Growing cannabis outdoors can be a rewarding experience. As a cannabis cultivator, your goal is to achieve the highest yields possible from your plants. The flowering stage is the most crucial time to implement strategies to maximize your crop. With some planning and proper techniques, you can significantly increase the yield from your outdoor cannabis plants during flowering.
Select the Right Strains
Choosing cannabis strains that are suited for your local outdoor climate is key to getting good yields. Some important factors when selecting strains:
- Flowering Time – Select strains with flowering times that match your outdoor season. Long-flowering sativas may not finish maturing before cold weather arrives. Short flowering indica strains are better for northern climates.
- Mold Resistance – Outdoor plants are vulnerable to mold, especially during flowering. Choose mold-resistant strains to prevent bud rot.
- Yield – Check details on the strain’s expected yield size, and select high-yielding options.
- THC/CBD Levels – Make sure the THC and CBD ratios match your preferences.
- Terpenes – Consider the terpene profile you want when choosing among strain options.
Selecting the right strains for your climate and site will set your plants up for success.
Give Plants Enough Root Space
Avoid crowding plants together too closely. Space plants appropriately to allow sufficient room for roots to expand.
- For small plants under 3 feet, allow at least 3 feet between plants.
- For larger plants over 3 feet, allow at least 5 feet between plants.
Giving roots enough space prevents plants from competing for resources. It enables each plant to grow vigorously and produce higher yields.
Use Bigger Containers for Bigger Yields
Use large containers or beds to allow more root growth. Plants with expansive roots can become larger and yield more.
- For plants under 3 feet, use at least a 5-gallon container.
- For plants over 3 feet, use at least a 10-gallon container.
- For in-ground planting, amend native soil to a depth of at least 2 feet.
Bigger containers hold more soil and nutrients to fuel plant growth and bud production.
Maximize Light Exposure
Plants need full sun to reach their peak yield potential. Ensure plants receive at least 8-10 hours of direct sunlight daily.
- Select sunny cultivation sites that are not shaded by trees, buildings, or other obstructions.
- Avoid shaded areas in your yard. Even small amounts of shade will dramatically reduce yields.
- Prune back surrounding vegetation that may shade your plants as they grow taller.
- Use reflective materials (mylar, panda film) around your site to maximize light.
Maximizing light exposure, especially during flowering, boosts yields by promoting dense bud development.
Use High Quality Soil and Fertilizers
Your plants need nutrient-rich soil and regular fertilization to produce their best yields.
- Prepare planting beds with high quality potting soils or amended native soil. Use compost and organic dry amendments like bat or bird guano, alfalfa meal, bone meal etc.
- Before planting, incorporate slow-release organic granular fertilizers into the soil. Options include bat guano, fish meal, crab meal, or organic flower enhancers. Follow package instructions.
- Once flowering begins, use bloom boosters and phosphorus-rich fertilizers to increase bud growth. Good options are bat guano, fish bone meal, and rock phosphate.
- Continue applying liquid organic fertilizers like fish emulsion or compost tea every 1-2 weeks during flowering.
Ensure your plants have abundant nutrients throughout the grow to fuel big yields.
Proper Pollination is Vital
Adequate pollination leads to larger, more developed buds and higher yields. For non-feminized seed plants and clones, expose female plants to pollen:
- Grow some male plants nearby to provide pollen naturally.
- Lightly brush pollen-laden male flowers directly onto the females.
- For feminized seeds, manually supplement with pollen you collected earlier.
- Shake pollen-covered branches above the tops of flowering female plants.
Effective pollination results in bigger buds with more seeds, boosting overall yields.
Control Pests and Diseases
Pests and powdery mildew are common during flowering. An infestation can quickly destroy yields.
- Check plants daily for signs of pests like spider mites, aphids or caterpillars. Treat immediately before they spread.
- At the first sign of powdery mildew, spray with a sulfur-based fungicide.
- Release beneficial insects like ladybugs or lacewings to control pests naturally.
- Use organic neem oil sprays preventatively every 2-3 weeks during flowering.
Controlling pests and diseases helps ensure plants remain healthy enough for maximum flowering and yields.
Support Heavy Bud Sites
As buds grow bigger during flowering, branches can break from the weight. Avoid losing yield by providing support:
- Use 7-8 foot tall tomato cages over smaller plants under 4 feet tall.
- Install heavy trellis netting above larger plants to support heavy branches.
- Strategically tie and stake branches with soft ties to provide extra support. Avoid using wire or abrasive materials.
- Carefully tie, prop up, or even prune back extremely heavy bud sites at risk of snapping.
Properly supporting branches enables plants to support all the big buds without breakage losses.
Provide Sufficient Irrigation
Plants need ample water during flowering for proper bud development.
- Monitor soil moisture daily. Water whenever top few inches become dry.
- Deep water gradually to saturate the entire container or in-ground planting bed.
- Increase irrigation frequency as plants grow larger and flowering progresses.
- Use drip irrigation or soaker hoses to provide consistent moisture.
- Stop watering 7-10 days before planned harvest date so buds properly dry.
Adequate irrigation prevents drought stress and results in the biggest, densest buds.
Harvest at Peak Maturity
Knowing optimal harvest timing is essential to achieving top yields.
- For most strains, harvest when 60-70% of trichomes are cloudy with remaining clear or amber.
- Sativa-dominant strains are often harvested slightly earlier, at the first signs of amber trichomes.
- Indica-dominant strains can go slightly longer, up to 30% amber trichomes.
- Examine trichomes with a pocket 60x microscope for an accurate view.
Harvesting at the ideal stage of maturity means buds have reached their maximum size and potency potential.
Dry and Cure Properly
Poor drying and curing can degrade quality and reduce final yields. Here are tips for maximizing your dried bud quantity:
- Dry buds for 7-14 days in a dark, cool area between 60-70°F and 40-50% humidity.
- Use fans for air circulation, but avoid blowing directly on buds.
- Finish curing buds in sealed glass jars, opening daily to ventilate. Cure for 4-8 weeks.
- Maintain ideal curing conditions between 58-65°F and 55-62% relative humidity.
- Use Boveda 2-way humidity control packs in jars for perfect curing.
Maximizing trichome preservation and terpene retention through proper drying and curing results in the best quality and quantity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much yield can I expect outdoors?
Yields vary tremendously depending on strain, growing conditions, and techniques. Typically outdoor plants yield 1-2 lbs per plant on average. With high-yielding strains and perfect conditions, experienced growers can produce over 2 lbs per plant outdoors.
When should I start flowering nutrients?
Begin applying flowering/blooming nutrients just as the plants start flowering, usually during weeks 2-3 of the bloom stage. This provides extra phosphorus and potassium to promote bigger, denser flowers.
What density of planting maximizes yield?
For most varieties, aim for planting densities of 2-4 plants per 10 square feet. This generally optimizes yield in a given space while minimizing crowd stress. Higher densitySea-of-Green style grows can use 4-6 plants per 10 sq ft.
How much direct sunlight do outdoor plants need?
Outdoor cannabis plants need at least 8-10 hours of unobstructed direct sunlight daily during flowering. Even small amounts of shade will result in loose, airy buds with reduced yields.
Can I increase yield by topping/training?
For outdoor plants with enough root and grow space, topping and training techniques like mainlining, manifolding, or SCROG can increase yields by promoting more bud sites. But it requires more time and plant management.
Conclusion
Implementing these techniques can help maximize your outdoor cannabis yields. The keys are selecting optimized strains, providing adequate root space, light exposure and nutrients, managing pests/diseases, supporting heavy branches, irrigation properly, and harvesting at peak maturity. With careful planning and preparation, you can achieve impressive results from your outdoor cannabis garden.