Growing cannabis will likely become a popular hobby in Germany following legalization. In this article, we will take a closer look at the differences between indoor and outdoor cultivation and their respective advantages and disadvantages to help you grow cannabis successfully.
Growing Cannabis Indoors: What Do You Need?
Many indoor growers use special grow boxes that contain all the necessary components for cultivation. To ensure optimal conditions, lighting from a special lamp and ventilation with a fan and filter are necessary. In the grow box or special tent, you can better control and optimize temperature and humidity - for example with a hygrometer. In addition, a supply of nutrients through fertilizer is essential for the plant. Here you can find out everything about fertilizing cannabis. You can buy good cannabis seeds in cultivation associations or online.
Growing indoors without a grow box?
You can grow cannabis indoors without a special grow box, but it requires more effort and planning. You need to make sure the room is well ventilated and the plants receive the right lighting and watering. Setting the right temperature and humidity so that the plants are not growing under stress can be more difficult. Not to mention that the space can get damp and dirty - even sticky during the flowering period. If diseases and pests appear, treatment with sprays may be necessary. This can get quite messy without a grow tent or something similar.
Is indoor cultivation possible without lighting?
During the growth and flowering phases of cannabis plants, a sufficient amount of light is essential. Even if the window provides enough light, the natural light cycles may not be sufficient. It is also important to be able to control the duration of the light, because only a shortened light cycle from 18 hours to 12 hours a day will initiate flowering. Without additional lighting from a lamp, you always have to adapt to the season so that growing cannabis indoors can be successful. Here you can find out which lights you can use for plants!
Growing cannabis on the windowsill
Windowsill growing is an option for some growers, but generally not very successful. Firstly, the success of windowsill growing depends heavily on the location of the window. A window with plenty of direct sunlight is crucial for growing healthy plants. On the other hand, if the window is in the shade or receives little light, the plants can become stressed and not grow optimally.
Another factor is the space the plants need. Cannabis needs a lot of room to spread and develop healthy buds.
Important factors for outdoor cultivation
Growing cannabis outdoors, is that possible in Germany? Yes, growing three plants in the garden or on the balcony has been legal since April 2024. It is advisable to keep the plants out of the reach of third parties, especially children and young people.
When growing outdoors, success depends greatly on the environmental conditions and the time of year. A sunny climate with adequate air circulation is ideal. You also need to be more careful about pests and diseases that can affect your plants. Plants should be planted outdoors in a pot, as good soil with proper drainage and nutrient levels is also important for the growth of healthy plants.
When can you plant cannabis outdoors?
In Germany, there are enough daylight hours to grow cannabis outdoors, especially in spring and summer. During the growth phase in spring and summer, the plants naturally receive enough light to grow. In late summer and autumn, when the days become shorter and daylight decreases, the flowers develop.
The beginning of cannabis cultivation: germination of the seeds
The easiest way to buy high-quality cannabis seeds is online. Regardless of where you want your plants to grow, you should first germinate the seeds in a damp kitchen towel. Then you can grow the plants in a seedling pot. When growing cannabis both outdoors and indoors, the following applies: the small plants shortly after sowing need a lot of light. Otherwise they will grow too quickly and will not be strong enough. This phenomenon is called legging - you can find out more about it here . If it is still too cold outside, you can do this step on the windowsill and only put the plants outside during the growth phase.
Growth phase
During the period of intensive growth, cannabis plants need a lot of light and nutrients to grow strong and healthy. When growing indoors, the light cycles can be precisely controlled. Outdoors, growth depends on the seasonal light conditions. When growing cannabis, plants receive sufficient nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium through fertilization, regardless of the location!
Flowering phase
The flowering phase is crucial for the development of the inflorescences that contain the coveted cannabis flowers. Indoor growers can control light cycles to stimulate flowering, while outdoor growers depend on natural light conditions. Some strains can produce higher yields outdoors because they have more room to spread out and develop larger inflorescences.
Where will my cannabis plant yield the most? Indoor or outdoor cultivation
Where to grow the best yields depends on several factors, including available resources, climate, and the grower's personal preferences. Growing cannabis indoors allows for more precise control over environmental conditions and can result in higher yields, but also requires a larger investment in equipment and energy costs. Growing cannabis outdoors can be more cost-effective, but requires careful site selection and monitoring for successful flowering and eventual harvest.
Where can you dry the harvest?
Whether you're growing indoors or outdoors, you'll need to dry your crop to remove moisture. A well-ventilated room with low ambient humidity is ideal for drying cannabis flowers. Many growers also use special drying racks or chambers for their crops to optimize the drying process and minimize the risk of mold growth. You can also simply hang your cut shoots on a string.
