuana seeds inside and only expose them to the cold once they develop some foliage.
Ensure your growing area has a consistent temperature range and the proper humidity levels. Use appropriate lighting and keep the roots warm so the crops can absorb adequate water and nutrients.
Cultivate marijuana strains that have robust genetics and can withstand the cold. Use quality cannabis seeds to get the best results.
Are you ready to grow weed in colder weather? Browse our wide selection of marijuana seeds and begin your cultivation journey.
