Cannabis is a highly sensitive plant to temperature. Indoor operations are necessary for year-round cannabis growing in regions experiencing seasonal temperature fluctuations. Growers that plan to keep an active crop going all year round need to take some extra precautions.
Selecting Hemp Seeds
1. A wide variety of cannabis seed strains are available. Making a decision about your primary goal will help you narrow down your options. Should you cultivate cannabis for medicinal purposes, should you choose varieties with high concentrations of CBD components (cannabidiol is the second most common active ingredient in cannabis and requires no more than 0.3 percent THC to be legal on a federal level)? Let’s say you are cultivating cannabis to make recreational goods. Then you want to look for seeds that have a high concentration of THC (a crystalline component that is the primary active ingredient in cannabis and gives users “high sensations”).
2. Take into account which seeds or strains thrive in colder climates while cultivating cannabis in regions with lower average temperatures. In general, most plants cannot endure prolonged outside temperatures below freezing. The optimal temperature range for cannabis is 72-86˚F, or 22-30˚C. The lowest temperature that you should allow cannabis plants to be exposed to is 59˚F (15˚C). Lower than that and you risk killing it, and the lowest temperatures that are safe can actually slow their growth.
3. Afghan Kush, Blue Cheese, Critical, Skunk XL, Northern Lights, Royal Moby, Shining Silver Haze, Somango XL, Special Queen I, and White Widow are ten cannabis cultivars that thrive in colder climates. These are only a handful of the strains that thrive in colder climates; there are many more.
Why cultivate cannabis in colder climates or with strains that do well in lower temperatures throughout the winter?
It can be difficult to grow cannabis all year long. Despite being a “weed,” cannabis is extremely sensitive to light and temperature. By not turning up the heat as much as other cannabis strains, cultivators can boost their profit margin by investing in strains of cannabis that do well in colder climates.
What effects does cannabis lighting have in colder climates?
You will need to add artificial lighting if you are growing in a greenhouse and using natural light. There is typically less daily natural sunshine as colder weather and seasons arrive.
Cannabis needs lighting at all phases of growth. It’s crucial to replicate the natural spectrum of sunlight when cultivating inside or in a greenhouse. LED grow lights simulate natural sunshine by emitting the entire spectrum of light for plants.
Full-spectrum LED grow lights can be adjusted to emit a particular color at a higher or lower intensity. Healthy plants and a good harvest can be achieved by controlling the light spectrum, the height at which the fixtures are suspended above the canopy, and the duration of the light period.
LED grow lights that are energy-efficient reduce overhead expenses and offer a range of wavelengths that enhance plant growth at every stage of development. Blue light is required for leaf growth, whereas red light is beneficial for plants that require assistance with fruiting and flowering.
Does cannabis need to be heated further when grown in colder climates?
Yes, producing cannabis in colder climates need additional warmth. Heat sources and fans are necessary whether you’re indoors or in a greenhouse. Usually, heat sources are insufficient to evenly distribute the heat within your enclosure. Your developing facility’s atmosphere will become more stable and help get rid of excess humidity and cold by placing fans in different places to disperse the heat around.
The plants won’t freeze if you have thermostats (which automatically adjust the heat and fans) in multiple locations throughout your growth rooms to monitor temperatures. Plants are made mostly of water and other fluids, thus freezing kills them. When ice crystals develop, the water rapidly expands and bursts inside the cells of the plants.
