The Science of High-Yield Cannabis Genetics: Understanding the Factors That Affect Yield

Using cannabis as a source of medicinal components has gained sustained momentum across the US following its legalization. What’s more, the legalization wave has sparked interest in cannabis production and breeding. These breeding activities seek to intensify new and improved cultivars with stable profiles. Genetics is central to breeding and critical to a cultivar’s everything—profiles and yielding capacity. 

Our post focuses on the science behind high-yielding cannabis strains and the factors affecting them. Keep reading to learn more.  

Factors Affecting the Highest Yielding Strains

Different factors affect all high-yielding cannabis strains. This section examines the principal elements contributing to this reality. You can also find more information on these strains at AskGrowers.com for the biggest yielding cannabis strains.

Strain Type

Marijuana breeders create new cultivars to achieve specific goals. For instance, hash makers focus on cultivating Indica strains rich in THC. Thus, they primarily focus on quality over quantity. Other cultivators still experiment with landrace breeds from different continents. However, their yields depend on a plant’s ability to adapt to new climatic conditions. 

Grow Area Size

Growing cannabis on a large piece of land lets them enjoy optimal light penetration. This way, your crops are better positioned to photosynthesize. Excellent airflow in such growing settings prevents humidity accumulation between foliage where mildew is likely. Moreover, a grower has enough space to practice Screen of Green (SCROG) for maximum production.

Inversely, growing cannabis in confined areas affects its ability to produce because the middle leaves and those positioned near the stem can’t photosynthesize effectively. Additionally, such growing conditions attract mildew because of increased humidity from poor airflow. 

Climate

Indica and Sativa strains thrive in different climatic conditions. For instance, Sativas thrive in moderately humid and warm environments; hence, they have thin leaves that reduce transpiration. On the other hand, Indicas love cool weather and thrive best in the Northern Hemispheres. Understanding these facts is vital when buying seeds because it helps organize the right temperature and humidity for your plants. 

Growth Duration

Indoor cannabis requires between 16 and 20 weeks to mature for harvest. Experienced farmers can trick plants using light deprivation to force them to blossom. This method can reduce maturity by two to three weeks without impeding bud production. 

However, some impatient cultivators do harvest immature buds. This rush usually occurs around late September and early October when outdoor growers prepare to harvest their plants. The problem is that this rush makes growers harvest undeveloped buds, reducing their yielding potential. 

Tips for Boosting High Yields

So, how can you boost your cannabis yield capacity? Here are tips to enable you to enhance your crops’ production capacity. 

Prepare Adequately

Adequate and early preparation is key to cultivation success. You should prepare by learning about your seeds from a seed or clone provider. You can contact the vendor in person or via a video call. Also, interacting with other experienced farmers helps you boost your preparation skills and ability. Don’t forget to buy your growing medium and other materials on time so you don’t miss seasons. 

Take Care of the Temperature

While temperature is critical to your crops’ cannabinoid production, so far, only a few scientific studies have been held in this regard. Some studies show that higher temperatures increase cannabinoid levels, while others tell us the exact opposite. 

Still, temperature certainly influences cannabinoid production, though the responses differ depending on the genotype and other environmental factors. We recommend getting accurate information from your seed bank or dispensary before adjusting the temperature to boost cannabinoid production.

Meanwhile, pay attention to consistent airflow and regulate room temperature. This action is more crucial during summer because it keeps cannabis from drying. Use a humidifier and dehumidifier to maintain humidity between safe 40% and 50% if you are experienced enough.

Plant Training

You can also boost your plants’ production by 30-40% to induce low-stress training. This training enables you to utilize light by growing additional branches for increasing bud sites compared to one main cola. You can also use lollipopping to help your plants redirect nutrients toward the canopy. 

Sufficient Lighting 

Light is one of the essential environmental factors determining cannabis’ yielding ability. Plants need sufficient light for photosynthesis to generate energy by trapping light with their leaves. They harness the trapped energy to change water and carbon dioxide into sugar or glucose. Plants use glucose for energy and to make starch and cellulose. 

Cannabis adjusts to increased or decreased light. However, getting sufficient light at different development stages enables plants to thrive. This dimension takes more than just light duration because other dimensions also affect it, which include the following: 

• Quality. You can manipulate your cannabis growth, morphology, and metabolism by adjusting the light quality. For instance, blue light decreases internode length to make plants more compact. Also, far-red and green wavelengths elongate stems and leaves.
• Intensity. Intensity is another light element to consider to boost marijuana’s production levels. The higher light intensity can positively affect photosynthesis and growth.

If you grow your cannabis indoors, you should regulate its lighting. We recommend using LED lights at 400-600 photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) for crops in vegetative states to maximize the branch and bud site growth. Flowering cannabis can grow rich under 600-900 PPFD.

Trim and Prune Your Plants

Trimming and pruning enable you to maintain an even canopy for maximum light absorption on all bud sites. Removing unnecessary branches lets your plants redirect energy and nutrients to bud sites for increased yields. 

Pay Attention to pH and Nutrient Levels

You can also maximize cannabis production by paying attention to pH and nutrient levels. Provide your crops with the right nutrient type and bloom supplements when that time comes. Additionally, use a pipette to measure liquid fertilizer correctly. 

Positive, Intentional Stress

Lastly, boost production levels using positive, intentional stress. This constructive stressing helps cannabis increase its potency. You can control these stressors on target. If you want to invest in intentional stressing, we recommend starting from the genesis—getting the right genetics. 

Genetics is crucial because different strains produce more or less under positive stress. That means if you stress a weak strain, you are most likely to achieve poor results. A weak cultivar produces after its kind. So, get the right raw materials to achieve excellent results. 

Parting Shot

The science of high-yielding cannabis strains comprises many elements. You must also play your role in enhancing your yields with wise crop management techniques. With the tips we’ve shared here, you will know how to do your part to get optimal results. Go ahead and use this information to get desirable returns on your investment. 

The article was written by Tia Mokalenko, a passionate grower and cannabis advocate writing blogs for AskGrowers on a permanent basis. Tia researches the market to find the best strains, cultivation tools, and technology and to familiarize aspiring cannabis growers with the vibrant world of producing cannabis for themselves.