Cannabis plants are ready to harvest when the trichomes on the buds have turned from clear to milky white.
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The Trichomes
The vast majority of cannabinoids and aromatic compounds are produced in the tiny, sticky resin glands, or “trichomes,” that cover the surface of the cannabis plant. These glands look like tiny mushrooms and grow larger as the plant matures. Under a magnifying glass, you can see that trichomes are actually quite complex structures.
What are Trichomes?
Trichomes are the tiny, hairlike protrusions on the surfaces of cannabis plants that produce cannabinoids like THC and CBD. These oily substances are what give cannabis its sought-after medicinal and recreational effects. In other words, trichomes are what make weed, weed!
Cannabis plants generally have two types of trichomes: glandular and non-glandular. Glandular trichomes are where most of the cannabinoids are produced, while non-glandular trichomes don’t contain as many cannabinoids but do help protect the plant from predators like insects.
You can see trichomes with the naked eye, but a magnifying glass or microscope will allow you to get a closer look at these fascinating structures. If you look at a cannabis plant under high magnification, you’ll see that each individual trichome is actually made up of smaller subunits called “cystoliths.” Cystoliths are where THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids are produced.
The color of trichomes also changes as the plant matures. Underneath each mature gland is a stalked base cell that contains chromoplasts—these give trichomes their color. For example, young glandular trichomes may be clear or milky white, but as they mature, they usually turn dark red, brown, or orange.
You can determine when your plant is ready to harvest based on the color of its trichomes. For most strains of cannabis, you’ll want to harvest when approximately 50-70% of the trichomes have turned from clear to milky white. At this point, the THC content is at its peak and the effects of the plant will be mostly cerebral (heady).
If you wait until most of the trichomes have turned brown or red, the effects of the plant will be more physical (body high). The longer you wait to harvest, the more pronounced these physical effects will become. However, waiting too long to harvest will result in loss of potency as some cannabinoids begin to degrade into CBN (cannabidiol).
The Different Types of Trichomes
Cannabis plants are covered in tiny, hairlike structures called trichomes. These structures produce and hold the aromatic oils that give cannabis its distinctive smell and flavor. They also play an important role in the plant’s development by protecting it from predators and harsh environmental conditions.
Trichomes come in different shapes and sizes, but they can be broadly classified into three main types: bulbous, capitate-sessile, and capitate-stalked.
Bulbous trichomes are the smallest type of trichome and can only be seen with a microscope. They are not thought to play a significant role in the production of cannabinoids or terpenes.
Capitate-sessile trichomes are slightly larger than bulbous trichomes and have a round or oval-shaped head. These trichomes are found on the leaves and flowering parts of the plant and are thought to be responsible for producing most of the cannabinoids (such as THC and CBD) and terpenes.
Capitate-stalked trichomes are the largest type of trichome, with a round or oval-shaped head that is attached to a long stalk. These trichomes are found on the leaves, flowers, and stems of the plant, and they are thought to produce high levels of cannabinoids (such as THC) and terpenes.
The Pistils
The most important aspect to look at when determining if your cannabis plant is ready to harvest is the pistils. The pistils are the small, white, hair-like structures on the plant that turn red, orange, or brown as the plant matures. For most strains, about 70-80% of the pistils should be dark before harvest.
What are Pistils?
Pistils are the “hairs” that grow out of the flowering buds of a cannabis plant. They’re actually not hairs at all, but Pistils are stigma—the female reproductive organ of the plant. The white (or sometimes red, orange, or brown) hairs catch pollen from male plants, which then fertilizes the ovules and creates seeds. If you’re growing cannabis for smokable flower rather than seeds, you’ll want to wait to harvest until the pistils have largely stopped receiving pollen and have started to recede back into the bud.
The Different Types of Pistils
Cannabis plants have two types of reproductive organs (sexual organs) – the female flowers that make the buds we smoke and the male flowers that make the pollen. The male flowers are called stamens, and the female flowers are called pistils. Each pistil is made up of a stigma, style, and ovule.
The stigmata are the parts of the pistil that actually catch the pollen from the male flower. The stigma is covered in tiny pores that allow it to absorb pollen grains.
The style is the “neck” of the pistil, and it connects the stigma to the ovule.
The ovule is where fertilization (or seed production) takes place. After a pollen grain germinates on the stigma, it will grow a tube down through the style until it reaches the ovule. There, it will fertilize the egg cell and create a seed.
The Stigma
Although cannabis has been illegal in the US for many years, it is now legal in some states. Cannabis is often associated with illegal activities and some people view it as a dangerous drug. However, cannabis can be used for medical purposes and has a variety of benefits. Let’s learn more about this plant and when it is ready to harvest.
What is the Stigma?
The stigma is the part of the female cannabis plant that receives pollen from the male plant. The stigma is located in the center of the pistil, which is the reproductive organ of the female cannabis plant. After the pollen sticks to the stigma, it travels down the pistil to fertilize the ovules, which are located at the base of the pistil. The ovules produce seeds, and once fertilized, the pistil turns into a seed-bearing structure called an ovary.
The Different Types of Stigma
When most people think of cannabis stigma, they think of the negative social stigma that has been attached to the plant and its users for decades. But there is another type of stigma that is just as important — the stigma on a cannabis plant Flowering tops, commonly called buds, are the most potent part of the plant and where the majority of the plant’s THC resides. The stigmas on a cannabis bud are often referred to as “crystals” or “trichomes.”
There are three different types of stigma on a cannabis plant:
-Pistillate stigmas: These are found on female plants and appear as small, white hairs.
-Staminate stigmas: Found on male plants, they appear as small, white balls.
-Pseudo-stigma: This is found on hermaphrodite plants and appears as a small, white hair.
The Flowers
The flowering stage is the most crucial part of the cannabis plant’s life cycle. This is when the plant produces the buds that you smoke. To ensure a good harvest, you need to know when the flowers are ready to harvest.
What are Flowers?
Flowers are the reproductive organs of a cannabis plant. Male plants produce pollen which fertilizes the female’s ovules, resulting in seed production. Female plants that are not fertilized produce flowers that contain high concentrations of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD (cannabidiol), and other cannabinoids which are used to make a variety of cannabis products such as flower, hash, edibles, topicals, and concentrates.
The Different Types of Flowers
Cannabis flowers are the reproductive organs of the plant and contain clusters of tiny crystals called trichomes. These trichomes produce the majority of the cannabinoids and terpenes that give each strain its unique set of effects. In order to produce high-quality flowers, growers must carefully monitor their plants throughout the flowering stage, paying close attention to trichome development.
The different types of cannabis flowers are:
-Sugar leaves: These are the small leaves that grow directly out of the bud. They are called sugar leaves because they are often covered in trichomes, which makes them appear sticky.
-Bracts: Bracts are the small, thin leaves that surround the reproductive organs of the flower. They often contain high concentrations of cannabinoids and terpenes.
-Calyxes: The calyx is the leafy structure that encloses the pistils and stamens of the flower. Calyxes can vary greatly in size and shape, depending on the strain.
-Pistils: The pistils are the thin, hair-like structures that protrude from the calyxes. They are typically red, orange, or brown in color and play a role in reproduction by collecting pollen from male plants.
-Stamens: The stamens are the male reproductive organs of the flower. They produce pollen, which is used to fertilize female plants.
The Leaves
Cannabis leaves usually stay green until the end of the plant’s life cycle. However, there are times when the leaves may start to turn yellow or brown. This is usually an indication that the plant is ready to harvest. The leaves will also start to curl up and dry out. If you see these signs, it’s time to harvest your plant!
What are Leaves?
leaves are the flattened structures that grow out of a cannabis plant’s stem. They are made up of smaller leaflets that are arranged in pairs along the length of the leaf. The size, shape, and number of leaflets on a leaf can vary widely between different cannabis strains.
leaves play an important role in a cannabis plant’s life cycle by producing energy through photosynthesis. This energy is used by the plant to fuel its growth and development. As a result, leaves are often one of the first parts of a plant to show signs of stress or nutrient deficiencies.
Leaves also play an important role in a plant’s ability to regulate its temperature. Cannabis leaves are covered in tiny pores called stomata, which allow the plant to exchange air with the outside world. The stomata can open and close to regulate the flow of air and water vapor into and out of the leaf, which helps the plant cool itself down on hot days.
The Different Types of Leaves
Cannabis plants have many different types of leaves, and each one serves a specific purpose. The leaves are what convert sunlight into the food that the plant needs to grow.
The two main types of leaves are the broadleaf and the needle-leaf. The broadleaf is the most common type of leaf, and it is typically wider than it is long. The needle-leaf is thinner and longer, and it is typically found in cold climates.
The leaves of a cannabis plant are divided into two main parts: the blade and the petiole. The blade is the flat, wide part of the leaf, and the petiole is the thin stalk that attaches the blade to the stem.
Most cannabis plants have five to seven blades on each leaf, but some plants can have up to 11 blades per leaf. Each blade has a vein running through it that carries water and nutrients to the rest of the leaf.
The edges of the blades are called margins, and they can be either serrated or smooth. The shape of the margins can vary depending on the variety of cannabis plant. Some plants have deeply serrated margins, while others have smoother, more rounded margins.
The surface of a cannabis leaf is covered in tiny pores called stomata. These pores allow air to enter the leaf, which is necessary for photosynthesis to occur. The stomata also help regulate water loss from the leaves.
The Buds
After the flowering stage, your cannabis plants will enter the ripening stage. During this stage, you will notice the buds gradually getting bigger and denser. The trichomes will also start to turn from clear to cloudy. You can begin to harvest your buds when they are about 60-70% cloudy.
What are Buds?
Buds are the flowers of the cannabis plant that are typically smoked, vaporized, or used to make edibles. They are also known as “nugs” or “flower.” The term “bud” is often used to refer to the flowers of the female cannabis plant, although it can also be used to refer to the leaves and stems
The Different Types of Buds
Cannabis plants produce two different types of buds – male and female. Male cannabis plants produce pollen which is used to fertilize female plants. Female cannabis plants produce pistils which absorb the pollen and create seeds. The majority of the time, growers will remove male plants from the grow room so that they don’t accidentally fertilize the females. This is because fertilized female plants will put their energy into creating seeds rather than producing large, potent buds.
There are also hermaphrodite cannabis plants which contain both male and female reproductive organs. These plants can self-pollinate and don’t need a partner to create seeds. Hermaphrodite plants are usually considered to be a nuisance by growers since they can pollinate nearby female plants and reduce the overall quality of the crop.
So, when is a cannabis plant ready to harvest? It depends on the type of bud that you’re looking for. Male plants are typically ready to harvest 2-3 weeks before female plants. However, since most growers remove males from the grow room, they will only need to concern themselves with harvesting females.
Female cannabis plants typically reach maturity 5-8 weeks after the start of flowering. However, there are some strains that can take up to 12 weeks to fully mature. When it’s time to harvest, you’ll want to keep an eye out for several different signs including:
-The pistils on the buds are starting to turn from white to brown or red
-The trichomes on the buds are mostly cloudy with some amber coloration
-The leaves on the buds are beginning to yellow or brown
