Winter Time and Cannabis – Tips for Growing
Cultivating marijuana during winter doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
Today, we’ll demystify the common misconceptions surrounding winter time and cannabis.
We’ll also share secrets that veteran 420 farmers use to grow marijuana in the cold.
Believe it or not, farming cannabis in cooler conditions actually has a few advantages.
It’s common knowledge among farmers that cannabis is an incredibly versatile and adaptable plant. This is why it’s harvested in regions all around the world.
There are optimal conditions for a marijuana plant to thrive in Mother Nature. It should be planted in fertile soil (in a location that receives direct sunlight) and should receive a decent breeze and consistent temperatures between 20-28°C are also ideal.
Unless you happen to reside in places such as Jamaica, Colombia, California, Australia, or another place in close proximity to the Mediterranean, growing seasons for cannabis are short due to weather conditions that are often unpredictable.
For these reasons, indoor marijuana cultivation has become a global trend among cannabis farmers; especially for growers in freezing, ice-cold Northern latitudes where outdoor growing isn’t possible.
However, in places such as Eastern Europe and Canada, cannabis is harvested outdoors annually despite the cooler climate.
In reality, no matter the location, marijuana can be cropped year -round. The trick to doing so is devising a grow plan that accounts for inclement weather patterns. If growing outdoors, it’s vital to the health of your plants that you study your local environment, sun cycles, and climate.
Best Cannabis Strains to grow Outdoors in Cold Weather
Every harvest is controlled by the genetics chosen by the grower to crop.
Whether the grower chooses to cultivate using clones or seeds, the potential of the harvest and flower is ultimately dictated by the genetics used.
If you plan to grow your next harvest in cooler conditions outdoors, choose the strain wisely. Indoor harvesters, in reality, manage the world their plants grow in. From environmental controls to giving plants the nutrients needed for optimal growth and yield, indoor farmers can grow any strain they choose during wintertime.
However, in the midst of winter, sub-zero temperatures and heavy snowfall can upset even the greatest of indoor growing operations.
In the event temperatures fall below 15°C, the plants will become endangered. At these temperatures, pests and pathogens become tremendous threats to plants. Growth will halt and leaf discoloration will set in if the cold affects the plants for too long.
In outdoor, cold-weather conditions, only resilient strains stand the chance of surviving winter. It’s a minuscule chance of success that makes the gamble a risk worth not taking, especially if snow and sleet are projected.
As the saying goes, it’s best to be a flexible cannabis farmer than to be a stubborn one without a crop.
Even veteran outdoor cannabis farmers usually keep one or two mother plants inside in their vegetative state in order to safe keep the plants from the cold. At the very minimum, covering the plants with plastic sheets or housing them in greenhouses are precautionary measures all growers should consider.
Auto-flowering: Hands down, these are the best genetic-variety strains for cold-weather cultivators. If weather conditions are less than optimal, growers need to crop quickly to avoid the worst of winter conditions. In as little as eight weeks after germination, auto-flowering strains can go from seed to crop.
Ruderalis Genetics: This is a hardy species of cannabis that’s grown in Russia and Central Europe. It’s commonly used by cannabis breeders for cross breeding purposes. This allows cultivators to create a hybrid, and to give their dominant strain the characteristics of Ruderalis, including auto-flowering.
This strengthens auto-flowering strains. Many times, the bloom cycle takes in as little as 30 days as they aren’t photoperiod-dependent.
Mold: This is the greatest threat to wintertime cannabis growers. Low temperatures and high RH creates ideal breeding conditions for fungus. Stay ahead of the curb, beat the cold weather, and grow a fast-flowering hybrid or auto-flowering strains.
Critical
You’d be hard-pressed to come across a strain that’s as resilient as Critical. It grows well even in cold northern climates.
Most Northern harvesters prefer Critical for its 7-week flowering time. It’s relatively short height means it’s easy to manage and makes it the ideal genetic candidate for those cultivating in limited spaces.
When grown indoors, Critical’s height is usually 80-140cm. Your crop will be beautiful buds that have an earthy, sweet, and pungent smell.
When considering Critical’s resilience and its 550–600g/m² per-plant yield, it’s one of the best wintertime and cannabis strains to grow.
Northern Lights Auto
This classic indica-dominant strain was popularized by Dutch coffee shops.
However, the United States now has tremendous demand for this strain due to its powerful, euphoric, and cerebral effects.
The indica qualities are distinctively recognized by the taste.
Personally, when I smoke Northern Lights, I’m reminded of smoking a plant that comes from the Afghan lineage. The fruity taste adds to the sensual and complex high one experiences.
You may wonder what could make Northern Lights any more appealing. Well, how about quicker flowering times?
With it being such a powerful and great-tasting strain, it’d be a shame if growers from all parts of the world couldn’t grow it.
To make sure growers in all regions could, including those in cold climates or for those cultivating during wintertime, Royal Queen Seeds bred Northern Lights with Ruderalis genetics to create a hybrid that became known as Northern Lights Auto (you can purchase them here).
This means wintertime growers can enjoy this iconic strain while also enjoying 5-7 week flowering time.
Usually testing at 14% THC, this strain delivers a pleasantly manageable and uplifting high that will deliver the feel-good, couch-locked effect that can last for hours.
Yields are also rather respectable. Grown indoors, you can expect a per-plant yield of 500–550 g/m², decreasing to 170–220g/plant when grown outdoors.
