Harvest, Curing & Processing
Knowing when your cannabis flower is ready to harvest is crucial for maximizing its potency and quality. One key indicator is the trichomes, tiny resin glands that appear as small, mushroom-shaped structures on the surface of the buds. When these trichomes transition from clear to cloudy and then to amber, it signals that the plant is reaching its peak potency. Observing them closely with a magnifying tool can give you insight into the ideal time for harvest. Additionally, examining the color and appearance of the pistils, the hair-like structures on the flowers, can be helpful. As the plant matures, the pistils often change from white to darker hues, indicating ripeness. However, relying solely on pistil color may not provide as accurate a gauge of readiness as trichome observation.
Another crucial factor to consider is the strain's flowering time. Different cannabis strains have varying flowering periods, typically ranging from 6 to 12 weeks. Understanding the specific flowering time of your strain can help you anticipate when to start monitoring trichome development and other signs of readiness. Environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, and nutrient levels can also influence the timing of harvest. Monitoring these factors throughout the flowering stage can help ensure optimal growth and development of your cannabis plants. Additionally, keeping detailed records of your cultivation process, including planting date, flowering onset, and environmental conditions, can provide valuable insights for future grows.
Ultimately, the decision to harvest your cannabis flower should be based on a combination of factors, including trichome maturity, pistil color, strain characteristics, and environmental conditions. Harvesting too early can result in lower potency and diminished yields, while waiting too long may lead to overripe buds with a sedative effect. By carefully monitoring these indicators and considering all relevant factors, you can ensure a successful harvest and enjoy high-quality cannabis flower with maximum potency and flavor.
But is there more to harvest time? Is it as simple as cutting down your plant and hanging it out to dry? Of course not! Let's go over the GrōHaus approved harvest practices that will make sure you get the most out of your precious crop:
Step one: Pre-trim
The first step towards harvest actually comes about 2 weeks before you cut down any of your plants. In order to get your plants ready the first thing we recommend doing is a little process we call pre-trimming. Pre-trimming is simply removing the larger sugar leaves, and small scraggly buds that may have developed since pruning & training. We do this to remove uneccessary plant matter to prepare us for the next steps. Extra plant matter will simply hold on to water, minerals, and other unsavory things we will be actively trying to remove from the plant in the next few steps. Only cut fan leaves and sugar leaves where you can see the stem clearly. The smaller sugar leaves that are surrounded by flower should be left alone until the real trimming begins.
To be successful, you'll need a good set of trimmers. Regular scissors don't always get the job done when it comes to cannabis because most are blunt tipped and cant get into the tight spaces that a pair of pointed trimmers can. Check out our selection of trimmers designed specifically for fine trimming.
Step two: Finishing nutrients
Your plants should now be pre-trimmed and looking sharp. The next step is going to be to help them start producing lots of THC rich trichomes and to stimulate terpene production. There are many different finishing nutrients to choose from like Cha-Ching from Foxfarm which will be high in phosphorus, resulting in increased resin production. Other finishing nutrients can add sweetness to your buds like Bembe from Foxfarms' Bush Doctor line, or Sugaree from Cutting Edge Solutions, Carbohydrate nutrients pair well with different microbe based nutrients throughtout the plants life cycle by providing food for microbes and fungi. Finishing nutrients like Cha Ching are very strong, and will only need to be used for 2 waterings to be effective. It is also at this point where UV exposure will aid in the plants developing the maximum amount of trichomes. Adding a UV supplemental light source is easy and extrememly effective at increasing resin production.
Step three: Flush
As soon as we run our finishing nutrient regiment, it's time to flush. Remember when we talked about the pre-trim being an important step? That is because the purpose of flushing our plants is to get rid of as much excess minerals in the plant as we can. If we remove that extra plant matter there is less that we have to get rid of. The first thing we need to do is STOP nutrients for the rest of the grow. Since we are trying to remove nutrients from our plants, the last thing we need to do is give them more to deal with. I like to use distilled water for this process because it will remove more nutrients and minerals than the typical 5.8-6.5 pH balanced water we normally use.
Change the pH you say?? Yes, at this point in our grow, the long term health of our plants is no longer as important. Think of this stage as "end of life" care for our plants. Many guides will tell you to flush only once or twice over one day, but GrōHaus greenthumbs have found that flushing should happen over the next three waterings, or 6 days. Use your distilled water to water your plants on their normal schedule, then 20 minutes later, water them again. Give them enough so that water freely drains from your pot or container. Your first watering will dissolve solids in the soil, and the second will wash them away. If you do this slowly, your plants will be able to still get what they need, but only just. Once you've flushed for the last time, we begin our next step.
Step four: Drought
At this stage, we have to get a little bit rough with our precious plants. We want them to do some specific things for us right before we cut them down, mainly we want them to produce more of the molecules we are after like THC and terpenes. At this point we've pre-trimmed and flushed our plants. They aren't carrying any excess plant matter, and have been flushed of minerals and excess nutrients. Now we want to cause "controlled shock" to our plants to get them to squeeze out every last bit of resin and terpenes they can. We also want to let them naturally transpire any excess water, which will help us when we go to dry and cure our flower. At this time, we have about 5 days left until we cut the plants down, so we are going to stop water completely. This sudden lack of water tells your plant "Hard times are here and we don't have long, we need to reproduce NOW!"
Cannabis plants rely on Trichomes for a few reasons. For one, they act as a sort of sunblock for plants to handle UV radiation from the Sun. They also produce terpenes to attract pollenators, and bitter tasting cannabinoids to deter pests and animals from messing with them. By shocking our plants we are telling them that their time is almost up and they better get pollinated so they can reproduce before they die. This causes them to direct all their energy away from producing growth, and put it towards resin & terpene production.
Remember, these plants are at the end of their life cycle, so this method works. We never recommend drought stressing vegetative cannabis because you could end up permanently stunting them in various ways, but for a soon to be harvested cannabis plant this is fine.
Step five: Darkness
Its now only three days until harvest. Your plants are just about to go through the beggining stages of dehydration; they most likely won't be wilting quite yet, but they are hard at work trying to produce resins and cannabinoids. The next thing we are going to do is to remove the plants from their light source. This will continue to stress them into high resin production, but also counteract the drought we have them in a bit so they don't slowly die in their pots. Keep your plants in this darkness for the last three days until harvest.
Step six: Time to harvest!
Now that we've pre-trimmed, flushed, and drought & light stressed our plants, the wait is over. It's finally time to harvest your plants. This part is pretty simple, but before you go cutting, you need to make sure you have a suitable space for properly drying your cannabis. The ideal space needs to have airflow, a hygrometer monitored temperature of around 60 degrees, and a humidity of 45%. This may be counter intiuitive to some as its natural to think that you want a hot and bone dry space. This is inaccurate because of the functions taking place in your herb. The primary function of course is to remove water, but the speed at which that water is removed will determine many things like flavor and cure time later on. If flower is dehydrated too quickly, the chlorophyll doesn't have the time or neccessary water to break down. This leaves you with a grassy tasting flower that is tough to get rid of even with curing. A drying space that is too hot could evaporate all of your delicious terpenes away before you get to taste them!
Don't jump the gun! Leave your plants hanging and drying for 7-10 days. You will know when your crop is properly dry when the stems throughout the ENTIRE plant snap easily. You want a real good snap, not just a bend. Once the plants have reached this point you can get ready to trim!
Freeze Drying is another way to dry your flower. It's fast, effective, and draws almost all moisture out of the buds. However, by drying your buds so quickly you don't remove enough of the unwanted plant chemicals that can produce an unsavory effect on flavor or harshness. Freeze drying also requires expensive equipment that you must learn how to use and maintain and overall, is just not practical for small home growers.
The other method is reserved for those who just simply can't wait to try their flower, but it is not recommend to dry your whole crop this way. If the prospect of waiting to smoke your flower in a week or so is just not something you want to do, you can use a food dehydrator to quickly dry a small amount of flower to hold you over until the rest cures. Remember, the terpenes in your flower will be boiled off and the chlorophyll with be present in high quantities with this method.
Try and avoid drying your cannabis too quickly with heat or abnormally high airflow as you will prevent the degradation of chlorophyll and risk losing your terpenes.
Trimming cannabis refers to the process of meticulously removing excess leaves and stems from the harvested buds. This step is crucial for enhancing the quality, potency, and aesthetics of the final product. By carefully trimming away unwanted plant matter, growers can accentuate the desirable attributes of the buds, such as their aroma, flavor, and appearance. Additionally, trimming helps to enhance the smoothness and consistency of the smoking or vaping experience, as excess plant material can contribute to harshness and uneven burning.
Furthermore, trimming plays a significant role in the post-harvest processing of cannabis for commercial distribution. Well-trimmed buds not only have a more visually appealing appearance but also maintain better moisture content and shelf life. This is crucial for preserving the quality and freshness of the product during storage and transportation. Additionally, neatly trimmed buds are easier to package and handle, reducing the risk of damage or contamination.
To be successful, you'll need a good set of trimmers. Regular scissors don't always get the job done when it comes to cannabis because most are blunt tipped and cant get into the tight spaces that a pair of pointed trimmers can. A trim bin is also a great product to keep on hand as it will keep your organized and clean while trimming your flower. Check out our selection of trimmers designed specifically for fine trimming.
Trimming harvested cannabis can be approached in several ways, each with its own advantages and considerations. One common method is hand trimming, where skilled trimmers meticulously remove excess leaves and stems using scissors or trimming shears. Hand trimming allows for precise control over the final product, ensuring that only the highest quality buds are retained while minimizing damage to the trichomes, which contain the valuable cannabinoids and terpenes. However, hand trimming can be labor-intensive and time-consuming, requiring a skilled hand and careful attention to detail. Find quality trimming tools here
Another approach to trimming cannabis is machine trimming, which involves using specialized equipment such as trimmers or tumblers to automate the process. Machine trimming offers significant time and labor savings compared to hand trimming, making it a popular choice for large-scale commercial operations. However, machine trimming may not produce the same level of precision as hand trimming, and there is a risk of damaging the buds or reducing their overall quality. Additionally, machine-trimmed buds may have a different appearance and texture compared to hand-trimmed buds, which could impact consumer perception and market value. Check out our trimming machines here!
In recent years, there has been growing interest in dry trimming as an alternative to traditional wet trimming methods. Dry trimming involves allowing the harvested cannabis plants to dry partially before trimming, which can make the process easier and reduce the risk of mold or mildew formation. Dry trimming also allows the buds to retain more of their natural aroma and flavor compounds, as the outer layer of leaves acts as a protective barrier during the drying process. However, dry trimming requires careful monitoring of humidity levels to prevent overdrying or uneven trimming, and it may not be suitable for all strains or growing conditions. Overall, the choice of trimming method depends on factors such as scale of production, desired quality standards, and available resources. The Trimbag is a fantastic solution for affordable dry trimming, check it out here!
To be successful, you'll need a good set of trimmers. Regular scissors don't always get the job done when it comes to cannabis because most are blunt tipped and cant get into the tight spaces that a pair of pointed trimmers can. Check out our selection of trimmers designed specifically for fine trimming.
Curing is a crucial post-harvest process in the production of high-quality cannabis flower. It involves carefully drying and aging the harvested buds under controlled conditions of humidity and temperature. This slow and gradual process allows the cannabis to undergo chemical changes that enhance its flavor, aroma, and potency. During curing, excess moisture is gradually released from the buds, resulting in a smoother and more enjoyable smoking or vaping experience. Additionally, curing helps to break down chlorophyll and other compounds that can contribute to a harsh or grassy taste, resulting in a more nuanced and flavorful final product.
One of the key reasons why curing is important for cannabis flower is its impact on the preservation of cannabinoids and terpenes. Cannabinoids such as THC and CBD are sensitive to light, heat, and oxygen, and can degrade over time if not properly stored. Curing helps to stabilize and preserve these compounds, ensuring that the cannabis retains its potency and therapeutic effects for longer periods. Similarly, terpenes, which are responsible for the unique aroma and flavor profile of each strain, can be lost during improper drying or curing. By allowing the buds to cure slowly, growers can preserve and enhance the concentration of terpenes, resulting in a more aromatic and flavorful final product.
Furthermore, curing is important for achieving the desired texture, appearance, and shelf life of cannabis flower. Properly cured buds are firmer and denser, with a desirable level of moisture content that prevents them from becoming too dry or brittle. This improves the overall aesthetics of the buds and makes them more appealing to consumers. Additionally, curing helps to reduce the risk of mold or mildew growth by removing excess moisture and inhibiting the proliferation of harmful microorganisms. Ultimately, the careful attention to curing ensures that cannabis flower reaches its full potential in terms of flavor, aroma, potency, and longevity.
To get the best cure, we recommend the CVault Curing 4 Liter Curing Chamber
Storing cured cannabis properly is essential for preserving its quality, potency, and freshness over time. One of the best ways to store cured cannabis is in airtight containers made of glass or other non-reactive materials. These containers help to maintain the optimal levels of humidity and prevent exposure to light and air, which can degrade cannabinoids and terpenes. Additionally, glass jars provide a neutral environment that won't impart any unwanted flavors or odors to the cannabis, ensuring that its aroma and taste remain intact.
Another effective method for storing cured cannabis is to use humidity packs or control systems to regulate the moisture levels inside the containers. Humidity packs, such as those containing 62% relative humidity, can help to prevent the buds from becoming too dry or brittle, while also inhibiting the growth of mold and mildew. Similarly, humidity control systems, such as electronic hygrometers or moisture meters, can be used to monitor and adjust the humidity levels inside the storage containers, ensuring that they remain within the optimal range for long-term preservation. We carry premium Boveda Humidity Packets to keep your stroage container right at 62%
Furthermore, it's important to store cured cannabis in a cool, dark, and dry environment to minimize the risk of degradation. Excessive heat or exposure to direct sunlight can accelerate the breakdown of cannabinoids and terpenes, leading to a loss of potency and flavor. Similarly, fluctuations in temperature and humidity can compromise the integrity of the buds and increase the likelihood of mold or mildew formation. By storing cured cannabis in a cool, dark place, such as a pantry or closet, away from heat sources and sunlight, growers can prolong its shelf life and maintain its quality for extended periods.
The longevity of properly stored cannabis can vary depending on factors such as storage conditions, strain characteristics, and initial quality. When stored in ideal conditions, including airtight containers, away from light, heat, and moisture fluctuations, cannabis can maintain its quality for an extended period. Generally, well-cured and properly stored cannabis can retain its potency, flavor, and aroma for up to one to two years or even longer.
However, it's important to note that while cannabis can remain viable for an extended period, its quality may gradually decline over time. Exposure to oxygen, light, and fluctuations in temperature and humidity can accelerate the degradation process, leading to a loss of potency and changes in flavor and aroma. Therefore, regular monitoring of storage conditions and proper maintenance of storage containers are essential for maximizing the shelf life of stored cannabis.
After harvesting cannabis flower, there are several creative ways to utilize the trimmings left over from the trimming process. One common method is to use the trimmings to make cannabis concentrates, such as hash or kief. Trim can be processed using techniques like dry sifting or ice water extraction to separate the trichomes from the plant material, resulting in a potent concentrate rich in cannabinoids and terpenes. These concentrates can then be consumed on their own or incorporated into edibles, topicals, or other cannabis products for a potent and flavorful experience.
Another option for using cannabis trimmings is to make infused products such as oils, butters, or tinctures. Trim can be decarboxylated to activate the cannabinoids, then infused into a carrier oil or butter using methods like heating or steeping. The resulting infused oil or butter can be used in cooking or baking to create a wide range of homemade cannabis-infused treats, from brownies and cookies to sauces and dressings. Similarly, trim can be used to make alcohol-based tinctures by soaking it in high-proof alcohol to extract the cannabinoids and terpenes, resulting in a concentrated liquid that can be consumed orally or added to beverages. We carry The Butter Brewer, and excellent choice for making your own butter, or oils and the Extractcraft Source Turbo for tinctures and alcohol extracts.
Additionally, cannabis trimmings can be used to make compost or organic fertilizers for gardening. The nutrient-rich plant material can be composted along with other organic waste to create a natural fertilizer that helps nourish soil and promote healthy plant growth. This sustainable practice not only reduces waste but also provides a valuable resource for gardeners looking to cultivate their own plants. Whether it's making concentrates, infused products, or compost, finding creative ways to repurpose cannabis trimmings allows growers to maximize the value and utility of their harvest while minimizing waste.
