Growing Marijuana in a Greenhouse: What Are the Benefits?

Growing marijuana in a greenhouse gives your plants free sunlight and a sheltered, controlled space at the same time. You get more control over temperature, humidity and light than you would outdoors, a longer growing season and an easier time keeping pests away. Kind Seed Co breaks down each of these benefits below so you can decide if a greenhouse fits your setup.

Greenhouse growing sits between indoor and outdoor cultivation. Plants grow under natural light, while the structure shields them from bad weather and lets you stretch the season beyond what the open garden allows. If you are still weighing your options, our guide to growing outdoors versus indoors covers the basics.

Control over the growing environment

Outdoors, the weather is out of your hands. In a greenhouse, you can manage the factors that matter most: temperature, humidity and light. Steady conditions keep plants growing well and can lead to a bigger harvest of buds with better quality.

Temperature and humidity

Holding the right temperature and humidity is simpler and more precise under cover. Aim for these targets:

• Daytime temperature. Usually between 70 and 85°F.
• Night drop. About 10 to 15 degrees cooler than the daytime temperature.
• Seedling humidity. High, at about 70%.
• Flowering humidity. Lowered gradually as plants mature, down to about 40% by the flowering stage.

Growing somewhere with big seasonal swings? See our guide to growing cannabis in different climates.

Natural light with a backup

A greenhouse lets sunlight filter through its translucent walls and roof, giving plants the light spectrum they need for photosynthesis. Using the sun also cuts your electricity costs.

When sunlight falls short, on cloudy days or during the shorter days of fall and winter, you can add supplemental lighting to keep growth consistent. Our overview of grow lights for cannabis can help you pick a light for the job.

Bigger yields and better quality

A greenhouse lets you shape more than light, temperature and humidity. You can also manage CO2 levels, air circulation and how nutrients reach your plants. Those conditions can help you grow better quality buds with richer flavor.

Because you are no longer tied to the traditional outdoor season, you can extend your grow and may fit in more than one harvest a year. Outdoors, a stretch of bad weather can cut your yield and quality. Under cover, your plants are protected from the worst of it.

Easier pest and disease control

Greenhouses make it easier to use Integrated Pest Management, or IPM. This approach combines sensible practices to keep pests and diseases in check, and it cuts down on the need for chemical pesticides.

Plants in a greenhouse are not as exposed as plants in an open field, so the risk of pests and disease tends to drop. If a problem does show up, it is often easier to spot and control in a closed space. For practical tactics, read our seven ways to protect marijuana plants from pests.

Less waste and a smaller footprint

• Water and nutrients. Greenhouses suit hydroponic systems, which deliver water mixed with nutrients directly to the roots and cut down on waste.
• Electricity. Relying on natural light means you use less power than a fully indoor grow.
• Fewer chemicals. Fewer pest problems can mean fewer sprays over a season.
• Building materials. Greenhouses built from recycled or sustainable materials shrink the footprint further.

Is a greenhouse right for you?

If you want the free light of an outdoor grow with more control over conditions, a greenhouse is well worth considering. You get steadier temperatures and humidity, a longer season, easier pest control and less waste. When you are ready to plant, browse our feminized cannabis seeds to find a strain for your greenhouse.