By Luke Sumpter

One of the best things about growing cannabis is that you can adapt the hobby to your preferences and situation. If you love nothing more than spending your time outside with the sun on your skin and grass between your toes, you can choose to grow weed in your garden. If you prefer gadgets, control, stealth, and the comfort of the indoors, growing weed inside will win your favour.

But your final growing location doesn’t always boil down to choice. Some growers are forced indoors because of strict laws, while others have to carry out their passion outdoors due to tight budgets or snooping landlords.

If you’re about to grow weed for the first time, or have only ever cultivated in one of these environments, we encourage you to weigh up the pros and cons of each. Before making up your mind, you need to consider all of the different variables. For example, outdoor plants require a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight each day; if you have a north-facing garden or a space overshadowed by trees, you might fail to meet this critical requirement.

But never fear—below, we’ll guide you through the benefits and inconveniences of growing weed outside vs inside.

Benefits (and Inconveniences) of Growing Weed Outdoors

Why should you consider cultivating cannabis outdoors? For one, the plant thrives in this setting—over 12,000 years of domestication is proof of that. But the term “outdoors” is vague. There are many different climates and landscapes in this world, and cannabis doesn’t do well in all of them. Let’s explore the advantages of growing cannabis outdoors, before looking at some of the downsides.

Advantages of Growing Cannabis Outdoors

Exposure to natural sunlight, microbial biodiversity, and increased space all do their part to sway growers to cultivate cannabis outdoors. Not only can you achieve healthy, vibrant plants under the sun, but huge yields too!

  • More Space

Certainly one of the biggest advantages of growing outdoors, adequate space allows cannabis plants to thrive. With ample room to spread their roots and expand their canopies, outdoor specimens can express their full genetic potential.

Transplanting seedlings into garden beds frees them from the constraints of pots and other containers. They’re able to establish large root systems and gain access to large quantities of nutrients and water. Of course, many outdoor growers still elect to use containers. This helps to keep plants at a desirable size. But access to more space means growers can use bigger pots to produce taller and more productive plants.

More space also means more species. That's right, many cannabis growers choose to cultivate companion plants to bolster the biodiversity of their garden, in turn reducing pest damage, decreasing the spread of pathogens, and conserving the soil. This “polyculture” serves as a great biological control method to defend against common pests[1] such as aphids. Moreover, it reduces dependency on chemical controls and shop-bought preparations. Popular companion plant species include white clover, chamomile, dill, and borage.

More Space
  • Sunlight

Outdoor cannabis plants spend their days basking in the sunlight. But some experience this luxury much more often than others, depending on the local climate. Much like indoor grow lights, the rays of the sun hit chloroplasts within cannabis leaves and help to drive photosynthesis. But light emitted from the sun offers distinct benefits compared to artificial sources.

The rays of the sun contain two main forms of ultraviolet (UV) radiation: UVA and UVB. The former presents no threat to plants, but the latter can inflict DNA damage. In response to both forms of UV, plants churn out protective layers of resin loaded with secondary metabolites such as cannabinoids and terpenes. Exposure to this kind of radiation may therefore improve the effects, smell, and taste[2] of buds.

Sunlight
  • Diverse Soil Biology

Outdoor garden beds are teeming with life. By establishing a bed, mulching it generously, and following no-till principles, you’ll create a soil food web thriving with bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, arthropods, and worms. Together, these species cycle nutrients from organic matter through each other until they become available to plants.

Several forms of bacteria and fungi also form symbiotic relationships with roots and mine vital minerals in return for sugars. Nutrients aside, a healthy soil food web also creates good soil structure. Mycelial threads and bacterial biofilms form soil particle aggregates and prevent erosion, while worms tunnel through the soil, improving aeration and drainage.

Diverse Soil Biology
  • Cheaper Cost

Growing weed outside can substantially decrease startup costs, especially if you take a minimalist approach. While greenhouses, polytunnels, and irrigation systems aren’t cheap, it only takes a few bags of compost and a couple of sheets of cardboard to create a no-dig bed capable of producing amazing harvests. Even cultivators dealing with short growing seasons can use this technique successfully so long as they have appropriate genetics.

Disadvantages of Growing Cannabis Outdoors

Growing outdoors isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. This dynamic, living environment poses many challenges that can cause anything from minor issues to total crop failures. Check out some of the biggest problems that outdoor growers face.

  • Pest Pressure

If you’ve ever tried to grow vegetables, you’ll know a thing or two about pests. Slugs can wipe out an entire batch of seedlings overnight, aphids can suck a plant dry of sap, and root-munching nematodes can chew holes under the soil without detection. Before growing outdoors, you’ll need to learn how to keep caterpillars, spider mites, whiteflies, and many other species away from your crop.

Pest Pressure
  • Adverse Weather

Many weather events pose a serious threat to outdoor cannabis plants. Gale force winds can snap branches and stems, while torrential rains can cause root rot and increase the chances of disease during the flowering stage. Then there’s the possibility of scorching heat and drought causing underwatering issues and wilting. Late frosts in the spring and early frosts in the autumn can kill plants altogether.

Adverse Weather
  • Unsuitable Climates

Growing outdoors becomes much harder in northern latitudes. A shorter growing season and rainy weather mean cultivators in these parts of the world are limited to fast-flowering genetics, which usually means smaller specimens and less significant yields. Autoflower strains do particularly well in these environments, but they don’t compare to the productivity of towering, tree-like sativas.

Unsuitable Climates
  • Beholden to Mother Nature

Outdoor growers have to move in time with the seasons. While this fosters a close connection with Mother Nature, it means you need to have patience. You can’t alter the light cycle to force photoperiod cultivars to flower early (unless you use light dep techniques). You’ll need to wait for the shorter days to roll in.

  • Less Discreet

Outdoor plants are much more visible than their indoor counterparts. Neighbours and passersby will smell terpenes throughout the flowering stage. Large sativa varieties will poke their canopies above the fence line. Even if you live in a legal area, a canopy loaded with buds is like money to a thief. If you’re looking to evade the law or theft, consider setting up a guerrilla grow away from urban areas.

Benefits (and Inconveniences) of Growing Weed Indoors

Growing indoors provides shelter, control, and stealth. But limited space often prevents plants from reaching their full potential. Although, this doesn’t have to be the case. Discover the pros and cons of growing marijuana indoors below.

Advantages of Growing Cannabis Indoors

Indoor growers dictate almost everything that happens in their grow space. They choose the light cycle and watering schedule, when they want to grow, and never have to worry about strong wind or lashing rain.

  • Greater Control

Control is everything in an indoor grow. The ability to control lighting means plants can receive the optimal amount for robust development: there are no cloudy days in a growing tent. It also means cultivators can choose exactly when to induce flowering in photoperiod strains by nudging the light cycle down to 12 hours on and 12 hours off. Indoor cultivators also have control over important parameters such as temperature and humidity. Maintaining optimal temperature and humidity metrics at different stages of the grow cycle translates to healthier growth and lower risk of disease.

Greater Control
  • Shelter

With four walls, a ceiling, and a floor, you’ll never have to worry about storms destroying plants or excess moisture causing mouldy flowers before harvest. No matter what’s cracking off outdoors, you can visit your plants and enjoy their company comfortably at any time of day.

  • Discretion

Growing indoors means more privacy. Of course, there are a few exceptions, such as living in a shared house or receiving random visits from landlords. However, if you live in a house or apartment that you call your own, you’re good to go! You don’t need to worry about thieves snooping around your garden or the smell of an outdoor crop inundating your neighbourhood. Sure, indoor plants smell just as severe, but the use of carbon filters and odour neutralisers remedies that in no time.

  • Perpetual Harvests

Perpetual Harvests

Disadvantages of Growing Cannabis Indoors

All of that warmth, shelter, privacy, and control are tempting, right? But before you start setting up a grow tent in your guest room, you should learn about the downsides of growing between four walls.

  • Less Microbial Life

Indoor environments are relatively sterile compared to outdoor settings when it comes to soil life. If you’re starting a grow with bagged compost, you won’t have the benefits of a highly developed soil food web. You can build up a thriving miniature ecosystem, but it takes time. A greater number of indoor growers are starting to mimic the outdoors in any way they can. Strategies include growing small companion plants, using cover crops, and introducing worms, beneficial bacteria, and mycorrhizal fungi into the soil.

  • More Expensive

Growing indoors comes with some significant startup costs. The pricey pieces of gear you’ll need include high-quality growing lights, a growing tent, fans, carbon filters, and possibly a dehumidifier if you live in a moist climate. On top of that, you’ll need to purchase additional gear (detailed further down). Once you’re set up, you’ll also have to pay slightly more on your electricity and water bills to maintain your operation.


  • Grow Lights Can’t Beat Sunlight

Indoor grow lights do a superb job at raising healthy and productive cannabis plants. However, they lack a key component of sunlight: ultraviolet radiation. As we mentioned above, exposure to UV prompts cannabis to ramp up resin production as a means of protecting itself. Some growers opt to use lights that emit UVA, which in itself helps to increase secondary metabolite production. But the addition of UVB exposure, which further increases terpene and cannabinoid levels, gives outdoor plants a phytochemical edge.

What You Need To Grow Weed

Indoor marijuana growing requires more of an investment, but you still need to get your hands on some gear if you want to grow cannabis outdoors. Both of the checklists below outline some of the key pieces you’ll need to proceed.

Outdoor Gear

Cannabis seeds of your choice Growing area (no-dig bed, raised bed, containers)
Good-quality compost Compost bin/area
Water butt Watering cans
Organic nutrients Mulch (hay, straw, compost, dead leaves, grass cuttings)
A spot that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight Insect netting
Pruning shears Trimming scissors
Drying rack Curing jars





Indoor Gear

Cannabis seeds of your choice Grow tent/room
Containers High-quality potting soil
Organic nutrients Lights
Dehumidifier Fans
Exhaust and carbon filter Thermo-hygrometer
Trays to catch water Pruning shears
Trimming scissors Drying rack
Curing jars







Growing Indoors vs Outdoors—Which Produces Better Cannabis?

In terms of bud quality, both indoor and outdoor growers produce top-tier hauls every year. There are so many variables involved that it’s impossible to rank one above the other in broad brushstrokes. A grower located in Andalusia will probably produce much better weed outdoors, whereas one living in Norway would benefit from the climate control of an indoor growing room. Each environment has obvious benefits, but it all comes down to personal preference and what suits your situation best.

Best of Both Worlds: Indoors AND Outdoors

Why settle for one when you can try both? Some growers are lucky enough to tend to their outdoor crop after spending some time in their indoor growing tent. If you’re new to growing cannabis, why not start in one location, then try the other once you’ve processed your first harvest? Experience is the best teacher, and you’ll only know what works best for you after trying first-hand. Consider making use of the good weather during the spring and summer, before moving your efforts indoors during the darker and colder months.

But there’s also a third option. Greenhouses and polytunnels offer a hybrid approach. They bestow a degree of protection and climate control only possible inside a structure, while also subjecting plants to natural sunlight. However, glass filters out most UVB radiation, and around half of UVA—you can’t win 'em all.

External Resources:
  1. Insects | Free Full-Text | Companion Plants for Aphid Pest Management https://www.mdpi.com
  2. UV-B Radiations and Secondary Metabolites | Yavaş | Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology http://www.agrifoodscience.org
Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: