One of the most common questions that first-time cannabis growers ask is, “How much weed does one plant produce?” This question is usually followed by what they can do to enhance their yields?
Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer to this question because there are many factors that affect cannabis plant yield. We will discuss what you can expect when it comes to yield according to these different factors. We can assure you that you’ll be able to answer this question after you have read this simple guide.
Cannabis yields when growing indoors
This guide will divide yield prediction into two major topics: indoor and outdoor yields. This is because it’s very obvious that indoor growing is completely different from outdoor growing despite cultivating the same plants.
When it comes to cultivating your plants indoors, using the right kind of lighting is very important. People who have grown cannabis before can grow plants that can produce around a gram of weed/watt of light.
Therefore, a 400-watt of high-intensity sodium growing lamp can produce 400 grams of yield. This is 400 grams or 14 ounces of dried and usable weed, ready to smoke. Also, a grow lamp that has 1200 watts can give you 1.2 kg. or 42 ounces of weed.
These could only mean that investing in the right kind of lighting equipment will give you the best results when combined with the best airflow and using correct nutrients as well as other important growing factors. Also, make sure that your indoor plants have enough space to grow for these to produce good yields.
Indoor growing in soil
Growing in soil is common in an indoor setup. You may get a lesser amount of yield in soil compared to growing in a hydroponic setup. This is because hydroponic growers are able to have complete control of the nutrients or supplements needed by plants.
But despite this, indoor growers still prefer soil than hydro because it is easier to do. Also, soil growing mediums can help create some kind of buffer or cushion for any error since it holds nutrients. There is always room for any mistakes when growing cannabis in soil.
Therefore, an estimate would be around a gram of yield per watt when growing in soil indoors. Again, this means using a 400-watt growing lamp will give you around 400 grams of weed or 14 ounces.
Indoor growing in hydro
Now that you know how much you can get when growing weed indoors in soil, hydroponic growing is a lot different. You can get up to 20% better yields as long as you follow growing in hydro closely, and you monitor your plants well.
You must be very keen on keeping correct TDS and pH levels because your plants’ roots are found in water. Any kind of mistake or incorrect level can result in drastic mistakes. Consider that even a very small mistake in hydro can cause a lot of problems for your plants. But people who are able to manage their setup better will be rewarded with amazing yields.
You can possibly get around 1.2 grams of usable weed per watt of light. This means that a 600-watt HPS light can provide up to 720 grams of usable weed or more than 25 ounces.
Some high-yielding strains to grow indoors
There is indeed a very stark difference when you consider an indoor or outdoor grow and in plants grown in soil or hydro, but most of the time, you need to consider the strain or the kind of plant to grow. It’s useless to push for higher growth and harvest when you are cultivating a low-yielding strain.
We have a few of the best strains to grow indoors because of their high yields.
- Big Bud – Big Bud is one of the most satisfying cannabis strains to grow because it can give you high amounts of usable weed. Big Bud is an indica-leaning strain that’s easy to grow and high yields. This strain can provide a full-body experience. It also comes with a very earthy and fruity aroma and smell.
- GSC Extreme – Girl Scout Cookies is one of the most productive plants and is 80% indica and 20% sativa. You can get a lot of yields whether you’re growing this plant indoors or outdoors. You will feel very relaxed with a good high. GSC can give you a relaxed and euphoric high.
- Blue Dream – being 80% sativa, Blue Dream is one of the most potent and high-yielding strains in the market. This strain offers an easy-growing effect with THC as much as 21%.n Blue Dream is a consistent plant with very lovely buds.
Cannabis yields when growing outdoors
Now we learn about the amount of yield an outdoor cannabis plant can produce. When you grow in the best growing conditions, you may get as much as 500 grams of yield or about 17.5 ounces of yield per plant.
Take note that space is very important, with plants getting at least two meters of space to get the best yield. Also, other factors to consider are the presence of pests and diseases, the amount and type of nutrients you will use, and the environmental temperatures. Growing containers also play a huge role. When you grow plants inside pots or containers, the pots must be around 50 liters or about 15 gallons.
When sowing seeds in an outdoor growing area, germinate the seeds first to help your plants grow larger. Also, germinate these indoors so you can easily manage temperature and humidity levels. If you follow all the growing needs closely, you can get as much as 500 grams of usable weed for every plant.
And similar to growing cannabis indoors, the genetics of the plant also plays a huge role. Starting with strains with the best genetics count a lot.
Can you predict your yield before you grow your plants?
You don’t have to worry about the amount of yield of your cannabis plant because you can use simple weed plant calculators found online. One such efficient calculator is the one from Yield-O-Rama, where you can input the type of light, light intensity, or lumen and the level of experience you have as a grower. This calculator will help you find out or make an approximate value of your yields in no time.
How much weed does one plant produce – dry weed vs. wet weed
Getting the right amount of yield does not end after harvest time. There’s a huge difference between dry and wet cannabis. It’s very important to dry your weed very slowly at an average of 10 to 14 days inside a dark and climate-controlled area. Your drying area must have a temperature of 64 degrees to get more weed.
Keep in mind that you can get as much as 20 to 25% of weed after the drying process, and this may also depend on the type of strain, the density of the bids, and the drying method you are using. You must weigh only the wet buds and never weigh the entire plant.
So considering all these factors, you can get as much as 20% to 22% of dry weed from a sativa and around 22% to 25% from an indica. Meanwhile, you can get only 12.5% when you use the entire cannabis plant when the weed is still wet. This includes the leaves, stems, and all other plant parts when the plant is still wet.
Some tips to improve yields
Now that you have a clear idea of what to expect when it comes to yields, consider the following tips:
Grow fewer plants
It seems a bit odd that to get more yields is to grow fewer plants. This is important, especially when you grow plants indoors under strong lighting. If you’re only growing four plants, then you can get more yields compared to growing eight or sixteen plants under every growing lamp.
So decide how many plants you wish to grow before you even start sowing your seeds.
Keep in mind that if you already have four plants, then you can get 25% less of your yields in case one of your plants die or becomes diseased.
Consider that four plants are much easier to monitor and manage compared to more plants. And in case cannabis growing is not legal in your area, you will only be caught with only four plants in our possession!
Use the Screen of Green (SCROG) method
SCROG is one of the most common low stress techniques and is used by many growers because it can increase your yields easier. SCROG is all about topping your cannabis plants and putting a screen at around 15 inches at the top of your plants. As the branches grow 4 inches and moves through the screen, tie it down in a horizontal pattern. Continue placing the branches in the same position until you have managed to create a screen or blanket on the top of your plants. The SCROG method is preferred by growers because there’s no light wasted; the thick screen or blanket prevents the light from being wasted.
With the SCROG method, all the plants are the same height, and thus every plant receives the same amount of light. You can even bring your lamp closer to the blanket as long as the temperature does not go above 77 degrees Fahrenheit. And with the SCROG, you’ll get dense and solid buds, no fluffy ones that contain more air than weed. Take note that fluffy buds are no good because these don’t ripen.
Most growers who have used the SCROG have managed to improve their yields up to 20%!
Use the best type of light
Now we come to another important factor in understanding the number of yields. Yes, the type of light makes a huge difference when it comes to lamps, the intensity, and the type of light matters.
Does a 600-watt HPS lamp yield less than a 1000-watt HPS lamp? A 1000-watt lamp will create more light, but a plant will not be able to use up all this energy. It will need CO2 to do this.
Around 350 to 400 ppm of carbon dioxide is found in the air, and indoor cannabis plants will utilize this CO2 with energy from light to make sugars. In a closed room with no air circulation, plants will use CO2 in just an hour and thus will have slower sugar creation due to low CO2 levels. This is the reason why an indoor growing area should be well-ventilated.
When the room is pumped with 350 to 400 ppm of carbon dioxide will not be able to make more sugars compared to the light coming from the 600 watts lamp. The yield won’t be higher even if you use a 1000-watt bulb HPS in normal situations.
But if the carbon dioxide levels are increased, your plants will require more light, and therefore a 1000-watt lamp can nearly double the yield! Therefore, a 1000-watt lamp is a good investment if you want more yields as long as you use it properly.
LED lamp yields
You may be wondering if LED lamps are good at making more yields. LED is bright but not as intense as HID or HPS lamps, but the key is the light spectrum. There is a certain color of light that can help produce more yield, and LEDs are available in different colors. Also, LEDs do not produce too much heat, and thus it won’t be a burden to your plants.
Big yields in a small growing area
People who still want to grow more yields despite cultivating plants in a small area can try other techniques. They can use SCROGGING, trimming, and pruning to control the growth of their plants. So, how much weed does one plant produce? The yield that your plants produce depends on many factors, and thus, it is very difficult to mention a nice round number. Take extra care of your plants to get the most yields. Start with the best strains and modify your growing area to meet your needs.
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