Written by Joshua Sosin

Weed doesn’t grow overnight — but it’s worth the wait.

If you're curious about how your flower makes the journey from seed to nug, knowing the cannabis plant's growth cycle will give you a deeper appreciation for what you’re lighting up.

Let’s walk through what it really takes — and how long it takes — to grow weed from start to finish.

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Table of Contents

• What Impacts Cannabis Growth?

• Quick Breakdown: Timeline From Seed to Smoke

• Stage 1: Germination (3–10 Days)

• Stage 2: Seedling Stage (2–3 Weeks)

• Stage 3: Vegetative Stage (3–8 Weeks)

• Stage 4: Flowering Stage (6–12 Weeks)

• Optional: Drying and Curing (2–6 Weeks)

• Growing Outdoors vs. Growing Cannabis Indoors

• Get Premium Mood Weed Today

What Impacts How Long Weed Takes To Grow?

The cannabis growing process isn’t always the same. Several factors shape how long it takes to go from a tiny seed to a fully mature plant ready for harvest:

• Cannabis Strain Type — Indica strains usually grow faster than sativas, with hybrids landing somewhere in between. Autoflowering strains are the fastest, finishing in as little as two to three months.

• Growing Environment — Indoor grows offer more control over light, temperature, and humidity, often speeding up the process. Outdoor plants rely on seasonal cycles and can take longer.

• Grower Decisions — Pruning, training, lighting schedules, and nutrients all influence growth. Skilled growers can shave off a few days or even weeks with the right setup.

Quick Breakdown: Timeline From Seed to Smoke

Here’s a high-level look at the full timeline from seed to harvest:

Germination Process: 3-10 days

Seedling Stage: 2-3 weeks

Vegetative Stage: 3-8 weeks

Flowering Period: 6-12 weeks

Drying & Curing Process: 2-6 weeks

Total Time: ~3 to 7 months

Stage 1: Germination (3–10 Days)

This is where it all begins — turning a dry cannabis seed into a living, sprouting plant.

All it takes is moisture, warmth, and time. Most growers place seeds between damp paper towels in a dark space or use starter plugs. Within a few days, the seed cracks open and a taproot starts to emerge.

Once the taproot shows, it’s ready to be planted.

Stage 2: Seedling Stage (2–3 Weeks)

Once your sprout pops out of the soil with its first set of leaves, it’s officially a seedling.

During this time, it’s all about stability — forming roots and producing those iconic serrated leaves. The plant is small but already absorbing light, building the foundation for serious growth.

This stage doesn’t last long — two to three weeks max — but it’s critical for healthy development.

Stage 3: Vegetative Stage (3–8 Weeks)

Now we’re talking real growth.

In the vegetative stage, a cannabis plant focuses on building strong stems and lots of leafy foliage. Under the right conditions, it can grow several inches per day.

Indoor growers can decide how long to keep a plant in veg by controlling the light cycle. Outdoors, this depends on the time of year. Shorter veg periods mean smaller plants — longer veg = bigger yields.

During this time, growers often use techniques like topping, low-stress training (LST), or defoliation to shape the plant and encourage more bud sites.

Stage 4: Flowering Process (6–12 Weeks)

This is the grand finale — when a plant finally starts putting out buds.

To trigger flowering indoors, growers switch the light cycle to 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness. Outdoors, flowering begins naturally as days get shorter.

Early in this phase, your plant stretches and may double in height. Then it shifts energy toward bud production. Trichomes appear, aroma ramps up, and the nugs fatten with time.

Flowering duration depends heavily on the strain:

• Indica-dominant strains: Typically 6–8 weeks

• Sativa-dominant strains: Often 10–12 weeks

• Autoflowers: Around 6–10 weeks total from seed

Harvest time depends on the trichomes — many growers use a magnifier to check for cloudy/milky or amber heads.

Optional: Drying and Curing the Cannabis Crop (2–6 Weeks)

You can’t smoke it fresh off the stem. After harvest, the drying and curing process is key for flavor, smoothness, and overall quality.

• Drying: 7–14 days in a dark, cool area with good airflow.

• Curing: Buds are placed in airtight jars and "burped" daily for a few weeks. This lets moisture escape slowly while preserving cannabinoids and terpenes.

While optional, curing can make a huge difference in the final product — especially if you’re looking for smooth pulls and a full terpene profile.

Outdoor vs. Indoor Grow Time: How Long Does It Take?

Let’s break down how the grow space affects your timeline:

• Indoor Growers: You control the entire process. From light cycles to humidity, everything is adjustable. This lets growers fine-tune each stage and harvest multiple times a year. Expect about 3 to 5 months total, depending on strain and techniques.

• Outdoor Growers: Nature sets the pace. Plants are typically started in spring and harvested in the fall — so you’re looking at 5 to 7 months total. The upside? Huge yields, free light, and that natural terpene touch.

Some growers combine both styles — starting plants indoors, then moving them outdoors after the seedling stage to speed things up.

Get Premium Cannabis Flower From Mood

From seed to spark, the cannabis life cycle runs about 3 to 7 months.

And while we love home grows in legal areas, we also know the joy of skipping the wait and diving straight into top-shelf flower. That’s where Mood comes — delivering fully grown, lab-tested, premium legal hemp products right to your door.

No watering schedule required.

Use the code "FIRST20" to get 20% off your first purchase from the Mood Shop.