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More states are legalizing, and that means more people are starting to grow their own cannabis compared to any other time in modern history.
While it might seem like indoor growing is the predominant method for most cannabis cultivation today, some of the largest cannabis producers in the country grow all their cannabis outdoors. Northern California supplies more than half of the countries cannabis, and a lot of that cannabis is grown in a big field outside.
While there is a place for seeds in outdoor growing, clones allow you as the grower to select the best plant in your garden and reproduce it en masse. But an inexperienced grower that plants clones outside in late May and early June might notice a serious issue. Clones flowering right away.
Planting Clones Outside
The number one mistake to avoid when planting clones outside is planting them too early. While the perfect time to plant is hotly debated, planting in early May is usually too early. Another mistake newer growers may make is using a bigger pot like a 5 gallon so they can grow a bigger plant in the end.
However, a one gallon pot will work just fine, with a clone about one foot tall. As long as your clones are not root bound already, you’re odds are good that you won’t have too many problems. For ideal results, keeping your clones in a greenhouse until they have developed sufficiently to about 4 or 5 feet tall. Once they’re stronger and in the right place, you can plant them later in the season, after the solstice and before August 1st, and see great results.
Another option is to start them a little earlier and smaller. When your clones are about 6 inches tall, they stand a better chance of acclimating to the outdoor environment, compared to larger plants that will need more help during the transition.
Tips for Success
Jason Miller of Kiskanu Farms has been growing the Bubblegum strain for years, a notoriously difficult strain to grow well, especially outdoors. But through his own techniques, Jason grows the best Bubblegum in Northern California. His main advice is to just keep your plants happy.
“It’s difficult when you are moving your plants from a comfortable, controlled environment out into the wild. For us, we always try to make it as easy a transition as we can, moving them into a covered greenhouse to transition from high pressure lights to regular sunlight, controlling temperature and giving them time to ‘harden off’, so they are more prepared for sunlight when we move them outside.”
Moving your clones from a controlled greenhouse environment straight into the sunlight will almost always result in your plants burning due to the rapid shift in light power.
This Week on The Real Dirt
This week’s episode has full stack of expert outdoor cultivators. Jason from Kiskanu, Chris from Cultivate OKC, Brian from Yumboldt Farms and Jeff from Little Hill Cultivators all share their best techniques for planting clones outside.
From how to transition your lighting to when you should plant your clones outside for the best results, this episode will make you confident in your first grow with clones, or help you change your game up for an ever better outdoor season than last year.
Listen to the episode right here on The Real Dirt, or Subscribe and Follow us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to get the latest episodes straight to your phone for easy listening.
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thx for this podcast great info clones are tricky and you’ve done a good job of explaining Bart
Inland San Diego county
I have small clones in ceramic pots that I have kept indoors. I have moved them outdoors during the day. Do I need to bring them in at night?
You don’t want to move clones outdoors this late in the season as it will encourage them to begin their flower cycle. You want your clones to stay indoors until they are ready to flower, then move them outdoors. But you won’t have much luck growing outdoor in January. Ideal outdoor cultivation season is May-October for most environments in the US.
Hey Travis—
I am in south Texas and put out clones that had been under 20/4 light cycle, in late February early March. They flower and I get a decent spring crop finishing in May before they would revert. I have clones My question is regarding clones I have now. Can I reduce the light cycle from 20/4 to our April outdoor light period of 12.5 hrs light 11.5 hrs darkness and prevent the clones from flowering if put out in April? The clones outside are flowering with no sign of reverting. I am afraid that unless I keep the current inside clones inside until late June, they will start to flower and revert. Anything after late June will flower to finish without reversion. This year I got ahead of myself and am early on my second crop of clones.
I have some seeds I want to start. We are looking at like May for them to be put in ground. 1st time trying this. When should I start the seeds ? Thanks
Hey Tina,
It really depends where you are. Certain regions might require you to plant outside later, or allow you to plant outside earlier. In Colorado as an example, most people like to plant outdoors Mother’s Day weekend. So you would want to start your seeds indoors around mid-april. If you want bigger outdoor plants however, you can start your seeds indoors much earlier and keep them in the vegetative stage so they grow large indoors. Then move them outside to begin flowering for bigger yields.
What kind of nutriant. Gives you dense buds
You want a bloom booster flower supplement, it will give your plants more phosphorus and potassium which it needs during flower to produce buds.
Hi I live in Australia and it’s the start of the outdoor season and I have put my clones in 30 cm pots but they have flowered I cut the centres out this hasn’t happened before I’m wondering if they will go back to grow mode any information would be appreciated thanks lee ps I’m a long time grower with seeds but only used clones last year with great results but don’t know what they are doing right now
I can send pictures if that helps they are only 20 cm tall but each has 2-3 main branches thanks again lee