The amount of usable product a single cannabis plant yields is highly variable. Yield refers specifically to the dry weight of the processed flower, or bud, harvested from the plant. This final measurement results from a complex interplay between the plant’s biological capacity and its growing environment. Because many variables influence the outcome, a single plant’s production can range from a few ounces to over a pound.
Establishing Yield Baselines (Indoor vs. Outdoor)
The physical location of the plant is a primary factor determining its potential yield. Indoor cultivation, which involves a controlled environment, typically produces a lower but more consistent yield per plant. Growers often measure indoor success in grams per square meter of canopy space, averaging 400 to 500 grams per square meter under optimized conditions. Individual indoor plants, constrained by pot size and grow space, generally yield between 200 and 400 grams (7 to 14 ounces).
Outdoor cultivation offers significantly higher yield potential due to unrestricted root space and access to the sun’s full spectrum of light. A healthy, full-season outdoor plant can easily produce 400 to 750 grams (14 to 26 ounces) of dried flower. Larger plants allowed to grow fully can reach a pound or more, with exceptional cases yielding over a kilogram (2.2 pounds) from a single specimen. This difference results from the outdoor plant’s ability to maximize its vegetative growth period before the natural light cycle triggers flowering.
The Role of Genetics in Plant Potential
The inherent genetic makeup of the seed or clone establishes the maximum biological capacity for yield, regardless of the growing environment. Cannabis is broadly categorized into three types—Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid—each possessing structural characteristics that affect final biomass. Indica-dominant varieties tend to be shorter, denser, and bushier, with a faster flowering time, making them preferred for maximizing yield per square foot in indoor setups. Their dense structure contributes to a heavier weight relative to their height.
Sativa-dominant strains grow taller and lankier, with thinner leaves and a longer flowering period. While Sativas can produce a massive plant outdoors, their buds are often airier and less dense than Indicas, which can result in a lower dry weight yield compared to a similarly sized Indica. Modern hybrid strains are bred to capture the best of both worlds, aiming for the high yield of an Indica with the desirable characteristics of a Sativa. Genetics dictate the plant’s inherent growth rate, resistance to environmental stress, and the final size and density of the flowers.
Cultivation Techniques and Environmental Control
Once the genetic potential is established, the techniques a grower employs and the environment they maintain are the most direct factors in maximizing the final yield. Indoor growers rely on powerful light sources, using the “gram per watt” ratio as a standard efficiency benchmark, often achieving between 0.5 and 1.0 grams of dried flower for every watt consumed. High-intensity discharge (HPS) and modern light-emitting diode (LED) fixtures provide the necessary light spectrum and intensity to drive photosynthesis, directly influencing the plant’s ability to create biomass.
The choice of growing medium also affects nutrient uptake and, consequently, yield. Hydroponic systems, where roots are suspended in nutrient-rich water, allow for more efficient and rapid nutrient delivery than traditional soil, potentially increasing yields by 40% to 50%. Precise nutrient management, including the proper ratios of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium throughout the vegetative and flowering stages, ensures the plant has the building blocks required for dense flower development.
Growers frequently use plant training methods to manipulate the plant’s shape and re-allocate growth hormones to create more flowering sites. Techniques like “topping,” which involves removing the main growing tip, break the plant’s natural apical dominance, forcing it to grow outward and produce multiple main stems, or “colas.” The Screen of Green (SCROG) technique uses a net to spread the canopy horizontally, ensuring all bud sites receive uniform light penetration, which significantly increases the harvest. Environmental controls, such as maintaining optimal temperature (70°F to 85°F), controlling humidity, and supplementing with carbon dioxide (CO2), further enhance photosynthesis and maximize genetic yield potential.
Measuring Usable Yield (Wet Weight vs. Dry Weight)
The final stage of cultivation involves measuring the usable yield, requiring a distinction between the plant’s weight at harvest and its final, cured weight. When a cannabis plant is first harvested, its weight is referred to as “wet weight,” which includes all the moisture contained within the plant tissues. Wet weight is not indicative of the final product, as freshly harvested buds contain a significant amount of water.
The process of drying and curing removes the majority of this moisture, accounting for substantial weight loss. On average, cannabis flowers lose between 70% and 80% of their mass during this period. For example, 400 grams of wet flower will yield only 80 to 120 grams of dried, cured product. The usable yield is the dried, manicured flower, excluding fan leaves and large stems removed during trimming. The final dry weight, which represents the stable, usable product, is approximately 20% to 30% of the initial wet weight.