Growing weed outdoors is cheaper and greener than growing indoors: the sun is free, rain helps with watering, living soil feeds your plants and there's room for them to get big. The trade-offs are less control over weather, pests and timing, so where you plant and how you handle rain make all the difference. Growing is always rewarding, and the soil you plant in is full of microorganisms that feed your cannabis, so your plants will probably get bigger with all that extra room. Rain is free and a bonus for watering. Your light comes from the sun, so there's no light cycle to switch. Where you plant matters a lot: pick a spot that gets as many hours of direct sun per day as possible. Outdoor airflow helps keep humidity around the plant stable, and some of the bugs hanging around your plants can actually help them, like ladybugs. (Watch out for pests, though: spider mites, caterpillars and anything else invasive.) In the Southern Hemisphere, the ideal outdoor pick is tall sativas, which take longer to flower. Autoflowers work too, but they yield less. Once you've decided to grow outdoors, choose a strain you love and start germinating. Keep in mind some genetics really come alive outdoors, so it's smart to ask your seed bank which strain suits your climate best.

What are the advantages of growing cannabis outdoors?

Growing cannabis outdoors comes with several advantages for growers. One of the biggest is access to more space and natural light. Outdoors, cannabis plants have a much bigger environment to grow into, which lets them develop more robustly. Plus, direct sunlight is an intense, well-balanced light source that can promote healthy growth and high-quality buds. Another advantage of outdoor growing is the lower cost. Unlike an indoor grow, you don't need to invest in grow lights, ventilation or climate control systems. That cuts your startup costs and running costs way down. Outdoor growing also offers more potential for organic cultivation. By using natural soil and making the most of the resources around you, you can skip synthetic chemicals and pesticides, which means a healthier, more eco-friendly final product. Finally, growing outdoors lets you connect more with nature and makes for a more rewarding experience. You get to enjoy growing in the open air, work in rhythm with the seasons and watch your plants grow in a natural setting. For a lot of growers, that connection with nature is a big part of the payoff. [caption id="attachment_3691" align="aligncenter" width="685"] Misting a cannabis plant with a spray bottle[/caption]

Rain and outdoor weed: a love-hate relationship

In outdoor grows, rain is one of the most helpful and most dangerous factors at the same time. It's key because it means free watering, but it can also cause problems for your plants, especially in flower. Once your plant is flowering, it's best to keep the buds from getting wet. Moisture can lead to mold, which tends to show up in humid weather. If a rain shower is followed by plenty of sun, the plants dry faster and the odds of that happening drop. Ideally, once your plants have started flowering, keep them protected from rain. You can cover them from above with plastic sheeting before the rain starts. As soon as it stops, take it off. Airflow is key, and you don't want to create a mold-friendly microclimate. A light sprinkle is much less of a problem than a direct downpour. Heavy rain can snap a branch or two, but don't panic: as long as the branch isn't completely torn off the plant, tie it back up. Try to set the branch back in its original position, the way it was before it broke, and pay special attention to the break itself, wrapping it with tape (gray duct tape works fine). Wait a couple of days and check that the branch hasn't wilted. To head off bigger problems, it's a good idea to drive in a stake or bamboo cane to help the branches carry the weight of the buds.

Indoor vs. outdoor: which is better?

Growing cannabis outdoors can be a great choice for growers looking for a cheaper, more sustainable option. Growing weed outside lets you harness the sun to produce big, high-quality plants without investing in expensive lighting and ventilation gear. And growing weed in containers outdoors can be a solid option if you're short on space or live in the city. When you grow outdoors, keep your local climate and growing season in mind, since they can affect your yield. It's also essential to protect your plants from pests, diseases and bad weather. Overall, outdoor growing can be an attractive option for growers who want a sustainable, budget-friendly way to produce high-quality cannabis plants.

Why grow weed outdoors?

Growing cannabis outdoors can be an attractive option for a lot of growers, thanks to several advantages:

1. Cost: Growing cannabis outdoors is cheaper than growing indoors, since you don't need to invest in pricey lighting and ventilation gear. Sunlight is free and plentiful, so your plants can grow naturally without you constantly stepping in.
2. Flavor and aroma: Outdoor cannabis often has a more complex, authentic flavor and aroma than indoor weed. Growers chalk that up to the plants developing in a natural environment, drawing nutrients and character from the soil and air.
3. Size: Outdoor cannabis plants can grow much bigger than indoor plants, which can mean a bigger harvest.
4. Sustainability: Growing cannabis outdoors is more sustainable and eco-friendly than growing indoors, since you're not burning huge amounts of energy on lights and ventilation.

Growing weed outdoors in a nutshell

Growing weed outdoors can be a rewarding and pretty easy experience. Before you start, pick a good spot that gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day, has good airflow and shields your plants from extreme weather and nosy neighbors. Prep the soil by turning it over and mixing in organic compost, perlite or vermiculite to improve soil quality and water retention. Choose high-quality seeds and germinate them somewhere sheltered before transplanting them to their final spot outdoors. Transplant once the seedlings have developed a couple of sets of true leaves and reached about 10-15 cm (4-6 in) tall. Water and feed your plants regularly, but don't overwater. Protect them from pests and diseases, and shield them from extreme weather. When the plants are ready to harvest, cut the flowers at the right moment for the best flavor, aroma and potency.

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