There isn’t perhaps even a single thing on this planet (or the universe) that doesn’t have its pros and cons. The same rule applies to the methods used for growing marijuana.
A lot of companies, especially outside the US, are now moving their production to indoor facilities; however, that doesn’t imply that indoor growing is a cakewalk. In this post, we are going to have a look at both the advantages and disadvantages that come along with both the growing methods. Kindly note that the currency used in the following paragraphs is the South African Rand (R).
Outdoor Growing
This one is, of course, the most natural way to grow cannabis. However, dealing with pests and the ever-changing weather conditions are a few major hurdles here.
If the humidity is high, your cannabis bud can rot and powdery mildew may appear on the plant. On the other hand, in cold environments, odds are high that you’ll witness a stunted plant growth. Some cold environments are so harsh that they may even kill the cannabis plant.
Marijuana needs at least 12 hours of darkness a day in order to flower, but that happens only during the transition period form summers to autumn; as a result, you get ONLY one flowering season a year with outdoor facilities (RSA).
Enough negative things. Now let’s take a look at the few positive aspects of outdoor growing.
1) There is no indoor light that can match the full spectrum of rays provided by the sun.
2) An outdoor facility is way affordable.
3) Allocating space is easy.
4) Plants are usually larger and tend to give a better yield.
Indoor growing
Indoor growing is basically a customization of sorts. From lights to temperature/humidity, you have complete control over everything. The cost, however, is a huge concern.
For instance, in order to set up a ‘sufficient’ 4X4 grow tent, you would, without any doubt, require at least R5000 – R10,000. Hang on, this sum was just for the basic stuff. For lights/electricity, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, etc. be prepared to shell at least another R20,000.
Other benefits of indoor growing include:
1 ) Unlike the former, with indoors, you can grow multiple harvests a year.
2) Little to no pest menace.
3) Higher THC content as the ideal conditions can be achieved and maintained at all times.
4) The month or the season of the year does not matter.
Conclusion
In South Africa, ‘indoor’ is basically a synonym for superior quality. All ‘thanks’ to growers in places like Lesotho and Swaziland who have historically put their flower through some doubtful drying and curing practices.
However, this isn’t the case in the United States, where outdoor grown buds can very well outperform their indoor counterparts.
