Get your free CO2 calculator
Grow the best plants with your FREE CO2 calculator.
Grow stages of cannabis: A guide to every growth phase
Master all stages of cannabis plant growth for bigger, better yields
Growing cannabis without understanding the stages of cannabis plant growth is like trying to build a house without a blueprint - you’ll waste time and resources and likely end up disappointed.
If you’re struggling to figure out why your plants aren’t thriving or yielding top-quality buds, this guide has the answers you need.
Ignoring the specific needs of your plants at each stage can lead to poor yields, mouldy buds, or cannabis that lacks potency and flavour.
In this post, we’ll break down every stage of growth - germination, seedling, vegetative, flowering, and harvest - and give you expert cannabis cultivation tips to grow healthy, high-yielding plants every time.
Disclaimer: Any information given on this site is for educational purposes only. Please ensure if you’re growing cannabis, you’re doing so by the law and subject to appropriate permissions and licenses of the applicable country.
Join the Grow The Best newsletter for top growing tips and tricks!
The stages of cannabis growing: An overview
Cannabis plants go through essential stages during their lifecycle:
- Germination
- Seedling stage
- Vegetative stage
- Flowering stage
- Harvest
Each stage has its own environmental needs, from temperature and humidity to light cycles and nutrients.
By understanding these growth stages of cannabis, you’ll be better equipped to create the perfect growing environment, maximise yield, and produce high-quality buds.
1. Germination stage
Duration: 1–7 days
The germination stage marks the beginning of your cannabis plant’s life cycle, and setting a strong foundation when germinating seeds is essential for success.
This is when your cannabis seeds awaken and prepare for growth.
Under the right conditions, the seed's hard shell cracks open, revealing a small taproot that will eventually develop into the plant’s root system.
Starting with high-quality cannabis seeds is crucial, as poor genetics can result in weak plants or failed germination.
Care tips:
To germinate successfully, your seeds need warmth, moisture, and darkness.
Aim for temperatures between 24–28°C and keep the environment damp but not soaked.
Many growers use the paper towel method, but you can also plant cannabis seeds directly in soil or use a humidity dome to maintain consistent moisture levels.
Common mistakes:
Avoid letting your seeds dry out or overwatering, as excess water can drown the delicate taproot.
Starting with low-quality or old cannabis seeds is another common mistake that can derail your grow before it even begins.
Once the taproot emerges, you’ll need to carefully transfer your germinating seeds to soil or a growing medium, ensuring they’re not exposed to too much light or air.
2. Seedling stage:
Duration: 1–3 weeks
Your cannabis seedling begins its journey of visible growth, developing the iconic true leaves and starting to photosynthesise.
This stage is critical, as the plant is delicate and heavily influenced by its environmental conditions.
With the right care, the young plant's roots will expand and become strong enough to progress into vegetative growth.
Neglecting the specific needs during this phase can lead to stunted development or even plant failure.
Check out our posts about seedling VPD and seedling PPFD for more granular info.
Care tips:
To support healthy growth, keep the humidity high at around 70–80%, with temperatures between 20–25°C.
Provide a moderate light cycle of 18–24 hours per day to encourage steady development.
Avoid strong nutrient solutions; a balanced, low-strength mix is ideal at this point.
Proper air circulation and fresh air are also essential for preventing mould and supporting the plant’s overall health.
Watch out for:
Overwatering is a common issue - remember, not too much water is key.
It’s also important to avoid nutrient burn from overfeeding, as the plant is still too young to handle concentrated nutrients.
A thriving cannabis seedling will soon develop into a robust young plant, ready to enter the vegetative phase, where rapid growth takes centre stage.
At this stage, many growers find that tracking the cannabis growth timeline and fine-tuning their environment sets the foundation for a healthy and productive crop.
3. Vegetative stage:
Duration: 3–8+ weeks
The cannabis vegetative stage is where your plants truly come to life.
During this phase, the plant focuses on producing lush foliage, thick stems, and an extensive root system, all laying the groundwork for later strong bud production.
At this stage, plants grow quickly, becoming taller, bushier, and more resilient.
This is also the time to implement training techniques like topping or low-stress training, which help shape the plant for better light exposure and increased yields.
Hop on over to our posts about VPD in the veg stage and get your ultimate guide to veg PPFD here.
Care tips:
- Provide an 18–24 hour light cycle with high light intensity to maximise photosynthesisMaintain humidity at 70–80% and temperatures between 22–28°C.
- Introduce a nitrogen-rich nutrient mix to encourage vibrant, green growth.
For indoor growers, controlling the environment is crucial.
Ensuring proper airflow and fresh air will prevent mould and pests while promoting healthy development.
If you’re growing outdoors, choosing the right season and location in whichever hemisphere you’re located can significantly impact growth.
Proper care during the vegetative growth stage ensures that your plants grow robustly and can support heavy buds later in the flowering phase.
Skipping or mishandling this stage can lead to weak structures and reduced yields.
Whether you’re working in a small grow space or are an outdoor grower, focusing on this critical period of cannabis cultivation will set the stage for a successful harvest.
4. Flowering stage:
The flowering stage is the most anticipated phase in the cannabis cultivation process for every grower - it’s when your hard work finally begins to pay off.
During this stage, the cannabis plant redirects its energy into bud development, producing the fragrant, sticky flowers that growers love.
This critical period is divided into three distinct phases, each with its own requirements for optimal cannabis cultivation.
Get into the nitty gritty for the best results, check out the best VPD for flowering, and learn how to dial in PPFD in flower for the best results.
The stretch phase
Duration: 2-3 weeks
In the initial weeks of the flowering phase, your plants undergo rapid vertical growth, often doubling in height.
This stretch prepares the plant to support heavy buds later.
You’ll also observe the formation of reproductive organs, allowing you to determine plant sex and identify male and female plants.
Ensure you remove any stray male cannabis plants if you’re cultivating female plants for buds.
Care tips:
- Transition photoperiod strains to a 12/12 light cycle to trigger flowering.
- Ensure ample space in your grow space to accommodate the stretch.
- Introduce phosphorus and potassium to the nutrient mix to support this high-energy phase.
Bulking stage
Duration: Weeks 3-6 of flowering
In this phase, buds begin to swell, trichomes appear, and terpene production ramps up, giving your buds their distinctive aroma.
When you’re growing indoors, maintaining the right environment is key to avoiding mould and maximising yield.
Care tips:
- Lower humidity to 55–65% to prevent bud rot.
- Keep temperatures steady at 20–26°C to protect resin quality.
- Continue feeding phosphorus and potassium for healthy bud growth and trichome production.
Ripening stage
Duration: Final 2-3 weeks of flowering
This is the final stretch before harvest when buds reach peak density and their chemical profiles mature.
Trichomes will shift from clear to milky or amber, and pistils will darken. This stage determines the final potency and flavour of your harvest.
Care tips:
- Begin reducing the amount of nutrients you feed the plant.
- Reduce humidity to 30–40% (or as low as you can manage) and maintain good airflow.
- Avoid handling buds unnecessarily to preserve trichomes.
Get expert growing advice – sign up for the Grow The Best newsletter now!
Why attention to detail matters
Each phase of the flowering stage plays a pivotal role in producing potent, flavourful buds.
Ignoring the unique needs of your plants during this time can lead to subpar results.
Careful adjustments to temperature, humidity, and nutrients ensure your plants are at their best.
Whether you’re cultivating indica plants or Sativa dominant strains, mastering this stage will bring you closer to a bountiful harvest.
For outdoor cannabis growers, timing is critical to align flowering with optimal weather conditions.
5. Harvest:
Harvesting is the culmination of all your hard work and dedication throughout the cannabis life cycle.
When the buds are dense, the trichomes that a plant produces shift from clear to milky or amber, and the pistils darken to a rich, dark brown shade, it’s time to take action.
Waiting too long can lead to diminished potency, while harvesting too early may result in less flavourful or effective buds.
Careful timing matters
The final few weeks before harvest are critical for optimising flavour and potency.
Keep a close eye on trichome colour and ensure the environment has low humidity to prevent mould from forming on your cannabis buds.
How to harvest
When it’s time to harvest, use sharp, sterilised tools to avoid damaging the marijuana plant during cutting.
Collect the harvested buds carefully and immediately begin the drying process in a controlled, dark room with consistent airflow.
This prevents the degradation of cannabinoids and terpenes.
Proper harvesting techniques ensure your time and effort pay off with exceptional results.
6. Drying and curing
Proper drying and curing are the final and most critical steps in cannabis cultivation to ensure your buds achieve their full flavour, potency, and shelf life.
Without these steps, even the most perfectly grown cannabis plant can result in harsh smoke, reduced potency, and a shorter shelf life.
Drying your buds:
Start by hanging your harvested buds in a well-ventilated dark room with a consistent temperature of 15-20°C (60°-70°F) and humidity levels between 50-60%%.
This allows excess moisture to evaporate gradually, preventing mould while preserving terpenes.
Proper air circulation is crucial here, so use fans to keep the air moving gently.
Avoid drying in direct light, as it can degrade cannabinoids and terpenes.
Curing for perfection:
Once dried, move your buds into airtight containers like glass jars for curing.
Open the jars daily for the first two weeks to release excess moisture (a process known as "burping").
This step enhances your buds' aroma, flavour, and potency while extending their shelf life.
Curing should last at least two weeks, though many growers prefer curing for a few weeks to several months for the best results.
Skipping or rushing these steps can result in harsh, low-quality buds that don’t reflect the effort put into the earlier stages of cannabis growth.
Proper drying and curing ensure your journey from seed to harvest concludes with top-quality cured buds that showcase your cultivation skills.
This final step in your seed to harvest journey results in high-quality, aromatic cured buds ready for use.
Maximising yields with environmental controls
Your growing environment plays a critical role in determining the success of your grow.
Each phase of the cannabis life cycle requires precise temperature, humidity, and lighting adjustments.
Failing to control these environmental conditions can lead to poor-quality buds, reduced yields, and wasted resources.
Why the right environment matters to cannabis growth
From the vegetative phase to the final flowering stage, your plants rely on consistent, optimised conditions to thrive. For example:
- High humidity and temperatures support lush growth in the vegetative growth stage.
- Controlled stress during the pre-flowering phase can enhance terpene production.
- Low humidity at the end of flowering prevents bud rot and preserves resin quality.
These tailored adjustments are essential to meet the specific needs of your plants throughout the cannabis stages of growth.
Introducing the Grow Sensor
The Grow Sensor is more than just a grow room monitor - it’s a powerful tool designed to take your grow to the next level.
Perfect for both hobbyists and professionals, it provides real-time data on all aspects of your grow space, ensuring you never have to second-guess the health of your cannabis plants.
Key features include:
- VPD tracking, integrated CO2 monitoring, and leaf surface temperature sensing.
- PPFD and full-spectrum PAR sensors for continuous light measurement.
- Soil probe for monitoring EC, soil moisture, and root temperature.
- Custom alerts and trends are available via an intuitive app for iOS and Android.
The Grow Sensor empowers indoor growers to act fast with precision data, reducing risks and improving results.
It’s the perfect choice for anyone looking to achieve better quality and higher yields.
What happens if you ignore environmental controls?
Overlooking the impact of your environment can result in slow bud development, stunted plant growth, or even crop loss.
When growing indoors, poor air quality, high temperatures, or inconsistent humidity levels can lead to irreparable damage to your marijuana plants.
By monitoring and optimising your setup with the Grow Sensor, you can steer your crop with confidence, avoid common pitfalls, and ensure a productive harvest.
In every phase, from seedling stage to cannabis flowering stage, environmental precision is your ally.
The Grow Sensor makes achieving this precision simpler, smarter, and more effective than ever before.
Takeaways
Understanding the stages of cannabis growth is essential for producing high-quality cannabis.
From germination to harvest, each phase requires specific care and attention.
By tailoring your approach to each stage and monitoring your environment, you’ll grow healthier plants, boost yields, and enjoy better-quality buds.
Take the time to master the different stages of growing cannabis, and you’ll be rewarded with a thriving garden and a satisfying harvest.
Happy growing!
FAQs
How long should cannabis take to grow?
Cannabis growth can take anywhere from 12 to 16 weeks on average, depending on the cannabis plant strain, growing method, and environmental conditions.
For instance, autoflowering cannabis seeds often mature faster, while photoperiod strains require more time to progress through the different stages of cannabis growth.
What should a 2 week old cannabis plant look like?
A 2-week-old cannabis plant should be a healthy seedling with several sets of true leaves starting to form.
The leaves should appear bright green, and the plant's root system should be developing well.
At this stage, cannabis seedlings require consistent humidity, a gentle light cycle, and not too much water to thrive.
What does a 3 week old cannabis plant look like?
A 3-week-old cannabis plant is transitioning out of the seedling stage and into early vegetative growth.
It should have a sturdy stem, several sets of well-developed true leaves, and a strong root growth.
The environment should support lush growth with adequate light cycles and proper humidity levels.
At this point, the plant begins to grow taller and bushier, showing signs of robust plant development.
What should a cannabis plant look like at 4 weeks?
At 4 weeks, a cannabis plant is firmly in the vegetative stage, with a healthy, bushy structure and vibrant green leaves.
Its root system is well-established, and the plant may be ready for training techniques like topping or LST.
With proper care in the environment, including an 18–24 hour light cycle and consistent watering, the plant should show strong vegetative growth as it prepares for the flowering phase.
What do buds look like 2 weeks before harvest?
Two weeks before harvest, cannabis buds should be dense and coated in trichomes, giving them a frosty appearance.
Pistils will mostly darken and curl, while the trichomes turn from clear to milky.
During this final cannabis flowering stage, buds continue to ripen, and terpenes become more pronounced.
Maintain low humidity in the environment to prevent mould and preserve quality.
Want to grow like a pro? Subscribe to the Grow The Best newsletter!
.avif)
