How to Grow the Best Marijuana Yield

Whether you are a personal or professional grower, optimizing your efforts to glean the best cannabis yield is in everyone’s interest. This is because cost efficiency and full resource utilization can benefit even the smallest crop. On a larger scale, striving for the best marijuana yield can create a competitive advantage and increase revenue. 

Do you know the current highest yield cannabis seeds or high yield weed strains? Do you know how to prune cannabis for best yield? Gain some insight from CannaCon!

What to know for the best cannabis yield

First and foremost, know your local laws! This is vital for both home and retail cultivation. 

Cannabis laws can be exactly the same across the state, yet vary greatly when it comes to growing. When researching applicable laws to growing cannabis, keep local laws in mind. Further, bookmark where the info can be found and set an annual reminder to check for changes. Cannabis laws can be very dynamic. As you research applicable laws, determine the following:

• Legalization status for recreational/medical by state, county and jurisdiction 
• Whether home growing is permitted, if that is your goal.
• Homeowners Association (HOA) rules, which can apply to residential growing as well as adjacent commercial properties
• Plant limits by law
• Zoning and land use regarding cannabis growing
• Environmental regulations

Next, know that creating the best marijuana yield is always a work in progress. There are some steps, however, which have been consistently productive for growers across the world.

8 tips for scoring the best marijuana yield

1. Take lots of notes

As you grow cannabis plants, take notes on every variable and its result. Changes to conditions like lighting, soil ph, watering schedule and your nutrient blend all impact your final product. 

2. Determine high yield weed strains 

The highest yield weed strains are best identified after considering their growth conditions, then researching options known for having a high yield potential as well as genetic stability.

3. Optimize conditions 

Light, soil and water, ventilation, temperature and humidity must all be monitored constantly. Getting the best marijuana grow box can be quite helpful with this. Choice of containers is also very important; air pots and smart pots are prevalent for good reason.

4. Balance macro and micronutrients 

These include nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. And keep an eye out for burnt leaf tips!

5. Use proper tools and machines

These include trellises and automated nutrient delivery systems. Kurt Kinneman, cultivator and owner at Kinnektion Hemp, says “Automation can help monitor and control the environment and plant media to provide the optimal growing conditions by using sensors to monitor temperature, humidity, CO2, lights, moisture levels in plant media, and media runoff. Integrated software sends alerts if conditions change, helping to prevent problems before they start.”

6. Monitor and control pests and diseases. 

Inspect your plants regularly and take preventative measures.

7.  Try advanced techniques 

low-stress training, topping, fimming, pruning and sea of green are all proven methods of cannabis cultivation. According to Michael Burns, head of cultivation at MariMed, training success can depend on genetics. “Some genetics may require plant manipulation, whether topping, low-stress training, super cropping, fimming, scrogging or strategic methods of removing branching to achieve a specific shape or uniformity,” said Burns. “There is no right or wrong way to go about any of these practices, and it all comes down to the cultivar, the setting you are growing in, and what you are attempting to achieve.”

8. Harvest precisely 

Precise harvesting means knowing readiness signs and harvest windows of the highest yield cannabis seeds, flushing carefully and properly drying and curing. David German, general manager of Commonwealth Alternative Care in Massachusetts, notes that harvest timing boils down to two things: 

• The plant’s life cycle 
• The facility’s overall operations

“Harvesting may be the last step, but harvest timing is also the first step,” German said. “It is a continuous cycle, so as harvest kicks off, we look ahead. It is important to plan genetics ahead and stay on schedule to maximize the facility output.”

Growing cannabis outdoors

Looking for the best cannabis yield outdoors? Here are some tips to cultivate healthy plants motivated to produce a maximum harvest.

• Choose the correct season
• Ensure full sunlight
• Know the pros and cons of growing in pots versus the ground
• Improve the soil so it has a balanced pH, organic matter, good aeration, and proper drainage
• Identify the best natural pest prevention methods. Don’t forget about companion planting!
• Finetune pruning skills specifically for outdoor cultivation
• Prepare for problems, such as bad weather and thieves

Learn how to grow the best cannabis yield at CannaCon!

CannaCon welcomes everyone, from small scale growers to leading businesses in the industry. Looking for the latest technology or some input on what is the best marijuana grow tent? These conferences are a one-stop shop. See how CannaCon is growing the cannabis industry through education and connections — sign up for a 2025 event today!

This article was originally posted on September 19, 2018, and updated on November 30, 2024.