Light deprivation, also called light depping or light dep, is a practice of manipulating natural sunlight by using artificial controls like a blackout cloth. Light depping is done basically to trick cannabis plants into thinking it is the Fall season. Light depping allows greenhouse growers to cultivate cannabis all year round and to maximize the number of harvests throughout the year. Cannabis plants begin to produce the largest amounts of flower at the onset of Fall before winter comes.
Another reason cultivators like light depping is to avoid pollination from any male plants in surrounding areas. This is especially important for cannabis grown in the vicinity of hemp farms as hemp farmers typically do not sex the crops, which leaves male pollinators in the air. By light depping, growers can cultivate their harvest early before risking the chance of malel pollination and ending up with plants chock full of seeds.