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Anyone who grows cannabis naturally wants to get the maximum possible yield from their plants, but a common question among growers is: how often can you actually harvest a single cannabis plant? The answer depends on various factors, including the cultivation method, the genetics of the plant and the way it is cared for.
Basically, a cannabis plant goes through a complete life cycle from germination through the growth and flowering phase to harvest. In most cases, this means that each plant is harvested exactly once, after which it dies or loses its ability to produce new flowers.
However, there are ways to extend this cycle or even harvest multiple times from a single plant. Special techniques such as re-vegging or the use of mother plants in particular make it possible to get more than just one harvest from a single plant. You can find out exactly how this works and which method is suitable for which cultivation here.
Normally, a plant is disposed of after harvesting, but with the so-called re-vegging technique, it is possible to bring it back into the growth phase . In this case, the entire plant is not cut off during harvesting, but a few leaves and smaller shoots remain. The light cycle is then switched back to a longer lighting period of at least 18 hours per day. As a result, the plant assumes that spring is returning and starts to grow again. After a certain period of time, it can then be sent back into bloom and harvested again.
Although this method saves time, as the roots and part of the plant are already developed, it does not always produce the same yields as the first run. In addition, not every variety is suitable for this method. While some plants flower a second or even third time without any problems, others are sensitive to it and only produce sparse flowers.
Another way to ensure new plants and thus regular harvests is to use so-called mother plants. This involves keeping a plant in the growth phase without ever bringing it to flower. Cuttings can then be repeatedly cut from this plant, which grow into independent plants and can eventually be harvested.
The advantage of this method is that you can consistently grow high-quality plants with the same genetic characteristics. This approach is ideal, especially for growers who prefer a particular strain or want to rely on consistent quality. However, a mother plant requires space and constant care, as it needs to be kept healthy and strong at all times. The cuttings also need some time to form roots and grow into a fully-fledged plant.
While regular and feminised cannabis plants can be harvested multiple times using special techniques or used as mother plants, there is one exception: automatic (autoflowering) varieties.
These plants are bred to flower automatically after a certain time, regardless of the light cycle. They have a fixed lifespan, which is usually between eight and twelve weeks, and die after harvesting.
As autoflowering varieties cannot be regenerated and no cuttings can be produced, there is no possibility for multiple harvests. However, if you want to harvest regularly, you can simply grow several plants at the same time or at different times to ensure a constant supply of fresh flowers.
How often a cannabis plant can be harvested depends heavily on the method chosen. In normal cultivation, a plant is harvested once and then disposed of. Techniques such as re-vegging allow a second or even third harvest to be achieved, while mother plants provide an unlimited supply of new plants for cultivation.
Autoflowering varieties, on the other hand, are limited to a single harvest, but can ensure a continuous supply through skilful time management.
If you take a closer look at the different methods and experiment a little, you can get significantly more out of your plants with the right strategy. Whether it is worth using a plant several times or preferring to grow new plants ultimately depends on individual preferences and the resources available.