Dispensary cannabis can be expensive and home grown is cheaper. Let’s take a look at the cost of dispensary vs. home grown!
Home grown is cheaper
The potency of cannabis depends on many different variables, including the cultivar, growing conditions, and more, so it can be difficult to quantify whether homegrown cannabis or dispensary cannabis is more potent. When you grow your own, you can choose cultivars with the traits you want, including higher (or lower) potency. Experienced cannabis connoisseurs often aren’t even looking purely for potency; they’re also looking for flavorful terpenes, aesthetically pleasing flowers, and a balanced cannabinoid ratio.
Dispensary cannabis is not cheaper than home grown, although THC potency is displayed on the label.
Is dispensary cannabis more potent?
The potency of cannabis depends on many different variables, including the cultivar, growing conditions, and more, so it can be difficult to quantify whether homegrown cannabis or dispensary cannabis is more potent. When you grow your own, you can choose cultivars with the traits you want, including higher (or lower) potency. Experienced cannabis connoisseurs often aren’t even looking purely for potency; they’re also looking for flavorful terpenes, aesthetically pleasing flowers, and a balanced cannabinoid ratio.
How much does it cost to set up a home garden?
The start-up cost of a home garden depends on several factors, primarily whether cannabis will be grown indoors, outdoors, or in a greenhouse. Outdoor gardeners who already have gardening tools handy have the lowest startup cost.
Keep in mind that the following estimates are all for a single plant. Growing multiple cannabis plants won’t add much to your overhead and will dramatically increase your yield, making homegrown cannabis even more economical.
Home grown cannabis is cheaper. PHOTO: Unsplash.
How much does growing outdoors cost?
If you already have some basic gardening equipment, live in an appropriate climate, have good soil for planting, and can find a grower (or organization, like Oaksterdam University which offers free Homegrown Cannabis Co. seeds to all students) who’s willing to give you some free seeds or clones, then starting an outdoor cannabis garden can cost you nothing. Fresh air, sunshine, and rainwater are all free!
If you have to buy equipment to get started, your costs will be slightly higher. However, basic gardening supplies like shovels, soil, and fertilizer are relatively affordable. Seeds and clones are also reasonably inexpensive; seeds are cheaper but require more work and growing time.
Setting up an outdoor cannabis grow can cost anywhere from $0 to a couple of hundred dollars. An average outdoor-grown cannabis plant can yield about a half-pound of flower, or 8 ounces (224 grams). The average dispensary charges about $320 for an ounce of high-quality flower, so 6 ounces would run you almost $2,000, or more than 10 times what it would cost to grow the flower yourself.
How much does growing indoors cost?
Growing cannabis indoors requires more of an up-front investment. However, not all climates are conducive to growing cannabis outside, and not everybody has the space and sunlight. Many prefer growing indoors to control their plants’ growing conditions more precisely.
It’s possible to set up a basic indoor cannabis garden for less than $500, though you can spend much more on advanced equipment and larger setups. You will also need to factor in the cost of electricity and water when setting up an indoor garden. One estimate puts the all-in cost at about $650 for your first harvest and $150 for subsequent crop yields.
Cannabis grown indoors typically yields slightly less than plants grown outdoors: about a quarter-pound, or three ounces. At a dispensary, the average cost of three ounces of good-quality cannabis is almost $1,000. If your first harvest costs less than $700 to produce and subsequent harvests cost only a couple of hundred dollars, growing cannabis indoors is still significantly more cost-effective than buying from a dispensary.
Home grown cannabis is more satisfying. PHOTO: Unsplash
How can I learn to grow?
Though growing cannabis yourself is much cheaper than buying it from a dispensary, you’ll only save money if your plants produce. Many cannabis plant cultivars are relatively easy to grow, but there is a learning curve. The best way to ensure your cannabis cultivation is successful from the very first harvest is to take a class on home growing.
Oaksterdam University offers many different classes on cannabis horticulture, including a home grow class that will teach you all the basics you need to start growing your own cannabis, plus some more advanced information and techniques that you can try out in subsequent growing seasons.
With a wide selection of subjects and class structures available, Oaksterdam University has cannabis education for every kind of learner and grower. Schedule an appointment with an advisor or enroll in our home grow class today to take the first steps toward a bountiful, cost-effective cannabis garden.