Cannabis Growth Cycle

How Long Does It Take to Grow Cannabis to Harvest?

Updated: November 2025 | Grow Cannabis - the entire growth cycle
Author: Cannapot Grow Team | Reading time: approximately eight minutes

When you start growing cannabis, one of the first questions you ask yourself is: How long does this whole thing take? A lot of people expect a simple answer, but it does not really work like that. The timeline changes a lot depending on the strain, the growing method, and honestly, how the grow goes overall. Sometimes it goes fast, sometimes it takes much longer. It helps to understand the different stages so the whole process becomes a bit clearer.

Why the Timeline Changes From Grow to Grow
Some grows finish faster, others take more time. It is not random, but it can feel that way sometimes. A few things determine how long the plant will need:

• The strain matters. Autoflowers are usually fast, while photoperiod plants take longer.

• Where you grow makes a difference. Indoors you have more control. Outdoors depends on weather and daylight.

• Light quality and timing can speed things up or slow them down.

• Training methods, like topping or bending, can also influence the pace.

• And of course, the plant needs to stay healthy. Any kind of stress slows growth.

So even if two people grow the same strain, it is still possible that they finish at different times. There are many small details happening in the background.

Breaking Down Each Stage in Detail

Here is a simple overview of each stage and how long it usually lasts. Not perfect, but enough to give you a general idea.

Germination (2 to 10 Days)
Takes about two to ten days.
This is the phase where the seed “wakes up.” A good seed in warm, slightly moist conditions usually sprouts quickly—maybe in three or four days. Some need a week. Older seeds can take even longer, and some will not sprout at all. That is normal when working with old seed stock.

Seedling Stage (10 Days to 4 Weeks)
About ten days to four weeks.
As soon as the sprout breaks through the soil, the plant enters the seedling phase. It's still very fragile now. It needs constant light, even temperature, and not too much water.

Most seedlings need about two to four weeks here. Some grow fast and move on quickly, others take more time. If something in the environment is off, the plant will show it and slow down.

Vegetative Growth (2 to 12+ Weeks)
Roughly two to twelve weeks.
Now the plant starts looking like a “real” plant. Leaves get bigger, roots spread, stems get thicker. Pretty straightforward. How long this phase lasts depends mostly on you. 

Some growers keep the vegetative phase short to speed up the whole cycle. Others extend it because they want bigger plants. A longer veg phase usually means a larger harvest, but you have to wait longer. If conditions are stable, plants usually grow well here. If something is wrong, you’ll notice slower growth.

Pre-Flower and the Stretch (1 to 3 Weeks)
Around one to three weeks.
Right before flowering, the plant enters a kind of transition phase. It stretches a lot. Indoors, this happens when you switch the light cycle to 12 hours on, 12 hours off. Outdoors, it happens naturally when the days get shorter.

Most plants stretch for about one to three weeks. They gain height fast. Some strains stretch more than others. If your indoor light cycle is inconsistent or leaking light, the plant can slow down or get confused.

Flowering Phase
About six to sixteen weeks.
This is the longest stage. The plant begins forming buds, and from this point it’s mostly about patience. There is no real way to speed up flowering without harming the plant. Indica strains are usually done in seven to nine weeks. Sativa strains may need ten to sixteen weeks or even longer. Autoflowers tend to finish faster, sometimes just six to eight weeks after flowering starts. During this time the buds swell and the trichomes develop. You basically watch the plant slowly mature.

Harvest and Aftercare
Around two to four weeks.
After you harvest the plant, the process continues. Drying usually takes one to two weeks. Then curing can take a few more weeks. Some people cure even longer because it improves flavor and smoothness. If you rush the drying or curing, the final product suffers. So even after you’ve harvested, you still need patience.

Different Grow Timelines

Here are a few examples of how long the entire cycle might take.

Autoflower Indoor
Germination, seedling, veg, flower, drying, and curing usually total around ten to twelve weeks.

Photoperiod Indoor
These take longer because you decide the length of the vegetative phase. Many indoor growers end up around eighteen weeks from start to finish.

Photoperiod Outdoor
Outdoors, the plant follows the seasons. It can take twenty to twenty-six weeks because of the long vegetative period and later harvest.

Realistic Example Timelines
Here are a few real-world examples using different grow styles:

Autoflowering (Indoor):

• Germination: 4 days

• Seedling: 10 days

• Veg: 2 weeks

• Flower: 7 weeks

• Drying and Curing: 2–3 weeks
  Total: approx. 10–12 weeks

Photoperiod (Indoor):

• Germination: 1 week

• Seedling: 3 weeks

• Veg: 6 weeks

• Flower: 8 weeks

• Drying and Curing: 3 weeks
  Total: approx. 18 weeks

Photoperiod (Outdoor):

• Germination: late April

• Veg: May–July

• Flower: August–October

• Harvest: late September–October
  Total: 20–26 weeks

How to Finish Faster
A few things help if you want a quicker harvest:

• Choose strains known for short flowering times.

• Keep the environment stable. Temperature swings slow growth.

• Keep the vegetative stage short if you're in a hurry.

• Light training helps shape the plant without slowing it down.

• For indoor grows, keep the light schedule consistent.

None of these tricks make it instant, but they help.

Things That Slow Down the Grow
Some mistakes can stretch the timeline:

• Overwatering at the beginning is a big one.

• Weak or poor lighting slows everything.

• Too much or too little nutrients causes delays.

• Some people harvest too early because the buds look ready, but they aren’t.

• Temperature and humidity swings slow growth more than most expect.

When any of this happens, the plant simply takes longer to reach the finish line.

Growing cannabis takes time, and the range can vary a lot. Some plants finish in eight to ten weeks. Others may need more than twenty weeks. A lot depends on the strain, the setup, and the decisions you make during the grow. 

Autoflowers usually finish the fastest. Photoperiod plants need more patience. Outdoor plants follow nature, which often means a long season.

If you understand the stages and pay attention to the environment, the whole process becomes easier to manage. You learn a bit more with every grow. That’s usually how it goes.