How Much Weed Does One Plant Yield? (3 Real life examples)
When I started growing weed, I thought picking a high-yield strain was the only thing I needed to get huge yields. I was wrong.
After a decade of growing, I've learned that no two plants will yield the same.
They can be close, but so many factors affect the final yield. Genetics, lighting, soil quality, climate, and grower skill all impact grams per plant.
Key Takeaways
- On average, you can expect outdoor plants to yield 400 – 750 grams (14- 26 ounces), but some strains can produce far more.
- Indoor plants will produce average yields of 200 – 400 grams (7-14 ounces), which training techniques can increase.
- Autoflowering plants, which have a shorter life cycle, will generally yield less than photoperiod plants but can still produce impressive yields of around 150 grams (5 ounces) per plant.
- Genetics, climate, lighting, nutrients, the type of growing medium, plant training techniques, and growing experience all affect how much bud your plants will produce.
How does one cannabis plant yield on average?
It’s hard to give you a definitive answer, as so many variables are at play.
With that said, healthy outdoor photoperiod plants that have had an entire season to grow usually yield anywhere between 400 – 750 grams (or even more) per plant. With indoor growing, the average yield per photoperiod plant is around 200 – 400 grams.
The average yield per plant for autos is around 75 – 150 grams when grown in ideal conditions. But remember, autos grow and mature much faster than photoperiod plants so that you can fit more crops in a year.
Are seed bank yield estimates accurate?
If you look at any of our cannabis seeds, you’ll see that we provide a rough estimate of how much weed you can expect to yield per plant (usually a range)
It’s important to remember that these estimates are based on ideal growing conditions, and you should expect to yield the lower end of that range if this is your first time growing.
With experience, research, and dialed-in conditions, you can aim for the higher end of those estimates.
3 Real-life Yield Examples with Photos
Let's look at 3 people who grew our seeds, what the estimates were, and how much they managed to yield from a single plant.
Tangerine Dream Auto
- Grower: Roberts on GrowDiaries.com
- Estimated yield indoor: 300–400 grams per m2
- Estimated yield outdoor per plant: 80–100 grams per plant
- Actual yield per plant: 323.7 grams
- Growing medium used: Coco-coir/perlite
- Growing technique used: Indoor / LED 400W
- Plant training: Defoliation / LST
Roberts grew our Tangerine Dream Auto in an indoor tent setup using a 400W LED light and with coco-coir as the growing medium. They used defoliation and LST techniques to maximize the yield, and although the grow went for about a week longer than expected, the results speak for themselves. Over 300 grams from a single autoflower plant is truly impressive!
Gelato Autoflower
- Grower: AsNoriu on GrowDiaries.com
- Estimated yield indoor per plant: 400–500 grams per m2
- Estimated yield outdoor per plant: 60–100 grams per plant
- Actual yield per plant: 172 grams
- Growing medium used: BioBizz All Mix
- Growing technique used: Indoor / LED 300W
- Plant training: Defoliation / LST / HST
Our next grower, AsNoriu, also went down the autoflower route, this time with our Gelato Autoflower. Using a 300W LED light and BioBizz All Mix as the growing medium; they managed to produce 172 grams of some of the best Gelato buds we've seen. That equates to 573.33 grams per m2, eclipsing the expected yield, but the grow did take a little longer at 92 days.
Big Bud Feminized
- Grower: CannabisHouse888 on GrowDiaries.com
- Estimated yield indoor per plant: 400–600 grams per m2
- Estimated yield outdoor per plant: 600–800 grams per plant
- Actual yield per plant: 500 grams
- Growing medium used: Soil / Planted directly into the ground, no pot
- Growing technique used: Outdoor
- Plant training: Topping / SCroG
This one is a little different, with the grower planting their Big Bud Feminized seeds straight into the ground without a pot. The 500-gram dry weight yield after only 12 weeks from seed to harvest is incredibly impressive. It shows with the correct plant training, good-quality soil, and favorable climatic conditions, outdoor-grown plants can produce massive yields in surprisingly short periods.
Factors that impact your final harvest size
Genetics are everything
As with any plant, cannabis strains vary massively in their yield potential. Not all strains are created equally, at least not regarding the final bud weight. This is why it's crucial to research and choose seeds that suit the grow space, climatic conditions, and your expertise level.
There are three main subtypes of weed genetics – Sativa, Indica, or hybrid.
Sativa plants are known for being tall, skinny, and lanky. Some Sativa cultivars can hit the 8-foot mark (or even taller), suggesting they produce heavier yields than their Indica counterparts. Not necessarily. While Sativa plants can yield a lot of big, fluffy buds, most also have a more extended flowering period, with some lasting up to 14 weeks. This means that even though the final yield may be greater in terms of total weight, it will also take a lot longer to get there.
Indica plants grow in a more compact, bushy pattern and generally produce denser buds, which also means heavier. They also have a shorter flowering period (usually around 8-10 weeks), meaning that the wait time for harvest is significantly reduced compared to Sativa plants. This may allow you to fit an extra grow cycle or two into your year, depending on the climate.
Hybrid plants are a cross between Sativa and Indica genetics. No two hybrid strains are the same, but most finish the flowering period in less than 11 weeks.
But that's different from where the genetic story ends.
We also have to discuss the difference between photoperiod and autoflower strains.
Autos are the new kids on the block. Unlike photoperiod strains, which require a specific light cycle to trigger the flowering stage, autos begin flowering no matter the lighting conditions and do so about 4 weeks after germination. This means that the yield from an autoflower will typically be less than that of a photoperiod plant, but they go all the way from seed to harvest in around 10 weeks.
1. Pick the right growing medium
New growers often think they should dive headfirst into hydroponics, but soil is usually the best way to go when first starting. Sure, hydroponics can produce big yields (and fast), but it's more challenging than it looks. Good quality, cannabis-specific soil blends are easy to find these days. They take out a bunch of the guesswork, are much cheaper than starting a full hydroponic setup, and make the growing experience more comfortable, especially for beginners.
Look at coco-coir if you want to go straight down the hydro road. It offers a bunch of the pros of both hydroponics and soil growing and very few of the cons.
The size of the pot will also dictate the final yield size. If there isn't enough room for your plant's roots to expand, you won't see the full potential of your chosen strain. While it's generally accepted that a bigger pot will equal a bigger harvest, there is an upper limit. A pot that's too large can create drainage issues and may also mean that the plant cannot access enough nutrients in the soil.
For autos, look to plant in a pot around 12 liters in volume, give or take a few. For photoperiod plants, you can use larger pots (up to 20 liters) if you are growing Sativa strains, but anything more than 12–15 liters for Indica's and hybrids is likely overkill.
2. Light it up
Weed plants love the sun.
This one is simple. More light exposure = bigger final yields. Always place your outdoor crop in the area with the most sun exposure throughout the day.
When it comes to indoor growing, the bigger the light, the better the yield – at least to a certain extent. You don't want to overdo it and give your plants light burn, but if you have enough ventilation, the more powerful the grow lighting is (within reason), the better.
What type of light should you use?
While many varieties of grow lights are available on the market, the only two real options for serious indoor cultivators these days are HID or LED. HID lighting was the gold standard for indoor growing for decades, but LED technology has increased in the past five years. They cost a little more upfront, but the energy savings over time and the superior quality of light make them a better bet all around.
3. Climate control
Most cannabis cultivars prefer a warm, temperate, even 'Mediterranean' climate. Temperatures between 72F to 82F (22C – 28C) are optimal for boosting the final yield. The humidity levels must also be carefully managed to ensure your plants don't become a breeding ground for pests and diseases. If possible, start with the humidity levels at around 60% for seedlings, drop it closer to 50% – 55% for the vegetative stage, and then under 50% for the flowering stage. By starting with a strain best suited to your climate, you can greatly increase the final yield of your crop.
4. Train for success
Plant training is manipulating the growth pattern of your cannabis plants to maximize yield and utilize space. It involves techniques such as topping, SCroGging, and low-stress training (LST).
By managing how your plant grows, you can open up the canopy, allowing for increased light penetration and air flow and even boosting the number of flowing sites each plant has.
4 Examples of high-yielding, easy-to-grow strains
So, after all that's said and done, which seeds should you guys look at when it comes to getting the biggest yield with the least work?
Four specific strains in our catalog jump right out of the pack…
1. Sexxpot Feminized
The Sexxpot Feminized strain is a true box ticker, through and through. Perfect for those among us just starting, Sexxpot Feminized is an almost pure Indica feminized strain that pumps out 700–800 grams per plant when grown outdoors or 500–600 grams per m2 in indoor settings.
With an average THC content of 15% (and a healthy 0.8% CBD for good measure), this strain has been specifically for its relaxing and aphrodisiac properties while also being one of the easiest cultivars to grow.
2. Blue Dream Feminized Seeds
Blue Dream is one of the most awarded strains of all time, and for good reason. Blue Dream Feminized is an old-school banger in every sense of the term, a 70% Sativa hybrid that delivers an abundance of big, sticky buds that offer an exquisite head high while remaining beginner-friendly in the cultivation process.
She thrives in indoor and outdoor settings and has a surprisingly short flowering time (9 to 10 weeks) for a strain with such strong Sativa genetics, allowing for multiple harvests yearly. Expect 600–700 grams per plant outdoors or 550–650 grams per m2 indoors if everything is dialed in.
3. Harlequin Feminized Seeds
One of the newest strains to hit the market, Harlequin Feminized, is the epitome of modern-day hybrid breeding. With a 3:1 CBD to THC ratio (equalling around 16% CBD to 5% THC), this cultivar has taken the medical cannabis community by storm, offering all the potential therapeutic benefits of CBD with a light smattering of THC to help you relax.
But it's not just the cannabinoid profile that makes Harlequin a winner – it's also an incredibly high-yielding option, producing up to 800 grams per plant outdoors and 550–600 grams per m2 indoors, which is huge for a CBD-dominant girl.
4. Bruce Banner Autoflower Seeds
If autos are more your thing, then it's pretty hard to go past Bruce Banner Auto. One of the biggest autos to ever grace the grow rooms, Bruce Banner Auto is a Sativa-dominant (50% Sativa / 30% Indica / 20% Ruderalis) hybrid that pumps out up to 600 grams per m2 indoors and 150 grams per plant when sun-grown.
This hulk of an auto is an incredibly stable and consistent strain that's also known for its potency (26% THC) and resilience, making it the perfect choice for beginners who want to try their hand at autos without sacrificing yield or quality.