Subscriptions - Maximum Yield Cannabis USA September/October 2020 | Page 52

“For an end product with a higher
THC content
that delivers a more uplifted cerebral
feeling, the buds should be harvested
when 40-60 percent of the pistils have
changed from their initial white color to the
brownish-orange or golden color stage.”
Similar to pistils, the appearances of the trichomes will
change as the flowers mature. When they first present
themselves, the trichomes will be completely clear. At
this point the cannabis has yet to reach maturity, and as
the flowers develop and ripen, the trichomes will begin to
change in appearance.
After the clear stage they will transition to becoming more
cloudy or opaque. This signifies an increase in cannabinoid
production. When 80-90 percent of the trichomes reach the
cloudy or opaque stage, the production of THC is at its
highest and the plants are ready to harvest. If harvested
at this point the buds will deliver a more uplifted, cerebral
high. As was the case with the pistils, if the plants are
allowed to continue growing after this point, the trichomes
will begin to turn amber in color as the THC degrades or
converts into CBN. When more trichomes change to amber,
the harvested bud will have the stronger, more sedative-like
effect. To limit the amount of THC converting into CBN, the
flowers should be harvested before five to 10 percent of the
trichomes turn amber in color.
The one difficulty with this method is that trichomes are
much smaller than pistils, making them harder to inspect.
To accurately determine their appearance, make sure to use
some sort of a magnification device. Also, keep in mind the
colors may vary a bit with each different plant variety but the
underlining concept will remain the same.
The most important advice I can give regarding the right time
to harvest is to remain patient. It takes a lot of time and effort
to get to this point, and taking the proper care to harvest at just
the right time will result in an end-product that not only looks
great, but also has a better aroma and taste. In the end, a little
patience will pay off in a big way.
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