Photoperiod

Photoperiod in cannabis refers to the amount of light and dark periods a cannabis plant receives in a 24-hour cycle. The duration of light exposure during the day and darkness during the night affects the growth, development, and flowering of cannabis plants.

Cannabis is a photoperiodic plant, meaning its growth and flowering stages are influenced by the length of exposure to light and darkness. There are three primary photoperiod categories in cannabis:

Short-day (long-night) plants: These cannabis varieties require a specific period of darkness to trigger the flowering stage. Generally, they need around 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness each day to induce flowering. This makes them suitable for cultivation in regions where the length of the day naturally decreases as the summer progresses, like in temperate climates.

Long-day (short-night) plants: These cannabis varieties require shorter periods of darkness and more extended periods of light to continue their vegetative growth stage. They typically require more than 12 hours of light per day. Long-day plants are suitable for cultivation in regions with longer daylight hours, such as high latitudes during the summer months.

Day-neutral plants: Unlike short-day and long-day plants, day-neutral cannabis varieties are less sensitive to changes in the photoperiod. They will transition from the vegetative stage to the flowering stage regardless of the day length. However, the flowering may occur later or earlier depending on the photoperiod conditions.

For indoor cannabis cultivation, growers can manipulate the photoperiod using artificial lighting to induce flowering when desired, regardless of the natural daylight conditions. By adjusting the amount of light and dark hours the plants receive, indoor growers can control the growth and flowering stages to optimize yields and harvest times.