Quick answer: Indoor flower is grown entirely under electric lights in a controlled room. It looks the best and costs the most. Light assist flower is grown in a greenhouse with sunlight plus grow lights, and sits in the middle. Light dep flower uses sunlight with blackout covers to control day length, and is the value tier. Outdoor flower is grown in open fields under the sun.
Indoor vs light assist vs light dep vs outdoor at a glance
| Indoor (indoor exotics) | Light assist (greenhouse) | Light dep | Outdoor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light | Grow lights only | Sun plus grow lights | Sun only, with blackout covers | Sun |
| Control | Full: light, heat, humidity, air | High | Some | Weather decides |
| Looks | Dense, frosty, tight buds | Close to indoor | Looser buds, less frost | Larger, looser buds, darker color |
| Consistency | Most consistent | Good | Varies more | Varies most |
| Quality tier | Top shelf | Middle shelf | Value | Value |
| Price | Highest | Middle | Lower | Lowest |
Indoor THCA flower (indoor exotics)
Indoor growers control everything: light, temperature, humidity and airflow. In the industry, this top tier is often called indoor exotics. The plants grow under electric light only, with lights on 24 hours a day during the growth stage. That produces the biggest yields and the densest, frostiest buds, with strong, steady terpenes. It also costs the most, because lights, air conditioning and power add up.
Light assist THCA flower (greenhouse)
Light assist flower is grown in a greenhouse. The plants get natural sunlight, and grow lights add more light when the sun is weak, such as early mornings, cloudy days and the shorter days of fall and winter. The extra light keeps growth steady, so buds come out denser and more consistent than sun-only flower. Light assist is middle-shelf flower: close to indoor in looks, at a lower price.
Light deprivation (light dep) THCA flower
Light dep flower is grown with sunlight only. Growers pull blackout covers over the plants to cut their daylight hours, which tricks them into flowering early so they can harvest more than once a year. Because there are no grow lights to make up for weak or uneven sun, buds tend to be looser, less frosty and less consistent from batch to batch. Light dep is the lowest of the three tiers in quality, and it is usually the cheapest. It is a good fit for pre-rolls, edibles and budget shelves.
Outdoor flower
Outdoor plants grow in open fields under full sun and finish once a year, in the fall. The weather controls the result, and buds are usually larger, looser and darker. HIGH THCA does not sell open-field outdoor flower.
How HIGH THCA flower is grown
All of our THCA flower is grown in a cooler, controlled environment, which keeps the plant’s THCA from converting and keeps delta-9 THC within the 0.3% hemp limit. Our growers use all three methods: indoor exotics, light assist and light dep. The method for a given strain can change from harvest to harvest, so product pages don’t list one. Every batch is lab-tested, and its COA is linked on its product page.
Our warehouse is in Albany, Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest. Read more about us, or see how THCA flower is made.
Which should a shop stock?
Most shops do best with a spread of price tiers:
- Top shelf: indoor exotics for customers who want the best.
- Middle shelf: light assist flower for everyday buyers.
- Value: light dep, shake or clearance flower for budget buyers and house pre-rolls.
Browse THCA flower wholesale for every strain by the QP, half pound and pound, and our clearance flower for the value tier.
FAQ
Is indoor flower stronger than light dep or outdoor?
Not always. Indoor often tests higher on average, but strain and grower matter too. Check the THCA % on the lab report.
What is light assist?
Light assist is greenhouse growing with sunlight plus grow lights that add light when the sun is weak. It produces middle-tier flower that is close to indoor in looks.
What is light dep?
Light deprivation means covering sun-grown plants with blackout covers to shorten their day, so they flower on the grower’s schedule. With no grow lights, quality varies more, so light dep is the value tier.
Why is indoor flower more expensive?
Power, lights, climate control and space. Indoor costs much more to produce per pound.
How is HIGH THCA flower grown?
In a cooler, controlled environment, using indoor exotics, light assist or light dep. The method for a given strain can change from one harvest to the next.
