Growing Weed Without Lights

Over the next couple paragraphs, I am going to talk about how to successfully grow cannabis outdoors without using any artificial lights. Growing weed without lights is not only achievable, but it is more natural and sustainable. Your electricity bill will thank you and growing outdoors is more natural, a tad easier, way cheaper and just as fun.

With electricity prices, who wants to grow indoors anyways? Most artificial lights only deliver part of the light spectrum required to grow cannabis. Lightbulbs must supply intense light for cannabis to grow well and in most cases are inefficient and expensive. To get an idea of how to grow weed without lights, you must first consider the photoperiod. A photoperiod is defined as the number of hours an organism receives light. In most cases, cannabis will flower when it receives 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness.

For California growers like myself, summer solstice (June 20th) is the best time to start your outdoor cannabis garden. For clones, plan on planting around summer solstice. In the northern hemisphere, the long summer days will provide just enough light to prevent your plants from flowering, therefore allowing them to turn over naturally as the season comes to an end. Seeds should be planted before clones because they require time to mature. Plant your seeds in April, May or early June. Clones on the other hand, should be planted in June. Getting started on time is one of the easiest ways to maximize your harvest potential. Plan on harvesting between October and November depending on the strain. Sativa’s generally take longer than Indica’s.

Growing after Summer Solstice

Getting a late start has its advantages, especially for novice growers. Starting your grow after summer solstice will only result in smaller plants. Smaller plants are easier to manage and require less watering, nutrients and maintenance. In California, growing weed without lights is possible anytime between June and April. Any plant placed outside during these months should show signs of flowering within a week. However, growing during winter months is much harder and definitely not as bountiful. Pests like spider mites are also more common and harder to control.

Helpful Tips

• Always use the biggest pot you can find. If you plan on growing from June to October, use at least a 10 gallon pot (minimum). Make sure to feed plants regularly with organic fertilizers. If you are using a 10 gallon pot, you will need to water almost daily during the warmer portions of the summer.
• Always buy the best organic soil you can find. A few extra dollars per bag is well worth it. Avoid inorganic potting mixes like miracle grow. We love Fox Farm – Ocean Forest. Seriously, don’t settle for less.
• Growing in the ground is easier than pots. Pots dry up faster and require more hands on maintenance. Raised beds also work great!
• Always use mulch to cover top soil. Mulches insulate your soil. It keeps soil temperatures in check and requires less watering. Wood chips and straw both work great! I usually add about 3 inches of mulch in my raised beds and seriously my plants love me. Start mulching today!
• Set up a shade cloth for hot days. Cannabis stops growing at 85 degree’s. When its hot out, cover your plants with a shade cloth to keep them cool.
• Worm castings, cooled chicken manure, blood meal, bone meal and bat guano are all great organic fertilizers.