Top 15 Best Outdoor Strains for Florida: 2022 Comparison

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced cultivator, growing cannabis outdoors in Florida is a good choice. Florida weather is sunny, not too dry, and the ground is relatively good for weed. Your largest challenge, in most cases, will be choosing strains that fight off mold and mildew, because Florida’s heavy summer rains and high humidity are not kind to mold-prone strains. That aside, mold and mildew will likely be your only real concerns, as Florida’s weather is otherwise ideal for big, bountiful crops.

Additionally, with Florida’s growing season lasting from May to early October, you’ll have plenty of time to get in two crops. However, growing marijuana outdoors in Florida means choosing an autoflower first or restricting light.

The table below gives a quick comparison of the best outdoor strains to grow in Florida:

*These strains are ideal for Florida because of high production and mold/mildew resistance. Output and flowering time are normally under optimal conditions with feeding and good weather. Factors which can influence both include:

• Genetics (Sativa excels in hot, humid environments)
• Germination
• The individual plant
• Light availability
• Microclimate (e.g., are you growing it under a cover?)
• Ph levels and nutrition

Below we have outlined each of the best strains to grow outdoors in Florida in more detail. Note that strains are not ranked in any particular order.

1. Sour Diesel

Sour Diesel may have been bred in Florida, but she might as well have been customized for Florida’s climate. West-coast breeding, combined with high disease resistance, make this strain stellar for every Floridan microclimate.

Plus, Sour Diesel responds exceptionally well to heat and humidity. Where weaker strains will burn, Sour Diesel will put off more bud and more leaves. It’s also a great choice for dealing with the rain, with a reasonable temperature and humidity tolerance.

That, plus exceptional bright green bud, dense trichomes, and 20% THC make this strain an outdoor grower’s favorite.

• Flowering Time: 56 days
• Sativa
• CBD: Under 1% (Low)
• THC: 20% (Medium)
• Plant Size: Large
• Genetics: African Landrace
• Estimated outdoor Yield: 500-700g per square meters
• High resistance to disease, low resistance to weather
• Typical Effects: Euphoria, Happiness, Relaxation, Uplifting
• Taste & Smell: Cheese, Citrus, Earth, Fruit, Skunk, Sweet
• Typical Effects: Relaxed, Cerebral, Focused, Energetic
• Smell & Taste: Diesel, Bitter, Sour, Herbal

2. AK-47

This Dutch classic may have earned its name from causing customers to fall off stools laughing, but it’s no heavy hitter. The AK-47 blends a range of landraces for a relaxing, creative high that everyone loves.

Additionally, while AK-47 was bred for the cooler climates of Dutch summer, it does exceptionally well in Florida. That may be thanks to its Mexican and Afghani heritage. Either way, it loves the heat and the sun and does well in both.

AK-47 is also a great strain to start indoors and move out, or to move indoors to restrict light at end-stage growth. However, you’ll get a much larger plant and more output if you plant directly in the ground. Here, your AK-47 can sometimes top 10 feet, so you might want to prune on top of the normal top-leaf pruning.

• Flowering Time: 53-63 days
• Hybrid (65% Indica, 35% Sativa)
• CBD: 1.5% (Low)
• THC: 17-20% (Medium)
• Plant Size: Large
• Genetics: Colombian, Mexican, Thai, Afghani landrace
• Estimated outdoor Yield: 400-600g per square meters
• High resistance to disease, high resistance to weather
• Typical Effects: Relaxation, Creativity, Sleepiness, Decreased Anxiety
• Taste & Smell: Citrus, Sugar, Pine wood, Skunk, Spice

3. OG Kush

This Chemdawg and Hindu Kush cross rose to popularity as an incredibly high producer for coffee-shop sales. It remains popular for flavor, high output, and ease of growth in sunny climates.

While OG Kush does remarkably well in Florida’s sunny summers, you do want to keep it dry. Exposure to rain without fully drying out puts it at risk of powder mildew. However, with some light cover, this plant will grow big, beautiful buds and finish just 8 weeks after flowering.

Additionally, OG Kush gets big and smells strong. If you need to keep her short, plant in buckets to control the size.

• Flowering Time: 56 days
• Hybrid (75% Indica/25% Sativa)
• CBD: Less than 1% (Low)
• THC: 17-24% (Medium)
• Plant Size: Large
• Genetics: Chemdawg, Hindu Kush
• Easy to grow (In Florida)
• Low resistance to powder mildew, high resistance to weather (heat, not cold)
• Estimated outdoor yield: 450-500g per square meter
• Typical Effects: Euphoria, Happy, Relaxation, Uplifting
• Smell & Taste: Earthy, Lemon, Pine, Woody, Spicy

4. White Widow

White Widow is better known as the hero of the Dutch Coffee Shops. While no one quite knows where it comes from, it’s definitely a hybrid of Brazilian and South Indian landraces.

While this award winning strain was bred for Dutch climates, it excels in Florida’s heat and humidity. The strain shoots up, sometimes to over 11 feet, in the sun, and will tolerate even the harshest sun well. Additionally, it has a high resistance to mold and mildew, so you don’t have to worry too much about keeping it dry.

At the same time, White Widow is exceptionally popular for both smoke and high resin production for hash and extracts. That makes it an ideal versatile plant that’s suitable for beginning outdoor growers.

• Flowering Time: 53-64 days
• Hybrid (60% Sativa/40% Indica)
• CBD: Less than 1% (Low)
• THC: 20-22% (High)
• Plant Size: Large
• Genetics: Unknown
• Easy to grow
• High resistance to disease and weather
• Estimated outdoor yield: 400-500g per square meter
• Typical Effects: Uplifting, Relaxation, Energy, Happy
• Smell & Taste: Fruit, Pine, Pungent, Sweet

5. Northern Lights

Northern Lights is a classic strain bred from Thai and Afghani landraces. That makes it uniquely suited for Florida’s combination of strong sun and high humidity.

While Northern Lights is most popular for its sweet taste and CBD highs, this strain is an all-around joy to grow. A high-Indica strain, Northern Lights excels in high sun but displays the mold and mildew resistance of the Thai landrace.

That, plus high yield, incredibly high CBD count, and THC count that normally ranges at 20% but goes as high as 33%, and you have an all-time favorite with some growers.

• Flowering Time: 48-53 days
• Hybrid (95% Indica, 5% Sativa)
• CBD: Up to 10% (High)
• THC:20-23% (High)
• Plant Size: Large
• Genetics: Thai and Afghani Landrace
• Easy to grow
• High resistance to disease and weather
• Estimated outdoor yield: 300-400g
• Typical Effects: Relaxation, Sedation, Pain Relief, Body Buzz
• Smell & Taste: Earthy, Pine wood, Pungent, Sweet

6. Blue Cheese

What do you get when you blend two of the world’s most popular (for their taste) strains? Probably the most popular flavor strain ever.

That aside, Blue Cheese is more than just tasty. It’s big, beautiful, and delivers dense, compact buds covered with trichomes. This fast grower will excel in most climates, but Florida’s light and sun will make it shoot up like a literal weed.

While you might want to lightly shade the plant during high summer months, Blue Cheese is otherwise easy to grow outdoors in Florida. Small top leaves also mean you’ll have to do less total trimming. Plus, those small leaves are coated in resin, ideal for the extractors and hash producers.

• Flowering Time: 60-65 days
• Hybrid (60% Sativa, 40% Indica)
• CBD: 1% (Medium)
• THC:14-20% (Medium)
• Plant Size: Medium
• Genetics: Cheese, Blueberry
• Medium difficulty to grow
• Medium resistance to disease and weather
• Estimated outdoor yield: 500-600g per square meter
• Typical Effects: Relaxed, Calm, Meditative, Creative
• Smell & Taste: Berry, Skunk, Cheese, Pungent

7. Purple Haze

Purple Haze and LSD are renowned in the cannabis world for their influence on early weed culture. But, that’s not all this trippy, dark purple strain has to offer.

Instead, Purple Haze delivers big yields, large dense buds, and easy growth. With wide-spread leaves, you’ll have to do less trimming for a yield (although some is still necessary). And, as the name suggests, you’ll often get a beautiful purple color from the buds. Although, this will come in stronger if you wait for an early October harvest.

Additionally, Purple Haze does well in both strong sun and humidity. You won’t have to worry about mold or leaf burn, making for an easy and rewarding grow.

• Flowering Time: 53-63 days
• Hybrid (70% Sativa, 30% Indica)
• CBD: Less than 1% (Low)
• THC: 16-20% (Medium)
• Plant Size: Medium
• Genetics: Purple Thai, Haze (alleged)
• Easy to grow
• Medium resistance to disease and weather
• Estimated outdoor yield: 450-500g per square meter
• Typical Effects: Creative, Uplifting, Energetic, Intense
• Smell & Taste: Tropical, Fresh, Sweet

8. Super Silver Haze

Super Silver Haze blends some of the world’s most popular strains like Northern Lights and Skunk No. 1 to create a beautiful big plant. Plus, with incredibly mellow highs, it’s a favorite and a consistent award winner.

In fact, Super Silver Haze might be one of the most awarded strains out there. The strain is incredibly robust, delivers high yields, and packs a strong high. Additionally, it’s perfect for Florida’s hot, sunny summers. While you might have to wait till early October to harvest, this strain will reward with good growth and better bud.

• Flowering Time: 70-85 days
• Hybrid (10% Indica/90% Sativa)
• CBD: Less than 1% (Low)
• THC: 18% (Medium)
• Plant Size: Large
• Genetics: Northern Lights, Haze Sativa, Skunk No 1 Hybrid
• Medium difficulty to grow
• High resistance to disease and weather
• Estimated outdoor yield: 450-550g per square meter
• Typical Effects: Creativity, Energy, Euphoria, Happiness, Uplifted
• Smell & Taste: Earthy, Herbal, Lemon, Skunk

9. Skywalker OG

Skywalker OG draws attention for its name and keeps it for rich, mellow highs. The plant delivers on its OG heritage with big harvests, big buds, and a beautiful orange trichome.

While Skywalker OG doesn’t deliver a lot of THC, it offers fruity flavors and intense, mellow highs. Additionally, it will get big outdoors. However, with some mold sensitivity, you’ll want to keep this strain dry and inspect regularly. You should also avoid planting in a bucket as this plant is prone to root rot.

Skywalker OG is also a best choice as an autoflower for Florida weather or start her late. She prefers slightly cooler weather and might not tolerate Florida’s intense summers very well.

• Flowering Time: 63 days
• Hybrid (85% Indica, 15% Sativa)
• CBD: Less than 1% (Low)
• THC: 15%
• Plant Size: Large
• Genetics: OG Kush, Skywalker (Mazar X Blueberry)
• Medium difficulty to grow
• Low resistance to mold, medium resistance to weather
• Estimated outdoor yield: 600-800g per square meter
• Typical Effects: Euphoria, Happy, Relaxation, Sleepy
• Smell & Taste: Citrus, Fruit, Pine, Spice, Earth, Sweet

10. Jack Herer

This blend of Shiva Skunk, Haze, and Northern Lights #5 delivers one of the most trichome-packed buds you’ll ever grow. That, plus its rich flavor and balanced high have won Jack Herer 9 cannabis cups.

This Sativa-dominant strain also delivers high yields, for a clear-headed, happy high. Additionally, growers love it, although not for the super sticky buds. Instead, you get a tolerant, sun-loving plant that shoots up to 10+ feet with few complaints.

Keep her slightly trimmed, and Jack Herer will blossom with few hickups, especially in Florida’s warm humidity.

• Flowering Time: 63 days
• Hybrid (40% Indica, 60% Sativa)
• CBD: Less than 1% (Low)
• THC: Up to 20% (medium)
• Plant Size: Large
• Genetics: Shiva Skunk, Haze, Northern Lights #5
• Easy to grow
• High resistance to disease and weather
• Estimated outdoor yield: 450-550g per square meter
• Typical Effects: Creative, Energetic, Euphoria, Happy, Uplifting
• Smell & Taste: Pepper, Earth, Lemon, Pine, Spice, Wood

11. Bruce Banner

Bruce Banner is named after the big green Hulk, and with its THC at 25%, it’s easy to see why. Florida growers looking for a fast, easy grow with high THC can’t go wrong with this strain.

However, you will have to feed Bruce Banner for optimum yield outside. That aside, keeping Bruce Banner outside in the sun, with stress from wind, and light to medium pruning will help you produce a higher yield. That makes this easy to grow outdoors.

Additionally, Bruce Banner is a strain that’s better suited to experienced growers. With some pruning and feeding requirements, plus tall growth and a strong smell, they require extra care. Otherwise, this strain is perfect for Florida’s weather.

• Flowering Time: 58-63 days
• Hybrid (40% Indica, 60% Sativa)
• CBD: Less than 1% (Low)
• THC: Up to 25% (High)
• Plant Size: Large
• Genetics: OG Kush, Strawberry Diesel
• Medium difficulty to grow
• High resistance to disease and weather
• Estimated outdoor yield: 350-700g per square meter
• Typical Effects: Euphoria, Happy, Relaxed
• Smell & Taste: Diesel, Earth, Pungent

12. Afghan

If you want a pure Indica landrace, Afghan is hard to beat. This hardy strain excels in nearly all weather, excelling in Florida’s sunny summers.

This hardy, medium plant is also perfect for growing outdoors. Afghan responds well to direct sun, does well under some cover, and doesn’t get too tall. It also delivers a compact base and dense, short bud that’s better-than-most and weathering storms.

Additionally, Afghan delivers a fast-flowering period of just 35-49 days. In summer sun, expect to see the former rather than the latter, especially if you’re also feeding. Plus, with high cold tolerance, you can fit this in at end of season for an early-to-mid-October harvest.

• Flowering Time: 35-49 days
• Indica
• CBD: 5-6% (High)
• THC: 12-17% (Medium)
• Plant Size: Medium
• Genetics: Landrace
• Easy to grow
• Strong resistance to disease and weather
• Estimated outdoor yield: 500-600g per square meter
• Typical Effects: Relaxation, Sedation, Pain Relief, Sleepiness
• Smell & Taste: Sandalwood, Pine wood, Lemon

13. Lambs Breath

A Jamaican wild strain, the Lambs Breath or Lamb’s Bread is superbly easy to grow outdoors in Florida. This strain, which is purported to have been Bob Marley’s favorite, is also extremely popular for both THC and flavor.

Additionally, Lamb’s Breath is a perfect choice for Florida. It’s native to Jamaica’s hot, humid climate. Therefore, it’s extremely well-suited to Florida summers, which are often similar.

That, plus rich light green buds covered with orange trichomes, and an intensely high THC content make this a lasting favorite.

• Flowering Time: 63-70 days
• Hybrid (95% Sativa, 5% Indica)
• CBD: Less than 1% (Low)
• THC: 18-25% (high)
• Plant Size: Large
• Genetics: Wild Jamaican strain
• Easy to grow
• High resistance to disease and weather
• Estimated outdoor yield: 150-400g per square meters
• Typical Effects: Happy, Uplifting, Euphoria, Energetic, Creativity
• Smell & Taste: Skunk, Cheese, Spice, Diesel

14. Super Skunk

This legendary cross of Afghani and Skunk #1 brings two of the world’s most popular strains together. Plus, with genes from both, it makes one of the best possible outdoor grows for beginners.

Super Skunk grows quickly, evenly, and delivers a high output if Florida’s sunny weather. Skunk genes mean you won’t have to worry too much about mold or disease, while Afghani delivers high output and high sun tolerance.

Super Skunk’s ease of growth makes her exceptionally popular with beginners. But, even experienced growers come back for smooth, relaxing highs, and a sweet and spicy aroma. Super Skunk will need some top trimming to ensure light reaches the lower branches. Additionally, you’ll want to be careful outdoors because she does smell a lot.

• Flowering Time: 56-63 days
• Hybrid (80% Sativa, 20% Indica)
• CBD: Up to 2.4% (High)
• THC: 19% (Medium)
• Plant Size: Large
• Genetics: Skunk #1, Afghani
• Easy to grow
• High resistance to disease and weather
• Estimated outdoor yield: 400-600g per square meter
• Typical Effects: Body Buzz, Relaxation, Calming, Happy
• Smell & Taste: Sweet, Pungent, Spicy

15. Durban Poison

Another 100% Sativa landrace to add to your bucket list, the Durban Poison is an all-time favorite. This Sativa delivers bud, ease of growth, and beautiful highs and makes an all-around easy choice for growers of any level.

Plus, with African origins, this Sativa strain will perform exceptionally well in Florida summer weather. You don’t have to worry about keeping her dry. Plus, at just 8 feet, she’s relatively stealthy compared to taller cousins. At the same time, Durban Poison isn’t entirely a dream. Big buds get so big you’ll likely have to stake her to prevent branches from snapping, especially if weather gets rough.

For the largest yields, plant Durban Poison in a bucket so you can move her out of the wind when necessary.

• Flowering Time: 56 days
• Sativa
• CBD: Under 1% (Low)
• THC: 20% (Medium)
• Plant Size: Large
• Genetics: African Landrace
• Estimated outdoor Yield: 500-700g per square meters
• High resistance to disease, low resistance to weather
• Typical Effects: Euphoria, Happiness, Relaxation, Uplifting
• Taste & Smell: Cheese, Citrus, Earth, Fruit, Skunk, Sweet

Growing Cannabis Outdoors in a Florida Climate

Florida’s sunny and warm weather is perfect for Sativa strains that struggle in much of the U.S. However, you do have to choose strains with at least some mold resistance. That normally means looking for Thai, Jamaica, and hybrid strains that can succeed in Florida’s humid weather. All but one of the strains on this list offers stellar mold resistance.

In most cases, you’ll want to start planting in early to late May. Starting indoors and acclimating to outdoors at end-May will ensure faster growth. Heavy rains can cause problems if you don’t have a mold resistant plant. However, as most of these plants are not Autoflower, you won’t see a harvest till early October anyway. That gives you plenty of time to develop big, rich buds. However, you can also start later, and grow a first crop of autoflower if you’re in a hurry.

Summary

For the most part, Florida is a cannabis grower’s dream. If you pick a good strain, you’ll easily see a strong harvest. However, with a harvest period aligning with dry season, you may want to stick to using buckets and pots you can move indoors for light restriction or use covers. Otherwise, you’ll also want to invest in pesticides, because Florida is well-known for pests.

Other than that, growing cannabis outdoors in Florida should go well. Good luck with your grow.

Harry Williams

Harry is a cannabis growing veteran, recognized marijuana seed cultivation expert and founder of GrowReporter. Harry has spent the last 20+ years educating thousands of people about his techniques and methods.