Many growers wonder how much marijuana one plant can produce. The short answer is “somewhere between one gram and one pound.” But that’s not very helpful, is it? Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this question. Every grow is different, and many factors like genetics, plant care, and conditions come into play. Here’s a quick reference with rough estimates.
The rest of this article will discuss everything there is to know about calculating marijuana yields. Plus, you’ll find some bonus tips to maximize your yield.
You will find many cannabis yield calculators online. Some are more exact than others. Because of so many factors, like genetics, light, indoor or outdoor conditions, and plant care, I prefer to stick to estimations.
Years of growing cannabis have led to me doubling the outcomes of my grow over time! So I can tell you how much to expect as a new grower as well as the optimal results possible.
Achieving high yields in cannabis cultivation requires mastering each stage of the plant’s growth cycle. A key phase that plays a major role in determining final yields per plant is the vegetative (veg) stage As a grower targeting 8 ounces per plant, understanding how long to veg is crucial for success In this comprehensive guide, we will dive into the key factors, best practices, and considerations for optimizing veg time to reach your 8 oz goal.
What is the Vegetative Stage?
The vegetative or “veg” stage refers to the initial period of cannabis growth after the plant sprouts from a seed or clone. During this phase, the plant focuses its energy on establishing roots, stems, and leaf growth rather than producing flowers. Growers use specific lights and nutrients tailored to enhance robust vegetative development.
Properly executing the veg stage lays the foundation for achieving maximum flower production later on. The longer plants vegetate, generally, the bigger they grow, allowing for more bud sites. However, vegging for too long can backfire by creating plants too large for the space. Finding the ideal veg length is essential.
Key Factors that Influence Veg Time for 8 Oz Plants
Many variables impact how long plants should vegetate to yield 8 oz each The major factors include
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Genetics – Sativas typically require longer veg periods to reach full size potential versus faster growing indicas.
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Space – The larger your grow area, the longer you can veg for bigger plants. In smaller spaces, less veg time prevents overcrowding.
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Lighting – Intense light fuels faster growth, shortening veg time required versus lower output lighting.
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Nutrients – Abundant nitrogen and micronutrients support vigorous vegetation and influence veg length needs.
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Training – Methods like topping help restrain vertical growth, allowing longer veg times in confined spaces.
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Environment – Temperature, humidity, airflow greatly affect the rate plants develop during vegging.
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Medium – Soilless mixes enable faster growth than soil, reducing veg time required in some cases.
Considering all these dynamics is key to dialing in an optimal veg phase for your setup and goals.
What is the Recommended Veg Time for 8 oz Yields?
While specific veg duration depends on the above factors, most growers target 4 to 8 weeks in the vegetative stage when aiming for approximately 8 oz per plant yields indoors.
Autoflowering strains typically vegg for 3 to 4 weeks due to their shorter life cycle, while photoperiod plants usually vegetate for 6 to 8 weeks to reach full size and production potential.
However, experienced cultivators stress that veg time should be customized based on careful observation of plant health and the specific conditions rather than adhering to a rigid timeframe.
Tips and Strategies to Optimize Vegetative Growth
Here are some key tips to leverage during the veg stage to promote vigorous growth and set your plants up for success in reaching 8+ oz yields:
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Start with healthy clones or seedlings to build momentum
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Dial in temperature (70°F-85°F) and humidity (40%-70%) for ideal conditions
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Provide 16-20 hours of intense light daily (adjust spectrum and height as needed)
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Use vegetative stage nutrients with higher nitrogen
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Monitor and adjust EC/ppm levels based on stage of growth
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Implement low-stress training for even plant structure
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Allow container size to determine veg length in limited spaces
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Avoid drastically overshooting final desired plant sizes
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Transition to flower once plants reach approximately half of their anticipated final size
Signs Your Plants Are Ready to Switch to Flowering
To optimize the transition from vegetation to the flower stage, look for these cues that plants are adequately matured:
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Intermodal length has shortened
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Shoot tips begin developing flower clusters
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Leaf blades are wider and shorter
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Rapid vertical growth has slowed
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Plants have reached intended sizes for your space
Troubleshooting Issues During Vegetative Growth
Problems that can arise during vegging include:
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Nutrient deficiencies – Monitor leaf color and add supplements as required
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Environmental stress – Adjust temperature, humidity, airflow to optimal ranges
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Pests or disease – Treat with organic sprays if spotted early
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Overcrowding – Veg for shorter durations in confined spaces
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Insufficient watering – Check soil moisture levels frequently, water when dry 1-2 inches down
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Light burn – Raise lights or reduce intensity if leaves yellow or burn
With attentive care and quick intervention, you can get vegetative growth back on track.
Final Tips for Maximizing Your 8 Oz Yields
While veg time sets the foundation, maintaining optimal conditions throughout the full growth cycle is key to hitting 8+ oz yields per plant. Here are some final tips:
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Give plants 2-3 weeks buffer after the flip to flower before making harvest projections
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Conduct regular maintenance pruning and training in early flowering
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Monitor trichome development and stagger harvests for peak ripeness
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Flush plants adequately in the final weeks flush for smooth taste
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Dry and cure buds slowly, for 10-14+ days initially, preserve terpenes and flavor
By considering the insights in this guide, you can strategically optimize the vegetative stage and go on to maximize your yields. Experiment, observe closely, and adjust your techniques based on the needs of your unique environment and plants. With practice and pheno-hunting, dialing in 8+ oz plants is an achievable goal for both novice and expert cannabis cultivators alike.
Should you weigh wet or dry weed?
Cannabis flowers must undergo a drying process after harvest. This releases moisture from the buds, along with bad-smelling/tasting chlorophyll, and prevents mold issues. During the drying process, the buds will lose a significant amount of water weight and size, this is normal.
By the time marijuana flowers are at the consumer level, they have been properly dried. The flowers are then weighed before packaging occurs. Because yield correlates to a final crop value, people do not tally their yield until all of the flowers are dry. Cannabis from vendors can sit in the stockroom of dispensaries before being moved to the display shelf. If it was weighed wet and sold dry, that would make for angry consumers.
Weigh your dried buds after
How much can you yield indoors
When growing indoors, your grow lights are a big factor for good yields. It used to be easy to apply a rule of thumb to indoor growing, as most grow rooms had HPS or CFL grow lights. With LED grow lights popularizing, the easy rule of thumb doesn’t always apply anymore.
HPS grow lights used to be the standard for professional grow rooms.
For experienced growers, the rule of thumb used to be that 1 watt of HPS light = 1 gram of weed (1 gram = 0,035 oz).
So:
- A 400-watt HPS grow light can potentially translate to 400 grams (14 oz) of dried cannabis.
- Likewise, a grow room with 1200 watts of light can yield 1200 grams (42 oz) of cannabis.
Newer growers and less optimized grow room conditions can expect around half those amounts.
LED lighting has come a long way since the time it was first used in the grow room. The indoor lighting sector has seen increased research and development in the past decade, thanks to the home gardening market. Most people started with blue and red diodes, but this has shifted to a full spectrum of white light as our practical knowledge and applications have increased.
LED lighting has now surpassed HID lighting in efficiency, which means growers should see an increased yield watt for watt. The yield of a 400W LED is comparable to the 600W HPS. Whereas one gram per watt was considered good with an HPS system, this would be considered an average yield for LED. Growers with the right genetics and a dialed-in system can yield two+ grams per watt with a good LED light.
My article about LED grow lights will teach you all there is to know.
Some home growers still prefer to grow under a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL).
Growing 5 cannabis plants in a 2×2 foot grow tent with a 2×100 watt CFL will yield about 140 grams (5 oz) of marijuana per harvest.
Dive into my dedicated guide, How many CFLs per plant for more information.
How Long Should You Veg Your Cannabis Plants For
FAQ
Is 4 weeks of veg enough?
Typically, plants will show their sex around the 6-week mark for reference. All in all, the veg cannabis growth stage typically lasts anywhere from 4-8 weeks.
How many Oz can you get off one plant?
Sixteen plants that are grown under a 600-watt HPS lamp could produce about 37.5 grams or 1.3 oz of marijuana per plant. Under perfect, outdoor conditions, you can expect yields to extend to 500 grams or 17.5 oz per plant.
What is the minimum veg time from seed?
Most cultivators vegetate their plants for 4–8 weeks. After this time, a switch to 12 hours of light per day is required to initiate flowering. In contrast, autoflowering plants flower on their own. Provide them with 18–24 hours of light per day throughout veg and flowering, and watch the magic happen.
How long do you Veg a plant?
I veg and flip my plants at all different stages based on my situation. A plant will grow to about twice its size during the flowering time. I veg some plants for weeks. Sometimes as long as 9 to 15 weeks. That could be considered average or long. I know some folks here that veg some plants for months to train them to their desired height or size.
What is the average plant size after 2 weeks of Veg?
what is the average plant size after 2 weeks of veg, in soil under 300w cfl depends on the strain if it’s indica or sativa dominant etc. but about 6 inches with about two to three nodes if average
How long do cannabis plants veg?
Cannabis plants can be vegged for as little as four weeks. Some strains can flower after this short veg period when daylight hours are reduced below 12 hours.
How long does it take a plant to grow?
A plant will grow to about twice its size during the flowering time. I veg some plants for weeks. Sometimes as long as 9 to 15 weeks. That could be considered average or long. I know some folks here that veg some plants for months to train them to their desired height or size. I like to train my girls so I can maximize yield.
How much Veg time does it take to Triple yield?
In previous posts, I’ve talked about how doubling veg time (from seed or clone) can triple yield. As a general estimate, adding two weeks of vegetative growth time, will double your yield. This levels off a bit (when we get over a pound), indoors due to height limitations).
How long does it take for a plant to take off?
You’ll want to go bigger and bigger with each new plant. You will notice when you get into 6th week or so (from seed or clone) your plant will really take off exponentially. Like I said before, the difference in waiting two more weeks, can easily double your final yield. And here it is after being put into flower two weeks later.