How long does cannabis take to grow?
Plan on about four to seven months or longer indoors from seed to cured flower. The flowering time on a seed pack is only the last part, and the dry and cure…
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Plan for the whole timeline, not just the number on the seed pack. Many photoperiod seed catalogs quote flowering time, not the full seed-to-harvest period. Autoflower listings may give a seed-to-harvest estimate instead, so check what’s being counted. The rest depends on how long you choose to grow before flowering.
A realistic timeline
| Step | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Germination and seedling | About 2 to 3 weeks |
| Vegetative growth | 3 to 8 weeks (photoperiod); autoflowers decide for themselves |
| Flowering | 8 to 11 weeks |
| Drying | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Curing | 2 to 4 weeks or more |
Why packets sound faster
- For many photoperiod listings, the quoted flowering period starts around the switch to short days, but conventions vary.
- Starting with a rooted clone skips germination, but cultivar and conditions still decide the remaining time.
- Judge maturity from several signs, not the calendar alone, and leave extra time. A cultivar can differ by weeks, not just days.
Don’t rush drying to hit a date. The times above are common planning ranges, not lab-validated deadlines, and a curing schedule doesn’t establish microbial safety.