How To Grow Cannabis: Indoor vs Greenhouse vs Outdoor Methods

As more people become introduced to cannabis, some also become interested in growing their own. However, you have to make a decision and consider how the cultivation method can impact the final plant and product. Whether you’re experienced in cannabis cultivation or just starting to learn about growing your own, you must first choose the right environment—indoor, greenhouse, or outdoor.

It’s easy to assume that one method is better than the other. But as anyone who has grown will tell you, the truth is far more complicated. Each method has its strengths and challenges. 

So, rather than making a quick decision, we’re providing a comprehensive guide to the three methods of growing cannabis. With enough information and a clear understanding of each method, you’ll be set up for success in your growing journey.

Indoor Cannabis

Indoor growing requires you to grow your cannabis in a controlled environment, such as a grow room, warehouse, or tent. If you choose this method, you’ll have complete control of the plant’s environment. Instead of nature’s unpredictability, you can manage and optimize every aspect of the plant’s environment, from lighting and temperature to humidity and airflow. This way, you can create the ideal conditions for your plants to grow and get high-quality produce. 

One of the major benefits of growing cannabis indoors is that you can grow it all year round, no matter the external weather conditions. You can even produce multiple harvests in a single year. Indoor setups are also free from many outdoor threats, such as pests, diseases, and unpredictable weather.

However, lighting is very important for indoor growing. So, you must use artificial lights, such as LED or HID (High-Intensity Discharge) lamps, to imitate the sun’s natural light. Additionally, you must maintain the right temperature and humidity levels to prevent mold and encourage healthy growth.

Growing your cannabis indoors can be costly due to high electricity consumption. You must also monitor them regularly and constantly adjust the growing conditions. So, it can be a bit labor-intensive. 

Advantages

• Environmental Control: Growers have complete control of the growing conditions from light to temperature, and humidity. You can also control the airflow to prevent mold and mildew and ensure healthy plant development.
• No Seasonal Dependence: Without seasonal limitations, you can grow multiple harvests per year, regardless of external weather conditions. You can even produce several harvests of different strains every year.
• Higher Quality/Potent Buds: By regulating the nutrients and light that your cannabis receives, you can maximize photosynthesis, leading to healthier plants and denser buds with more resin.
• Protection From Pathogens: You can easily prevent predatory insects, diseases, fungi, and other pests/pathogens from infesting your cannabis indoors. You can protect your crops by thoroughly sanitizing the growing environment.
• Discreet and Safe: You can set up your cannabis to grow anywhere you like, keeping it out of sight from neighbors and preventing unwanted attention. You also control who can access them, making it safer for the plants and the grower. 

Disadvantages

1. Requires Lots of Resources: The initial cost of setting up your cannabis indoors can be very high because you would need to purchase lights, fans, air conditioning, dehumidifiers, and other equipment. Running the equipment can also be costly due to high electricity bills.  
2. Labour-Intensive: Growing cannabis indoors requires frequent monitoring, pruning/training/trellising, repairs, and pest prevention. It can be stressful and time-consuming if you’re growing by yourself or have a very small team. You also need to understand how various systems, such as hydroponics, work so you can effectively manage the growing space.
3. Infestations Spread Much Faster: Due to artificial lighting and, sometimes, low ventilation, indoor cannabis runs the risk of infestation. Even minor contaminations can quickly spread and destroy an entire room of cannabis crops.  
4. Dependence on Equipment: If an important component like irrigation or lighting fails, even for a brief period, it can seriously stress or damage your plants.

Best Cannabis Strains to Grow Indoors

• White Widow: This classic strain is easy to grow. They are compact and produce a high yield, making them ideal for indoor setups.
• Blue Dream: This hybrid strain combines the best of both Sativa and Indica. It’s perfect for beginner growers because it produces large yields and is easy to manage.
• Girl Scout Cookies (GSC): GSC is a versatile hybrid that grows well indoors due to its medium size. It produces dense and frosty buds. It also has a sweet and euphoric high, making it a favorite among users.
• Granddaddy Purple (GDP): This Indica-dominant strain is loved for its vibrant purple buds, sweet, grape-like aroma, and sleepy high. GDP also thrives indoors and can provide pain relief.
• Northern Lights: This strain is known for being resilient and having a short flowering period. It’s a popular choice for indoor growers because it’s easy to grow and produces high yields. It also produces dense, resinous buds and offers a relaxing, full-body effect.

Tips For Growing Indoor Cannabis

• Choose the right strains of cannabis that thrive and are resilient indoors.
• Use high-quality LED or HID lights to provide adequate light for your plants.
• Use heaters, air conditioners, humidifiers, or dehumidifiers to maintain optimal temperature and humidity levels. 
• Choose a high-quality, well-draining soil mix specifically for cannabis. 
• Practice on just a few plants before expanding to a whole room.
• Regularly prune your plants to remove dead or yellowing leaves. 

Outdoor Cannabis

For many growers, growing cannabis in natural sunlight can be very rewarding. Outdoor cannabis plants enjoy the full spectrum of natural sunlight needed for healthy growth. As the days and nights change, it naturally controls the different growth stages of the plant. So, during the long summer days, the plant remains in a vegetative state, and as the days shorten in the fall, it begins to flower.

Indoor growing is also inexpensive, as you only need fresh air and soil. You don’t need expensive equipment like grow lights, ventilation systems, and climate control devices. This makes it environmentally friendly and an easier option for beginners. 

If you intend to grow many strains or bigger plants, you should opt for the outdoor growing method. You would have enough space for your plants to spread out and grow to their full potential. Additionally, outdoor cannabis plants often grow bigger root systems and structures, producing more bountiful buds.

Unfortunately, outdoor plants are exposed to extreme weather conditions like heavy rain, strong winds, frost, or drought, which can stress or damage them. Pests or insects can also attack them, so you must be vigilant. 

Advantages

• Cost-Effective: Outdoor growing doesn’t require expensive equipment such as lights, fans, and climate control systems. This makes it an easier option for many growers. You also consume less energy, saving you money on electricity.
• Larger Yields: Outdoors, cannabis plants have more space to expand. So, they can grow larger and produce more buds. They can also develop bigger root systems and strong structures that promote higher yields.
• Eco-Friendly: Growing your cannabis outdoors uses less electricity, making it a more sustainable option with a lower carbon footprint.
• Simple and Natural Method of Growing: Growing your crops outdoors is generally simpler and less technical. Natural sunlight, soil, and rain do much of the work. And since you’ll use organic methods, your cannabis will be cleaner and have more flavor. 

Disadvantages

• Exposure to Pests and Wildlife: Unlike indoors, your crops will be exposed to pests and animals, such as insects, mites, deer, rabbits, and rodents, that can eat the leaves and buds or destroy them.
• Environmental Risks: Outdoor cannabis plants are exposed to extreme conditions such as heavy rain, strong winds, frost, or drought that can stress or damage them. There is also the risk of pollutants and contaminants in the air, soil, and water, affecting their health and safety. 
• Security Concerns: Outdoors, your plants are visible and accessible, so they can be easily stolen. It can also be difficult to be discreet, especially in residential areas.
• Seasonal Limitations: Since the changing seasons determine your plant’s growth stages, you can only harvest during the growing season, which is largely once each year.  

Best Cannabis Strains to Grow Outdoors

• OG Kush: OG Kush is a hybrid strain that has a calming effect and an extremely intense high, which is accompanied by an earthy and citrus aroma. Aside from this, many growers love this plant because it’s relatively easy to grow outdoors and can handle various climates, though it prefers a warmer environment.
• Sour Diesel: Sour Diesel is known for its intense aroma and stimulating effects. This strain thrives in sunny, warm climates and can grow quite tall. It also produces high yields and potent buds.
• Super Silver Haze: Super Silver Haze has an energetic effect and a spicy, citrusy aroma. It thrives in warm, sunny climates and can grow large growth with high yields. It can also reach c heights outdoors.
• Durban Poison: Durban Poison is a pure Sativa strain from South Africa that is well-suited for growing outdoors because it grows fast and can handle hot and humid conditions. Users enjoy its energizing effects and sweet, earthy flavor. 

Tips For Growing Outdoor Cannabis

• Select strains that are best suited to your local climate. Some strains thrive in hot, dry conditions, while others prefer cooler, more temperate climates. 
• Ensure your plants receive at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. 
• Plant your cannabis near a wall or fence to protect them from strong winds and heavy rains. 
• Cannabis thrives in rich, well-draining soil. 
• Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. You can water in the morning to allow the soil to dry before nighttime. 
• Check your plants regularly for signs of pests and diseases by looking for discolored leaves, spots, or holes.
• Regularly prune the lower leaves and branches to improve airflow and conserve the plant’s nutrients.

Greenhouse Cannabis

Growing cannabis in a greenhouse combines the benefits of indoor and outdoor growing methods. The greenhouse structure is typically made of glass, plastic, or other transparent materials to create an ideal environment for your cannabis to grow while allowing natural sunlight to pass through. This allows the plants to benefit from the sun’s natural cycle while reducing energy costs. 

Greenhouses also provide your plants with some level of climate control that outdoor growing can’t. Since the plants aren’t exactly exposed, they are protected from harsh weather conditions, such as heavy rain, strong winds, and frost. Meanwhile, you can still regulate the temperature, humidity, and ventilation, providing optimal growing conditions throughout the year. 

You can equip your greenhouse with various technologies, such as heating systems, cooling systems, fans, and dehumidifiers, to maintain the perfect conditions for your cannabis. This would help prevent common issues like mold, mildew, and pests. You can also use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems, which are more effective in greenhouses. 

Advantages 

• Enough Light Exposure: Since greenhouses use natural sunlight, they provide a full spectrum of light that promotes photosynthesis, leading to more vigorous plants. Supplemental lighting can also be used when there isn’t enough sunlight to ensure the plants receive consistent light.
• Controlled Environment: You can control the temperature and humidity levels inside a greenhouse through ventilation systems, heaters, and fans. This helps prevent mold and mildew while allowing them to grow year-round.
• Protection from the Elements: Unlike growing outdoors, greenhouses protect your cannabis from extreme weather conditions such as heavy rain, strong winds, hail, and frost. This reduces the stress on the plants and prevents damage.
• Extended Growing Season: Since you can control the growing conditions, you can extend their growing season and harvest multiple times a year.

Disadvantages

• High Investment: Building a greenhouse can be expensive, depending on the size, materials, and additional equipment needed for temperature and humidity control.
• High Maintenance: Managing a greenhouse requires you to have enough knowledge and experience in controlling environmental factors like temperature, humidity, and ventilation. Any little mistake can lead to plant stress or reduced yields. You would also incur high ongoing maintenance costs for repairs, replacements, and utility bills, which can add up over time.
• Size Restrictions: Unlike outdoor growing, size might be a challenge. So, you must maximize the use of available space, which might require careful planning. Expanding the greenhouse can also be costly and difficult. 

Best Cannabis Strains to Grow In Greenhouses

• Amnesia Haze: Amnesia Haze is a sativa-dominant strain with a very uplifting and euphoric effect. It’s perfect for greenhouses because the stable climate helps reduce its longer flowering time, ensuring healthy growth and high yields. It simply requires good air circulation and regular feeding.
• Mimosa: The mimosa strain tastes exactly like its name, a mimosa. It has a fruity and citrusy aroma, much like the brunch-time cocktail. The stable temperatures and humidity in greenhouses allow it to produce vibrant and resinous buds.
• Chocolate Haze: Chocolate Haze is a treat for both the palate and the mind with its distinct chocolatey aroma. Its need for a controlled climate makes it perfect for greenhouses, as it can develop its complex flavor profile without environmental stressors.
• Jack Herer: This strain is named after the famous cannabis activist Jack Herer. Many users love it for its clear-headed, uplifting effects and spicy, pine-scented aroma. It grows best in controlled environments like greenhouses, where temperature and humidity can be regulated, and it can reach its full potential.

Tips For Growing Greenhouse Cannabis

• Position your greenhouse in a spot that receives plenty of natural sunlight throughout the day. 
• Install fans or ventilation systems to maintain a steady flow of fresh air and regulate the humidity. 
• Regularly check the temperature and humidity levels to ensure your plants are growing in optimal conditions.
• Keep the soil moist but not soggy.
• Use supplemental lighting to provide consistent light on shorter days or cloudy periods. 
• Use high-quality, well-draining soil rich in organic matter to grow your cannabis.
• Regularly inspect your plants for signs of pests and diseases, and use neem oil or beneficial insects to eliminate pests. 

Conclusion

In the end, no one method of growing cannabis is better than the other. It only depends on what you want to achieve, your circumstances, and the resources you have. Indoor growing allows you to be discreet and produces high-quality buds, but it can be costly. Outdoor growing is less expensive since it uses natural resources, but it’s less discreet and exposes your cannabis to the elements and pests. 

However, greenhouse growing strikes a balance between the two. But, it can also be just as expensive as indoor growing, if not more. So, consider your budget, space, and what you want to achieve to find what works for you. Whichever method you choose, you’ll enjoy the rewards of growing your own cannabis.