When first getting into plants farming, it may seem odd that so many growers tend to choose an indoor climate over an outdoor one.

There is nothing inherently wrong with a plant growing in its natural environment, and a lot of the reasoning for indoor grows in the past came down to the stealth aspect of it do to illegality.

Nowadays, however, plants growing is legal in many places so now the question of whether to grow indoors or letting the plants grow outdoors seems more relevant than ever.

There are quite a few differences to be sure, but which is best?

Indoor Growing — Pros

A significant advantage of indoor plants cultivation is that growers can control conditions like temperature and humidity. Therefore, it enables you to mitigate some of the risks associated with outdoor cultivation, such as inclement weather.

Another big plus of growing plants indoors is the ability to grow all year round.

Another big plus of growing plants indoors is the ability to grow all year round. As you don’t have to wait for a growing season, you can enjoy multiple harvests per year. With 3–4 harvests a year, you can greatly exceed the limited returns associated with growing plants outdoors.

Another pro of growing plants indoors is that it can make it easier to remain on the right side of the law. An increasing number of states allow indoor growing. However, in states where growing plants is still prohibited, people must hide their plants from public view. That’s a lot easier to do when growing plants indoors.

Indoor Growing — Cons

It’s true; indoor lighting can help you grow aesthetically beautiful flowers with high THC percentages. However, no lighting system is a match for the power of the sun. The sun produces enough energy to power 2,880 trillion light bulbs. It also provides our planet with 35,000 times the amount of energy required by those of us who use electricity on Earth!

Therefore, plants grown in California’s glorious sunlight will dwarf the smaller yields of indoor plants. To replicate natural sunlight in an indoor grow room can be exceptionally costly. We will discuss this in more detail in the ‘Cost of Growing plants Indoors’ section below.

While growing plants indoors protects them from inclement weather, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are safer from pests. With no natural protection, your plants are in severe danger if exposed to pests like aphids or spider mites.

Outdoor Growing — Pros

Plant has been grown outside for tens of thousands of years and has perfectly adapted to its preferred climate. Although plants are susceptible to pests and disease outdoors, they get help from natural sources. Ants, ladybugs, and wasps all prey on mites and other pests that can ruin an outdoor crop.

Certain plants strains grow to enormous sizes and are entirely unsuitable for indoor growers due to the space required. You can’t grow a 15-foot plant indoors unless you have access to a warehouse!

Another pro of growing plants outdoors is that there is the potential for a much higher yield. Generally speaking, outdoor farms produce significantly higher yields than their indoor equivalents. Certain strains also produce much higher yields outdoors than indoors, simply because they prefer an outdoor environment.

All plants require carbon dioxide (CO2) to thrive. You can replicate or even enhance CO2 levels inside using equipment like CO2 canisters, but it can be expensive. Naturally, this is one expense associated with growing plants that outdoor growers don’t have to incur.

Another pro of growing plants outdoors is that once you put plants plants in soil, they feed off the nutrients. Therefore, feeding plants outdoors is less costly due to the number of natural nutrients available to them in the soil.

From an environmentally friendly perspective, there is no comparison between growing plants outdoors vs. indoors. Outdoor crops leave a much smaller carbon footprint than indoor grows. The sheer energy consumption (not to mention the cost) required to power indoor equipment is staggering. Think about how much electricity is used to power the lighting, dehumidifiers, exhaust fans, etc., for several grow cycles per year.

Outdoor Growing — Cons

Crops grown outdoors have a longer gestation period, and you are completely reliant on their natural life cycle. As a result, you may not be able to harvest your crop more than once a year. Nature also throws up its fair share of challenges. If your local area is experiencing an unusually dry or wet season, it can play havoc.

For instance, too much rainfall can lead to plant mold and/or bud rot. Excessive heat can also kill your plants. Things like fires, tornadoes, and storms can destroy an entire crop in a matter of hours.

Most states that permit growing only do so with the proviso that it takes place indoors.

Larger predators such as deer are also known to invade fields and ruin plants, and whether or not you believe in climate change, there is no question that the weather has become less predictable in recent times.

Finally, you may not be legally allowed to grow outdoors. States such as Colorado allow residents to grow plants without a commercial license. However, most states that permit growing only do so with the proviso that it takes place indoors, and out of sight. It is important to note that regulations and limitations can vary according to city and county — sometimes within the same state.

ECO Farm MB4 880W Commercial LED Grow Light

Features:

This ECO Farm LED grow light adopts 8 bars design with more even and complete canopy coverage. Equipped with high-efficiency Samsung LM301B diodes, extremely low thermal resistance. Grow lights no flicker and dim, and the life is up to 50,000 hours. Led grow light draws 880 watts with 2200 µmol/s, achieving a satisfactory PPE of 2.8 µmol/J, coverage for 5'x5’ of high-yielding full-cycle growth. Abundant types of wavelengths are consistent with the spectral range of plant photosynthesis. It can concentrate the light of a specific wavelength to irradiate crops in a balanced manner, and control the height of the plant and the nutrients of the plant. Speed up the synthesis of plant carbohydrates and vitamins, shorten the growth cycle. Indoor plant LED grow light uses advanced heat dissipation aluminium material and waterproof design. High-quality components ensure that the product works better during its life cycle. At the same time, it can also make you more at ease and more comfortable planting in the tent.

Mammoth Lighting Fold Series MF08 LED Grow Light

Features:

Mammoth Lighting has been developed by indoor growers over many years of careful experimentation and testing. Scientifically engineered to deliver the highest level of PAR output and balanced Coverage in the LED grow market. The Mammoth LED grow lights are built with high-quality Samsung diodes. The lights encompass a continuous range of wavelength from blue and green to red, creating a light blend matching the natural sunlight. Mammoth customized their light spectrum to optimize plant growth and increase yields while consuming less energy and reducing operating costs compared with traditional horticulture technologies.

GROPLANNER LED GROW LIGHT 800W

Features：

Groplanner I series LED plant growth lights provide more energy while consuming less electricity. In the field of professional planting, they have the same performance as top brands such as GVT. Balanced and stable light distribution and efficient light output bring an amazing 2.7g/w output, creating a more ideal light level for professional growers. Groplanner LED Plant Growth Light 800W has 2,816 LEDs, which can achieve an energy efficiency of up to 2.75 umol/J, thereby providing strong light output and uniform canopy penetration to achieve high yield. The 400nm to 700nm full-spectrum growth light is infinitely close to sunlight, providing a complete natural spectrum, speeding up the growth and flowering time of plants, achieving higher yields, and being suitable for all stages of plant growth.

Best of Both Worlds: Indoors AND Outdoors

Why settle for one when you can try both? Some growers are lucky enough to tend to their outdoor crop after spending some time in their indoor growing tent. If you’re new to growing plants, why not start in one location, then try the other once you’ve processed your first harvest? Experience is the best teacher, and you’ll only know what works best for you after trying first-hand. Consider making use of the good weather during the spring and summer, before moving your efforts indoors during the darker and colder months.

If you grow plants indoors, the LED grow lights above will provide a satisfied efficacy for you.