Indoor vs Outdoor cannabis visual guide

Outdoor grown cannabis buds can have a subtly different appearance to those grown indoors. That doesn’t necessarily mean any difference in potency/flavour. But you may notice differences in bud size, the density of the trichome coating and the colours.

It’s worth noting that cannabis buds can be grown, dried and cured well (or badly) whether they were grown indoors or outdoors. It’s also important to add that skilled outdoor growers working with a good climate and fine quality cannabis seeds can produce buds on the same quality levels as indoor growers, some even claim superior results.

What does a premium-quality cannabis bud look like?

Regardless of whether it has been grown indoors or outdoors a top-shelf bud should have a high total cannabinoid content, and preferably a wide spectrum of cannabinoids. The taste should be rich and flavoursome, with a nose-tingling terpene profile. The bud should be reasonably firm, not too fluffy with a sticky, glistening layer of trichomes. After the buds have cured in the jars for a month or two, many feel that the appearance and vaping/smoking quality is at its peak.

How to tell the difference between Indoor vs Outdoor weed?

If the quality hits the spot, then you may not really care whether the buds were grown on the Cali coast with a cooling ocean breeze or in an indoor tent with LEDs. But some cannabis connoisseurs pride themselves on their ability to evaluate buds and know whether they were grown indoors or outdoors.

Indoor vs Outdoor cannabis bud size and structure

Cannabis genetics can, of course, play a huge role in affecting the appearance of a plant - whether grown indoors or outdoors. Outdoor growers that produce monster plants (some can reach 3-4m tall and almost as wide, yielding >1kg+ of dry buds) may also notice that their buds are also larger than those from typical indoor plants.

Often specialist outdoor cannabis seeds are used by outdoor growers, these are usually selectively bred to deliver extra resistance to outdoor weather conditions.
Large buds are in themselves not a definitive indicator of outdoor grown plants. But taken in combination with other factors they can be a guide. Outdoor grown buds may also lack some of the density of the best indoor grown buds.

Indoor vs Outdoor cannabis bud colour

Outdoor grown buds may have a slightly darker hue to them. Strains that may have a more vivid green appearance when grown indoors may show a more weathered, sun-kissed darker appearance perhaps with a more overall brown tint when grown outdoors. This may be a result of plant exposure to natural UVA & UVB rays from natural sunlight, these wavelengths are largely absent even from many modern LED grow lights.

Serious indoor growers that use supplemental UVA/UVB lights can also see a ‘sunburn’ effect on their plants. Cannabis leaf and bud tissue exposed to indoor UVA/UVB often naturally develops more pigmentation (cannabis flavonoids). Whilst a slightly darker hue to the buds can infer outdoor grown buds, it is far from a definitive indication.

Currently (2023), the most cost-effective way to deliver additional UVA/UVB is from fluorescent light fixtures. LED UVA/UVB chips are becoming available, but they are less cost-effective than fluorescent tubes.

In the past many that saw striking purple colours (often found on outdoor grown strains such as Purple #1) might initially assume that they came from outdoor grown plants. However, some clever selective breeding in recent years has allowed numerous vivid purple indoor strains such as Auto Blackberry Kush.

Indoor vs Outdoor cannabis trichomes density

The weathering action of outdoor life, with wind & rain etc, tends to result in slighter lower trichome densities on outdoor grown buds compared to indoor grown nugs. The indoor grower simulates the perfect grow conditions, with fully controlled humidity, temperatures and nutrient/light levels which should always be optimised at each stage of plant growth.

Outdoor cannabis growers often work hard in occasionally challenging (and unpredictable) weather conditions which may mean that outdoor plants simply don’t get quite the same chance to reach their full genetic potential. For those that struggle with borderline outdoor conditions, the following article may help you successfully harvest outdoors even in cooler, borderline growing climates.

Indoor vs Outdoor cannabis cannabinoids level

Sometimes outdoor cannabis growers claim their buds have an extra ‘kick’. This is sometimes thought to be as a result of the broader cannabinoid profile perhaps caused by exposure to the natural UVA/UVB wavelengths present in sunlight. Such wavelengths are normally not present at the same levels in indoor lights - unless the indoor grower supplements their indoor LED light with supplemental UVA/UVB light.

Indoor vs Outdoor cannabis terpenes level

Similarly to above, some outdoor growers claim superior taste in their buds. This may be as a result of sunlight’s natural UVA/UVB light content, causing plants to develop a richer terpene profile. Many indoor commercial growers of kitchen herbs (Basil, etc) claim superior taste is produced when exposed to supplemental UVA/UVB light.

How much of a difference in quality exists between indoor vs outdoor weed?

Much depends on the skill levels of the grower as well as the conditions, and their choice of feminised seeds/autoflower seeds. A skilled outdoor grower using fine-quality cannabis seeds in a warm/sunny outdoor climate may produce buds that are on the same quality level as an indoor grower. Some outdoor growers may also claim superior taste and perhaps more rounded effects from an enhanced cannabinoid profile.

Some cannabis connoisseurs claim that they can often discern the difference between indoor and outdoor grown buds. But it’s not an easy skill to get right 100% of the time. Variations in the way indoor/outdoor growers try to optimise their bud production means that there is quite some variance (and blurred lines) between top quality outdoor buds and lesser quality indoor buds.

That said, expert growers that can truly master their indoor grow conditions using the best quality cannabis seeds and LED lights with supplemental UVA/UVB often claim to produce buds with unsurpassed quality, maximised potency and the richest terpene profile. That’s because the experienced indoor grower can maintain their plants in the nutrient and optical sweet spot from cannabis seed to harvest - no cloudy outdoor days to consider, no storms or temperature/humidity extremes to worry about.

Whatever your grow environment, preferences and skills, do your best to continuously optimise your conditions and you will see steady improvements in your harvest quality!