Subscriptions - Maximum Yield Cannabis USA September/October 2020 | Page 50

by Kyle L. Ladenburger
Knowing exactly when to harvest those
marijuana buds can make a big difference in
the effect one gets from using cannabis. And
when it comes to getting the most out of your
harvest, patience and a keen eye are crucial.
Through each and every stage of growth, you’ve worked
hard to give your cannabis plants exactly what they need
to thrive. The due diligence is starting to pay off as the buds
continue to fill in and grow bigger and bigger.
The smell of success is quite literally just ahead of you and
growing right in front of your eyes. The anticipation has been
growing right along with the plants themselves, and you are
so ready to just cut those ladies down to enjoy the fruits (or
flowers) of your labor. But not so fast. For this is one of the
most important parts of the growing cycle and to finish strong,
one must have patience and the proper eye to know when
the flowers are at their peak ripeness. To achieve a notably
successful harvest, a grower must understand how to read the
plants and determine when they are truly ready.
When it comes to harvesting cannabis, the bottom line is
timing. Timing is truly everything and missing the appropriate
window for harvest can result in a less-than-desirable product.
When harvested too early, the plant’s flowers may not be fully
mature and will be lacking the oils and terpenes that give the
buds their signature aromas, flavors, and cannabinoid profile
(the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to cannabidiol (CBD) ratio).
Plants harvested in the earlier stages of flowering will have
lower THC content and the effects will not be as potent.
On the other hand, when cannabis flowers are left to mature
for too long, the THC will begin to degrade or convert into
cannabinol (CBN), which will give the end product a much
more sedative-like effect, often referred to as couch lock.
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