Anyone who grows cannabis knows it: to get the most beneficial power and flavor from your hemp plant, it is important to harvest the buds at the right time. The difference between a mediocre harvest and a fantastic one is often all here. So, How to Know When Weed is Ready? We explain it in today's article.

Signs That Tell You When Trichomes Are Ready

When cannabis is ready to be harvested, there are a number of unmistakable signs. Here are the main ones:

• Yellowing leaves/falling leaves: when the plant “knows” that the buds are almost ready, it diverts all the nutrients towards them. This causes, as a side effect, the leaves to turn yellow and sometimes fall off. When you notice this sign, it usually means that your harvest is ready.
• Orange colored pistils: when the pistils change color from white to amber orange it means that harvest time is near. Pistils are the sexual organs of female cannabis plants and when the plant is still unripe they have the shape of white hairs. THC hemp plants are usually harvested when 90% of the pistils have turned orange.
• Well-formed and “swollen” glasses: calyxes are a type of bulb that house the pistils and are usually the most resinous part of the plant. Calyxes with a defined shape and a swollen appearance are an indicator of the maturity of the cannabis.
• Mix amber/milky white trichomes: when viewed under a microscope, ready trichomes appear to be a mix of colors, between amber and milky white. The latter color, dense and milky, is usually used as an indicator of the plant's maturity. To ensure that the trichomes are ready, you can use, in addition to the microscope, a jeweler's loupe. The ideal composition of trichomes is: 75% milky white, 15% amber or orange, and 15% still transparent. Enthusiasts believe that mixed trichomes give a combination of sensations, both high and relaxation.

In addition to these signs, a useful indication of timing comes from knowledge of the specific variety that you are growing. For example, How to understand when an autoflowering is ready It is easier if you know that this genetics matures in 8-10 weeks. Other varieties have different maturation times and usually the producer provides, together with the seeds, also general indications to evaluate the duration of maturation.

Usually the sativa variety It matures in longer time than the indicates because it is native to places with longer and sunnier summers. Each seed bank can give you precise indications on the variety you have chosen because often the genetics are mixed to obtain specimens with unique and different timings.

How long does it take for trichomes to mature?

As we have understood, each cannabis genetics has its own maturation times. The plants that reach harvest most quickly are undoubtedly the autoflowering, followed by cannabis indica and then sativa. If you're wondering how to speed up trichome maturation, know that the best ingredient of all is always patience.To ensure that your plant matures quickly you must take care of it in every way, choosing a soil suitable for cultivation and providing your plant with the right amounts of light and water.

To ensure that the trichomes ripen at the right time, make sure you:

• Adjust the room temperature without letting it drop below 20 degrees
• Check the humidity and vary it according to the maturation stage following the instructions of the seed supplier
• Light your plants properly: if it is autoflowering, 18 hours of regular light per day are sufficient, while in the case of photoperiodic plants the lighting must vary from week to week.
• Growing indoors: indoor cultivation, precisely because it is done in controlled conditions, accelerates the maturation of trichomes. Outdoor cultivation can give good results in spring and summer but the times can be slightly longer.
• Use fertilizers and supplements: a well fertilized plant generally grows faster. Use specific products for cannabis in the quantities indicated, without exceeding.
• Eliminate parasites and mold: take care of your cannabis to speed up its maturation by eliminating possible sources of damage: mold and pests.

What happens if I don't harvest my cannabis on time?

The most common thing is that growers, impatient to enjoy the cannabis from their garden, harvest the flowers too early and compromise the quality of the product. It is rarer that it happens wait too long, but it can happen. When the peak flowering stage is over, marijuana undergoes some changes:

• Trichome degradation: after reaching the apex, where they are full of cannabinoids, the trichomes begin a degradation process and begin to lose part of their substance. In the case of cannabis with THC, the latter decreases.
• Falling leaves: the leaves that were previously yellowed begin to fall, marking an advanced stage of maturity of the plant.
• Mold: when the peak moment has passed, the plant is too mature and begins to degrade. It is easier for mold to form at this stage.
• Pathogen development: the “old” plant is an easy target for pathogens, fungi and parasites.
• Flower weight loss: the flowers begin to become lighter and drier, so the harvest is less fruitful.
• Loss of aroma: harvesting cannabis too late means having a lighter and less aromatic product.
• Overgrowth: Sometimes the overly mature plant continues to grow abnormally with the formation of new buds above the old ones. Unfortunately, this great growth corresponds to a loss of aroma, as the terpenes, responsible for the taste of cannabis, are reduced.
• Seed growth: what does it mean when the grass has seeds? If the plant has been fertilized, in this advanced growth phase new seeds are born to collect and plant.This is why some growers purposely grow their plants to this stage in order to expand their grow.

grass harvesting and storage

Harvesting cannabis is a simple process that does, however, require some time and attention. Some essential shears from gardening well cleaned and disinfected with alcohol.

First of all you need to remove branches from cannabis. Depending on the size of your plant you can cut it directly at the base, or you can first remove the leaves and then cut it when it is bare.

At this point, remove all the leaves, divide the branches into smaller twigs or individual buds. Do this on a clean surface. If you are cutting multiple plants, disinfect your tools between each plant.

At this point the cannabis is ready, but not yet for consumption. You will have to let it dry for 10-14 days in a ventilated space. After drying it is time for seasoning, which usually takes a few more weeks. Place the cannabis in glass jars stored in a dry place and leave it air for an hour a day.

How long can you keep weed?

Marijuana, if stored correctly in glass containers and aired frequently, can last for several months. up to a year. Obviously it is better to save it first, within six months, to enjoy the fullness of the aromas. There are some methods to prolong their duration:

• Keep containers away from sunlight and in a dry environment. Ok wardrobes or drawers, damp environments like cellars are a no-go.
• Use an airtight jar against mold and humidity.
• Storing weed in vacuum bags, thus avoiding oxidation.
• Never put weed in the fridge or freezer: these environments are humid and unsuitable for proper storage, they can cause marijuana to lose its flavor or make it irritating to the throat.
• The tin foil It is a good method for short-term storage of cannabis, especially when it needs to be transported, but it is not suitable for long periods of time.

Conclusions

Choosing the right time to harvest cannabis is important because it determines the quality of the product: harvesting too early or too late means losing taste and potency. There are several natural indicators that let us know that the grass is ready: the pistils turn orange, the trichomes turn milky white for about 75%, the leaves turn yellow. Knowing well the variety you are growing is also important, because autoflowering varieties mature earlier than photoperiod varieties and cannabis sativa is ready earlier than indica.

If the grass is left in the ground for too long and has been fertilised, it will be possible to have a good seed harvest, but no more flowers. Overly mature plants, moreover, are easy prey to pathogens, fungi and mold.

To have a truly optimal product it is important to set up a good collection, but also store cannabis properly. The best system is to let the grass dry in a well-ventilated environment and then store it in a dark and dry place in airtight glass jars. Vacuum packing can also be an interesting strategy to preserve flavor and aroma for a long time. It is out of place to store cannabis in the refrigerator or freezer, which are unsuitable environments for maintaining flavor and consistency.