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I grow weed, and I often get asked how to harvest cannabis by friends and family members. It is quite a simple process. Let me explain:
You can harvest your marijuana when the trichomes look frosty with THC; it means the plant is riper than ever to be cut down. The most common way to do it would be through cutting first, but sometimes people prefer taking their time, so they break down parts of branches first before chopping them down. However, some wait for about ten days after the trichomes have turned completely amber or brownish before harvesting.
Dropping all your leaves during the last two weeks of flowering could cause the plant to lose the energy needed for fruiting. You can help save on nutrients by preventing this phenomenon from happening, but you should only do so if you are growing indoors.
Now that your weed is ready for picking, what next? How you harvest your herb will depend on your preferences; some prefer the wet way, while others like their marijuana dry. It involves cutting down or clipping parts of branches and then trimming them after drying up. The former method entails chopping off the entire plant tops first before sticking them in a paper bag.
This is because it’s mess-free and less time-consuming than the latter option. The latter is where the leaves need to be trimmed before hanging them to dry. It also helps if you have a humidity-controlled room for drying your plants because it can be challenging to maintain the proper moisture level in an uncontrolled environment.
The most time-consuming part of harvesting cannabis is trimming. I would say that half of the entire process involves this tedious task. Many growers mistake rushing through the trimming part, resulting in diminished yields and lower quality buds. Even with practice, perfecting your trimming skills still requires patience, attention to detail, and enough time devoted to every plant. I usually save material by taking my time on each of them, which translates into bigger yields after curing.
Once you’re done trimming your plants, you should dry them for five or more days. The time frame will depend on the size of the branches but also the humidity level in your drying room. After this part is done, you can proceed with curing your weed for at least two weeks by placing them inside an airtight container.
I want to stress that you require good quality and powerful lamp if you’re growing marijuana indoors. For example, one of my friends used a 200W CFL bulb during his first attempt, and he didn’t get anything out of it. It was only after he bought a 600W HPS light that he could produce buds!
Most growers agree that the flowering phase is when cannabis plants need the most attention and care. By taking good care of your cannabis during this stage, you will be harvesting a much better product; I recommend that you start with vegetables since they require less effort to cultivate than flowering plants.
Regardless of which route you take, make sure your weed is balanced because it can result in nutrient burn and other related problems.
One common mistake by novice growers is having too little fresh air exchange during their cultivation process; sealing off your indoor garden will cause all sorts of issues like mold, pest infestation, and nutrient deficiency among others . The lights should also be placed far enough away from the top canopy to prevent scorching.
As you can see for yourself, there are several things that you need to take care of before harvesting cannabis; timing is also an important factor, which makes it harder for new growers. Sometimes if you wait too long your weed will end up flowering too much and this early frost phenomenon will diminish their quality, so be careful during the last two weeks of the flowering phase!
The best time to harvest outdoor weed is usually between September and November because it’s still warm enough for them to grow but cold enough for them not to turn into hermies . This is one reason why I love September, after all! Cut down your plants and make sure they are dried very well before trimming them. If you live in a windy area it’s good to cover the ground with black plastic so they don’t get blown away; we usually end up saving some material this way too after curing our weed!
As I mentioned in the indoor section , timing is essential and you need to be careful during the last couple of weeks for outdoor cultivation . Weeds that receive lots of sunlight tend to grow taller and produce more buds ( this is why when growing indoors; fluorescent lights should not be placed too high up ). It would also help if you add extra nutrients at least two weeks before harvesting, like calcium nitrate because it encourages blooming.
Be sure to visit: How To Grow Cannabis: Organic Growing of Cannabis
There you have it, it doesn’t matter if you grow indoors or outdoors as long as the soil conditions are good and the temperature is a bit lower. On a final note, be sure to visit my website for more information about growing weed + many other related topics!
Once you’re done trimming your weed, you should dry it for five or more days . The time frame will depend on the size of the branches but also the humidity level in your drying room. After this part is done you can proceed with curing your weed for at least two weeks by placing them inside an airtight container.
I would like to recommend that you dry your plants in a dark and cool place like a crawlspace or any closet with an adjustable temperature so check their humidity levels regularly.
Some growers prefer to set up their drying room next to the ventilation system but I don’t think it’s such a good idea because if you dry them too fast it can affect the taste of your product forever . If you live in a windy area, cover the ground with black plastic so they don’t get blown away; we usually end up saving some material this way too after curing our weed!
This is because it’s still warm enough for them to grow but cold enough for them not to turn into hermies. This is one reason why I love September, after all! cutting down your plants make sure they are dried very well before trimming them. If you live in a windy area it’s good to cover the ground with black plastic so they don’t get blown away; we usually end up saving some material this way too after curing our weed!
As you can see for yourself, there are several things that you need to take care of before harvesting herb; timing is also an important factor which makes it harder for new growers. Sometimes if you wait too long your marijuana will end up flowering too much and this early frost phenomenon will diminish their quality, so be careful during the last two weeks of the flowering phase!
…timing is essential and you need to be careful during the last couple of weeks for outdoor cultivation. Marijuana that receive lots of sunlight tend to grow taller and produce more buds (this is why when growing indoors; fluorescent lights should not be placed too high up). It would also help if you add extra nutrients at least two weeks before harvesting, like calcium nitrate because it encourages blooming.
Although I said that you can harvest your weed between September and November it will depend on where you live; places with a warmer climate have an earlier harvest period because your plants grow faster. If this is your case then you might want to visit my website for useful information about cultivating marijuana!
This is the first part of a 2 part series. – CP
At the beginning of your cultivation, the essential thing is to germinate your seeds properly. If they do not get enough light and nutrients, they will not be able to develop into healthy plants. Different cannabis strains require other germination methods, so we split our list into two categories: Soil Germination and Hydro Germination.
Seeds are planted in Rockwool cubes, which hold moisture while still allowing air to reach the roots. The humidity dome placed overtop helps maintain a high humidity level for optimal germination growth. Seeds are exposed to constant light during all stages of germination and growth.
This picture shows a regular soil pot with drainage holes filled with regular potting soil. Germination in the soil is not recommended for beginner growers unless you are growing in a very controlled indoor set up because of the chance that they will dry out faster than you expect them to. This leads to seedlings that never reach maturity and plants that stop growing shortly after becoming mature enough to flower.
This method is usually used with the paper towel method to ensure 100% germination for organic seeds.
Seeds are placed between two layers of damp, warm cotton material (paper towels work great, as seen above). The basis is gently pushed into the center of the towel. Keep them moist by spraying them down once or twice a day. Seeds will take 1-7 days to germinate.
This picture shows the seedling once it has broken through the surface of the paper towel. Before transferring it into your choice of growing medium, purchase a grow kit that comes with everything you need!
Many products are on the market designed for germination right in the growing medium. This allows you to skip the germination phase entirely, but it does come with some extra cost.
Seeds are placed directly into their final growing medium (soil or hydro). Some growers like to lay a paper towel on top of their medium, especially in the ground, where there is a chance of the seed drying out before it can break through the surface. Some growers also like to place a humidity dome over their germinating pot/tray, but it is not required. The paper towel method will ensure a 100% germ rate for organic seeds and give you a head start on root development.
Many products are on the market designed for germination right in the growing medium. This allows you to skip the germination phase entirely, but it does come with some extra cost.
The paper towel method works great for all types of seeds and growing mediums. Just place seeds inside a damp paper towel and fold them over. Seeds will not need to be removed from their shell (or outer coating) for this method to work. If required, you can usually remove them from their surface by lightly squeezing or rolling them between your fingers.
Anything we forgot? Let us know in the comments below. Please also read How to germinate seeds? (Part 1), How to germinate seeds? (Part 2)
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