Cannabis Temperature Tutorial

Home growing cannabis is becoming increasingly popular every day. The crop has medicinal as well as therapeutic purposes and enjoys high demand among its consumers. Many growers have shifted to growing cannabis full time because of the sheer profit that processed cannabis can bring to the business. However, certain salient conditions must be presented to the plant for healthy growth and optimal yield. 

Growing cannabis can involve a lot of effort and patience, but if you can get all the elements right, then you might be able to reap the best harvest. Some of the factors that must be considered so that you can get the optimal results are the type and quality of the soil, lighting schedule, moisture, and temperature. In this article, we are going to look at the aspect of the perfect temperature for growing cannabis. 

The Importance of the Right Temperature

One of the salient aspects of growing cannabis is getting the temperature correct. It is crucial to maintain optimal temperature for the plant to pass its vegetative and flowering stage smoothly so that it can grow to its fullest potential. Unlike animals, plants cannot control their body temperature. This is why they sustain severe damage due to abrupt temperature changes around them.

In the case of cannabis, too hot temperatures like above 80 degrees can affect the growth of the plant along with its potency. Some cannabis plant strains to slow down their metabolic rates if the temperature falls below 54 degrees. This can result in the plant dying. Therefore, it is essential to keep the plants within a range of optimum temperatures. 

The ideal temperature for different stages of growth of the cannabis plant

The cannabis plant has different temperature requirements based on its stage of growth. The responsibility of the grower lies in providing the plant, the optimum temperature conditions required for the growth of the plant. Therefore, let us go through the different stages of cannabis growth and the optimum temperature for each of them.

• Clones

The initial stage of growth is referred to as clones. Clone does not have a developed root system yet and it depends on the process of transpiration for drawing water to live. Hence, the plant requires high amounts of humidity until they have developed a root system. You might use a humidity dome to create the ideal humidity temperatures for the clones artificially. The ideal temperature for the clones ranges between 68 to 77°F along with high amounts of humidity. Once the ideal temperatures are provided the clones soon develop roots. 

• Vegetative Stage

The vegetative stage refers to the stage in which the plant grows in shape and size. During the vegetative stage, a moderate temperature between 68 to 77°F is preferred. Moreover, the level of humidity preferred by the cannabis plant during this stage is more than 70%. You should be mindful of the fact that as the plant starts growing, the amount of humidity required becomes slightly low. This is a pertaining issue for the indoor-grown cannabis plant as they are more sensitive to temperature and moisture level changes. In the case of an outdoor grown plant, they become more resilient to abrupt fluctuations of temperature. 

The ideal temperature for the vegetative stage ranges between 68 to 77° F with moderate amounts of humidity. However, the plant prefers slightly lower temperatures during the night or dark sessions. These cooler and darker sessions are required by the cannabis plants to enhance their growth. It is recommended for the grower to not let the temperature fall below 59° F during the darkness schedules. Once the plant matures, it can withstand extreme temperatures well. 

• Flowering Stage

Once the plant successfully reaches the flowering stage, it can grow well at room temperature with moderate humidity. If you are not adding more carbon dioxide to the grow room, then a temperature of 82° F would be perfect. Such moderate temperatures help to preserve the TCH-laden resins of the cannabis plant, which in turn increase the effectiveness of the psychoactive capacities of the herb. 

The grower should be mindful of the fact that the temperature should not exceed more than 82° F. This is because hotter temperatures might lead to the evaporation of the terpenes and reduce the speed of bud growth. Therefore, too much heat might lead to the burning away of the essential elements of the marijuana plant and render it less effective. The grower should be much careful from the fall of the sixth or the seventh week as the terpene production can reach the maximum at this time. Therefore, if there is too much heat, the precious terpenes might evaporate. 

You might also want the temperatures to dwell within the optimal range for enhanced production of trichomes. However, you can slightly lower the temperature during the night to accelerate the rate of trichome production further. Make sure that you do not lower the temperature too much. This process is ideal for reaching the dew point. Terpenes are also responsible for the color of the plant and if you can strike the right dark schedule temperatures (around 18° F) then the unique features of your marijuana plant strain will be unlocked. 

• Drying and Curing

Often the growers think that harvesting is the last process in growing cannabis. However, that is not the case with the cultivation of cannabis crops. Even if you possess the cannabis clones of the best variety, it is essential to dry and cure the buds. This is what determines the final quality of cannabis. Well-dried and treated marijuana produce is packed with psychoactive THC and burns into a smoother smoke. The best results can be obtained by maintaining a temperature of around 64° F with a humidity of around 45% during the entire harvesting period. 

Tips on maintaining optimal temperatures

• When the outside temperatures are higher than usual, or the plant has to deal with extreme heat, the grower can add a top layer on the soil made up of mulch to keep the roots cooler. Moreover, increasing the frequency of the watering schedules would also help. If you can save the roots from extreme heat, then it will help the plant growing to its fullest potential. 
• It is very important to keep on circulating the air in the grow room. This can be done with the help of window fans. The window fans can be used to drive the hot air out of the room. Therefore, wisely use the fan to result in better air circulation with the hot air being dissipated out of the room. 
• Try changing the light schedules if the grow lamps become too hot. The surface of the grow lamps can become hot if they are used for a prolonged period. This condition is true for indoor-grown cannabis plants, which are in the vegetative stage. The vegetative state requires the plant to be in an 18/6 lighting schedule. Such a prolonged lighting period can lead to the heating of the grow lamps that can affect the cannabis plants. Therefore, if you find the grow lamps becoming too much hot during a certain part of the day, consider changing the lighting schedule so that the plant is not exposed to extreme heat. 

• It is much important to insulate the grow box properly and with care. If you are planning to grow cannabis in the colder seasons, then it is recommended to be mindful of this step. This is because too much cold can slower the bud growth speed. Therefore, it is essential to properly insulate the grow box so that too much cold does not permeate through the box. It is also recommended that the growers should use heaters instead of heat fans. This is because the heater would radiate heat. Moreover, the idea of hot air being thrown directly at the plant can harm it severely. 

 

FAQs

What is the essential factor in regards to growing cannabis?

There can be numerous factors, which determine the quality of the cannabis plant. However, some of the essential factors are the temperature and the lightning and darkness schedules, which are crucial in the vegetative and flowering stages of the plant. 

Can the plant be affected by temperature fluctuations?

Yes, as plants cannot regulate their temperatures, they are completely dependent on the outside degrees. Therefore, it is crucial to keep the cannabis under artificially moderated temperatures for the first few weeks so that the plant gains the required strength. 

How to get the optimum temperatures during the night?

The grower should understand that lowering the temperature during the dark schedule would enhance the process of growth. Therefore, a temperature difference of around 10 degrees from the lighting schedule can help. 

What is the ideal temperature for cannabis roots?

Every cannabis strain has its specific requirements. So, the ideal temperature for the cannabis roots will depend on the kind of strain you are growing. That said the standard or average temperature for the cannabis roots ranges between 15° to 30°C. You have to maintain the ideal temperature depending on the strain you are growing.

Will a humidifier help maintain the temperature in a grow room?

If you are growing strains that thrive in warmer temperatures with high humidity, you will find benefits using a humidifier. However, we’d also recommend that you ensure that the strain will do well in the humidity or not. Some cannabis strains don’t perform well in high humidity areas, so you’d experience a lot of complications with them in the future.

Should I keep the grow lamp switched on for 24 hours for heat?

It is not advised to keep the grow lamp or LED lights switched on for 24 hours inside the grow room for the cannabis. It can leave the room to become too hot, which will have negative impacts on the strains that you are growing. Try to find more energy-efficient lights instead.

How do I measure the temperature in a cannabis grow room?

Digital thermometers with a separate sensor work the best for the grow rooms. We’d recommend that you measure the temperature in the shady area and different other parts of the room for maximum accuracy. You want to ensure that the temperature of the room is uniform so every part of the plant grows efficiently.

How to lower the temperature in cannabis grow room?

Installing an extractor fan is the easiest way to lower the temperature in a grow room. Also, if the temperature is due to the overexposure of the lights, keep them turned off for a few hours until the temperature drops.

Conclusion

The growing experience of the cannabis plant can be strenuous. However, if you manage to get all the elements and the factors right, the outcome can be rewarding. Proper care and monitoring are also needed. Therefore, keep checking the thermostat to ensure that the plant has optimal temperatures around them for maximum yield.