How Long Does Weed Take To Grow: Marijuana Growing Time Tips
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When
it comes to growing marijuana, time is of the essence. Whether you're
a seasoned or budding grower, you're probably curious about how long
it takes to grow weed. The answer isn't as straightforward as you
might think, as several factors impact the length of the growing
process. In this article, we'll break down everything you need to
know about marijuana growing time, from seed to harvest.
How Long Does Weed Take To Grow?
On average, the marijuana growing process takes around 4-8 months. However, it's important to note that this is just a general estimate. Variables like genetics, growing conditions, and cultivation methods can all impact the growing time.
Strain & Type
The strain of marijuana plays a big role in how long it takes to grow. Some strains mature more quickly than others. For example, indica strains tend to grow faster than sativa strains.
Additionally, the genetic makeup of the chosen strain plays a pivotal role in determining the overall growth period. Autoflowering strains typically mature in about 8 weeks. These strains automatically flower (start producing buds) after a certain amount of time, regardless of light cycles. They're often faster to grow than regular strains.
Feminized strains might demand 10-12 weeks. These seeds have been specially treated to produce only female plants (which produce buds). They can save growers time and hassle, since male plants don't produce buds and need to be removed.
Growing Environment
Temperature, humidity, and lighting can all impact the length of the growing process. Cannabis plants thrive in a specific temperature range (around 70-85°F) and humidity range (40-70%), and need a specific light cycle to trigger flowering. If the environment is off, it can slow down growth.
Indoor cultivation provides precise control over factors like light, temperature, and humidity, allowing for a quicker flowering phase, often within a few weeks. Outdoor cultivation is more complicated as there are outside forces beyond the grower’s control, such as weather and soil quality.
Growing Method
Growing cannabis indoors or outdoors can make a big difference in how long it takes to grow. Indoor growing typically results in faster growth, as you can control the environment more precisely. Outdoor growing is subject to the whims of Mother Nature and can take longer.
Pruning Techniques
Pruning, or trimming, cannabis plants can also affect growth time and overall yield. For example, strategic pruning during the vegetative phase encourages lateral growth, resulting in a denser, bushier plant structure. This helps the plant focus its energy on developing larger, more potent buds. It also reduces the risk of mold or other issues by improving airflow and light penetration.
Cannabis Growth Stages And Time
Growing cannabis is a complex process that involves several distinct stages. Each stage has its own unique characteristics and estimated duration, from the initial germination of seeds to the final harvest of dried buds. Understanding these stages and their timelines can help growers plan their cultivation schedule and optimize the overall yield and quality of their plants. Now, let's dive into each stage and its expected timeline.
Germinating
The germination phase sets the foundation for growth. While seeds typically sprout within 24 to 72 hours, factors like water, humidity, and temperature influence this period.
One of the most widely used methods for germinating cannabis seeds is the paper towel method, where you moisten a paper towel, place the seeds between the folds, and keep it in a warm, dark place. However, some growers prefer to use germination stimulators to speed up the process.
Seedling
Following germination, the seedling stage unfolds over 2 to 3 weeks. Proper lighting, humidity, and nutrition are critical for seedling growth.
The emergence of the first true leaves signals the end of the seedling phase and the beginning of the next stage of growth, where the plant starts to develop additional foliage and grow more vigorously.
Vegetative
The vegetative stage, lasting 2 to 8 weeks, witnesses a significant growth spurt. Environmental factors like temperature, lighting, and nutrients influence how quickly the plants grow.
Pre-Flowering
Hormonal changes signal the transition to the flowering stage. This pre-flowering period usually lasts 1-2 weeks.
Determining the sex of the plants during the pre-flowering stage is important for ensuring a successful harvest, as male and intersex plants can negatively impact the quality of the female buds.
Flowering
The flowering stage typically spans 6 to 8 weeks. Buds will start to form and swell, with pistils (hairs) emerging from the calyxes (female flower parts). As the flowering stage progresses, the buds will continue to develop, and the trichomes will start to become more visible, appearing as tiny, shiny crystals.
The smell of the buds will intensify, and growers need to maintain proper humidity and temperature levels to prevent mold or mildew.
Harvesting
To harvest at the peak of potency and flavor, growers closely watch the development of the trichomes (the resin glands) and pistils (the small hairs on the flowers). Once harvested, the buds are trimmed to remove excess leaves and stems, leaving behind the dense, resinous flowers. The trimmed buds are then dried and cured, leading to the final product - potent cannabis that’s been cared for from seed to harvest.
How Long Does Weed Take To Grow By Strain Type
This section will outline the main weed strains. Different strains of cannabis have different flowering times, affecting the overall time it takes to grow the plant. From fast-flowering indicas to longer-flowering sativas, there's a strain for every timeline and goal.
Wedding Cake
Highlights
Wedding Cake is a popular indica-dominant hybrid strain known for its sweet and earthy flavors. Here are some highlights:
Flavor Profile: Vanilla, cake, and earthy notes.
Strain: 70% indica, 30% sativa.
Effects: Relaxing, euphoric, and appetite-stimulating.
Growing Process: Wedding Cake is known for its large, dense buds and high yield potential. It requires a warm, sunny climate and regular watering. It's also relatively resistant to pests and mold, making it a good choice for outdoor growers.
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Content & Effects
Wedding Cake is a hybrid strain known for its sweet and cake-like aroma and flavor. It's a cross between Girl Scout Cookies and Cherry Pie. With up to 25% THC, the high from Wedding Cake is described as a euphoric, relaxing, and happy one - perfect for unwinding after a long day.
>>> Read Wedding Cake Full Review
Growing Process
Wedding Cake is a beautiful and potent strain, but it requires some extra care and attention during the growing process to achieve its full potential. With the right conditions, you can expect a high-yielding, high-THC strain that provides a unique and memorable smoking experience.
Ensure that the plant receives plenty of light during the vegetative stage, and lower the light intensity during the flowering stage. Additionally, maintain a temperature between 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit and a relative humidity of 40-50%.
Gorilla Glue
Highlights
Gorilla Glue is an award-winning hybrid strain known for its potent THC levels.
Flavor Profile: Sweet, earthy, and pungent.
Strain: 50/50 Sativa to Indica ratio
Effects: Uplifting, euphoric, and relaxing effects that can help alleviate stress, anxiety, and pain.
Growing Process: Indoor cultivation is recommended due to its high-maintenance requirements, including proper lighting, ventilation, and humidity control.
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Content & Effects
Gorilla Glue, also known as GG4 or Original Glue, is a potent hybrid strain that boasts an average THC content of around 20%. As a result, it's often considered to be a strain best suited for experienced cannabis users. It's known for its relaxing and sedative effects, and it's often used to help alleviate stress, anxiety, and pain.
>>> Read Gorilla Glue Full Review
Growing Process
The Gorilla Glue strain is known for its dense, sticky buds, and its growing process requires some specific conditions to ensure a successful harvest. Make sure to use a rich, organic soil mix and provide the plants with high levels of light during the vegetative stage, and lower the intensity during flowering. Regularly fertilize and water the plants, but be careful not to overdo it, as this can lead to root rot or nutrient burn.
One thing to note is that Gorilla Glue can grow quite tall, so if you’re growing it indoors, you’ll need to keep an eye on its height and consider using some low-stress training techniques to keep it under control.
Purple Haze
Highlights
Purple Haze is a classic, psychedelic sativa-dominant hybrid strain.
Flavor Profile: Floral and fruity aroma with notes of berries and grape.
Strain: 60% sativa and 40% indica.
Effects: Well-known for its energizing, creative, and uplifting effects.
Growing Process: Prefers a warm, dry climate with good ventilation and requires careful monitoring of pH levels and regular feeding with nutrients to achieve optimal growth.
Content & Effects
Purple Haze is a classic strain that's been around for decades. It's known for its high THC content, typically between 14-19%, which results in a deep sense of euphoria and creativity. Users often report feeling content for long periods of time.
Growing Process
Purple Haze plants are beginner-friendly and require minimal maintenance, making them an ideal choice for novice growers. These hardy plants are resistant to common diseases and thrive in a variety of climates. They can withstand strong winds but require protection from heavy rains and storms. Outdoor plants typically yield a bountiful harvest of colorful buds in mid-October, with the potential for up to 24 oz per plant. Indoor growers can expect a shorter flowering period of 7 weeks and a yield of around 21 oz per plant.
Super Lemon Haze
Highlights
Super Lemon Haze is a fan-favorite sativa-dominant hybrid with a citrusy twist.
Flavor Profile: Bright, citrusy aroma with hints of lemon and haze.
Strain: 80% sativa and 20% indica.
Effects: Promotes creativity, focus, and positivity.
Growing Process: Does best in a sunny, Mediterranean-style climate. Regular feeding with high-quality nutrients is key to maximizing bud size and potency.
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Content & Effects
With a THC content of around 19-22%, Super Lemon Haze is known for providing a boost of energy and creativity, making it perfect for daytime use. Users report feeling focused, alert, and happy after using Super Lemon Haze, making it a great strain for social situations and creative activities. It's also said to have potential therapeutic benefits for those dealing with anxiety, stress, and fatigue.
Growing Process
The germination process for Super Lemon Haze seeds is straightforward and can be achieved using the paper towel method. First, soak the seeds in bottled spring water for 14-18 hours. Next, place the moistened seeds between folded paper towels on a plate, ensuring the seeds have adequate space to germinate. Keep the plate in a dark room with temperatures around 80°F. Mist the paper towels occasionally to maintain moisture. In 2-7 days, tap roots will emerge from the seeds, indicating that they are ready to be planted. In case of an emergency, you can germinate the seeds in a cup of bottled spring water until the tap root appears, and then move to the paper towel method.
Blue Dream
Highlights
Blue Dream has been around for a while and has become a staple in many dispensaries and the cannabis community as a whole.
Flavor Profile: Sweet berry aroma with a hint of earthiness and pine.
Strain: 60% sativa and 40% indica.
Effects: Provides a blissful, mellow high that induces relaxation and improves mood.
Growing Process: Can be grown both indoors and outdoors, but requires regular pruning and moderate water.
Content & Effects
Blue Dream features THC levels ranging from 17-24%. It's known for providing a cerebral and uplifting effect that's great for socializing and being creative, while also providing a relaxing body high that can help with stress and anxiety. Overall, Blue Dream is a well-rounded and popular strain that's great for many different occasions and types of users.
Growing Process
Blue Dream is known for its delightful blueberry aroma and frosty bluish buds, making it a visual and olfactory delight. As a Mediterranean-style strain, it prefers warm, dry climates and can be grown with relative ease. However, its strong aroma may attract unwanted pests, so proper pest management is essential.
When grown indoors, Blue Dream has a flowering period of 9-10 weeks, with yields averaging 600g/m2. Outdoors, it typically harvests in mid to late-October, and its tall plants may benefit from training techniques to maximize yield.
White Widow
Highlights
White Widow, an award-winning cannabis strain, boasts a high THC content (15-20%), producing a strong cerebral high that can be energizing or sedating, depending on the user.
Flavor Profile: Distinctive earthy, piney aroma, with a sweet and spicy taste.
Strain: 40% sativa and 60% indica.
Effects: Known for its energizing and uplifting effects, making it popular among creatives and socializers. It can help alleviate stress, depression, and anxiety, and may also stimulate appetite.
Growing Process: Ideal for indoor growing due to its compact size and quick flowering time.
Content & Effects
White Widow is another classic strain that's known for its high THC content, ranging from 15-20%. It's a hybrid strain that has a reputation for delivering a strong, energetic high that's perfect for daytime use. Many users report feeling motivated, focused, and euphoric after consuming White Widow. While it's great for creative activities, it's also said to have therapeutic benefits for those dealing with depression, stress, and fatigue.
Growing Process
White Widow is a hardy plant that offers abundant yields, making it a popular choice among growers. The plant reaches up to 8 feet tall, boasting bushy green foliage and thick branches that support large, frosty colas. This strain thrives in warm conditions but can also tolerate cooler temperatures.
Indoors, growers can expect yields of at least 400 grams per square foot, while outdoor plants produce roughly 300 grams per plant. With its ease of cultivation and generous yields, White Widow is a practical and rewarding option for both novice and experienced growers alike.
Sour Diesel
Highlights
Sour Diesel is a sativa-dominant strain that’s been around since the early 90s. It’s become a staple in the cannabis world for its pungent, diesel-like smell, hence the name.
Flavor Profile: Powerful, pungent, skunky aroma.
Strain: 90% sativa and 10% indica.
Effects: High THC levels, delivering a strong, energetic, and cerebral high.
Growing Process: This strain loves the heat - high temperatures and high humidity are ideal.
Content & Effects
This sativa-dominant strain has a high THC content, typically between 15-25%, which means it packs a powerful punch. Many users say it provides a cerebral, energizing high that can boost creativity and productivity, while also providing a sense of relaxation. It's often used to help with depression, fatigue, and stress, as well as to boost appetite.
>>> Real Full Sour Diesel Review
Growing Process
Sour Diesel is a fuss-free strain that beginners can grow with ease. It's versatile and adapts well to various climates, thriving in temperate, continental, sunny, or Mediterranean conditions.
Indoors, it grows to a manageable 0-4 feet, while outdoors, it can reach 5-8 feet. With an 8-10 week growth period, this strain offers a quick turnaround time and a satisfying yield for growers.
How To Speed Up The Growing Process
Here are some tips for quickening the growing process of cannabis:
Choose The Right Strain
Certain strains naturally grow faster than others. Indica strains tend to have a shorter flowering time than sativas, so they might be a good choice if you're looking to speed up the process.
Prefer Indoor Strains
Opting for an indoor cultivation setup provides growers with greater control over various environmental factors.
Indoor environments allow precise regulation of lighting, temperature, and humidity levels, contributing to an accelerated growth cycle. This level of control can be particularly advantageous for those looking to streamline the overall time required for cannabis plants to reach maturity.
Feed Your Marijuana Plants With Nutrients
Enhancing the growth rate of marijuana plants involves providing them with the appropriate nutrients at key stages of their development. During the vegetative stage, in particular, nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus play vital roles in supporting robust growth. Timely and well-balanced nutrient supplementation can contribute significantly to the overall health and vigor of the plants, potentially leading to faster and more robust development.
These strategies, when employed synergistically, can collectively contribute to expediting the cannabis growing process. Careful consideration of strain characteristics, the adoption of controlled indoor environments, and a strategic approach to nutrient management all play integral roles in achieving a more efficient and accelerated cultivation timeline.
Harvest Your Plants Regularly
Incorporating a routine harvesting schedule is a proactive measure to stimulate continuous growth in your plants. By consistently harvesting mature buds, you prompt the plant to redirect its energy towards new growth, fostering a more robust and prolific cultivation.
Beyond promoting ongoing productivity, regular harvesting also guarantees a continuous supply of fresh, high-quality buds. This practice not only supports the plant's overall health but also ensures that you consistently enjoy the freshest and most potent yield from your cannabis crop.
FAQ On Growing Marijuana
Can I Grow Marijuana At Home?
The answer depends on where you live. It's essential to familiarize yourself with the local regulations to determine if the cultivation of recreational or medical marijuana is allowed in your area. Checking and adhering to these laws ensures compliance with the legal framework governing marijuana cultivation in your region.
For the U.S., several states (such as California, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and others) have legalized recreational and/or medical marijuana. However, specific regulations vary by state.
How Much Weed Does One Plant Yield?
It varies, but the average yield per plant is typically between 1-2 ounces of dried bud.
Can I Harvest One Bud At A Time?
The yield of cannabis plants can vary, but on average, one plant typically produces between 1 to 2 ounces of dried buds. Keep in mind that factors such as cultivation techniques, strain characteristics, and environmental conditions can influence the final yield.
How Can I Tell If My Buds Are Ready To Harvest?
You can tell if your buds are ready to harvest by looking for the following signs: trichomes turning from clear to milky white, the pistils changing from white to brown or orange, and the buds feeling firm and dense.
Related
Recap On How How Long Does Weed Take To Grow
Growing cannabis takes time and care, but with the right conditions and attention, you can achieve a successful harvest. The four stages of growth include germination, seedling, vegetative, and flowering. Proper lighting, watering, and nutrient management are essential to healthy plant growth. Indica strains generally flower faster than sativas, and proper curing post-harvest is crucial to the quality of the final product.
Additionally, it's important to be informed and to make responsible decisions when it comes to purchasing cannabis seeds or clones for cultivation. The goal is to cultivate high-quality cannabis while also staying within legal and ethical guidelines.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is meant to increase your awareness about health and the potential benefits of the use of the products described in this article. It is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Before starting any new health program or supplement regimen, consult a healthcare provider or a qualified medical professional.