Indoor cannabis cultivation offers a controlled environment that significantly influences the duration of the plant’s life cycle, providing growers with the ability to manipulate the timeline. Unlike outdoor growing, where the sun dictates the schedule, the total time from planting a seed to harvesting the finished product is highly variable and depends entirely on the grower’s choices and the strain’s genetics. A complete indoor cycle, encompassing all phases from initial seed to cured flower, can generally range from a minimum of three months to six months or even longer.
Germination and Seedling Development
The journey begins with the initial phase of germination, which is the process of “popping” the seed to prompt the emergence of the primary root, known as the radicle. This initial step often takes between three to ten days, though some seeds may require up to two weeks to successfully sprout. Growers commonly use methods like placing seeds in a damp paper towel or directly into a moist starting medium to encourage this initial root growth.
Once the seed has successfully sprouted and is placed in its medium, it enters the delicate seedling phase, which typically lasts for two to three weeks. During this time, the plant relies on a long light cycle, often 18 hours of light per day, to establish a robust foundation. The plant is officially considered a seedling when the first set of true, serrated leaves appears, moving past the initial cotyledon leaves that emerge from the seed.
The Vegetative Growth Period
Following the seedling stage, the plant enters the vegetative phase, a period entirely under the grower’s control that dictates the final size and potential yield. This phase is characterized by an extended light schedule, usually 18 or more hours of light per day, ensuring the plant focuses solely on producing leaves, stems, and roots. Since the plant will not flower until this light cycle is broken, the duration can be as short as two weeks or extended beyond eight weeks, depending on the grower’s goals.
Growers aiming for a perpetual harvest cycle often keep this period short, sometimes as little as 10 to 14 days, to maintain a continuous rotation of smaller plants. Conversely, a longer vegetative period, such as six to eight weeks, allows the plant to develop a much larger canopy and root system, which translates directly to greater yield potential. The final plant size is largely determined here, as the plant can easily double in height during the subsequent flowering phase.
Growers employ various training techniques during this stage to manage plant structure and maximize light exposure. Methods like Low-Stress Training (LST) and High-Stress Training (HST) manipulate the plant’s shape, creating multiple main bud sites rather than just one central cola. These techniques create a wider, more productive structure that ultimately supports a heavier harvest in the flowering stage.
The Flowering Timeline
The flowering stage is the final cultivation phase where the plant shifts its energy from structural growth to producing cannabinoid-rich flowers, or buds. For photoperiod strains, this transition is initiated indoors by changing the light schedule to 12 hours of light and 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness. This shift mimics the shorter days of autumn and signals to the plant that its life cycle is nearing completion, prompting the production of flowers.
The length of the flowering period is primarily determined by the plant’s genetic makeup. Indica-dominant strains typically have the shortest flowering times, often maturing within eight to ten weeks after the light switch. Sativa-dominant varieties, which naturally grow in equatorial regions with longer growing seasons, require significantly more time to finish, generally taking 10 to 14 weeks or more.
Autoflowering strains do not rely on a change in the light cycle to begin flowering. These plants automatically transition after a short vegetative period, usually four to six weeks from germination. As a result, autoflowers can be ready for harvest in a total of eight to ten weeks from the moment the seed sprouts.
Regardless of the strain, the flowering stage ends when the trichomes, the tiny, resinous glands on the buds, reach their desired ripeness. This is confirmed by inspecting their color under magnification.
Post-Harvest Preparation and Curing
Post-harvest preparation continues the total time to a usable product. This phase is critical for developing the flower’s final flavor, aroma, and smoothness, and it is divided into two distinct processes: drying and curing. Rushing either step can severely degrade the quality of the final product, despite months of careful cultivation.
Drying is the initial step, where the goal is to slowly reduce the moisture content of the harvested buds in a controlled environment. This process typically takes between seven and fourteen days, with ideal conditions maintained at a temperature between 60°F and 70°F and a relative humidity of 45% to 55%. Buds are considered dry enough when the smaller stems snap cleanly instead of bending, indicating the moisture has been sufficiently removed from the plant material.
Curing starts once the buds are dry enough to be sealed in airtight containers, such as glass jars. Curing allows chlorophyll to dissipate and moisture to equalize throughout the bud, preserving delicate terpenes that contribute to the flower’s unique profile. While a minimum cure of two weeks is often cited, the quality of the flower significantly improves with an extended period, with many growers aiming for four to eight weeks.