I always wondered about the same cut grown indoors and outdoors, comparison or differences. I don't know much about outdoor. Not many grow here due to the weather
I have been running experiments of the same cuts indoors vs outdoors and will continue that experimentation next year. A brief synopsis of what I have found....understanding I grow in the same Living organic soil indoors and outdoors.
Taste....Outdoors has a much more pronounced flavor, though that flavor all develops a similar base taste profile to a degree. I think thats what people are talking about regarding "ocean grown".
Looks....outdoor plants take a beating and have to be very strong relative to their indoor counterparts. The branches are thicker and stronger and often times the plants don't really look anything alike their indoor counterparts.
The buds don't look as nice outdoors and I find that indoors develop more trichomes and look frostier.
Effects.....this is where I think outdoor really shines if they have adequate time to finish. The effects are stronger in my opinion and they last longer. I have a hell of a tolerance and outdoor highs seem to last me 3-4 hours vs 2-3 on the same strain indoors. Outdoor flower has a much superior effect over indoor flower.
Ease of growth.....toss up based on how much effort you want to put into it. Pests can become prevalent outdoors, though in the same breath there are natural predators outdoors that get called in to help battle pests. Interesting fact....plants will release a signal when they are under pest pressure. That signal tells predatory insects that there is a good source of food for the taking if they come over and investigate....basically the plant will ring the dinner bell for Lady bugs and other beneficials. Very interesting to watch the cycle develop and combat itself.....mother nature is amazing. Its kind of a toss up on ease of growth. Though outdoor you are at the mercy of extreme weather swings. Get a real warm stretch and you will be watering outdoor girls much more often. Indoor, its pretty consistent over short periods of time.
Yields....well no surprise that outdoor yields are through the roof compared to indoor grows. I averaged about 18 ounces per plant on my outdoor crops this year with them being grown in 19 gallon pots.
Flower time.....outdoor you are at the mercy of mother nature and there is no guarantee that you will have sufficient time to finish. Not to mention different strains start flowering at different times outdoors so that will be a crapshoot. I find that the finish times still tend to be about the same......a 60 day strain will still take 60 days outdoors or indoors, the only difference is that you have no ability to control the outdoor stuff unless you develop black out capabilities.
Costs....sun be free, electricity where I am at....not so much.
All in all....both are great....and both have advantages and disadvantages. I'd give quality edge in effects to outdoor while if you care about the bud appearance or control over your garden then indoor growing might be better for you.