How to prune marijuana?
You know those “clean” cannabis buds, similar to little gold nuggets, that you sometimes bought in your favorite shop?
If you are growing your first plant at home, you may quickly realize that the buds, in order to be similar to those found on sale, need to be you can: they need, as they say in jargon, a manicure. The reason, of course, is not only aesthetic!
The pruned tops guarantee a tastier smoke, pleasant and less irritating to the throat and lungs; they reduce the risk of mold during the drying phase; the aroma is definitely better; finally, something not to be underestimated, overall if you prune the buds you will have a product richer in cannabinoids.
In fact, most of the cannabinoid-producing trichomes are found in the buds. The leaves surrounding them, although resinous, are not as rich in them. In essence, including them, the effect could be a bit “watered down”. Pruning, or trimming, it can be done either immediately after harvesting or after drying.
It can be very useful to use special curved trimming shears, which allow you to work more easily without “losing pieces”.
But let's go back for a moment and talk about collection, certainly the most exciting moment especially for those who are experiencing cultivation for the first time.
There is no universally recognized right time to harvest: each variety has its own times.
The general guidelines are that indica is ready 8 weeks after flowering, while sativa is ready 10 weeks after germination. Clear signs that it is time to harvest are yellowing of the leaves and red coloration of the pistils.
After harvesting and pruning the marijuana, it's time to Drying and curing cannabis. Drying improves the quality of the product and allows it to be preserved longer. Smoking fresh buds is not a good idea at all, because their moisture content, in addition to making it difficult to light, produces a bitter taste.
You can dry your plants by hanging whole branches in a dryer or on a drying rack for about ten days. Drying will remove much of the moisture, but it's not over yet.
Even if the branches look dry at first glance, there is still some moisture that needs to be removed. This is what curing is for.
The tanning It's very simple: put the dried and pruned flowers in a glass jar, like those for jam.
Make sure you don't fill it all the way, but about three-quarters full. Put it in a dark, dry, and not cold place like a kitchen cupboard - basements are not a good place for tanning.
Check the jar once every two days to check if any mold has formed and, if necessary, remove any damaged flowers.
Leave the lid open for a couple of hours, then close it and wait again. The minimum time for tanning is about four weeks, but the longer it lasts, the better the aroma. Eight weeks of curing allows for a more intense aroma.
After tanning it is possible store cannabis in the same pots. To prevent it from drying out too much, if you have a lot of grass, we recommend getting some humidity packs.
Discover all our other articles on growing and producing CBD.
