Temperature matters. It can have a huge impact on your cannabis plants, so it’s important to think about temperature when you are planning your grow area. If the temperature is too cold for your cannabis plants, they will struggle to produce flowers and seeds. If the temperature is too hot for your cannabis plants, their growth will be stunted and they could experience other problems like mold or fungus. This blog post covers everything you need to know about the temperature in relation to growing marijuana, from the ideal temperature during germination to what temperatures should be used during different stages of growing indoors or out.
How does temperature affect cannabis plants?
Temperature affects cannabis plants in many different ways. The temperature of the environment that your cannabis seeds, seedlings, and vegetating plant are growing will affect how quickly they develop. The temperature you store your cannabis at can also determine whether or not your marijuana strain will have enough THC, CBD, or other cannabinoids after long-term storage. As you can see, temperature plays a part during all stages of plant growth but is especially important at the flowering stage. Let’s take a closer look at how temperature extremes can harm your cannabis plants.
What happens if the temperature is too cold?
If you experience a cooler temperature for your cannabis plants, they will struggle to produce flowers and seeds. Colder temps can cause the pistils or stigmas on female plants to die back before they have a chance to pollinate, resulting in decreased bud quality during harvest time. If the temperature is too cold, the leaves of your cannabis plant might turn yellow or purple because they are not receiving enough sunlight.
What happens if the temperature is too hot?
If the air temperature is too hot for your marijuana plants, their growth will be stunted and they could experience other problems like mold or fungus. You may notice that the pistils on female flowers have stayed closed, or that the pistils on female flowers have started to turn brown at the tips. Heat can cause them to stay firmly shut against pollen and keep it from getting in so they don’t pollinate correctly while hot temperatures will cause white/brownish coloration of your buds if not enough time for temperature fluctuations has been allowed.
What temperature should I have my germinating seed and seedling at?
The temperature that you keep your cannabis seeds or young plant during the germination process is important because it will ensure they are able to enter the next stage of growth after the plants most vulnerable stage. The temperature needs to be between 70-80°F (21-27°C) for optimal germination, and the temperature should always be consistent. Heat mats are also a great way to control the temperature and ensure there is no excessive heat.
What temperature should my grow area be during the vegetative stage?
During your cannabis plant’s first few weeks of vegetative growth, you will need to make sure that it is kept within a temperature range of about 70-85°F (21-29°C) for maximum growth. Again, temperature consistency is key.
What temperature should my grow space be during the flowering stage?
During the last few weeks of growth before harvest time it is important not to let temperatures get too high or else you will decrease bud quality. During the flowering stage, you should keep the temperature between 65-75°F (18-24°C) to ensure that your plant does not produce too much of an enzyme called CBGA which turns into THC at high temperatures, leading to reduced bud quality during harvest time.
What temperature should I keep my cannabis while drying?
It is important to keep the temperature consistent when the cannabis plant is drying. This means keeping your temperature between 60-70°F (15.5-21°C). Please note that the closer to 60°F the better, as that is the optimum temperature. If marijuana plants that are drying exceed 70°F then you run the risk of ruining the bud with mold and fungus.
What temperature should I store my cannabis at?
It is important that you understand how temperature affects your marijuana plant before storing it for long periods of time after harvest, or else you may end up with reduced THC and CBD potency during storage. If stored in a place where temperatures remain higher than 80°F (27°C) then the plant will start to degrade and lose THC/CBD. If stored in a place that is too cold like 40°F (22), like a refrigerator, you run the risk of mold or fungus by opening the door and causing swings in temperature and humidity which can ruin your marijuana completely. The relative humidity is also very important to monitor when storing cannabis so please read our article regarding it to properly store your cannabis.
What are some tips to keep my indoor growing space at an optimal temperature?
One of the best ways to keep the temperature consistent is to use a grow tent. Grow tents are designed for growing and are also known as “grow rooms,” they provide an enclosed space that can be a totally controlled environment in terms of temperature, humidity level, air circulation, lighting, etc. When using a grow room you should make sure it is ventilated properly because temperature and humidity levels can rise too high if it is not vented properly. It’s also important to keep in mind that the temperature of your grow room will change during different times throughout the day due to external factors such as sunlight, so be sure you have a way to monitor temperature fluctuations accordingly. Oscillating fans and exhaust fans can also be used to circulate cooler air, as well air conditioners. Humidifiers and dehumidifiers can also be used to control relative humidity too. The easiest way to monitor temperature is to have a thermometer visible in the grow room. It’s also possible now to have devices alert you on your smartphone should the temperature or relative humidity swing drastically one way or the other too ensure you never have too hot or too cold temps.
What are some tips to keep my outdoor grow space at the optimal temperature?
One of the best ways to keep the temperature consistent is to invest in a greenhouse. Greenhouses are designed for growing and provide an enclosed space that can be totally or partially controlled in terms of temperature, humidity level, air circulation, lighting, etc. Just like using a grow tent, when using a greenhouse you should make sure it has proper ventilation because temperature and humidity levels can rise too high if it is not vented properly. Similarly, it’s also important to keep in mind that temperature will change during different times throughout the day due to external factors such as sunlight, so be sure you have a way to monitor temperature fluctuations accordingly. Greenhouses are great because they can protect your plants from harsh weather conditions like hail and heavy rain which could potentially damage or even destroy your plants. Investing in a greenhouse is also great for temperature control because the temperature inside can be controlled much easier than trying to cool an outdoor growing area. One of the best ways to keep the temperature consistent when using a greenhouse is with ventilation fans and exhaust fans, which circulate cooler air from outside into your greenhouse throughout different parts of the day. The temperature inside the greenhouse can also be monitored with a thermometer, just like in an indoor grow room.
If you don’t have access to a greenhouse then there are large tents that can be purchased instead. These tents allow for temperature control and other factors but will not protect the marijuana plants from harsh weather conditions as a greenhouse would. You can also purchase grow lights that emit heat, if you place your tent in an area where it is well ventilated then you should have no issues with temperature because light won’t be a factor. If none of these are an option, then you are at the mercy of mother nature.
Summary
Temperature matters when it comes to your cannabis plants. It’s important to keep the temperature in mind for indoor growing as well as outdoor growing because temperature is one of the most crucial factors that determine how successfully you will be able to grow your marijuana. If the temperature is too low in certain circumstances like storing it, then it can cause degradation and loss of THC/CBD, whereas if the temperature is too high in others like during the flowering stage, your plants can develop nutrient deficiencies and nutrient burn. So it’s important to keep the temperature at a good level throughout different stages of growth so that you have a healthy marijuana plant. The temperature should be monitored with a thermometer or another temperature monitoring device depending on if indoor or outdoor growing is taking place because every environment is different and it must be monitored in order to make sure it falls within the appropriate range.
When growing indoors, or any other temperature-controlled area, invest in oscillating fans, exhaust fans, grow lights that emit heat, a simple space heater, and possibly even air conditioner units depending on what your temperature needs are like during certain parts of the growth process. When growing outdoors temperature control is a little more difficult, but you can also use greenhouses or outdoor tents and thermometers to monitor temperature fluctuations during certain parts of the day so that you have an optimal temperature going on for your plants at all times.
Thank you for reading our article regarding the temperature of your cannabis plants. To further dial in your grow environment, please see our other articles on relative humidity, and the drying and curing process of cannabis.
To learn more about growing cannabis at home consider checking out our guides on: Getting Started, Troubleshooting, and Optimizing your Grow or search our Knowledge Base.
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