So you've come a long way. You nurtured the cannabis seed from germination to seedling through the vegetation stage and flowering. However, it's time for harvest, or at least you think it is, but you need to be sure before you take the chop to your beautiful cannabis plants. You need 8 tips for harvesting Cannabis, and that so happens to be what we've got. Get your scissors ready and be prepared to get sticky; here are 8 Tips for Harvesting Cannabis Plants.
Timing is vital:
Harvest too early, and your Cannabis loses potency. Harvest too late, and you can affect the balance of cannabinoids. Each strain will have a specific growth time, but there are signs that you can look for that tell you it's ready to harvest your cannabis plants. These are visual clues like trichomes and pistil colours to determine the optimal harvest time.
Flush Before Harvest:
Keep your plants clean and free from tasting like the nutrients you fed them by flushing the plants with clean, pH-balanced water to remove any excess nutrients from the soil. This helps improve the taste and smoothness of the final product and should be done one or two weeks before you plan to chop your crop.
Check Trichomes:
At what stage do you harvest? It depends on what type of high you want. If you want a balanced high, harvest when the trichomes appear cloudy or milky. However, if you prefer more sedative effects from Cannabis, wait until the trichomes turn amber. You must remain patient and avoid chopping when the trichomes are clear. If there are see-through, it means the flowers are low in THC. The best way to monitor trichome stages is by using a microscope.
What is the Pistil Colour?
Pistils' are the hairs that grow on the flowers, not to be confused with trichomes; you can determine if your Cannabis is ready to harvest. If most pistils have turned reddish-brown, it's a sign the plants are reaching maturity.
Get good tools:
Use sharp, clean scissors or pruning shears to make clean cuts to ensure a successful harvest. Avoid using dirty or unclean items, as they can contaminate your crop. And after all that hard work, you wouldn't want to do that. Another thing that might be handy is a pair of rubber gloves. You could go one step further and cover yourself in PPE, but that's personal preference.
Never underestimate trimming:
Proper trimming is crucial to get the most out of your harvest. How you want to trim Cannabis is up to you. Some growers prefer to trim it while wet (freshly cut), and others once it is dry (cured). Both argue, but if you trim while wet, there is less mass to dry, and you, in theory, get your weed that little bit quicker.
Drying and Curing
Proper drying and curing are critical if you expect to get good quality cannabis. You can grow the best plants in the world, but if you get this stage wrong, it will taste like soil if it is smokeable. In some cases, doing wrong could save your entire harvest. Hang the trimmed buds upside down in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated space with a humidity level of around 50-55%. Let them dry slowly for 7-10 days until the smaller stems snap instead of bend. After drying, transfer the buds to airtight containers like glass jars for curing. Burp the jars daily for the first few weeks to release excess moisture and improve flavour.
Storage:
Once dried and cured, it's time to store it and wait for the joyous moment you tuck into it. Store your harvested Cannabis in a cool, dark place away from light, heat, and humidity. We do this to preserve the potency, flavour and aroma.