Short flowering time, easier cultivation
Deciding which marijuana to plant outdoors involves thinking about the effort we are willing to devote to it. And the flowering period is a key factor that determines the complexity of a crop.
Keep in mind that the greatest difficulty in outdoor cultivation lies in resisting as well as possible to the inclemencies of nature and its unpredictability. Among these obstacles, the main factors to consider are changes in daylight hours, variations in temperature, abundant rainfall and the appearance of pests.
In addition, the longer the flowering period, the more likely it is to face these threats that come with seasonal changes.
Flowering and rains
In some areas of the Iberian Peninsula, the rainy season begins at the end of August or in September. If these rains coincide with the flowering phase of the plants, there is a high probability that they will develop problems related to excess humidity, such as powdery mildew or botrytis. Additionally, with the sky being cloudy much of the time, there will be less light available, which will interfere with the optimal development of the flowers.
Advantages of short flowering marijuana
1. Faster harvest: Short flowering strains allow growers to harvest faster, reducing the overall cultivation cycle time.
2. Less exposure to pests and diseases: By shortening the flowering period, plants are less exposed to threats such as pests, mold and diseases.
3. Better adaptation to adverse climates: In regions with short growing seasons or unpredictable climates, fast flowering ensures that plants can be harvested before inclement weather arrives.
4. Resource savings: Short flowering plants require less care time, which translates into less water, nutrients and energy consumption for lighting in indoor crops.
5. Increased crop rotation: Growers can grow more crop cycles in a year, increasing total production.
6. Reduced risk of detection: In outdoor crops, rapid flowering can help avoid detection, as plants spend less time in the field.
7. Optimization of growing space: In limited indoor spaces, short flowering varieties allow a more efficient use of space, with more frequent growing cycles.
8. Product quality: Short flowering varieties can produce dense and potent buds in less time, offering high quality products in less time.
Which marijuana plants have a short flowering period?
While there are always exceptions or gray areas, as a general rule, indicas flower much earlier than sativas. That is to say that the flowering of sativas is more likely to coincide with rain and cold, while indicas are usually harvested before they do any damage.
To avoid complications, especially in rainy areas, you can look for varieties that are resistant to moisture, mold and fungal diseases. However, it is easiest to choose an indica variety. Almost all indicas flower quite fast, and some examples are California HashPlant or marijuana masterkush. Or you can try the new F1 FV range of Sweet Seeds, ultra fast flowering.
But if you don’t want to limit yourself to indicas, there are also some hybrids that are harvested early, such as Liberty Haze, from Barney’s Farm, or OG Kush, from DNA Genetics.
Which sativas have a shorter flowering time?
If you still want to grow something not so indica despite the climatic difficulties, there are some sativa-dominant hybrids, such as Jamaican Pearl or Critical+ 2.0 from Dinafem, which have relatively fast flowering, thus minimizing the time of exposure to risk.
You even have some 100% sativa strains with short flowering time, such as Durban Poison Marijuana or Kryptonite Marijuana, which are ready to be harvested after only 65 days.
But if, nevertheless, you are determined to have a variety of those that are harvested in November, even if it is the resistant and kali mist, you will have to take extra precautions, such as putting a transparent canopy so that they receive the light but do not get wet. And in case they do get wet, gently shake the buds so that as much water as possible is released, but without damaging them.
Marijuana strains with a long flowering period are more difficult to grow and will require more dedication to prevent major complications. But don’t let this intimidate you: if you are willing to devote yourself to your seedlings, there are long flowering, highly complex sativas, such as 2046 Marijuana, that are well worth the effort.
Obviously, all these clarifications refer to the predominant climates in Spain, especially the humid ones. Growers from warmer and drier regions will certainly have less worries when choosing which marijuana strain to plant.
Image taken from Ecomaría.
Founder of Experiencia Natural, creative and entrepreneur, designer, master in grower and marketing. For a normalization of all plants and substances, giving priority to patients and users.
