Cannabis Greenhouse Buyer’s Guide
Choosing the right cannabis greenhouse will help you create optimal conditions to grow dense, high quality weed. Greenhouses offer an excellent way to cultivate cannabis outdoors by providing a controlled environment that protects plants from the elements, pests, and other external factors that can affect bud growth and yield.
In this article we will walk you through the key considerations when choosing a marijuana greenhouse. We will review the top greenhouses available for purchase on Amazon.com that are ideal for beginners who are new to outdoor cannabis cultivation.
Key considerations when choosing a cannabis greenhouse
Choosing the right features in your greenhouse is critical to the success of your cannabis cultivation efforts. Here are some key factors to keep in mind when selecting a greenhouse:
Factors to consider
- Size: Make sure that you select a greenhouse big enough to allow for the height of tall plants, and wide enough you have room to work.
- Materials: Look for sturdy materials that will stand up to the elements and strong winds.
- Design: Choose a design that allows for easy setup that won’t pool water on the roof
- Ventilation: Proper air movement is critical, so lots of screened windows and doorways are a must. Using fans is recommended.
- Supplemental lighting: Having a strong ceiling frame to support lighting can increase yields and extend the growing season.
- Shelving: Some models offer shelving that attaches to the frame. For easy DIY shelving, stack a few cinder blocks to support 2×6″ planks.
- Cost: You may not want to spend a lot, but you get what you pay for. There are some cheap greenhouses that can get you growing weed for $100-$200, but more durable options will cost in the thousands.
Location is important. Your greenhouse should be located in an area that gets full sunlight all day for maximum bud quality and yield. Partial sunlight will result in thin, wispy buds that will underwhelm. Go for full light, and use supplemental lighting if necessary to boost light intensity.
Popup or portable greenhouse models with low price points in the $100-$300 range. If you really want a sturdy construction that will stand up to years of use, you’ll need to spend thousands of dollars on aluminum and polycarbonate models. Avoid any greenhouse under $100 unless you’re just looking for a place to germinate seeds or vegetate young plants.
Top 6 cannabis greenhouses on Amazon.com
Crown Shades 8’x6′ Pop-up Greenhouse
Best cannabis greenhouse under $150
The Crown Shades pop-up greenhouse is an easy to use greenhouse for marijuana plants that provides a cheap portable solution to keep out bad weather. This greenhouse is perfect to protect plants all season long, but it’s portable enough that you could also use it just at the end of the season to protect plants in late flowering and reduce moisture issues.
Feature and Benefits
- This greenhouse measures 8′ x 6′ x 7’6″. Also available in a smaller 4’x6′ size for under $100 that would work for 2-3 small plants or to start seedlings and small plants early in the season.
- Durable powder coated steel frame to resist rust.
- Outer material is polyvinyl chloride that is available in clear or light green.
- Roll up windows allow for air circulation, plus the sides can easily be lifted to access your weed plants for maintenance.
- It comes with stakes and guy ropes to keep it in place, and it’s recommended that you use sandbags to keep things anchored.
It is very highly reviewed on Amazon for both maneuverability and ease of setup. The durability rankings aren’t quite as good. Keep in mind that this isn’t intended as a permanent greenhouse structure though, so it won’t stand up to severe weather or very strong wings. So if you live in an area with hurricanes in the fall, plan accordingly.Weight down poles to be safe.
Outfine 8′ x 12′ Portable Heavy Duty Walk-in Greenhouse
Best large popup-up greenhouse
The Outfine portable greenhouse is another solid option if you’re looking for a cheap greenhouse to grow cannabis. The large size is perfect for home growers looking to grow 6-8 weed plants.
Features and benefits
- Dimensions: 8′ wide x 12′ long x 8′ height
- Front and rear roll-up zipper doors, with two vent windows on each side for circulation
- Iron poles and polyethylene outer material
- Comes with ground spikes and ropes to secure it in place
This greenhouse is very highly rated on Amazon, with a 4.8 out of 5 score for “value for the money”. The big size is perfect for large plants, and the large ventilation windows make it easier to adjust for temperature and humidity levels to maintain the optimal conditions for growing cannabis. The adjustable poles also allow you to reduce the height if desired.
The biggest drawback to this type of pop-up greenhouse is that it isn’t able to withstand overly strong winds since it’s not a permanent structure, so you’ll need to stake it down to prevent issues and be wary of excessive winds. Stake it well and tie down poles to sand bags or cinder blocks.
King Bird Walk-in Greenhouse
Best greenhouse for cannabis under $200
The King Bird Large Walk-in Greenhouse is 15′ x 6.6′, perfect for two rows of 4-6 large marijuana plants with a row to walk in the center for maintenance. You’ll want to top plants to keep heights low to avoid growing them into the ceiling, which at 6’6″ is a little shorter than some competitors’ models.
This unit is built with 3 crossbars and 10 steel ground poles for stability. It comes in white or green.
King Bird also has a version of the white greenhouse with an optional ceiling-mounted watering system (which isn’t ideal for weed plants since you want to water cannabis plants’ containers, not by spraying down the entire canopy).
Benefits:
- Dimensions:15 x 6.6 x 6.6 feet
- Heavy duty galvanized steel frame
- Two zippered screen doors and eight screen windows for offer great circulation
- 20 stakes and 4 ropes keep it anchored firmly
This greenhouse has 8 roll-up screen windows and 2 vents on the door to allow for cross-ventilation and heat humidity control in the summer. It’s long enough that you should plan to use fans to improve circulation.
Eagle Peak Pop-Up Greenhouse
Best lean-to greenhouse for cannabis
The Eagle Peak Pop-Up Greenhouses are a highly rated option that offers simple setup. Our favorite model is the 10′ x 5′ x 8.5′ lean-to greenhouse that can bolt to the wall of your house or garage for additional stability. The tall height allows room for your cannabis plants to stretch out, and since it can be attached to an existing structure this helps protect it against strong winds that would blow away a standalone pop-up greenhouse in an open area.
For maximum light to facilitate bud development and improve yield, locate in direct sunlight facing south or southwestwest. Lean-to greenhouses offer less ventilation than standalone models, so monitor humidity issues and correct with fans if necessary.
Eagle Peak also offers pop-up greenhouses that come in a variety of sizes suitable for growing marijuana, including 8′ x 8′ x 8′ and 12′ x 8′ x 8’3″.
Features and Benefits
- Easy to assemble: patented central hub that locks out all four legs with a single push, allowing for setup in seconds.
- 4.4 out of 5 rating on Amazon from over 4000 reviews
- Zippered roll-up doors and mesh windows
- Steel-ceiling roof and polyethylene exterior
Quictent 25’ x 10’ Greenhouse
Best greenhouse under $300
The Quictent 25’ x 10’ x 6.6’ greenhouse provides plenty of room to grow 10-12 large weed plants with room to walk in and get between them for easy maintenance. It’s a great value given the large size, and the sturdy design will keep plants protected all season long. Comes in green and clear.
Features and Benefits
- Heavy duty galvanized steel frame with 7 crossbars including 3 on top
- Rollup door and screen door at each end, and 10 ventilation windows with velcro seals on sides
- Completely round structure prevents water from accumulating on polyethylene cover
- Anchor with 24 Stakes and 5 Ropes
- 4.1 out of 5 rating on Amazon out of 2000 ratings
When growing cannabis in a greenhouse you’ll find the more room the better. It’s always helpful to have extra space. For a greenhouse this size you’ll want to use multiple box fans or large standup fans for air circulation. You’ll also want to set up ventilation fans to address excess heat and humidity during the hot summer months. But it’s all a worthy investment come fall when you’re rewarded with mounds of high-quality weed.
Monticello 8×8 foot aluminum and polycarbonate greenhouse
Best heavy duty greenhouse for cannabis
The Monticello 8×8 foot aluminum and polycarbonate greenhouse is a heavy duty alternative built to withstand many years of bad weather and strong winds. If you’re looking for a place to grow weed where you don’t have to worry about strong winds knocking over your plants or blowing your greenhouse away, then this is the one for you.
High durability comes with a high price point of $3000 for the 8×8 foot size, which will let you grow 4 good size plants. The money you save on buying weed will more than pay for the cost of this unit. But still, it’s a big investment. They also come in larger sizes ranging from $1000 to $6000: 8×4, 8×12, 8×16, 8×20, and 8×24 feet.
For best results these greenhouses should be placed in all-day direct sunlight, well away from trees that might eventually grow enough to block the light. Dig and level the ground before setup. Adding a fan near the roof vent is recommended to ensure adequate ventilation in hot weather. It’s also sturdy enough to attach supplemental lighting.
Features and Benefits
- Heavy duty extruded aluminum frame construction
- High impact UV stable 8mm commercial grade twin wall polycarbonate walls and roof construction
- 2ft x 2ft roof vent with automatic opener
- Integrated dual rainwater gutter system
Monticello greenhouses are very highly reviewed. They are a bit more difficult to assemble than the popup options, and you’ll need to prepare the build site.. But you’ll be rewarded with a durable greenhouse that will provide years of happy growing.
Benefits of growing cannabis in a greenhouse
The biggest benefits of using a greenhouse for cannabis cultivation include:
- Protection from pests and harsh weather conditions
- Increased control over environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and light
- Extended growing season and increased yield potential
Unless you incorporate light deprivation, you’ll harvest your plants in the fall so you only get one run of outdoor buds per year. The greenhouse will help elongate the growing season so you can increase vegetation for larger plants. They’ll also protect buds from moisture and frost later in the season.
While we generally steer clear of auto-flowering weed strains, if you germinate a few auto flower plants at the start of the spring they will be ready to harvest midsummer, allowing you to get two harvests per growing season.
Common mistakes to avoid when using a greenhouse for cannabis cultivation
While greenhouses can offer significant benefits to cannabis growers, there are also several common mistakes that can negatively impact plant growth and yield. These include:
- Overheating during hot summer days will fry buds – use stand fans blowing out vent holes to keep air moving
- Underwatering or overwatering – use large pots and keep a close eye on plants in hot weather
- Insufficient lighting or greenhouse placement – for best results, place in direct sunlight
- Poor ventilation leads to serious issues including powdery mildew, mold, or bud rot.
- Use a temperature/humidity meter and large stand fans for circulation and ventilation for best results.
- Insects are always an issue when growing marijuana plants outdoors. Watch closely for signs of infestation and treat immediately. Consider preventative application of pesticides that are safe for use on cannabis as part of an integrated pest management strategy. Don’t wait until your crop is infested to address issues, plan ahead.
Using a greenhouse helps create an optimal environment for growing weed. The best cannabis greenhouses are large enough to accommodate tall outdoor plants, with lots of ventilation and sturdy construction.
If you want to start plants early in the spring, keep vents closed to regulate temperature. Remember to use supplemental lighting to ensure 18 hours of light per day very early in the season to avoid having shortened hours of natural sunlight prematurely sending plants into flower.
Portable greenhouses and pop-up greenhouses in the $100-$300 range are a good entry point, but most aren’t durable for years of growing.Replacing the polyethylene cover may be needed, but it’s a nominal investment for the increase in bud yield and quality which can results from a good greenhouse.