Climate has a significant influence on all aspects of cannabis farming and storage. From temperature shifts to humidity and light exposure, these variables can disrupt the delicate balance required for successful cannabis cultivation and preservation.
If you’re a grower or dispensary owner, addressing the climate’s role is essential for ensuring quality and longevity. To maintain your product in optimal condition, consider the following seven climate factors that can impact cannabis cultivation and storage.
1. Temperature Fluctuations Affect Growth Cycles
Temperature extremes can significantly disrupt cannabis plants’ growth patterns and reduce overall yield quality. Excessive heat from high temperatures, poor ventilation, or intense lighting causes plant stress like wilting, leaf scorch, and nutrient deficiencies. This slows metabolism, reducing growth or causing stunted development, compromising harvest potential.
Cooler temperatures below optimal delay flowering and reduce cannabinoid and terpene production, affecting potency and aroma. Growers should keep indoor temps steady between 68°F and 77°F using climate control like heaters or humidifiers to ensure healthy growth.
2. Humidity Levels Influence Quality and Yield
Both overly humid and dry environments harm cannabis crops. High humidity risks mold during drying, while low humidity causes quick moisture loss, making flowers brittle and reducing potency and flavor.
Using humidifiers or dehumidifiers, and monitoring temperature and airflow helps create the perfect environment for growing and storing cannabis.
3. Light Exposure Dictates Cannabinoid Potency
Light plays a crucial role in the overall health and growth of cannabis plants. However, providing more light isn’t always better. Excessive light can cause bleaching and stress, which can hinder development.
Insufficient light reduces cannabinoid production and slows growth. Indoor growers should mimic natural light by balancing the spectrum, duration, and intensity based on growth stages to optimize health and yield.
4. Impacts of Climate on Outdoor Crops
Outdoor growers face increased risks from volatile climate patterns. Wildfires, heavy rains, and heat waves can damage crops, cause flooding, and reduce yields. These events also harm soil health, complicating sustainable farming.
To adapt, growers should select resilient crop strains and incorporate soil amendments, such as organic matter and minerals, to maintain soil fertility and ensure consistent production.
5. Humidity Also Affects Storage Longevity
Storing cannabis at 55-62% humidity helps preserve its freshness, potency, and flavor, while preventing drying and mold. It also protects trichomes, which contain THC and terpenes responsible for effects and aroma.
Without climate control, quality declines, resulting in reduced potency and flavor. Using airtight containers with humidity packs keeps cannabis at a consistent, optimal humidity for lasting quality.
6. Temperature Impacts Precise Scale Measurements
Significant temperature fluctuations can affect the accuracy of scales used to weigh cannabis. This is important because precise weights are essential for legal compliance, such as meeting regulatory standards for packaging and labeling.
Accurate weighing ensures consumers get the correct dosage, vital for safety and effectiveness. Keeping scales in a controlled environment—free from drafts, vibrations, or temperature changes—prevents discrepancies and ensures consistent, reliable measurements.
7. Air Circulation Regulates Drying and Curing
Proper airflow during drying and curing ensures moisture is evenly removed without damaging the flower’s profiles. Poor circulation can cause uneven curing, mold, or dryness, affecting quality and safety. Use ventilation systems like exhaust fans, HVAC, and dehumidifiers to regulate temperature, humidity, and airflow.
Managing the ways climate impacts cannabis cultivation and storage is essential for those invested in producing top-quality cannabis products. Whether it’s controlling the temperature in your growing spaces or storing dried buds at optimal humidity levels, each adjustment helps protect your product.
