Growing marijuana outdoors is one of the most rewarding experiences of a lifetime but that’s only in the case you play your cards right.
If you fail with sustaining the ideal temperature for growing weed outdoors, you are most definitely doomed to fail.
In fact, all your efforts, the time you spent planning and looking after your seedlings, and even those juicy and already reaching the harvest point buds will suffer from high fluctuations in temperature.
But hey, no worries!
Many seasoned cannabis growers have been there before so you can use their tips in order to avoid unpleasant mistakes from happening with your marijuana growing journey.
#1 – Why is Temperature a Crucial Factor for Outdoor Marijuana Growing
For a start, it is significant to understand why temperature is such a crucial key factor for your marijuana plants (and especially those grown outdoors!).
With indoor cannabis growing, you are the one who controls the environment.
However, with outdoor growing, the climate can always surprise you and thus, catch you unprepared to take the best actions!
Meanwhile, sustaining the proper temperature from the vegetative to the flowering stage and all the way up to harvesting your green ladies is a MUST.
Photosynthesis works best within 15 degrees Celsius (60 Fahrenheit) to 30 degrees Celsius (85 Fahrenheit).
Temperatures and Sugar Production
As a rule of thumbs, no matter the temperature, your marijuana plants will be able to produce the much-needed sugars, which feed the delicious buds.
But on another note, if the temperature falls below 20 degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit), sugars start moving very slowly throughout the plants.
Moreover, sugars can literally get stuck and this will doom your green beauties to suffer.
Thus, keeping track of the temperatures in your outside marijuana growing operation is the least you can do in order to know what actions to undertake.
For this purpose, you will only need a thermometer (or a simple app installed on your phone!).
Make sure to monitor the temperatures at night as to stay aware if they are within the perfect ratio for your plants’ development.
Stuck sugars are more likely to cause serious harm to immature plants, meaning those in the vegetative stage.
Once your green goddesses enter the flowering stage, issues due to stuck sugars can be turned back to normal within a couple of days and the harm will be reversible.
Meanwhile, respiration issues can occur because of the drop in temperatures, followed by an increase in temperatures.
That leads to making your plants produce much energy to overcome the sudden fluctuations.
And because of having to produce so much energy to survive, they lack behind in actually using that energy where we need it the most – to feed the hungry buds!
And so, ultimately, as an outdoor marijuana gardener, you want to be prepared on how to counteract unfriendly temperatures and save your plants from harm before troubling issues have even occurred.
#2 – How to Sustain the Perfect Temperature in your Outdoor Cannabis Garden
The most beneficial temperature for your outdoor cannabis garden is considered anything between 10 degrees Celsius (50 Fahrenheit) to 30 degrees Celsius (85 Fahrenheit).
But that doesn’t mean multiple nights or/and days with temperatures at 10 Celsius (50 Fahrenheit) are any good for your weed plants, in fact, not at all.
It is simply acceptable for your green beauties to experience a few (up to 3-4) nights within those temperature rates, and not anything more than 5 days.
Now, what you must absolutely stay away from is anything below 40 Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius). Such low temperature can damage the tissues of your plants almost immediately.
Of course, your strain choice will play a huge role in determining the most suitable temperatures for your green beauties.
For example, auto-flowering marijuana plants are very resistant to colds.
That’s because this type of marijuana varieties are a fusion of Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Ruderalis.
Cannabis Ruderalis is a native Russian kind of marijuana that is genetically capable of resisting cold temperatures and finishing early with flowering.
And indeed, the time that your cannabis plants will require to finish their entire growth process is also extremely important for outdoor marijuana growers and sustaining the right temperatures.
Thus, if you live in a geographic region with a very short summer (for example only a month or two), then you need to choose strains which will be able to mature within the time frame.
Otherwise, you ought to think about
covering your green beauties with a nylon/ polyethylene plastic installation, working similarly to the concept of a greenhouse, to keep them save from trouble.
Some cannabis cultivators use simple heaters, such as gas patio heaters to keep their plants warm and cozy at night, as well, and this also does the trick.
In the case of very hot hours, when the heat goes above 85 Fahrenheit (30 degrees), make sure to build a quick shadow for your green princesses.
You can simply stick 4 pieces of wood forming a square around your garden and throw an old sheet in case of emergency.
The Bottom Line
Sustaining the ideal temperature for growing weed outdoors might seem like a tricky task.
Surprisingly, the entire process of keeping the temperatures is balanced is actually very much in your hands.
Above all, remember to always start with doing your research on the most suitable strains for your geographic region!
Be prepared for sudden drops and the eventual need to quickly build suitable shades against heat or shelters against cold.
And just like a charm, you will enjoy your favorite, sugar-coated buds in no time, thanks to the vibrant sun, the refreshing breeze, and the nutrient-rich Mother Earth.
Happy Marijuana Growing!