Weather and Climate

New Zealand’s climate can vary wildly, The north has subtropical weather during summer, however inland areas of the South Island can be as cold as -10°C  in winter. However the majority of the country is coastal so the temperatures are usually quite mild.

Typically you would want to look for strains genetically linked to cooler areas of the world. Indica-dominant strains and landrace varieties from mountainous tend to be much better suited to cooler temperatures than sativas.

These are not ideal growing conditions when growing outdoors because when the soil temperature drops below 12°C the plants metabolism slows right down and therefore does not take on water or nutrients leading to stunted growth, wilting or dying completely, so an indoor setup with lights would be preferable however there are some ways to get around the cold when growing outdoors.

Autoflower seeds are a great choice for growing in the colder parts of NZ, they are a tough strain and take half the time to grow and bud so a shorter window of warm weather is needed. Some other hardy strains include but are not limited to Royal Dwarf, Skunk XL, White Widow and Critical.

Greenhouses are another option for colder places, a greenhouse will provide warmth as well as protection from the elements and furry ones that would otherwise have a nibble (or feast) on the plants. With the addition of a heater and thermostat, a greenhouse is worth considering especially for the more inland areas of NZ.

 

 

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