Ultimate Guide To Growing 10 Pound Plants of Weed

What is the difference of growing 10 pound plants vs 1 pound of weed? How can I grow ten pound plants of weed you ask?

In a perfect world, you'd be swimming in a sea of cannabis buds as far as the eye can see. In the cannabis world, growing pounds upon pounds of pure bud with a thick blanket of milky, resinous trichomes requires a lot of cannabis plants, patience, passion, and skill.

Cannabis yields vary by plant depending on their climate, growing environment, and genetics. And, with home cultivation limits, you can only grow so many plants in your home if weed is legal in your state.

Our cannabis grow guide can teach you how to legally work around these limits to grow the most amount of weed possible, which in some cases, can be up to 10 pounds or more. Get ready to significantly improve your cannabis yields!

How Many Plants Can You Grow at Home?

Let's start by discussing the state limits on home cultivation. In medical and recreational cannabis states, regulations place a certain limit on the number of cannabis plants that a medical patient and a recreational user are allowed to grow.

Sometimes, the home cultivation limits in a state are different for medical patients and recreational users.

In addition, some jurisdictions may completely prohibit home cannabis cultivation for medical and recreational users. Avoid growing in a jurisdiction that prohibits home cultivation because possession and cultivation are punishable by a misdemeanor or felony depending on the amounts of cannabis you are caught with, have produced, or plan to produce.

In the United States, home cultivation limits range from 2 plants to 12 plants per household or more. Generally, users are limited to growing 6 cannabis plants. Often, caregivers can have a larger cultivation limit since they are growing for multiple patients.

Before you start getting together your garden equipment and tools to grow 10-pound marijuana plants, it is important to research your state and local cannabis cultivation laws.

Cities may allow only indoor cannabis growing, which can limit the amount of weed you can grow per plant. The cities that allow outdoor cultivation may have requirements to keep your garden private and secure and not visible from public view.

In addition, certain home cultivation laws may only be allowed for patients who are too far away from a dispensary. Other regulations may require registration with the city to start growing cannabis plants.

In short, do your research before setting up your garden. It'll save you a lot of headaches and heartaches in the future with law enforcement.

How Many Pounds Can One Cannabis Plant Grow?

How much can a weed plant yield, in terms of pounds per plant? This is one of the most commonly asked questions by new marijuana growers. Unfortunately, the answer isn't so simple. Yields can be unpredictable and vary wildly.

Even as an experienced grower, your yield can vary. It is often hard to estimate how much your plants will yield based on looks alone. Common factors that influence the yield of your plants include:

• Light quality and footprint
• Grow medium
• Genetics
• Grow space
• Grower’s skill level
• Temperature
• Relative humidity
• Nutrients
• Insulation
• Water/moisture
• Training techniques
• Pest control

As you can see, a cannabis grower must take into account a variety of factors in the grow space. They must check on their plants daily to ensure they remain healthy through all stages of the growth cycle.

Generally, outdoor-grown plants tend to produce a higher yield compared to indoor-grown plants. As a new or seasoned cannabis grower, there are a few ways you can improve your yield.

Growing 10 pounds per plant is an incredible feat that takes years of experience and often occurs at commercial cannabis facilities that have space and budget to grow monster cannabis trees.

As a home grower, you will need to grow several plants to even reach near the 10-pound goal. On average, cannabis plants can grow about one pound per plant if it is grown under the right conditions. As you gain experience, your yields can increase significantly.

How Many Grams and Ounces Are In 1 Pound of Weed?

If you plan to grow several pounds of cannabis throughout the year, you'll need to know a bit of simple math when dealing with this volume of production. Most cannabis users deal with grams or ounces of cannabis when buying flower at dispensaries.

In the recreational and medical market, you are not allowed to purchase several pounds of weed at a time due to possession and purchasing limits that vary by state. In addition, these limits may vary by medical and recreational user.

In terms of ounces, 1 pound of weed is equal to 16 ounces. In other words, an ounce is 1/16 of a pound.

16 ounces are equal to 448 grams.

To put things in perspective, common cannabis bud products range in sizes between an eight (3.5 grams), a quarter ( 7 grams), a half-ounce (14 grams), and one ounce (28 grams).  Marijuana producers and dispensaries tend to round down the grams.

Invest in an appropriately-sized digital scale to get an accurate measurement of the amount of weed you have on hand. It's nearly impossible to estimate its weight by looks since it can depend on the moisture content and not just its size.

In order to have the best possible chance of growing up to 10 lb with a few plants or in a single cannabis plant one day, follow our cannabis cultivation tips listed below.

How many grams in a pound= 453.592 grams

How many grams in an ounce= 28.3495 grams

How many grams in a half ounce = 14.1748

How many grams in 1/4 ounce = 7.0873 grams

How many grams in 1/8th of an ounce= 3.5436

Genetics

Your end result will largely depend on the genetic material you start with. Do you plan to grow from seeds or weed clones? Seeds tend to produce larger plants at a faster rate, but clones may be easier to grow for new growers since the cannabis plant skips the germination stage.

No matter what you choose, we recommend buying photoperiod strains over auto-flowering strains, since auto-flowering strains tend to switch to the flowering stage after a certain amount of time and grow much shorter than strains that can remain in the vegetative stage for a longer period of time.

All photoperiod strains are not created equal. Some are naturally predisposed to grow bigger and taller and produce more buds than others, although the growing environment can significantly affect your yield, too.

Some marijuana strains are known for yielding up to three times more than low-yielding strains. For best results, ask your budtender if you're buying in person. If you're buying online, seed stores often have a category of seeds for high-yielding strains.

Popular High-Yielding Strains

• Strawberry Kush
• Chocolope
• Super Silver Haze
• Big Bud
• NYC Diesel
• Super Skunk
• Amnesia Haze
• THC Bomb
• Lemon Skunk
• Mango Haze
• Blue Dream
• White Widow
• Critical Kush
• Cheese Quake
• Purple Trainwreck

If you start with the right strain genetics, you will have a better chance of an increase in your yield as long as you care for your cannabis plant throughout the growing season.

Start Indoors When Growing Weed

Even though outdoor plants tend to provide higher yields, one of the secrets of growing extra big plant yields is to start growing your plants indoors early in the growing season. This can be especially helpful if you live in an area with a shorter growing season.

Growing indoors in a tent or climate-controlled room, in the beginning, gives your plants plenty of time for their vegetative growth, which focuses on growing the stems and leaves. This plant growth is needed to absorb light from the light source and produce the energy needed for vigorous growth.

So, when is it time to move your plants outdoors? It depends on how big you want your plants to grow and the time of year. Here are a couple of recommendations:

• If you're growing marijuana in a greenhouse with artificial lighting, you can keep them in there for at least 45 days.
• If you're growing cannabis completely indoors, you can keep them indoors for up to 60 days.

Make sure you have your outdoor area prepared for the big moving day.

You may need to gradually reduce the daylight hours indoors to match the natural lighting outdoors so the plant can properly acclimate to the outdoor environment. A sudden shock of climate can stress out your plants and affect their health or turn it into a hermaphrodite.

Extended Vegetative Stage

Whether you're growing indoors or outdoors to start, it is wise to allow your plant to have an extended vegetative stage where it can fully grow its stems and leaves. Ideally, you want to keep it in this veg growth stage for as long as you can. Make sure you have enough indoor space to accommodate your plant growth.

When the artificial lighting or natural lighting gets shorter down to 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness, photoperiod plants are triggered to begin the flowering stage to form their bud.

In this stage where it is forming its buds, a plant can nearly double its size. If you grew a big vegetative plant, expect to reap a monster yield during your harvest.

Growing Ten Pound Plants of Cannabis

You can grow huge buds, you can grow ten pound cannabis plants a lot easier outdoors than indoors. Indoors you would need very tall ceilings to accommodate the cannabis plants. Keep in mind the plants will double in size and height from when you switch them from the vegetative stage to the flowering stage indoors.

Huge buds are usually grown outdoors that have no ceiling and can grow up to 10 or 12 feet high!

If you happen to have a grow space indoors with super high ceilings you could grow ten pound plants indoors but most home cannabis growers do not have the ceiling height.

How Many Pounds Can One Plant Yield?

How much cannabis can come from one pot plant? The average amount is:

1/2 pound (224 grams) of weed from outdoor growing.

But there are ways to increase these yields for sure!

How Many Pounds Does an Outdoor Plant Produce of Weed?

Outdoor cannabis plants usually produce about 224 grams a piece on average, although some easily produce 500 grams, and we have seen outdoor cannabis plants with as many as 20 pounds of yield! It depends on the strain, the environment, the fertilizer, and the care.

Some weed strains are bigger by genetics and will produce a bigger yield than other strains no matter what.

How Do You Get Large Yields of Cannabis?

The most important factors to getting large yields when growing canabis are: light, plant density, fertilizer used, temperature, how long the plants are kept in the vegetative phase, the length of the flowering growth stage, and plant variety.

Some strains of weed are genetically built to grow bigger buds and more of them!

Check out this article on high yielding pot strains for bigger yields.

Cannabis Pot Size

Generally, the larger the growing space for the roots, the larger your plants will grow. Because of this, the larger the container size the better off your plant will be. Generally, marijuana growers use pots between 3 and 5 gallons in size.

Your growing space and container may be limited by the amount of growing space you have indoors or outdoors. Use the largest container possible for your space and keep moving your plants into bigger pots if needed to accommodate the root growth.

In a small container, your cannabis plant roots can be limited and when they fill up the space, they can become root bound.

Most importantly, you want a pot that has proper drainage. Growing weed in bigger containers means you will need to ensure you are properly watering your plants without over or under-watering.

One of the biggest disadvantages of growing in large containers is that you cannot easily move the plants around.

In fact, some growers that use Smart Pots hundreds of gallons in size may need a forklift to move around this huge plant and its container.

Growing 10 Pound Plants Overview

Growing a cannabis plant that produces ten pounds of dried flower is a significant task that necessitates taking into account factors that are not necessarily present in more common grows. The essential requirements and how they differ from cultivating a one-pound plant are given below:

Space: To grow, a ten-pound plant would require a lot of room. Instead of a shrub, picture a tiny tree.
Because indoor areas often lack the necessary height or width unless you have an extremely large and specialized grow facility, this would probably be an outside grow.

Duration: The vegetative phase would last longer. Aiming for such a high output would probably require an extended vegetative development period, whereas a regular outdoor grow may vegetate for a few months before flowering.

Training Cannabis Plants:
To guarantee the plant grows wide and bushy rather than just tall, strategies including Low-Stress Training (LST), topping, and extra cropping would be necessary.
The bulky branches covered in buds would weigh heavily and require a sturdy trellis system to hold them.

Health of the Roots: A plant this huge would have a vast root system. If not grown directly in the ground, selecting the right pot size and having sufficient drainage are vital.

Regular feeding with the right nutrients would be essential, but caution would be required to avoid overfertilizing the plant and harming it.

Genetics: A good place to start is by picking a strain that is known for its high yields. Naturally, some strains are more prolific than others.

Protection: With a plant of this size, it is even more important to provide protection from insects, diseases, and potentially harmful weather conditions (such wind and hail).

Watering: A larger plant will require more water. Water must be provided consistently and in large quantities without being overwatered.

A weed plant of this size requires a lot more labor to harvest it. To effectively harvest, trim, and start the curing process will take a lot of time and probably more than one person.

Legal Considerations: Always make sure you're abiding by local cannabis cultivation laws and regulations. There may be limitations on plant size or plant count in some areas.

A ten-pound plant needs a lot more care, resources, and attention than a one-pound plant, which can be grown indoors or outdoors and may not require as much space. The danger is higher since there could be a lot more at stake if the plant is harmed by a pest infestation, illness, or bad weather.

Many growers are on the lookout for different ways to improve their harvest and yield. And that is why companion planting has become quite popular, especially for those cannabis grow operations that use natural methods and not chemicals. Let us take a close look at companion planting and what is involved in the process.

The Process of Companion Planting

When you use companion planting, the objective is to improve the whole growing environment. You will also use it to improve the conditions that surrounding your cannabis grow operation. In so doing, you would grow various types of plants that complement your main plant, especially the ones growing close together.

Each marijuana plant has its own mechanisms for protecting itself in surviving to its maturity. This might include getting rid of odors and resins in order to provide protection from insects. The roots of the plant can be helpful in improving the soil surrounding the plant.

This is done through nutrient promotion and aeration. The THC in the cannabis plant is also a natural repellent against insects and other pests. When you use companion planting, it helps with the protection of your the plants in your cannabis grow operation, whether indoors or outdoors.

Combining Marijuana and Mint

One of the companions for planting in your cannabis grow operation is “Mint.” However, it is not just any kind of mint, but ‘peppermint.' When you plant these around your marijuana crop, it fights the aphids that will plague your crop.

Aphids are small bugs or lice that love to feed on the sucking sap from your marijuana plants. They reproduce very fast and can become large numbers, damaging and destroying your entire crop.

The peppermint acts as a repellent against the aphids and other insects because of the menthol that it carries in its leaves. The mint also protects your cannabis grow operation against cockroaches, mice and ants, keeping them away.

The peppermint is an excellent way to mask the odor of growing weed, if you want to keep it hidden from your nosy neighbors. However, this occurs more, if you are growing more of the peppermint than the weed. Peppermint is an invasive plant; though and so it is best to plant in pots close to your cannabis grow operation instead of directly in the same plot area as your weed.

One thing to be aware of though, is that mint attracts bees and so, if grown outdoors, it will cross pollinate other related plants, but not your cannabis grow operation.

The Marijuana Mint Plant

On the first day that it blooms, Mint is a male plant and on the second day becomes female plants. Many people believe that is how it survives and is able to transmit pollen through insects.

There are thousands of species of mint that exist around the world. The plant is grown partially in shade and requires moisture to exist. This means that when you are including it as a companion plant in your cannabis grow operation, you have to make sure that the mint plants are shorter than the weed plants, inserting them once the weed has gotten tall enough.

The purpose for this is that you don't want the mint to overshadow your cannabis. In addition to being a great companion plant, mint is a tasty herb that you can use to make tea.

If you're a complete beginner, our guide on how to grow a marijuana plant indoors from a seed can get you up to speed. Growing marijuana from seeds has never been easier. If you live in a state that allows cannabis home cultivation, you can grow a certain number of plants inside of your home. Make the most of your spare closet, garage, or attic with our handy growing guide.

Follow the Rules for Growing a Marijuana Plant Indoors

Before you rush to your nearest gardening & hydroponics store, double-check your state and local cannabis laws. States that allow home cannabis cultivation have varying limits on how many mature and young plants you can own. In addition, each jurisdiction has specific rules on many aspects of your garden including:

• The size of a garden
• The location of a garden
• The energy use
• The use of flammable materials

Once you determine the limitations and restrictions in your area, you can proceed to set up your indoor garden.

What’s the Timeline for Growing a Marijuana Plant?

Cannabis growing times vary, but generally, plants can grow in a few short months.

The average cannabis plant  takes between 3-4 months to mature. Some autoflowering strains can fully mature in 2-3 months.

That's not counting the time it takes to dry and cure the marijuana buds. Drying can take as little as a week and curing a few weeks or months. Drying and curing times vary depending on your preference.

Here’s a quick breakdown of every step of the growing process:

1. Gathering the equipment: 1 day-2 weeks
2. Sourcing the seeds: 1 day-4 weeks
3. Germination: 12 hours-8 days
4. Seedling Phase: 1 week-4 weeks
5. Vegetative Phase: 2 weeks-6 months
6. Flowering Phase: 6 weeks-3 months
7. Harvesting: 1-3 days
8. Drying: 1-2 weeks
9. Curing: 2-3 months

For more information about every step of the growing timeline, check out our blog post “How Long Does It Take To Grow Weed?”

Here’s What You’ll Need

High-Quality Seeds

If you’re growing a marijuana plant from a seed, you better have seeds with high-quality genetics. High-quality seeds are available at your nearest dispensary or from an online seed bank. Dispensaries usually have a more limited selection compared to the hundreds of varieties available online. However, dispensaries may offer a personalized service.

If you're lucky and have a friend who grows marijuana, they can provide you with cannabis seeds from their plants. Ideally, you want to start with a seed that has a hard shell and a smooth and undamaged surface. Steer clear of seeds with a green or white color and soft shell.

Generally, cannabis seeds are categorized as the following:

• Feminized: Seeds bred to produce only female plants
• Regular: Seeds that have a 50/50 chance of being male or female
• Autoflowering: Seeds that automatically switch from the vegetative to the flowering stage based on age

Pro tip: As a beginner, the easiest seeds to grow are feminized. If you're looking to grow cannabis buds, regular seeds increase the risk of producing a non-flowering male plant.

Ideal Location

Climate-controlled indoor environments can produce some of the best buds around. An indoor grow room gives you the ability to recreate a natural environment in a way that brings out the best traits of your seed.

Literally any free space such as a room, closet, or garage gives you enough space to grow at least one plant. For beginners, an indoor grow tent, also known as a marijuana grow box, is a convenient and effective location for your garden.

Grow tents vary in size, price, and quality. Ideally, you want a marijuana grow tent that is light proof and has reflective walls to create an ultra-bright environment. A grow tent is your all-in-one solution to contain your plants, hang up lights, and set up a ventilation system.

Check out our lists of the Best Cannabis Grow Tents and Grow Kits (includes lights, medium, container, etc.)

Artificial Lighting

Artificial light systems are used to replicate natural sunlight.  There are a few types of grow lights available that work for indoor cannabis gardens.

• LED: An easy-to-use and energy-saving light source with a long shelf life.
• HID: A professional-grade and high-intensity light.
• Fluorescent: A readily available light for small spaces.

For beginners, a fluorescent lighting system can light up small gardens at the expense of efficiency and yields. LEDs are another excellent option, although they are more expensive than fluorescent lights.

HID  lights such as light-emitting ceramic (LEC) grow lights feature ceramic heating elements. The best LECs give off the high intensity of HIDs and low heat of LEDs.

Ideally, you want to get a lighting system with a full spectrum of light capable of meeting the different needs of the vegetative and flowering stages.

Check out our list of the best HID, fluorescent, and LED grow lights.

Growing Medium

All cannabis plants grow inside of a medium. Soil is the most common medium but there are also soilless and hydroponic mediums that work just as well and, sometimes, better. Beginners can start with a soil-based or soil-less method.

• Soil: High-quality potting soil from reputable brands
• Soilless: An inert medium such as light, coco coir, vermiculite, and more.

If it's your first time growing, buying pre-made soil or soilless mixes can get you started. Some pre-made soils may use organic nutrients and other growth-promoting agents.

Growing Container

A container is used to hold the growing medium and allow for drainage. Aim for a container with more than enough space to allow the roots to grow and avoid restriction. A standard nursery container with drainage holes can work.

A fabric pot, also known as a smart pot, is perfect for first-time growers. Smart pots prevent over-watering and allow for optimal root growth. Air pots are similar in nature but are made of plastic and have openings on the sides for drainage and air circulation.

Most cannabis plants can grow in a 2-3 gallon pot. You can also start your seedling in a 1 gallon smart pot and transplant it as it grows.

Nutrients for Growing a Marijuana Plant Indoors from a Seed

Marijuana plants need a wide range of macro and micronutrients. Marijuana plants primarily used the following mineral nutrients:

• Nitrogen (N)
• Phosphorus (P)
• Potassium (K)
• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Sulfur

Experienced users can make their own super soil full of natural and organic nutrients. As a novice grower, you'll likely have to supplement your garden with nutrient mixes meant for soil or hydroponic gardens.

Nutrient solutions typically feature 3 numbers on the front of the label, which represent the N-P-K ratio. The NPK numbers represent the nutrients percentage by weight. Nutrients meant for hydroponic marijuana gardens are sold as concentrated mineral salts that must be diluted in water before they are fed to the plants.

Nutrient solutions are also categorized in grow and bloom solutions. Grow solutions have a higher nitrogen percentage for vegetative growth. Bloom solutions have a higher phosphorus percentage for the flowering phase.

Pro tip:  Start off with 25% of the recommended nutrient levels and work your way up to the recommended strength. Increase or decrease the strength depending on the vitality of your plants.

The Marijuana Plant’s Life Cycle From a Seed

Germination

Seeds require warm and wet environments to start sprouting. One of the easiest and most affordable ways to start sprouting your marijuana seeds is using the paper towel method.

1. Gather two plates, seeds and paper towels
2. Soak 4 sheets of paper in distilled water
3. Allow the excess water to run off
4. Place 2 sheets of the paper towel on 1 of the plates
5. Place the seeds at least 1 inch away from each other
6. Cover the seeds with the other 2 sheets of paper towel
7. Cover the seeds with the second plate to create a dark and secure space
8. Keep the area between 70 to 90º F
9. Wait several days for the seeds to split and sprout
10. Transfer the sprout into a small pot

Vegetative Stage of a Marijuana Plant

During the vegetative stage, a plant begins to grow its foliage, which may require topping or training. Indoor Growers must provide their plants with at least 18 hours of light and 6 hours of darkness a day. A timer can help you automate your lighting.

During the vegetative stage, you'll need to provide water whenever the top of the soil feels dry to the touch. In terms of its nutrient intake, follow the packages feeding schedule at a lower than recommended dose and build up if needed.

Maintain an optimal room temperature between 70 and 85º F. Try to maintain a low humidity environment to avoid mold. Provide your plants with enough air circulation to keep your garden at an optimal temperature.

As you gain more experience, you'll learn to detect problems in your garden and how to troubleshoot. For a quick primer, check out our guide on common plant health problems.

Flowering Stage

During the flowering stage, your female marijuana plants will begin or will have already started to develop its flower buds.  If grown from a regular seed, you may see sex traits found in male plants. Remove these plants from your garden.

During the flowering stage, your plant will need a 12-12  light and darkness lighting schedule. Flowering times vary by strain but generally they last between 8-9 weeks. Make sure to regularly prune your plants to give every bud site the light it needs.

Flushing 

During the final stages of the flowering, some cannabis growers may choose to flush their plants of most of their nutrients. For a week or two, growers chose to feed plants only water. Flushing can cause signs of nutrient deficiency such as yellow leaves, but this just ensures all the nutrients are gone.

Harvest Time of Cannabis Plants

Harvesting times vary and it can be tricky to choose the best time.

One of the easiest ways to know when to harvest is by looking at the little hairs, also known as pistils, growing on your bud. These pistils start off white and then curl and darken over time into a yellow, red, or other bright color. One of the best times to harvest is when about one-half to one-third of the pistils have changed color.

For a more accurate representation of when to harvest, look at the cannabis trichomes on the buds. If possible, use a magnifying glass to get a closer look at these resinous glands. Trichomes start off clear and darken over time. The best time to harvest is when about one-half to one-third of trichomes have darkened.

Cut the branches from the base using sharp shears or scissors and remove the big fan leaves. Place your branches in plastic trays. You can divide your branches into smaller units depending on your preference.

Drying Cannabis

Trying is the slow process of allowing the moisture to naturally evaporate from your buds. Place your bud branches in an area with temperatures between 60 and 70º F and a relative humidity (RH) of about 50%.

When harvesting, cut your branches between 12 to 16 inches long. You can hang them from a strong string or wire.

When drying, use dehumidifiers heaters to regulate the temperature. You'll know when your plants are dry enough when the branches break off with a sharp snap.

Curing Cannabis

Curing is a slow drying process that happens in an airtight and UV-protected glass jar. Cannabis buds can be cured for a week or a couple of months. During the process, you want to keep your jar in a dark and cool space. Every day, open the lid and allow its moisture to evaporate for about 10 minutes. Curing times vary depending on strain and your preference.

And that is the last stage of growing marijuana indoors from a seed.

Now that you know how to grow a marijuana plant from a seed, you can experiment with different strains and make a variety of infused products including edibles, topicals, and extracts. Learn to grow like a pro by enrolling in CTU and earn your online cannabis certification in as little as a few weeks.

Marijuana Grow School

Learn how to grow cannabis online and start a new career as a marijuana grower today!

Learn how to grow, extract and more by enrolling in Cannabis Training University, the world's leading weed college! Grow ten pound plants with online training from the world's leading cannabis college.