Last Updated on April 21, 2022 by Gary Stephen
Every grower aims to produce more yield out of their grow space. Who wouldn’t want to maximize its profit right? Given an area of 4×4 grow tent yield in total size, you would want to target a good 2.5 pounds to get the most from your harvest.
But, there are considerable factors that can affect the amount of your plant’s actual output. So, how much yield can we expect from a 4×4 grow tent? On average, a grower can expect to reap somewhere between a pound to two per harvest. or that is equal to approximately 16 to 30 ounces.
In this article, you will learn about the variable conditions including the growth style and its density. Also, about the type of light and its wattage, and the different strains of cannabis in particular. Moreover, valuable tips are also discussed herein. So, to further help you ease the increasing the yield of your plants in a 4×4 grow tent.
How to Correctly Measure Grow Tent Yield?
Before discussing anything about yield, we must first tackle how to measure it correctly.
In growing cannabis, the yield can primarily be referred to as wet yield or dry yield.
After harvesting the buds, these still contain water thus called a wet yield. For the obvious reason that this is not yet the weight that you would be generally using in actual. Instead, these freshly harvested buds get stored for 10 to 15 days in a dark, dry place with climate control under 20°C.
The drying process usually sheds off 75 to 80% of the bud’s water content. This can now be measured as the dry weight.
Different Grow Styles & Its Density for 4×4 Grow Tent Yield
Plant training is usually done to produce various colas thus increasing the yield. There are many ways to train a cannabis plant. Let us now differentiate the grow styles and how each one impacts the yield of the plant inside a 4×4 grow tent space.
1. Low-Stress Training (LST)
This method implements bending and securing of plant parts in place. The main idea here is to keep the tall stems away from the middle part to create a flatter and wider shape. By means of controlling the height and shape of the plant, it allows for better light distribution. Hence, producing healthier growth and higher yield. The bending process takes place while the seedlings are still young and flexible.
2. Pruning
This method involves damaging or removing certain parts of the plant to help induce better growth and increase the yield. The aim of this technique is to keep the plant small to give the bud sites ample light. Keep in mind though that the pruning process is a very crucial technique. Without proper skills, you run the risk of damaging the plant.
3. Sea of Green (SOG)
This method works by manipulating the timeline. Its main concept is to grow as many small plants as possible instead of making a few big buds. The plants are not required to grow that big. The seedlings are then allowed to grow for only 4-5 weeks before transitioning it to the flowering stage.
The sea of buds created is bound to produce more yield in a shorter amount of time. A 4×4 grow tent, in this case, can yield from 15 up to 20 small plants. The average yield using the SOG is about 1 to 1.5 pounds.
4. Screen of Green (ScrOG)
From the phrase itself, it uses a mesh of screen to which the stem gets weaved through. So as the plant grows, it is already positioned in a more flat, table-top shape. The screen provides well-spacing and support to the buds.
ScrOG is the most popularly used method for effectively increasing yield in a 4×4 grow tent. With the right kind of plant strain, you can expect to produce 1.5 up to 2 pounds of dry cannabis.
The table below shows the ideal plant density a 4×4 tent can accommodate based on the grow style used.
| Grow Style | LST | Pruning | SOG | ScrOG |
| Density | 4 plants per m2 | 1 plant per m2 | 14-16 plants per m2 | 1 plants per m2 |
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Type of Lights & Its Wattage
The type of light used inside the grow tent has a direct impact on the health and productivity of the cultivar. To ease the increase in yield, it is a general rule for growers to provide at least 400 watts up to 600 watts for every meter square of land area. In the case of a 4×4 grow tent, you will then need a light between 800 watts up to as much as 1,200 watts to cover the entire space.
Given the suggested range of applicable wattage, a single 1,000 watt light source or two 600 watt bulbs can be used. This is to achieve the desired amount of light. Needless to say, installing a wattage that is too low is not enough to invoke the anticipated outcome. But, having too many lights can also add unnecessary heat to the room. These concerns bear an untoward effect to the plant thus it needs to be dealt with accordingly.
Depending on the type, the expected yield on a 4×4 grow tent would still vary even if the amount of light delivered is the same. Below are the most popular choices of light types.
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Fluorescent Light
As for the yield, a CFL light will aid to likely produce 0.25 grams of bud for every watt. For example, a 4×4 tent is utilizing 1,000 watts of light, then that means you’re expected to grow 250 
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High-Intensity Discharge or HID Light
HIDs may be more promising. But, it requires the use of reflectors for you to be able to manipulate where the light focuses. This is to ensure the delivery of most light levels to the plant as needed. Another major drawback of using HID is its intense heat emission. Hence, if you opt to use this type, make sure you are equipped with excellent heat removal mechanisms.
With regards to its yield, you can expect a 1:1 growth rate ratio, which is 1 gram of buds for every watt. This can only be achieved if the HID light is properly regulated and the heat issues are kept well managed.
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Light-Emitting Diode or LED Lights
This type of light gained an excellent reputation in the cannabis growing business. It became a go-to light because it is more affordable than its HID counterparts. Moreover, LEDs also emit less heat and has good penetration rate.
Even though this seems to be a great kind of light, you still cannot expect it to produce the same amount of yield than the HPS. Typically, an LED bulb can grow 0.5 grams of buds per every watt. So for a 4×4 grow tent with 1,000 watts of power, you can earn 500 grams or an average of 1.1 pounds. That is half the yield lesser than the leading HID lights.
Different Strains for 4×4 Grow Tent Yield
Well, this is actually the most basic feature growers should be looking into. The genes of the plant serve as its main framework. This determines the plant’s overall quality and its potential yield. Some cannabis strains are genetically inclined to produce massive buds. While other varieties need a lot more intervention to come up with desirable amounts.
Here are some of the known strains of high-yielding cannabis plants.
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Big Bud
| Blend | 15% Sativa, 85% Indica |
| Genetic Background | Afghani, Skunk #1, Northern Lights |
| Average Plant Height | 35 to 66 inches |
| Yield | 600 to 900 grams/m2 |
| Strength | THC = 15-20%, CBD = 0.1% |
| Distinct Feature | Earthy, Spicy, Herbal |
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Blue Dream
| Blend | 60% Sativa, 40% Indica |
| Genetic Background | Blueberry, Haze |
| Average Plant Height | 48 to 72 inches |
| Average Yield | 400 to 600 grams/m2; Up to 10 pounds per plant if outdoor |
| Strength | THC = 17-25%, CBD = 0.1% |
| Distinct Feature | Herbal, pine, peppery |
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Northern Lights
| Blend | 10% Sativa, 90% Indica |
| Genetic Background | Afghani, Thai Landrace |
| Average Plant Height | 39 to 51 inches |
| Yield | 350 to 450 grams/m2; Up to 1.5 pounds if grown outdoors |
| Strength | THC = 16-19%, CBD = 0.1% |
| Distinct Feature | Sweet citrusy smell with spicy undertones |
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White Widow
| Blend | 40% Sativa, 60% Indica |
| Genetic Background | Brazilian Sativa Landrace, South Indian Indica |
| Average Plant Height | 39 to 78 inches |
| Yield | 400 to 600 grams/m2 |
| Strength | THC = 20-25%, CBD = 0.3% |
| Distinct Feature | Earthy, woody, spicy |
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Super Silver Haze
| Blend | 90% Sativa, 10% Indica |
| Genetic Background | Skunk, Northern Lights, Haze |
| Average Plant Height | 32 to 75 inches |
| Yield | 550 to 1,800 grams/m2 |
| Strength | THC = 18%, CBD = 8-14% |
| Distinct Feature | Sweet, fruity, pine |
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Apart from the five listed above, strains including Super Skunk, Chocolope, Critical Mass, and Critical Kush are also among the highest-yielding types of cannabis plants.
Other Helpful Tips To Increase Grow Yield for 4×4 Grow Tent
1. Increase The Size Of The Container.
Targeting to produce higher yield doesn’t mean cultivating more plants. Sometimes, switching to a larger container size is effective enough to scale up your output. With the extra space available, this gives your plants a better chance to grow bigger.
2. Water Plants As Deem Needed.
The most basic element growers need to nourish their plants with is water. Keep in mind that the amount varies depending on the location of the grow room. So for drought-prone areas, it is imperative to water the cultivars more often to avoid dehydration. You should also check this accordingly as too much water can also cause the rotting of the plant.
Read Also: Learn How to Efficiently Cool a Grow Room
3. Proper Nutrition.
The right amount of fertilizer nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are also required at every growth stage. Recommended proportions are as follows:
| Stage | Nitrogen | Phosphorus | Potassium |
| Vegetative Stage | High | Medium | High |
| Flowering Stage | Low | Medium to High | High |
4. Don’t Rush The Harvest.
As the plant goes through the flowering stage, this becomes more and more aromatic. It’s somewhat tempting for the growers to harvest the fruit of their months-worth of hard work. Though it is very crucial to resist the urge. Harvesting too soon will only give you lesser yield.
There is actually a 2 to 3 weeks window for you to harvest. Holding back a week or two longer can increase the bud size further by 25%. Thus, it truly pays off to extend your patience a little bit more.
5. Trellising.
There are instances where the weight of the leaves and buds becomes too much for the plant to carry on its own. The heaviness then results in its restriction to flourish. On that note, growers can use a basic gardening technique called Trellising.
In this method, it uses wood or metal to help give the plants the structure and the weight-support it needs. By doing such, this allows to cultivar to grow more thus producing more yield in the end.
Various factors affecting the growth and capacity of the plant to produce more yield. It is clear that there is no one ultimate routine for cannabis. Each strain is diverse and it reacts to every circumstance differently too. Hence, careful planning, thorough monitoring, and absolute commitment are required. For you to grow the plants in your most desired expectations.
Lastly, always make sure you dispose of any mercury securely.
