Some subjects always stir emotions among doctors, researchers and scientists. Medical marijuana is a perfect example. Is it safe? Is it legal? How effective s it? Despite all the questions, thousands of patients use cannabis for pain relief and many other chronic ailments.
Nowadays, you can grow cannabis at home, and you’re bound to making many blunders as a beginner. Therefore, understanding how to go about the process will go a long way.
Check out tips to guide you:
Table of Contents
Be keen of the seeds& Strains
Buy quality seed from a seed bank and choose your strains wisely. Your choice will depend on your needs and desired flavor. Moreover, use well-draining soil and limit the nutrients. Too many nutrients will make your plants stay in the vegetative phase for long.
Avoid overwatering your plants.
Your plants need water to thrive, but too much water can affect their growth. However, watering depends on the stage of development. For instance, a powerful stream of water will knock down your plants and displace the roots. Use well-draining pots and water your plants when the soil dries off completely.
Trimming is key!
The first step to harvesting cannabis is determining the right harvest time. Be careful not to chop your plants when they aren’t ready or when it’s too late. If you’re planning to harvest cannabis, the full guide will help tell when your plants are ready.
There are also signs to look out for, and it’s best to have a microscope or hand lens. You’ll need to examine the trichomes closely, and a microscope will come in handy. During the harvest window, the pistils will turn, and the trichomes will be milky.
Flush before harvest
Flushing helps enhance the trimming benefits. It involves limiting the nutrients and watering the growing medium with pure water before harvest. This allows your plants to use up the stored nutrients resulting in smoother and more flavored flowers. Most growers flush their plants two weeks at the end of the flowering stage.
Choose your harvesting tools wisely.
You need various tools for harvesting. These include;
- Trimmers
- Traps
- Disposable gloves
- Curing containers and more.
Choose high-quality trimmers and have two pairs. The cuttings are sticky, and you need to clean the shears in between. For outdoor plants, go for heavy-duty trimmers; you expect the plants to be bigger and stronger.
Set adequate time!
Trimming is tedious, and you’ll have to sit for long. There are various things that you can do to make the process fun, though. Invite friends to help out, have comfortable chairs and set the workspace beforehand. Also, have sufficient light to avoid eye strain and play some music.
Curing- The longer the wait, the better!
The process of curing begins when the flowers are dry enough for a cut. As you cut them off, leave a portion of the stem attached to the bud. Also, give the curing process time; you can start enjoying your products after about two weeks. Most seasoned growers will cure their weed for a month, which results in the best flavor.
A quick wrap up
No matter how healthy your plants are, harvesting can ruin everything. Know the signs to look out for, and use a pocket microscope to monitor the trichomes. Also, acquire proper harvesting tools and cure your weed appropriately.