How often can you harvest a cannabis plant? 🌿

If you grow cannabis, you naturally want to get the maximum yield from your plants. But a common question among growers is: How many times can you actually harvest a single cannabis plant? The answer depends on several factors, including the cultivation method, the genetics of the plant, and the way it is cared for.
In general, a cannabis plant goes through a complete life cycle, from germination through the growth and flowering phases to harvest. In most cases, this means that each plant is harvested exactly once. After that, it either dies or loses its ability to produce new Flowers.

However, there are ways to extend this cycle or even harvest a plant multiple times. Especially with special techniques such as so-called re-vegging or using mother plants, it is possible to get more than one harvest from a single plant. Here, you will find out exactly how this works and which method is suitable for which type of cultivation.

Harvest and let grow again

Regeneration method

Normally, a plant is discarded after harvest, but with the so-called re-vegging technique, it is possible to return it to the growth phase. In this process, the entire plant is not cut down during harvest; instead, some leaves and smaller shoots are left intact. Then, the light cycle is switched back to a longer lighting period of at least 18 hours per day. As a result, the plant assumes that spring has returned and begins to grow again. After some time, it can be induced to flower once more and harvested again.

This method does save time, since the roots and part of the plant are already developed, but it does not always yield the same results as the first cycle. Additionally, not every strain is suitable for this technique. While some plants can flower a second or even third time without issue, others are sensitive to it and produce only sparse flowers.

Mother plants as an inexhaustible source for new plants

Another way to ensure a steady supply of new plants and regular harvests is to use so-called mother plants. In this method, a plant is kept in the vegetative stage and never allowed to flower. Cuttings can be taken from this plant repeatedly, which will grow into independent plants that can eventually be harvested.

This approach has the advantage of consistently producing high-quality plants with the same genetic characteristics. It is ideal for growers who prefer a specific strain or want to rely on uniform quality. However, a mother plant requires space and constant care, as it must be kept healthy and vigorous at all times. Additionally, the cuttings need some time to develop roots and grow into fully mature plants.

Single harvest without reuse

Automatic Strains

While regular and feminized cannabis plants can be harvested multiple times or used as mother plants through special techniques, there is one exception: automatic (autoflowering) varieties.

These plants are bred to automatically enter the flowering stage after a certain period, regardless of the light cycle. They have a fixed lifespan, usually between eight and twelve weeks, and die after harvest.

Since autoflowering varieties cannot be regenerated and do not produce cuttings, multiple harvests are not possible with them. However, if you want to harvest regularly, you can simply grow several plants at the same time or stagger their cultivation to ensure a steady supply of fresh Flowers.

How often you can harvest from a plant

How often a cannabis plant can be harvested depends greatly on the chosen method. In standard cultivation, a plant is harvested once and then discarded. Techniques like re-vegging can yield a second or even third harvest, while mother plants can provide an unlimited supply of new plants for cultivation.

Autoflowering varieties, on the other hand, are limited to a single harvest, but with clever timing, they can ensure a continuous supply.

If you take a closer look at the different methods and experiment a bit, you can get significantly more out of your plants with the right strategy. Whether it makes sense to use a plant multiple times or to start new ones depends ultimately on your personal preferences and the resources available to you.