The first records of medical marijuana use date back to 2700 BC in China. Since then, this plant has spread quickly around the globe and now grows well in diverse places and different climates. It is adaptable and can thrive in many conditions. When cultivating weed outdoors, you are at the mercy of the climate but don’t think of it as a disadvantage. All you need is to determine your climatic conditions and choose the right seeds acclimated to your region. Let’s look at the intricacies of growing cannabis in different climate zones. It will allow you to be on the way to successful cultivation and bountiful harvest.
Brief Introduction to Cannabis Evolution
Before choosing the right cannabis seeds online https://askgrowers.com/seeds to grow a particular strain, it is important to understand how these strains evolved. Plants typical for a tropical climate have physical differences from those originating from cold regions because of the intensity and consistency of sunlight exposure.
Thus, weed strains from warm climate zones have more flowers and smaller leaves because they absorb enough light to grow and don’t require an increase in leaf size. Strains bred in a cold climate have bigger leaves and denser buds. Because of reduced sunlight availability, they evolved to have a larger surface area for absorbing more light. So, find out what type of climate a strain comes from before you buy weed seeds USA seed banks offer. You can estimate how well it will do in your garden.
Nature of Indica, Sativa, and Hybrids
To be a successful marijuana cultivator, you should learn your area’s weather patterns and temperatures. The climate is the most crucial factor when choosing cannabis seeds because you can get generous yields if you succeed to replicate the strain’s ideal growing conditions. Let’s determine the peculiarities of how Indica, Sativa, and hybrid strains interact with your local climate:
- Indicas come from Afghanistan, Tibet, and Morocco. They are good for northern climates and cold regions due to a shorter season. These plants have adapted to the breezy environment – they are short and bushy, with thick stems. As moisture is not a concern, they have developed broad dark leaves to increase sunshine absorption. Their flowering stage lasts 7-9 weeks.
- Sativas originate in tropical countries such as Mexico, Thailand, and Colombia. The plants are tall and thin, with narrow leaves that help them prevent moisture from being released. They get plenty of sunshine and have a longer blooming period that may last 16 weeks.
- Hybrids combine the qualities of Indica and Sativa strains, taking the best of both species. Usually, they have one cannabis variety as dominant, and its traits are prevalent in the plant. Creating hybrids allows for taking away weaknesses and increasing some particular characteristics (for example, shortening the flowering period of Sativas). So, hybrids are good at adaptation.
If you prefer growing marijuana outdoors, choose a variety suitable for your region because you can’t expect good results from cultivating a tropical strain in a cool climate zone. Most seed banks offer weed seeds for sale categorized according to a particular climate.
Growing Autoflower and Feminized Weed Seeds Outdoors
If you choose autoflower weed seeds, you can grow them outdoors in just 3 months of summer. Even gardeners in cool regions can manage an outdoor crop. Autoflowers finish faster than photoperiod plants, which is a benefit for growers with a shorter growing season. Cultivators in warm regions can plant 2-3 successive crops each season.
Photoperiod feminized marijuana strains finish in early October. Ideally, growers can rely on warm and sunny summers and gentle autumn. If the weather is unpredictable, consider autoflower seeds with a faster life cycle.
Cannabis Strains Vs. Climate Zones
To choose the right weed seeds that suit your particular region and grow the perfect strain for your garden, check this list of climate zones and marijuana strains that thrive therein.
- The moist tropical/monsoon climate is characterized by distinct dry and wet seasons brought by monsoon winds and hot temperatures all year round. It is typical for Miami, Florida. The strains thriving in this climate are Purple Power (Sativa), Super Silver Haze (Sativa), Orange Skunk feminized (Sativa), California Skunk Haze (Sativa), etc.
- The Mediterranean climate has dry, warm summers and mild, wet winters without snow, while coastal regions may have foggy summers and see little rain. This climate is typical for San Francisco, California. It is suitable for strains such as Jack Herer (Sativa), Skunk XL (Sativa), Medi Bomb #2 (Sativa), Light of Jah (Sativa), etc.
- The humid subtropical climate features hot and humid summers and cool, wet winters. It is typical for Houston, Texas, and Florida. Gardeners can grow Auto-Candy Kush (hybrid), Sour Diesel feminized (Sativa), Jamaican Pearl (Sativa), Blue Hash (Indica), etc.
- The arid and semiarid climate has low precipitation and covers steppes and deserts with a wide range of temperatures. It is typical for Phoenix, Arizona, and Denver, Colorado. The most suitable strains for this region are Durban Poison (Sativa), Kali Haze (Sativa), LSD feminized (Sativa), Power Plant (Sativa), Blueberry (Indica), etc.
- The maritime temperate (or oceanic) climate is damp, with year-round rainfall, showing no extreme cold or heat. It has cool winters and warm summers and is typical for Ketchikan, Alaska. It is suitable for the cultivation of Strawberry Cough feminized (Sativa), Frisian Dew (hybrid), Guerrilla’s Gusto (Indica), Holland’s Hope (Indica), etc.
- The continental climate comes with dry and hot summers that are usually long. It is a characteristic of Chicago, Illinois, and Salt Lake City, Utah. The suitable strains for cultivation are Northern Lights (Indica), AK-47 (Sativa), Afghan (Indica), White Widow autoflower (Indica), etc.
- The subarctic climate is typical for the Rocky Mountains and Yellowstone National Park. It is famous for long harsh winters and short, cool to warm summers. This climate is dry, with low humidity and low precipitation. The strains thriving in these conditions are Northern Lights autoflower feminized (Indica), Pandora autoflower feminized (Indica), Lemon Haze autoflower feminized (Sativa), Skunk autoflower (hybrid), etc.
Theoretically, you can take any marijuana seeds and experiment with planting them outdoors, but there is a chance you may not be successful. If you don’t want to be disappointed and get high yields, try to choose strains regarding your region. Consider their native seasons and let the plants grow and attain their full potential.
In Conclusion
Growing cannabis outside can be a challenge, but it can save you money on setting up a grow room and installing the necessary equipment. Successful outdoor cultivation is based on choosing the right marijuana strain that suits your climate. Job number one is establishing natural weather patterns characteristic of your strain’s genetics, while your personal preferences are the second factor to consider. Gardeners who follow these recommendations will be rewarded by watching cannabis seeds sprout and resin-dripping buds grow.