Indoor vs Outdoor Grown Cannabis: Whats the Best Environment?

If you want to really get a room of cultivators talking and taking sides, there’s one question to rule them all. Indoor vs. outdoor cannabis? Knowing which methods to choose and why can be difficult when starting out. While both methods can produce quality cannabis, there’s really no best way to do it.

There are, however, key differences and constraints to keep in mind when selecting your ideal cultivation style. When growing indoor vs. outdoor plants, indoor tends to be easier; however, sun-grown weed also has benefits.

Indoor vs. outdoor cannabis growing

The first thing that comes into play when deciding between indoor and outdoor cultivation is outdoor viability and space. Some climates are not ideal for cannabis cultivation. It needs temperatures of 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit (24 to 30 degrees Celsius) throughout the plant’s life cycle. The space and security to grow outdoors may also be hard to obtain for many home growers. 

If the climate is right and space isn’t an issue, then outdoor can be considered against indoor. Both will lead you to quality cannabis with the right methods and setup but with slightly different results and varying levels of effort. 

The debate between indoor vs. outdoor cannabis cultivation has been ongoing since indoor cultivation became so prevalent. Illegalization drove growers indoors for obvious reasons and changed how we grow cannabis, but outdoor flower is undoubtedly unique and stands up against it.

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A recent scientific publication attempts to lay the issue to rest but cannot do so. Rather than finding one method was better than the other, they found that growing weed outside vs. inside from the same genetics produced differing compositions of cannabinoids and terpenes.

There’s also a completely different take on this argument in favor of outdoor cannabis due to the lower carbon footprint. Indoor cannabis grows take a lot of energy and materials. In the long term, outdoor and greenhouse cultivation will be the most sustainable option, barring new discoveries. 

As a consumer and cultivator, I enjoy cultivars rich in terpenes and other cannabinoids. I’ve found cannabis worthy of connoisseurship created by each method. I do recognize the environmental impact of indoor cannabis, though; it’s something the industry and community is working to improve. 

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Overview of indoor cannabis cultivation

Indoor cultivation can be quick and simple or done to rigorous scientific standards. This ease of entry for indoor cultivation makes it a viable option for beginners with a small space or a lower budget. 

With indoor-grown cannabis, the grower plays the role of mother nature, which is a blessing and a curse. It is great to control the light, temperature, water, and humidity, but it can require a high degree of precision to get it done right. 

It can be hard and repetitive work for indoor growers to maintain their garden. Along with this level of control comes administrative overhead – work! I would best describe indoor growing like doing construction in a closet.  The main constraint for indoor growing is the space, as plants must be kept to a certain size.

Along with this labor comes the cost. That light, temperature, water, and humidity are not free indoors. Nutrients, tents, or a dedicated room/closet, along with needed equipment, can add up and impact monthly bills. That being said, you can start with a smaller level of control and settle on some tradeoffs for quality when getting started. 

In general, indoor cultivation requires at least 1 room to see plants through their vegetative and flowering phases before harvest. This would include providing necessary light, nutrients, support structures, and air quality for the plant. Depending on your setup, there may be times when the plants need repotting into larger containers. 

A major benefit to indoor growing is the perpetual harvest; you don’t have to rely on seasons. This, along with the ability to create more “vibrant” looking flower and better control of the indoor environment to improve terpene content and create diverse and powerful aromas and flavors, is why indoor growing is perhaps the most common method of cannabis cultivation. 

Features of indoor-grown marijuana plants 

• Indoor plants are smaller than those grown outdoors and often manicured heavily to fit the space. Growers may top them to reduce height and encourage more colas or train them with a screen of green to maximize indoor space.
• While the goal is to reduce stretching indoors, the length between nodes on the plant may be longer on indoor plants, and the leaf color may look lighter in color depending on the cultivar. 
• Indoor plants are pruned heavily before flowering to reduce foliage and chances of pests. The plants also may be weaker in structure without a deep root system or be completely rootbound in their containers. 

Overview of growing weed outdoors

Growing outdoors is a great option if you have the space and security to do so. The micromanagement of indoor environments is traded for the natural outdoors. This is also a blessing and a curse for growers. Less labor, lower costs, and lower environmental impact come with less control over the plant life cycle, more risk for pests or adverse weather, and typically more space required. 

With outdoor-grown cannabis, soil can be natural or supplemented with methods like Korean Natural Farming and other living soil techniques. The soil will be more forgiving of ph and micronutrient issues that can occur quickly indoors for potted plants but can still go awry if mismanaged. 

Outdoor growing is extremely vulnerable to poor weather and other natural phenomena that would not occur indoors and is typically only useful for part of the year. Sometimes as an outdoor grower, you’ve got to make the best of it where an indoor grower could make adjustments in their setup and avoid issues like cloudy days.

Cannabis grown outdoors creates larger plants, in general, with larger yields. Outdoor cannabis plants can be huge if left on their own, especially sativa-leaning cultivars in the right climate.  Cannabis plants grown outdoors also tends to produce more terpenes. More terpenes, of course, mean a richer, more complex aroma and taste, along with a more nuanced effect.

Features of outdoor-grown marijuana plants

• Outdoor-grown weed with optimal weather conditions will be hearty and bulkier than its indoor counterparts. They can still be manicured and trained to fit the desired methods of the grower but will benefit from the full natural sunlight and temperature variations.
• Depending on the cultivar, the coloration may be darker, and the final product may not be as flashy as certain indoor strains. There can be a “waxy” appearance and feel to sun-grown cannabis due to exposure and the plant’s responses to natural stress. 
• If growing from seeds outdoors like those available on ILGM, the plants will have a long central tap root instead of the indoor “root ball” to keep them healthy and stable.   

What is greenhouse cannabis growing?

Greenhouses shake up the outdoor vs. indoor bud growing debate. They can be an option for some or all of the plant life cycle, allowing for hybrid approaches to cultivation. For example, cultivators can start seeds and clones inside and veg them for a few weeks in a greenhouse before putting them into the ground outdoors. 

Many commercial growers take advantage of the cheaper construction costs of greenhouses to create massive facilities. Home growers can set up low-tech greenhouses of any size if desired; these can mitigate extreme weather and allow for some degree of climate control.

Greenhouses are a true mix of indoor and outdoor cultivation in that you get some of the natural light without other aspects of the environment that can be hard to control, like wind and pests. Greenhouses are generally much cheaper than growing indoors;  run them for a single season, or pull the shades and get multiple harvests a year.

Greenhouses will almost always need a little bit of light supplementation, especially if growing late in the season when temperatures may swing. For beginners, I’d recommend trying a few harvests indoors or outdoors, but there’s no reason you can’t start with greenhouses if you have the materials, budget, and space. 

The difference between indoor vs. outdoor cannabis

Differences in bud structure and size of weed flowers

The bud structure differs for outdoor and indoor. Outdoor flowers are typically bulkier than indoors thanks to fully developed root systems and natural beneficial microorganisms. The bud structure of outdoor flower is often not as dense (fluffier) as cannabis grown indoors. 

Differences in color of the marijuana plant and flower: Flavonoids 

The color is a quick way to distinguish indoor vs. outdoor cannabis. Outdoor will be darker in color and tone with some brown even near the stems. Indoor, on the other hand, is often a brighter palette of color. 

This distinction of color between indoor and outdoor is still up for debate and depends on cultivar selection and environmental factors. The flavonoids in cannabis contribute to coloration. Some research suggests they can influence the flavoraroma profile. Studies are still being done to see which metabolites contribute the most. Optimized cultivars or stress methods during cultivation can create deep blue, red, purple, and yellow cannabis rich in anthoxanthins and whiteyellow in those with anthocyanins. 

Flavor and smell differences between indoor and outdoor cannabis plants: Terpenes 

The Flavonoids mentioned above are small building blocks in the complex flavor profiles of cannabis. The main contributors to flavor and aroma are the terpenes. Cannabis contains more than 150 different terpenes, with many unique to cannabis only. 

The combination and concentration of these create our wildly diverse selection of cultivars and give insight into indoor vs. outdoor weed price variation.  Outdoor weed has been proven to be higher in terpenes, and the flavor and aroma produced are the ideal quality. That being said, indoor cannabis is no joke; growers can create wonderful aromas and high-quality cannabis indoors as well. 

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Trichome density for indoor vs. outdoor cannabis plants 

Trichomes are typically more concentrated in indoor-grown cannabis due to their optimized environment. The grower can harvest at just the right time, whereas outdoor marijuana is typically on a tight seasonal schedule that can be affected by different weather. This may be one reason why indoor cannabis was found to have higher levels of THCA than outdoor.

The previously mentioned study on outdoor vs. indoor cannabis potency found that the outdoor test had higher concentrations of terpenes and all other cannabinoids except for CBCA and THCA when compared to genetically identical plants grown indoors. 

Yield differences between indoor and outdoor cannabis plants

Due to outdoor plants being bigger and having full sun and more developed root structures, the yields are often larger with outdoor. Indoor plants can be high yielding with the right setups and training methods but are typically grown smaller than outdoor plants. 

Potency difference with indoor and outdoor cannabis plants: Cannabinoids 

This is the interesting topic the Molecules study outlines. The study mentioned that indoor cannabis had higher THCA and CBCA and lower terpenes and other cannabinoids. This means genetically similar plants grown indoors were slightly more “potent” in THC than their counterparts grown outdoors but lacking in other cannabinoids that may contribute to the complete experience or entourage effect of cannabis. Outdoor-grown plants also had THCA derivatives that create less anxiety than the standard type found in very high concentrations indoors.

In general, the potency of indoor cannabis is often higher from a THC perspective. Where outdoor flower is lacking in THC, it makes up for it in other cannabinoids. Outdoor flower can have higher levels of terpenes, CBD, CBGA, and more. 

Is there a real difference in quality with indoor and outdoor cannabis?  

At the end of the day, the quality argument is not over. There’s no “better” way to do it. Each cultivation method has its merits, and each can produce excellent top-shelf bud. There are downsides to both; in general, indoor cannabis is more accessible. It is easier to pull off than outdoor cannabis, which can take up a lot of space and rely on the weather. 

If the climate is perfect for outdoor cannabis, then it will likely beat indoor cultivars in the same area; sun-grown cannabis is true craftsmanship when done right. But if the climate is not reliable or optimal, then indoor or greenhouse cannabis will be the best that can be had. 

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The best indoor and outdoor cultivars at ILGM 

Cultivar selection is always a fun part of growing. ILGM has a wide range of seeds available. The smaller cultivars, or those that grow shorter like indica-leaning varieties or autoflowers, are a good place to start for indoor setups. For the outdoor growers, you’ll want to select cultivars that can thrive in your environment based on where you grow geographically. Although there can be some difference between indoor and outdoor strains, ILGM seeds are selected and sold because they can thrive indoors and outdoors.

Best ILGM marijuana strains for outdoor grows 

California Dream, with its ability to flourish in multiple climates and its good yields and potency profile, is always a great choice.

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Amnesia Haze is another solid outdoor option to take advantage of the outdoor space. This high yielder has awards on the shelf as it is a previous winner of several Cannabis Cups.

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• 20% indica 80% sativa
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Purple Haze can pack a similar flavor profile to Amnesia Haze but in a smaller package. The cultivar is very popular thanks to its ability to live healthily in multiple environments. 

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Best ILGM weed strains for indoor grows

Super Skunk is easy to grow and delicious to smell. It has a smaller stature. While the yields are high, it requires careful attention to its indoor environment.

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Big Bud is another hearty cultivar that can put up with a lot indoors. It’s an average-sized cultivar that also has multiple cannabis cup wins in its past.

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• Pleasant earthy flavor

Critical Mass brings a higher CBD level than the previous two, along with a potent yield. It won’t be too difficult to tame in indoor setups. 

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• 80% indica 20% sativa
• High CBD and High THC levels
• Easy to grow
• Eases your mind and physical aches

Indoor, outdoor, greenhouses, or combinations of the three can all produce wonderful quality flowers. The different methods bring out different characteristics in cannabis. Growers and consumers should decide which they like best. 

The skill of the grower and the optimization of their setup and workflows will determine quality more than whether or not it was sun-grown. Along with those skills, good genetics are necessary for creating fine cannabis. Legacy strains with a proven track record help to take some stress out of the process. Find the right cultivar for you at ILGM. 

FAQs About deciding between growing indoor vs. outdoor cannabis  

How much of a difference in quality is outdoor vs. indoor weed?

This question will always vary based on the growers’ methods and the cultivars they are growing. Certain cultivars, climates, and processes create quality. Good cannabis can be made indoors, outdoors, or in greenhouses. 

Is indoor cannabis stronger than outdoor?

Some studies show indoor cannabis has a higher concentration of THCA, which is one way to consider cannabis’s “strength.” This is not always great, as it can drown out the complex flavor and effect profiles that outdoor cannabis brings to the table. 

Can outdoor weed be top shelf?

One hundred percent. Outdoor cannabis grown in the right climate by an experienced grower can be exquisite top-shelf quality, especially when done so with good curing methods. 

Scientific references used for this article: 

Comparison of the Cannabinoid and Terpene Profiles in Commercial Cannabis from Natural and Artificial Cultivation – Fereshteh Zandkarimi 1, John Decatur 1, John Casali 2, Tina Gordon 3, Christine Skibola 4, Colin Nuckolls 1 – PMID: 36677891 PMCID: PMC9861703 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28020833

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36677891/