Have you ever considered growing weed outside in the winter?
To most cannabis cultivators, this idea of raising plants in cold weather is futile. Crops struggle to develop, and frost can wreak havoc on your buds, destroying them long before you can enjoy their unique fragrance.
Not everyone has the luxury of living in a warm climate. Luckily there are a few tricks to successfully raise popular strains like Cookies fem seeds in the cold.
Do you want to learn how to beat the elements and raise potent yields?
Here we share a few helpful tips for winter cannabis cultivation, ensuring the best results for those living in colder areas.
Let’s get started.
6 Tips for growing weed in the cold
If you live in a cold climate, you need to decide whether growing weed indoors during winter is better than outside. While both options are possible, picking the right one comes down to your budget and experience level.
Here are six tips you can use to make your entire experience a bit easier, regardless of which method you select.
1. Choose cold-resistant strains
One of the biggest mistakes novice growers make is picking a cannabis cultivar based on popularity rather than utility. When buying marijuana seeds for your setup at home, you need to consider the strains' genetics.
Choosing a sativa that prefers a tropical climate when you live in cold weather is setting yourself up to fail. Selecting indica-leaning cultivars that can resist low temperatures will turn the tide in your favor.
2. Find a spot with morning sun
Temperature and humidity levels play a crucial role in crop development, even when growing autoflowers outdoors in the winter. While you can’t control these elements, you can choose where to plant your cannabis seeds.
Cultivators living in cold areas should raise their crops in an area that receives morning sun. This technique allows you to avoid issues like mold and botrytis, as the warm rays help to evaporate dew and moisture.
3. Don’t discount HPS lighting
Over the years, LED bulbs have become the go-to option for indoor cannabis growers for various reasons. While HPS lighting isn’t as efficient and won’t last nearly as long, it offers one important advantage. Heat!
These older generation bulbs act as heaters while providing your crops with light, keeping the cold temperatures at bay. Remember to monitor a thermometer in your indoor grow tent and turn off the lights if it gets too hot.
4. Factor in root development
Many beginners use containers to raise weed in cold temperatures, especially when learning how to grow autoflowers. While pots offer some advantages, they don’t withhold any heat, making it hard for the roots of your crops to develop.
Experienced cultivators have found that planting cannabis seeds directly into the ground keeps crops warmer. This technique also allows your plants to reach their full size as they’re not restricted to a small space.
5. Flip your lighting cycles
Sometimes, you need to think outside the box when learning how to grow a weed plant in winter. A popular method to achieve successful harvests in the cold is changing when your indoor crops receive light.
While it may sound complicated, the procedure couldn’t be simpler. All you have to do is turn on the lights at night and switch them off during the day. As a result, temperatures don’t fluctuate and remain constant throughout your plant's development.
6. Learn how to spot potential problems
No matter where you cultivate cannabis, learning how to diagnose an issue early prevents all your work from going down the drain. Here are a few symptoms of cold crops you need to look out for:
Foliage becomes yellow
Crop development is incredibly slow
Edges of leaves begin to curl upwards
Stems and foliage turn brown and begin to die
Don’t let the weather give you cold feet
Although it’s challenging, growing weed outside in the winter isn’t impossible. Choosing the optimal genetics and area to raise your crops is only half the work. You need to ensure your plants stay warm at all times and correct any issues the moment they’re diagnosed.
