To grow more weed that's also stronger, start with genetics bred for both yield and potency, dial in light, nutrients, watering and climate, train the plant so its energy goes into more bud sites, and harvest when the trichomes peak. More plants, more fertilizer or more water won't get you there on their own: stressed plants yield less, not more. Every grower wants a successful, worthwhile harvest, whatever the end goal: some want more flower to smoke, others want material for distillates, oils or creams for medicinal use. Some growers run one big crop a year to keep the power bill in check, others prefer several small runs so they never run dry. There are a handful of techniques and factors that can take your grow from average to outstanding. Indica strains, because of their structure, tend to yield more than sativas: they stretch less and branch out more, so they put out more flowers. More plants per square foot doesn't necessarily mean a bigger harvest. Crowding a space drives up humidity, invites disease and cuts the amount of light each plant gets. Overfeeding, or giving too much water and/or light, won't automatically boost yield either. Most likely you'll just stress your plants. Forcing faster-than-normal growth or putting plants under stress during veg isn't good for yield, because the flowers may not develop properly or may even end up with some kind of deficiency. With that out of the way, let's look at the growing factors that can actually raise your final harvest.

Genetics: One of the most important things to focus on if you want better yields is choosing strains that are genetically predisposed to grow big and pack on flowers. Keep in mind that landrace strains (traditional local varieties) will always yield less than modern seed-bank hybrids. On the other hand, many growers feel the character and potency that make cannabis what it is hold up better in regular seeds than in hybrids. So an autoflower seed won't behave like a feminized one, and by the same logic, each seed type has a range of strains within its own category. Strains famous for their yields include Big Bud, Critical +, Monster, Critical Kush, King Kong and White Rhino, among others. When it comes to genetics, your best bet is to check with experienced seed banks to find more strains with high yield potential. Nutrients: Under normal conditions and with no problems, the cannabis plant tends to thrive. There are plenty of places where it grows wild with zero help. That said, proper feeding and watering are what separate a "wild weed" from a robust plant with a decent yield. A good growing medium, quality fertilizers used correctly at each stage and smart watering will give you a much better yield. How often you water depends mostly on your growing medium. Once it's dry or nearly dry, it's time to water, because you want to avoid standing water that can rot the roots. Fertilizers come in plenty of flavors: root stimulators, grow (veg) nutrients, bloom nutrients, bulking boosters, enzymes, sugars and more. The standard kit is a root stimulator plus its matching grow and bloom formulas. We recommend sticking with the same brand from harvest to harvest and, budget permitting, going with well-known brands with a solid reputation. When feeding, it helps to know that mineral (synthetic) nutrients are generally more effective than organic or biological fertilizers. Plenty of people prefer organic grows for a cleaner harvest, but many growers argue that if you flush the roots at the end of the cycle, you don't need to worry about smoking chemicals. Climate: Let's separate indoor and outdoor grows. In general, you'll get better results indoors. The reasoning is simple: indoors you control the climate your plants live in, while outdoors (greenhouses aside) you're at the mercy of the weather. That's why outdoor grows happen during the warmest, driest months. Indoors, you can easily control your grow's parameters with different equipment and adjust to your plants' needs. If it gets too hot because of the type of grow light you're running or the time of year, for example, you can add an exhaust fan or a cooling setup. Humidity is controllable indoors too: a dehumidifier if it's too humid, or simply misting water around the plants if the air is too dry.

As for lighting, we all know photosynthesis is the single most important process in any plant's growth and development. Within the right temperature range and the plant's specific cycles, more photons (what plants use is light intensity, measured as PPFD, not lumens) mean better development. These three factors shift depending on whether you grow indoors or outdoors, and also on how you grow: in containers with peat, coco or fiber, aeroponics, hydroponics and so on.

How to get bigger buds

To get more and bigger buds on your cannabis plants, there are several strategies you can follow:

1. The right genetics: Choosing strains known for heavy bud production and solid yields can make all the difference. Hybrids or indica-dominant strains are a good bet for denser, chunkier buds.
2. The right lighting: Proper light is essential for growth and bud production. Quality grow lights, with intensity and spectrum dialed in correctly, help you get the most out of every bud.
3. Balanced nutrition: Giving your plants balanced, appropriate feeding is key. Cannabis-specific fertilizers and a well-designed feeding schedule promote healthy growth and more bud production.
4. Pruning and training: Pruning techniques like topping (cutting the main tip) or lollipopping (removing lower branches), plus training methods like LST (low stress training) or selective defoliation, help the plant spread its energy more efficiently and develop multiple colas.
5. Environmental control: Keeping temperature, humidity and ventilation in the right range is essential for healthy plants and bud production. An optimal environment lets your plants hit their full yield.

How to make your weed more potent

Keep in mind that potency is determined mainly by the plant's genetics and the cannabinoids it naturally produces. Still, there are a few strategies to get the most potency out of your weed:

1. Pick potent strains: Choosing strains known for high cannabinoid levels, like THC or CBD, can raise potency. Research each strain's profile and pick the ones with higher levels of the cannabinoids you're after.
2. Harvest at the right time: Nailing the harvest window affects potency. Watch the trichomes (the tiny resin glands on the buds) and wait for them to hit peak maturity to maximize cannabinoid concentration, and with it, potency.
3. Care throughout the grow: An optimal environment, including proper lighting, balanced nutrition and good temperature and humidity control, influences cannabinoid production and, in turn, how potent your weed ends up.
4. Advanced growing techniques: Pruning, training and targeted nutrients can help maximize cannabinoid production and boost potency.

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