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We’ve assembled the best marijuana greenhouse grow tips for you. These tried-and-true methods can give you big and flavorful yields.
Growing marijuana in a greenhouse is an easy, affordable, and eco-friendly option. It’s the best of both worlds if you’re choosing between indoor and outdoor growing.
Greenhouses harness the intense and full-spectrum light of the sun. Indoor lights can’t hold a candle to the power of the light from above.
What is Marijuana Greenhouse Cultivation?
Our planet is a giant biodiverse greenhouse. Our atmosphere consists of oxygen, nitrogen, and argon, known as greenhouse gases. These gases mix with water vapor, methane, and carbon dioxide to create a protective layer that traps the heat required for life on Earth.
A marijuana greenhouse works in a similar way.
Also known as a hothouse or a glasshouse, the traditional marijuana greenhouse allows sunlight to pass through its transparent walls. Consequently, the sunlight heats the plants and stimulates photosynthesis.
As plants release energy in the form of infrared radiation, the heat gets trapped inside. Thus, the plants are protected from the night time chill. Overall, greenhouses help maintain a good microclimate for year-round growing.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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Types of Greenhouses
Greenhouses vary in size, shape, and price. You can make your own from scratch or buy a complete kit ready for set-up. There’s a greenhouse for every budget.
Greenhouse attachments are economical. These types of greenhouses attach to a house or building and derive heat from it, too.
Free-standing greenhouses are made out of aluminum, plastic, or wood frames and are covered in a transparent material.
For large-scale cultivation facilities, a network of detached and automated greenhouses can maintain healthy plants.
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Do you want to learn more about growing marijuana in a greenhouse? Enroll in CTU’s online marijuana growing classes. We’ll teach you all the aspects of growing cannabis. You’ll learn tricks of the trade from insider pros. What’s not to love?