beneficial . Regarding humidity , you should keep it around 50 % during the flowering stage for maximum terpene production . However , before the harvest , you may want to lower the humidity to 30 % since this represents stress and will encourage the plant to produce more trichomes . It is also a protection when it comes to buds rotting .
Terpene Chart
Harvesting
As lovely as terpenes are , they are also extremely sensitive . It is easy for them to degrade as they are volatile compounds . For this reason , it is essential you do the harvest on time . Each terpene has individual characteristics . These can differ between the harvests , even for the same strain . It is important to pay close attention to plants during this period , or you risk losing the terpenes . Use a magnifying glass to check the trichomes on the buds regularly .
Curing
Once you are done with harvesting , it is important to consider the drying / curing process for the buds to really give their best . They should be dried slowly , with the humidity kept low to not trigger any mold . Storing your dried cannabis buds in glass jars is best , but you can use some other containers , but not white paper or plastic bags . Open them once or twice daily to let some fresh air inside ( also called “ burping ”). Make sure to check for any mold , mildew , or bad buds . After a few weeks , you can do it less regularly . This usually takes about a month , but the longer you cure it , the smoother the smoke .
By monitoring your homegrown cannabis plants closely throughout the growing process and providing them with the best conditions , you can easily increase the terpene production and thus the taste and effectiveness when consumed .
Have a cannabis education related question for Leah ? She ’ s a St . Louis native and a cannabis activist since 2010 ! Leah is excited to help answer all your medical marijuana questions . Please send questions to
leah @ theweedblog . com . Your question may be featured in a future issue of The EVOLUTION Magazine .