One of these days, you may plan to grow cannabis plants.
Great idea!
But since you are an amateur, things might look a bit too overwhelming for you. This is incredibly, very much true during the final stages of the growing process.
In this guide, we have discussed points with some of the top cannabis seeds companies such as the i49 to get the best solution for your optimal cannabis growth.
You have to spend your entire time taking care of the plants so that you can obtain the best results once it blooms completely.
Yeah, I know it’s not that simple, especially for a first-timer. That’s why I am here!! I have created this guide just for you to have a good understanding of the DRYING, TRIMMING, and HARVESTING process of the marijuana plants.
It will help you gain a solid understanding of the process, and each of the steps that I have provided is simple and easy to read. So, let’s dig in.
Harvesting: How To Determine When To Harvest?
There are numerous indicators that you come across that will send you the signal your cannabis is all ready to harvest.
But, hey, hold your horses!! All marijuana strains are not the same, so these signals or signs might vary. But here, I have listed some of the normal things you should check out.
- The leaves will become yellow, and some will curl up and fall.
- When the buds begin to swell up, the branches will become heavier and hang more.
- The buds will develop and become plump and will not grow any larger.
It is vital to note that time doesn’t stand out as a good indicator. It’s because it will vary depending on the type of plant, the strain, the growing conditions, and the place you live.
But there are certainly some factors that you must consider when it comes to harvesting cannabis plants. They are:
- Trichomes
You see those wonderful-smelling, shiny, and sticky crystals present all over the marijuana flowers? Yeah, those! They are called TRICHOMES!!
These trichomes are said to play an essential part as the natural defense mechanisms of cannabis plants. Plus, they also contain what every cannabis grower wants- CANNABINOIDS!!
So, when you want to monitor these Trichomes, you have to use a microscope to observe them properly. You will easily notice a glass ball right on top.
Ideally, you should look within the resin gland. When you do so, you will easily get the chance to check out the color and condition of the trichomes. Apart from that, you will also be able to find out the effect, terpene profile, and potency.
It will be better to check the head of the trichome and see what type of color it carries. Remember, the darker the shade of the resin, the more potent the effects will be.
- Flowering Time
The seed banks will provide you with the flowering time of the strains. This duration will differ significantly because of the outdoor environment, nutrients used, and growing conditions of the various weed plants. It will also depend on the phenotype, light, and plant type.
You must mark each day of your calendar, and it will help you keep a record of the flowering stage of the cannabis plant.
You don’t have to think twice about surpassing the actual flowering date when the trichome maturity, the look, and calyx development are not ready for harvest and are not ripe enough.
- The Flush Period
Are you using bottled nutrients? You will surely feed your cannabis plants with a high level of salt-based nutrients.
Over time, these nutrients will become undissolved. You have to take two weeks to clean the entire root zone and growing medium with the help of plain water.
This will help the plants utilize the internal reserves and break down all the undissolved salts, instantly improving the final flavor.
Unless you are within the 14 days flushing period, harvesting the cannabis plants will not be a concern, and it doesn’t matter how practical and tempting it might be.
- The Appearance
One way to judge everything is by looking at how the marijuana plants appear after they enter the flowering stage.
On the other hand, PRODUCTION and YIELD should not be viewed as the deciding factor.
You can also use the ratio of “brown to white pistils,” which will also do the trick as one of the most reliable indicators to check for maturity.
How swollen the calyx are and the long side trichome maturity are some of the things you must consider when checking out the appearance.
- Swelling Of The Calyx
When it comes to growing cannabis, you cannot be impatient. Remember, if you harvest the plants way too early, the calyx will not get the chance to swell up.
When the buds show fox tailing characteristics, many growers assume that the weeds are over-fertilized.
You need to realize that different plants will not display the same bud structure. It will surely give the flowers plenty of time to reveal their authentic appearance and swell up.
This is the way you can achieve massive yields.
TRIMMING: When To Do It?
Many cannabis farmers out there suggest that the trimming work should be done before the plants are dehydrated. This technique is also known as “trimming wet” or “wet trim.”
But some growers [like myself] prefer to wait once the plants are dried off. You are also free to do some trimming in the middle of the drying process. Yes, you can do so, and there is nothing to stress about it.
Everything will depend on your personal preference and your schedule you will instantly develop with each time passing.
Let me tell you this; trimming is not an easy process. Well, it’s certainly not like how you do trims while cutting hair. The technique is time-consuming and pretty tedious.
Whenever you have free time, you can use it to trim out your plant. At least you will not feel bored. Instead, you can keep yourself engaged.
You can grab a semi-dry branch and start the trimming work. Hopefully, you can take care of your marijuana plants right before it’s time to cure.
How To Trim Marijuana?
Okay! So, you are well aware of when to trim out the cannabis, but do you know how to get the work done?
To begin the trimming work, you can trim the prominent and more significant fan leaves when they are still a bit wet. Eliminating all the bulky leaves can promote drying.
When the leaves dry out, they will curl up, making the trimming work a bit difficult. That’s why I will recommend you snip them up while they are still a little wet.
Perfection is not the goal when it comes to snipping cannabis leaves.
You can grow them for friends, family, and personal use as well. There is no need to opt for PERFECTLY MANICURED BUDS because this will not always be possible.
So, just trim out the non-sugary and big leaves of the cannabis plants. You will find them perfectly attached to the primary stem of the buds.
Tools Required For Trimming
You cannot trim if you do not have the right tools. So, the tools I will recommend you to use are the PRECISION TRIMMING SNIPS. Trust me on this; they make the entire “snip-snip” job a lot easier.
I have many pairs, and I use them solely for gardening and cannabis plants. The good news is that they come in a non-stick option.
I will also recommend you use a TRIM BIN to trim all your marijuana over it.
Having a trim bin will make the work less messy, and you do not have to spend an hour sweeping the area off all the cannabis bits that fell off. [I am a lazy individual, and I don’t like extra work, and I bet you are the same as me]
LET’S GO DRY’EM UP
How To Dry Marijuana?
Once you have completed the cutting work, it’s time to dry them up. In the traditional method, you have to hang the cannabis upside-down.
During this time, the THC transforms into a psychoactive nature from the non-psychoactive one. However, please don’t rush when it comes to the drying method.
The THC levels diminish a little during the drying work. If you try to dry out the buds way too quickly, your plants will face the decomposition of the THC. That’s why you should do the work slowly.
The best drying time is between 5 days to 7 days. But the time required to reach the actual dryness will surely depend on the place you live in and the climatic conditions.
Summing Up!
Drying, Harvesting, and Trimming are the three main stages of Cannabis Plants.
When you complete these three stages properly, I can assure you that you will get high-quality marijuana plants. Refer to this post for elaborate answers on how to do these three steps correctly.
