Does Light Deprivation Help Cannabis Grow?

It’s common knowledge that to make plants happy, you should give them lots of sunshine, water, and fertilizer. However, successful marijuana suppliers and those in the CA cannabis industry insurance market have learned that depriving your plants of sunlight at certain times during the growing cycle actually results in higher yields. Read on to learn why light deprivation works and how you can implement the practice.

How Does Light Deprivation Work?

All plants have internal mechanisms by which they perceive day length. This ability triggers deciduous trees to shed their leaves in the fall and open their new buds in the spring. Cannabis also responds physiologically to the longer days of May and June and the gradually shortening days in July. Of particular interest to growers is the emergence of buds in early fall.

However, by depriving your plants of light for 12 hours per day during late spring, you can trick them into thinking that autumn has arrived early. This simulated change in day length causes them to flower earlier in the summer, allowing you to harvest the buds in July. Once the solstice has passed, you do not need to limit sunlight to achieve the second harvest in October or November.

What Are the Benefits of Light Deprivation?

With traditional methods, you can only hope for a single harvest; you also must prepare for the unexpected by purchasing cannabis insurance to protect against the threat of frost that could ruin your crop. Light deprivation instead allows you to minimize the risk of cold weather and maximize the return on your investment. A summer harvest will make your CA cannabis industry insurance premium seem to stretch twice as far.

Furthermore, plants grown under light deprivation actually yield superior buds to those grown traditionally. Because the time spent growing is shorter than usual, there is a reduced risk of mold. Customers also prefer fresh, summer plants to last year’s aging harvest. Many also report being more likely to purchase a product with the look of an indoor-grown plant that light deprivation bestows.

How Do I Cover My Plants?

Once you have committed to growing plants in this manner, it is important to block 100% of sunlight during the deprivation period. Allowing light to filter through the covering can significantly reduce the number of buds produced in some plants, developing into hermaphrodites.

Just as there are now many insurance choices for cannabis companies since marijuana’s legalization, a wide range of products for growers using light deprivation also exist. Some small-scale enthusiasts report using black plastic bags, while larger farms install fully automated rollers that fit outside a greenhouse. Inflatable sealants for crevices where light penetrates also are available.

About CannGen Insurance Services

For more information about our comprehensive insurance solutions for the cannabis, CBD, and hemp industries, please visit our website at www.canngenins.com or email marketing@canngenins.com.