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The use of greenhouses for cannabis growing has grown steadily with the acceptance of cannabis across the country. Greenhouses for cannabis growing has many advantages over indoor cannabis growing.

One of the great things of using a greenhouse to grow your cannabis plants includes the removal of some of the complexities that come from indoor grow room setups.

Greenhouses are also considered by many to be superior to growing outdoors, as it is more secure yet also more consistent and predictable than growing cannabis outdoors.

Greenhouses are much better on the environment than indoor cannabis growing is. They leave less of a negative footprint that indoor growing. 

Outdoor or Greenhouse?

It is sometimes difficult for cannabis growers to decide whether they would like to grow their marijuana plants in an outdoor setup or from within a greenhouse.

For these cannabis growers, buying and using a greenhouse may seem like a major commitment.

When growing marijuana in a greenhouse, it is more likely to encounter pests like small insects rather than rabbits, deer, and birds.

This will ensure the safety of your cannabis plants far more than if they were exposed outdoors and not inside a protected greenhouse.

Greenhouses for cannabis growing are the best way to grow cannabis in the opinion of Cannabis Training University.

A greenhouse is safer, you can easily have a terrific garden of other plants while intermixing cannabis plants in with them at the same time.

Cannabis Greenhouse Growing

Cannabis grown in a greenhouse can be set up in one of two ways. Either in separate containers or pots, or straight in the ground.

There are pros and cons for both options.

In the container fashion it is easier to move the growing cannabis plants whenever necessary. This is particularly useful if you are frequently visited by people as you can simply move the plants elsewhere so as not to attract unwanted attention.

Another good reason to move your container-grown cannabis plants might include extreme weather, such as rain, wind, or even snow.

On the other hand, if you decide to plant your cannabis straight into the ground, they will do much better when they are left alone for a longer period of time.

You can also grow cannabis plants hydroponically inside greenhouses as well.

It is important no matter which style of cannabis growing you choose that you begin with quality seeds or clones.

Genetics are the biggest factor when trying to grow huge, potent, healthy cannabis plants.

What are the Benefits of Greenhouse Cultivation?

Greenhouses offer cannabis growers many advantages over indoor and outdoor cultivation.

Greenhouses offer better light control over your crop. A translucent covering allows the sun to provide your plants with energy. Supplementary lighting can compensate for overcast days.

You save money by using fewer lights to grow weed, which results in lower energy costs. There’s no need for rows of expensive lighting unless you need them during winter days.

Climate regulation is easy with greenhouses. Some growers have windows or paneling that can open up to improve wind circulation. To protect plants from excessive heat, growers can use a ventilation system and fans when it gets too hot. Supplemental lighting and heaters can be used during the winter months.

Greenhouses give you more control over a plant’s life cycle. If you need to harvest early, you can use light deprivation techniques to trick your plants to flower early. This method may be helpful for those expecting cold and wet weather.

Growers can also start growing earlier in the season. A greenhouse environment can create a warmer environment due to its greenhouse effect. A warmer environment means a longer vegetative phase. That means a stronger plant that is able to support high yields during a late harvest.

Greenhouses protect your plants from harsh weather such as wind and rain. Additionally, it protects your crop from thieves and vermin.

Automated Systems

One of the best things about greenhouse cannabis growing setups is the fact that it can be highly automated. You can make it so the day-to-day operations require much less effort on your part.

Modern greenhouses can be highly automated, with sensors connected to actuators which are able to open, close, increase, reduce or mix in order to keep any parameter that affects plants’ well-being at optimum levels during all phases of the growing process.

Even with a low budget and home-made approach to cannabis cultivation, a greenhouse is considered the perfectly efficient and eco-friendly method to grow marijuana.

Greenhouses allow for the growth of both periodic or auto-flowering cannabis strains in almost any season, in the ground, pots, or hydroponic systems.

Tips for Growing in a Greenhouse

Regardless of where you choose to grow, you must buy high-quality seeds. Your seeds will determine the success of your greenhouse garden. In terms of seed type, you can grow any type of cannabis in a greenhouse.

If you’re growing sativas, however, make sure your greenhouse is tall enough. If you don’t have space, choose to grow short and bushy indicas. Indicas can also be easily hidden with other plants in your garden.

If you have nosy neighbors, there are plenty of ways to hide your weed. For instance, white shading paint is affordable and can reduce visibility inside. Some polycarbonate panels offer a semi-opaque exterior.

Generally, cannabis is planted outside between April and July, when there’s more sunlight during the day. Sunlight is great for a healthy and long vegetative stage.

Cannabis can be planted in pots, soil, or hydroponic systems.

Planting in pots requires more frequent feeding and watering, but can be good if you want to move your plants.

Growing in soil reduces the maintenance needed, but the soil needs to be replaced every year.

Hydroponic growing can be done in a greenhouse but is best left for experienced or commercial growers.

Throughout the season, keep your greenhouse clean to prevent the spread of disease. Moreover, cleaning also helps reduce the risk of vermin in the tent.

Start Growing Earlier in the Season

Most importantly, you can begin your growing season earlier than growing outdoors. Greenhouses get warmer earlier than if you were growing outside.

The sun will make a greenhouse nice and warm, even before it would be warm enough outside of the greenhouse. When you start the cannabis growing season earlier, you will have more time for the vegetation phase of your cannabis plants.

As a result, your cannabis plants have a chance to be bigger and stronger for the flowering phase, giving you a stronger, bigger, and more potent yield!

Natural sunlight is the main source of light and no more paying for the high cost of HPS lamps, resulting in a supreme natural taste of the marijuana plant.

Growing in a greenhouse will provide marijuana plants with an environment that is drier and warmer as compared to outdoors.

What Style of Greenhouse?

There are many options when it comes to purchasing a greenhouse. The first order of business is to pick your style; lean-to, free standing, or poly tunnel.

Lean-to greenhouses are assembled against the exterior wall of your house and retain any heat that permeates through the wall. They’re a good choice if space is at a premium since they are not very large.

Free standing greenhouses are usually apex shaped, similar to the shape of a house, and can be aluminium or wood framed. An important tip to remember is that, the larger the frame, the larger the shadows they will cast over your cannabis plants.

Poly tunnels are traditionally used in commercial horticulture. They are made of a curved aluminum frame with sheeting stretched over it to form a solid structure. They’re usually less expensive than traditional greenhouses, but the sheeting will need replacing every 3-5 years.

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Unless you’re very tight on space for your cannabis greenhouse, it’s a good idea to buy the next size up. It’s great to have some space to work and move around in when tending your cannabis plants.

Drawbacks of Greenhouses

Let’s consider the disadvantages of growing marijuana in a greenhouse.

First, you need the right amount of space and a location that faces south or west.

While greenhouses can be affordable, advanced systems can become expensive. Consider the costs of additional lights, heating, and automation. As your space becomes more optimized, your costs will rise.

Cannabis odors can be hard to contain in greenhouses. Active carbon filters and fans are a must. Still, they aren’t as effective in the greenhouse as they are indoors.

How to Grow Cannabis in a Greenhouse

Humidity is very important for growing in a greenhouse. Keep humidity in balance because too much of it can cause problems like mold growth. Give only the amount of water that marijuana plants need. To keep humidity in a balance level, regulate the exchange of air in your cannabis greenhouse.

Secure ventilation fans, heaters, circulation fans, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, air conditioning units and other devices will help in achieving the optimal temperature for your cannabis plants.

Luis Cordova
Luis Cordova

Luis Cordova is a distinguished author, and renowned expert in cannabis cultivation, who possesses a Master's degree in Plant Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Science. As a valued contributor to highly esteemed publications such as Cannabis Training University and Maximum Yield Magazine, Luis has emerged as a trusted source of guidance and knowledge in the cannabis industry. Having written thousands of informative articles, Luis is widely recognized for his comprehensive expertise on cultivating cannabis, both indoors and outdoors.

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