There is a longstanding debate in the cannabis community about the best way to grow weed. And not just the best way to grow weed, but which growing method produces the highest quality bud.
Many factors come into play when evaluating the quality of cannabis, but the environment and growing conditions certainly play a huge role. So, let’s compare sun-grown vs indoor vs light dep and take a deep dive at the pros and cons of each.
Defining Sun-Grown, Indoor, and Light Dep Weed
Before we dig into the logistics of the bud produced by each growing style, let’s get clear on what each style means.
What is Sun-Grown Cannabis?
Sun-grown cannabis is precisely what it sounds like. The plants are grown under natural light outdoors. There is no greenhouse or artificial lighting. In addition, many sun-grown plants grow in native soil, and the farmers are highly focused on regenerative farming practices to preserve and nurture the land for future generations.
What is Indoor Cannabis?
Indoor cannabis can be grown in a warehouse, store room, or anywhere that does not interact with the natural environment. Instead, growers are synthesizing everything natural with something artificial. Sunlight is replicated with HPS or LED lighting, and temperature, humidity, and airflow are controlled electronically.
What is Light Dep Cannabis?
Light dep, short for deprivation, is greenhouse weed on a strict lighting schedule. The plants are often grown in pots inside a greenhouse which is covered with thick, black tarps in 12-hour cycles. The purpose is to control the plant’s natural life cycle to manipulate the harvest.
A Look at Sun-Grown Buds
What are the benefits of sun-grown buds, and what do they look and taste like?
Appearance
Fully sun-grown buds are larger than indoor buds. Logically this makes perfect sense since the plants have had plenty of time and room to expand. In some cases, their growth potential is limitless. The stalks and stems are often much thicker and sturdier since they’ve battled the natural elements to grow tall and strong. The color is another indicator of sun-grown buds. Dropping temperatures can cause the flowers to take on a purple hue, which tells you they may have been unprotected from colder nights outdoors.
Potency
Although some claim that sun-grown cannabis isn’t as potent as indoor weed, that’s not true. The thought behind this falsehood is that the wind, rain, or other unpredictable weather conditions might beat the terpenes off the plant. Or more terpenes are susceptible to damage during the harvest and drying process. However, test results repeatedly show this not to be the case. Instead, it seems that sun-grown cannabis cannot be beaten regarding cannabinoid content.
Flavor
It’s not just the cannabinoid percentages that are high, but terpene content is also rich and varied. The reasoning behind this is that no amount of high-tech lighting can replicate the sun’s rays. The plants thrive in their natural environment, which means natural light cycles under the sun’s brightness. All this terpene content means incredible depth of flavor and aroma.
A Look at Indoor Buds
What defines indoor cannabis? Do you think you could spot it on a dispensary shelf?
Appearance
Indoor plants are babied from day one. It always has the perfect temperature and never has unpredictable weather. Because of this, there are some visual cues to identify indoor weed. For one, it tends to be lighter in color, ranging from light to bright greens. If grown correctly, indoor buds are very frosty and covered in trichomes. They tend to take on that shiny, crystal-like sheen and are small and compact compared to sun-grown buds.
Potency
You would think that all those trichomes mean very high potency. Now, there are some high-THC indoor buds out there. However, no lighting technology can do what natural sunlight does for bud and trichome development. That said, indoor weed will still get you stoned, but maybe not as much of a full spectrum high as sun-grown weed.
Flavor
Because the trichomes are largely intact by harvest, indoor weed usually tastes quite flavorful. All of those terpenes are working their magic to bring you a delicious and robust smoking experience.
Light Dep Cannabis: Pros and Cons
So what happens when you grow weed in a greenhouse and control its light cycle?
Appearance
Light dep weed tends to look darker in color, like sun-grown cannabis, but it’s typically not as dense. The protection of a greenhouse means that the weed doesn’t need to learn how to adapt to outdoor life, so it’s generally not as dense. As a result, it might appear a bit larfy, but when grown with proper attention, light dep weed looks much like sun-grown weed.
Potency
Light dep weed still works with the sun’s rays, and will produce potent buds. Generally, the potency and cannabinoid content will vary depending on the plant’s genetics. Overall, light dep weed can be just as potent as sun-grown weed.
Flavor
Much like potency, the flavor is pretty stellar for light dep. No wind or rain to knock the buds around can mean more terpenes are preserved in the precious trichomes. But, again, genetics matter and some strains are naturally frostier than others.
Which Should You Buy: Sun-Grown, Indoor, or Light Dep Weed?
As for pricing, indoor weed typically comes with a heftier price tag due to the cost of production. Light dep weed is priced moderately, but there’s not incredibly special about it. On the other hand, sun-grown weed is usually the highest quality at the best price. In addition, the cost of production is much lower than light dep (which requires light dep tech, greenhouse costs, etc) and of course indoor. So, why not buy the best buds at the best prices?
To shop from a dispensary that focuses solely on partnering with sun-grown growers, check out Solful. This is one dispensary that dedicates itself to sourcing cannabis that meets the absolute highest standards for sun-grown methods. Visit them in Santa Rosa and Sebastopol.
More Content
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BACKWOODS AND HIP-HOP
TERPENES FOR ANXIETY: 3 TERPS IN CANNABIS WITH STRESS-RELIEVING PROPERTIES
RAPPER WEED: WHICH RAPPERS HAVE CANNABIS PRODUCTS IN THE MARKET? WHO ACTUALLY HAS THE FIRE?
18 COMPANIES THAT DON’T DRUG TEST THEIR EMPLOYEES FOR WEED
7 TIPS FOR MARKETING CANNABIS AND CBD ON TIKTOK AND INSTAGRAM
