Moving Outdoor Cannabis Plants Indoors Without Shocking Them

Moving an outdoor cannabis grow indoors

You can move outdoor cannabis plants indoors, but do it gradually: acclimate them over about two weeks, check them for pests before they come in, and match indoor light and temperature as closely as you can. Spring and summer are the reliable seasons for outdoor growing, but as fall rolls in and the weather turns, you may need to bring your outdoor plants inside to protect them from the cold.

As a rule, it's best to keep a cannabis plant in the environment it's already growing in, since moving it from outdoors to indoors (or the other way around) can stress it out. That stress kicks in with any sudden change in its environment, like light levels, temperature swings, water stress or a switch in fertilizer. Transplant shock can also happen when you move a plant from one container to another. The result can be weak, fragile plants that snap easily, show stunted growth and become more vulnerable to pests and disease.

Still, sometimes you have to bring plants in from outside, like when the outdoor temperature suddenly shifts and it gets too hot or too cold for the plant to stay out. Sudden storms and heavy rain are other reasons you might need to move them.

“Acclimating” basically means getting the plant used to its new environment. To do it right, you'll want to “train” the plant over about 2 weeks. Whenever you can, bring the plants inside at night and put them back outside during the day, slowly increasing the time they spend indoors. After those 2 weeks, the plant should be ready to move inside full time.

The ideal time to bring a plant in is when indoor and outdoor temperatures are about the same, so the shock won't be as harsh. Planning ahead is key.

Before you bring your plants inside, check them for pests. Outdoors, natural predators help keep pests under control. Indoors, those pests can multiply and wipe out any other plants you've got growing in there. You can treat the plant with neem oil before moving it indoors to make sure it's pest-free.

Unfortunately, not every type of cannabis handles the move from outdoors to indoors well. Ideally, use a hardy strain bred to grow both indoors and outdoors, one that can handle sudden changes in temperature, humidity and light. One example is Gorilla Glue. 

The truth is, you can't always predict when you'll need to bring a plant inside. Sometimes the weather turns fast and the plant has to come in now. In that case, you'll need to speed up the acclimation process. You can do that by trying to keep indoor light and humidity at the same levels as outside, though that can be tricky. Your best bet in a situation like that is a hardy plant that's used to growing both indoors and outdoors. You can also try using the outdoor plant as a mother and taking clones to grow indoors.

Keeping outdoor plants outdoors and indoor plants indoors is ideal, but making the move can definitely be worth it.

Can you move a flowering outdoor plant indoors?

Moving a flowering cannabis plant from outdoors to indoors can be tricky, since changes in light and environment can throw off its development. Here are the steps to make the transition go smoothly:

1. Prep your indoor space: Make sure you have a suitable spot indoors for the plant. That means enough light, ventilation and temperature control to keep growing conditions dialed in.
2. Ease it into the light: Outdoor plants are used to natural sunlight, so switch them to artificial light gradually. Start by keeping the plant somewhere indoors with indirect or lower-intensity light for a few days, then slowly turn up the intensity of your grow light.
3. Control the photoperiod: Flowering cannabis plants need a specific photoperiod (the daily light/dark schedule) to keep developing. If the plant was on a natural photoperiod outside, adjust the indoor schedule gradually to recreate flowering light conditions. Most growers use 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness.
4. Keep the environment stable: Give the plant the right indoor conditions, like controlled temperature and humidity, to keep it growing healthy and head off problems like mold and pests.
5. Keep a close eye on it: During the transition and while it adjusts, monitor the plant closely and make changes as needed. Watch for signs of stress, nutrient deficiencies or other problems, and act fast to keep the plant healthy.

Remember that every plant is different and can react differently to changes in growing conditions. Watch closely and adjust to what your plant needs.

Indoor vs. outdoor cannabis: which strains suit each?

Cannabis, like any other plant, can be grown indoors or outdoors, but keep in mind that some strains are better suited to indoor grows while others do better outside. Here's a quick rundown of the differences:

Cannabis plants for outdoor growing:

1. Sativas: Sativa strains tend to grow taller and lankier, which makes them a good fit for outdoor grows where they have room to stretch vertically. They usually need a longer flowering period before harvest, so they're better suited to warmer climates with a longer growing season.
2. Hybrids: Some hybrid strains adapt well to both indoor and outdoor grows, depending on their specific genetics. They can have traits of both sativas and indicas.

Cannabis plants for indoor growing:

1. Indicas: Indica strains tend to be more compact and shorter, which makes them a better fit for indoor grows where vertical space can be limited. They usually have a shorter flowering time, which makes them ideal for indoor grows with controlled light cycles.
2. Autoflowers: These strains flower automatically based on age instead of depending on a specific light cycle. They're popular indoors because of their compact size, short life cycle and how easy they are to handle.

Keep in mind that picking a strain for an indoor or outdoor grow also depends on factors like climate, available space and the grower's personal preference. Do your homework and choose strains that suit the specific conditions you'll be growing in.