How Much Outdoor Yield Can You Get from Different Gallon Containers?

Getting the highest possible yield from different containers can be tough. Especially when you don’t know much about it.

Hence, you want to know, how much outdoor yield can you get from different gallon containers?

You can get 330 grams of yield outdoors on average from a 5-gallon container. And, this yield will be increased by 108.96 grams for every 5-gallon increase in container size. Finally, for a 30-gallon container, the yield can reach up to 731.25 grams on average.

Read the article to find out the yields for different strains. These include Green Gelato, Shogun, Amnesia Haze, and Skunk XL.

So, let’s dive into the real business.

Outdoor Yield from 5, 10, 15, 20 & 30 Gallon Containers

As you’ve already guessed, the yield amount can vary largely for different strains.

The below table shows the minimum and maximum yields for different strains from different-sized containers.

It’s obvious that the bigger your plants get, the higher the yields.

For every 5-gallon increase in container size, you get around a 30 cm increase in plant size.

And, for every 30 cm increase in plant size, you get around 108.96 grams increase in yield.

However, the yield amounts don’t increase as much for 30-gallon containers. But why does this occur?

Well, this is because the plants almost reach their maximum height and yield in 20-gallon containers.

Let’s take a look at how big the plants can grow in the usual situation.

So, that was all about the average yields for different stains from different gallon container sizes.

However, there are some different growing methods and media that can affect the yield amount.

Let’s find out the different methods and media in brief. I’ll also address which will give you the maximum result.

Outdoor Yield from Different Growing Methods & Mediums

First thing first, you can get the maximum yields from any growing method and any medium. All you need to do is to ensure that your plants are getting adequate nutrients.

However, there are certain factors that work differently for different methods and mediums. Hence, you can get higher yields from certain methods and media if all other things remain constant.

You may be wondering what those methods or mediums are. Well, that’s a whole other discussion. However, I want to make sure you at least have some initial idea of what you’re doing.

So, let’s discuss all the growing methods and media in brief.

Common Cannabis Growing Mediums:

You can grow your cannabis using different mediums like soil, coco coir, or water. Let’s discuss them in brief.

DWC or Deep Water Culture:

In DWC medium, cannabis roots are dissolved in nutrient-mixed water. It’s a type of hydroponic system where no soil is needed.

This medium tends to yield the most because you have the maximum control over the nutrients.

Coco Coir:

Coco coir is a fiber made from crushing the outer husk of a coconut. This medium is used instead of soil to grow cannabis plants faster than soil.

Soil:

Usually, two types of soil are used to grow cannabis, living soil, and super soil.

Living soil is nothing but the soil we find around us. In contrast, super soil is a mix of living soil and other common nutrients.

Super soil is beneficial for cannabis, especially in the first few weeks.

Now, let’s talk about the different growing methods.

Common Cannabis Growing Methods:

There are mainly two types of growing methods I personally like. The methods are as follows.

SOG or Sea of Green & SCROG or Screen of Green:

In the SOG method, you let your plants grow vertically as long as possible. You may plant 4-8 plants instead of just one, allocating the same area as SCROG.

The SCROG, in contrast, needs training. You train your plants to grow horizontally rather than vertically at a certain point. In this method, a single plant may require a wider area to grow than in SOG.

As you can see, SCROG covers more area and provides a greater yield for a single plant.

So, which methods and media are best for better yields?

Well, the DWC method yields more than coco or soil with similar maintenance effort. Remember, the DWC setup process takes much more effort than the other two methods. But once you set up your DWC, this requires the least amount of maintenance compared to others.

Moving on to the next medium, I’ve found coco performs better than soil. In fact, I’ve found almost 18% higher yield in Coco than in soil with similar maintenance.

So, the ranking goes like this: DWC > Coco > Soil.

Furthermore, you can train your plants to get more yield from them. The SCROG, or “Screen of Green,” ensures maximum yield from your plants.

However, this also refers to my previous quote. You can get the maximum yields from any growing method if taken care of properly.

But with similar maintenance effort, SCROG yields more than the SOG method.

So, if you can combine the SCROG method with DWC, you’re likely to get the highest yield.

Here is a quick look at how much yield you can expect from different methods and media.

Now, taking all these into consideration, let’s find out which will give you the maximum yield.

Choosing the Right Combination for Maximum Yield

The below table shows the combinations to get the maximum yield from different strains.

It’s clear that the combination of DWC and SCROG yields the most. But there are some key points that you should be aware of. Make sure you know them before choosing the growing medium for your plants.

So, let’s rank them based on the key advantages and disadvantages of each medium.

From the results of the table above, it may seem like DWC is the most obvious choice. But I don’t recommend DWC to new growers.

Let me explain why.

DWC is undoubtedly the fastest-growing medium along with the highest yielding potential. However, it’s the least forgiving medium when it comes to nutritional balance.

That means you get the least room for error. If you make any errors in DWC, you may lose the total yielding potential of your plants.

So, what’s my recommendation then?

Well, if you’re a new grower, I recommend you start with coco. This is because it has the most balanced profile among the three.

However, if you’re already an expert in DWC, you should choose DWC over anything on any day.

Now, let’s find out how you can get better yields from your outdoor plants in general.

Note: You can choose any of these three methods if you want to experiment with your cannabis strains.

Maximizing Outdoor Yield

I’ve already discussed some factors like strains and growing methods that affect the yield amount. However, there are some other factors as well.

Remember to take care of all the factors I’m discussing here. This will ensure better yields from your plants in the future.

Growing Space:

You may want to grow your cannabis on your rooftop, balcony, or even in your backyard. As long as they’re getting proper nutrition and care, the place doesn’t matter that much.

However, some strains can grow up to 4 meters long. So, you should be careful when choosing the strains for outdoor growing.

If you put the tallest strains on your balcony, they won’t yield to their full potential.

Genetics:

It doesn’t matter how hard you try, a ½ pound plant can’t yield you 1 pound. So, choosing the right strain to get the maximum yield is mandatory.

So, what are some of the highest yielding strains?

Lemon Shining Silver Haze, Royal Queen Seeds, Haze-loving indoor growers, Amnesia Haze, Sweet ZZ, Critical, Royal Moby, and Blue Gelato are some of the highest yielding strains. 

Planning:

Plan out the entire procedure before beginning seed germination.

Your plan should include the following:

• Learning the best time to cultivate cannabis outdoors.
• Understanding all of the critical aspects of better yield.
• Planning how long the vegetation and flowering stage will last.

Planning out the whole process will make the entire growing process easier for you.

Lighting:

Lighting is undoubtedly the most important factor for cannabis yield. Even the highest-yielding strains won’t meet your expectations if the plants don’t receive enough light.

Usually, cannabis plants need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. However, this is the minimum. Hence, you can’t expect the highest yields from the least amount of lighting.

I’ve found 10-12 hours of sunlight a day to be the most effective.

Nutrients:

Just like your body, your plants need nutrients as well. You cut the nutrients, they cut the yield. It’s as simple as that.

So, what nutrients should you provide to your cannabis plants?

Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are the major nutrients your cannabis plants require. However, the requirements may vary with different stages of growth.

The following table will give you a better idea of the nutrient ratios for different growth stages.

Now, you may be wondering how you could even manage to split the nutrients in these ratios. Well, there are readymade fertilizers available for both vegetation and flowering stages. DynoGro liquid solution is one of the best for vegetation. 

On the other hand, Dr. Earth Bud & Bloom Fertilizer is best for flowering stages.

Some other nutrients, like calcium, magnesium, and sulfur, are also needed for your plants. But they’re required in a very small quantity. And many a time, they’re found in common vegetation and flowering fertilizers.

Now, the most important part is the pH level.

Your plants won’t be able to absorb the other nutrients you provide with improper pH levels. Hence, maintaining the proper pH level is 100% mandatory to get the maximum yield.

So, what’s the proper pH level for cannabis plants?

• Soil- pH level 6 to 7.
• Water (for hydroponic media like DWC)- pH level 5.5 to 6.5.

But how do you know if you’re maintaining the proper pH level for your plants? Well, you’ll need different pH level testing kits for soil and water to measure the level.

If the pH level is found to be improper, use pH buffer solutions to balance the pH level.

Watering:

Well, it’s obvious that your plants need water to survive. However, excess watering can also be dangerous to your plants.

So, how do you know if you’re providing the right amount of water to your plants?

Here’s the schedule I usually follow for my outdoor plants.

Remember, you shouldn’t strictly follow the watering schedule listed in the table. This is because the watering frequency can vary with other factors like the pot size, humidity, etc.

So, you need to understand when your plants actually need water based on the other factors.

For outdoor plants, rain can also be a good source of water. But remember to cover your plants’ bases in heavy rain. This will prevent your plants from overwatering.

Weather and Temperature:

Cannabis loves the breeze. It ensures proper air circulation throughout the plant. However, heavy wind can break your plants. Hence, ensure gentle air circulation for your plants.

Make a barrier with some clothes to defuse the wind pressure in heavy windy places.

Now, about the temperature. The 60º to 80º Fahrenheit range is the most appropriate for cannabis plants. However, varying temperatures tend to provide more yields in my experience.

Bracing:

You want the maximum yields from your plants. Hence, you’ve done all the hard work properly. As a result, you start to see the buds getting bigger and bigger.

But wait, don’t let the huge buds break your plants. Even with a lot of experience, many people make this mistake. They don’t brace their plants in time. As a result, they can’t get the maximum yield they should’ve gotten.

So, make sure you brace the branches of your plants before the buds get bigger.

Patience:

Your patience is important when it’s time to harvest your cannabis.

You’ve done all the hard work for months to have the maximum yield. However, if you hurry in harvesting, you may lose 20-25% yield for even 10 to 15 days.

Below is the usual harvesting time of the strains I’ve discussed above.

Don’t blindly follow this table to harvest your cannabis. Your plants may yield their maximum capacity a little earlier or later than the times mentioned above. This table is for a general guideline.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Do Molasses Make Buds Bigger?

Molasses make buds bigger by adding sugar to your plants. Along with other nutrients, cannabis plants need sugar. And just like us, humans, sugar works as junk food to your plants. Hence, it adds extra volume to the buds.

Should You Cut Off the Big Fan Leaves?

You should cut off the big fan leaves to ensure proper nutrient circulation. When the fan leaves become bigger, they hinder light and air circulation to the plants. Also, they eat up a lot of nutrients. So, cutting them off ensures better air, light, and nutrient circulation throughout the plants.

What is Cannabis Flushing?

Flushing is the process of washing out the nutrients from the soil or water. This is done before harvesting by giving fresh water to your plants. This ensures your plants use the stored nutrients properly. Eventually, the buds are free from unpleasant chemical tastes and odors.

Conclusion

I hope I’ve answered your question, “How much outdoor yield can you get from different gallon containers?”

Now, it’s time to hear from you. Let us know what topic you want me to write on next.

I’d love to cater to the content that my readers want.

Till then, happy growing.