Indoor vs. outdoor cannabis cultivation: 3 differences

Cannabis has long been grown outdoors and is one of the oldest agricultural crops. The Indoor cannabis cultivation On the contrary, it is relatively recent—less than a century old—and is the result of prohibition. Most advances in cannabis production have occurred during the era of indoor cultivation. Moving indoors was a way for growers to circumvent laws banning cannabis.

As technology advanced, the cannabis industry was able to expand its knowledge of the plant by leaps and bounds, and this was also true in areas known for their large outdoor farms, such as southern Oregon and Northern California.

The Differences Between Indoor and Outdoor Cultivation are important not only for cannabis producers, but also for customers when they compare products at the counter of a dispensary or coffeeshop.

Natural Environment vs. Controlled Environment

The environment affects crop yields, and there are several reasons to grow indoors rather than outdoors. The freedom to choose a location with minimal constraints and the ability to control the environment are just a few of them.

Controlling temperature, light sources, CO2 production, and humidity creates a stable environment that optimizes plant growth without the risk of «external» disturbances.

On the other hand, even though there have been significant improvements in the latest generations of LEDs, sunlight is difficult to reproduce. The outdoor cultivation requires a climate suited to the plant, with good sunlight, warm days, nights that aren't too cold, and low humidity.

However, indoor growing can also present some challenges. Recreating a natural environment indoors can be difficult, especially in the pest control (moths, spiders, gnats…). If they appear in an enclosed space, they can be quite difficult to get rid of.

Cost Differences Between Indoor and Outdoor Cultivation

Both types of cultivation require significant upfront costs, but the difference really becomes apparent over the long term. An indoor climate control system can cost a small fortune, whereas most of the costs associated with an outdoor grow operation are incurred at the start of the operation.

In a cannabis cultivation business, labor costs also vary between indoor and outdoor operations. In an indoor grow operation, there’s always something to do: pruning, training, watering, feeding… Outdoors, there’s generally only one harvest per year. A large farm may need as few as four people until harvest time.

The high costs of domestic agriculture can be offset by projects to breeding, year-round harvests, and more potent products. Indoor cultivation also makes it possible to grow varieties that are unsuitable for the local environment.

With rising energy prices and growing demand for cannabis flowers, outdoor cultivation can be an alternative for high-quality products at a reasonable price.

Cannabis Quality

Indoor cannabis has long had a reputation for producing high-quality products. The ability to control the environment and accelerate breeding have resulted in new cannabis strains with organoleptic profiles many and varied. The introduction of high levels of CO2 promotes the growth of flower heads and increases the production of THC difficult to replicate outdoors. The heads also don't have to contend with rain, wind, or any other natural elements that could damage them.

Outdoor-grown flowers aren't perfect, of course, but their aromas and effects are preserved. In fact, some people prefer organic cannabis grown outdoors to the indoor alternative. Frenchy Cannoli is one of those people and argues that terroir is just as important as it is for wine in the process by which plants assimilate the characteristics of their environment.

In any case, some commercial plantations now use both methods. This type of cultivation produces high-quality results, which is quite exciting to see in this emerging industry.