After months of careful cultivation, it's time to reap the rewards of your hard work and harvest your cannabis plants. In this section, we'll cover the key aspects of harvesting your cannabis buds, including when to harvest, how to harvest, and tips for success.
When to Harvest
Knowing when to harvest your cannabis plants is critical for achieving the desired potency, flavor, and aroma. The ideal time to harvest depends on the strain and the growing conditions. As a general rule, you should harvest when the trichomes (the tiny, crystal-like structures on the buds) are mostly cloudy or amber-colored, depending on your preference. You can use a magnifying glass or jeweler's loupe to get a closer look at the trichomes.
The little drops on this bud are the trichomes that contain THC, CBD, etc. This one is not quite ripe, many of the trichomes are still clear/cloudy and not amber.
How to Harvest
To harvest your cannabis plants, use sharp, clean pruning shears to snip off the branches. When harvesting you will want to consider how you plan to dry your harvest. If you want to hang dry, then you should make sure that there is something to hang on to at the end of the branches you cut. If you are going to wet trim your harvest then you will want to cut individual buds. It can be helpful to leave a little bit of stem to be able to grab the bud without damaging it.
Tips for Success
Here are a few tips to keep in mind for a successful harvest:
- Cut the branches so that you have somewhere to hang them from at the bottom if you are planning on hang drying
- Cut to individual buds if you plan to wet harvest
- Always leave a little bit of stem so that there is always something to grab on to without damaging the bud
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