For several plant growers, the most exciting time is the harvest period, when you can grab your trimmers and start putting your yields through the drying and curing process. To make sure that your cannabis flowers are ready, there are some indicators you need to be aware of.
The premium-quality cannabis flowers are obtained when you pluck them at the right time. Alternatively, you should know the exact time when the harvesting period starts. You can receive lower yields and potency if it is done too soon. Or, if done too late, then it can cause THC breakdown.
So, the question remains, when is cannabis ready to harvest? This article will guide you through the entire process and what steps are to be taken.
How Long Does It Usually Take To Grow Cannabis And Harvest It?
Typically, it takes 3-4 months from germination to harvest for most cannabis strains. However, some varieties may require up to 6 months of growth before they are ready for harvest. Here are some pointers on seed strains and their harvesting periods:
- Large Sativa strains might take 32 weeks to convert from seed to flower.
- Auto-flowering cannabis plants can complete their entire cycle in 10 to 12 weeks.
- Indoor cannabis growth typically takes three to five months.
When Does Pot Needs To Be Harvested?
The right time to harvest cannabis will depend on the strain, as well as personal preference. Generally speaking, most strains are ready for harvesting 8–12 weeks after flowering begins. However, some strains may need up to 16 weeks before they are fully mature and ready for harvest.
Let’s begin with the fundamentals.
Mark The Date
Note the day on your datebook when you flip to flower. Without this fundamental gauge, you won’t know when your cannabis is ready to harvest.
Be Prepared
The plant is nearing its maturity when you view the pistils turning crimson. A practical magnification that offers a clear sight of the buds, will be a key factor in assessing the plant.
Understand Where To Look
The final reviews are critical to harvesting marijuana properly. Always examine buds that develop inside to ensure that the trichome coat is not touching. Rubbing or touching the blooms while moving through the garden or tent could cause the bulbs to turn brown, which could confuse.
Understand The Significance Of The Colors
Initially, the little stalks that resemble mushrooms in the trichomes will be visible. They will start to get opaque after a couple of weeks before they are ready to ripen. The initially milky or hazy heads will gradually change to brown or amber, resembling ripe fruit. It’s time to harvest marijuana whenever 5 to 10 percent of trichomes reach the amber hue, which indicates that the plant is perfectly ripe.
How To Determine When It Is Early To Reap Marijuana?
There are numerous indicators that signal that it is premature to reap your marijuana buds. Use recommendations, and you’ll understand the perception to determine when is cannabis ready to harvest.
Dates For Maturity
Different cannabis cultivars take different amounts of time to blossom. You can find out when your plants will flower. For instance, Gelato Feminized blooms for 8-10 weeks.
Clear Trichomes
Cannabis entailing trichome method makes it sticky. The hue of your marijuana plants is a sign that they are ready for reaping. Your plants are not yet ready for harvest if they are still translucent and glassy. The optimal time to trim your plants is when resin production is at its highest. Harvesting too soon results in diminished strength and flavor.
White Pistils
When your cannabis is ready to harvest, pistils will undergo color and shape modifications. Your cannabis isn’t prepared if it has white hairs that are pointing straight outward. Days before harvest, the pistils’ color should be amber. To determine when to harvest marijuana, combine changes in pistil color with trichome colors.
Detecting When It Is Late To Harvest
When you know the harvesting time, you should also know when it will be late. Cannabis buds that are overripe and extremely drowsy may result from missing the optimal window for heavier harvest. When most trichomes turn dark or amber, you know you’re late.
How Frequently May Cannabis Plants Be Harvested?
The frequency with which cannabis plants can be harvested depends on the strain of the plant and its growth cycle. Some strains may have a short flowering period, allowing for multiple harvests in one growing season, while others may take longer to mature and require only one or two harvests per year. Below are some of the methods of harvesting cannabis:
Indoor Harvesting
Cannabis is harvested indoors once. However, you can space out the harvest time if your plants develop at various rates. Though we wouldn’t suggest it, you can reap some branches of the plant. The best method is to remove the plants entirely. It promotes equal and gradual drying.
Outside Harvesting
Do you know when marijuana can be harvested outdoors? The same cautionary signs must be considered when growing inside; however, you can do it before the chilly evenings of late September and early October.
- Note the time on the datebook.
- Keep an eye out for darkened pistils.
- Try to find amber trichomes.
- You can begin pruning the plants after 5–10 percent of the trichomes become amber.
What Is Required to Harvest Marijuana?
You now understand how to identify the harvesting stage of your plant. Ensure you possess the space and the tools necessary to prepare for harvest.
Gloves Free of Latex
Cannabis harvesting will result in a mess, especially when the resin covers you. A set of gloves can, however, save your life. The ones without latex are preferable because they don’t comprise synthetic resin or powder.
Magnifier
Buy a 40x jeweler’s loupe, a portable digital microscope, or a magnifying glass. Utilize it to detect trichome head color changes. Excellent zoom lenses are a feature of modern cellphones.
Pruning Shears
Cannabis plant experts know the condition of a mature plant which is ready for harvest. You need pruning shears because cutting from the base may need a lot of cutting power, especially if you planted it outdoors.
Cutting Snips
On busy harvest days, a pair of pruning shears come in handy for trimming. Your cutters should be spring-loaded, ergonomic, and sharp.
Alcohol And Disinfectant Wipes
Resin is applied to the trimming scissors. Keep rubbing alcohol and feminine hygienic products on hand. Harvesting advantages of marijuana is significantly easier when your equipment is clean!
A Drying Zone and a Drying Rack
The final stage to achieving potency is drying the cannabis, which activates the THC. And it makes your bud last longer on the shelf! You won’t need a drying place, but you will need a spotless area large enough for the crop. Select a spot that is dry, dark, and has enough airflow. Wet cannabis plants create a breeding ground for fungus and other microbes.
Detecting When It Is Too Late To Harvest
Knowing when is cannabis ready to harvest is equivalent to knowing when it’s too late. Cannabis buds can become over-ripe and extremely drowsy if the peak opportunity for harvesting moment is missed. The bulk of the trichomes (also known as resin glands) turning brown or amber color is a telltale sign that you’ve left it too late. Your plants will be in danger of becoming extinct.
How To Grow Marijuana Through An Instruction Manual?
You will know the best time to harvest cannabis after you keep an instruction manual handy.
Choose a suitable location
When selecting the ideal spot for your marijuana plants, look for an area with plenty of sunlight and good drainage. Make sure to research local regulations regarding the legal growing of cannabis seeds.
Buy seeds or clones
The specialized cannabis harvesting techniques are available online, but we don’t need to make it complicated. The most popular and successful are these two:
Prepare soil and containers
If possible, buy pre–fertilized potting mix specifically formulated for growing marijuana plants, as this is more likely to contain all the necessary nutrients your plant needs throughout its life cycle than regular garden soil would be able to provide it with on its own. If using containers, make sure they are big enough for proper root development but not so large that they become heavy and unwieldy when filled with soil and water later on down the line.
Planting Seeds
Once you have acquired either seeds or clones (and preferably germinated them beforehand), it’s time to transfer them into their new home where they can start taking root!
Start by digging small holes in your prepared potting mix, making sure each hole is deep enough so that when you place your seeds/clones into them, their first two sets of leaves will be just barely above ground level once settled in properly – this allows room for future growth while still giving adequate air circulation around each stem base which is essential during early stages of vegetative growth).
Water lightly after planting then keep moist consistently until seedling stage begin, sprouting up through topsoil layer – at this point watering should remain consistent but much less frequent than before as too much water can lead to mold formation and other undesirable issues may arise due to over saturation of soil if left unchecked! Check out this complete guide to watering cannabis plants for more information.
Provide Adequate Light & Nutrients
Marijuana plants require full spectrum light (such as LED grow lights) along with precise amounts of specific minerals like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium – these can be found easily within most nutrient mixes designed specifically for cannabis cultivation purposes however try looking into organic options whenever possible since synthetic fertilizers often come packed full with harsh chemicals which could potentially harm both yourself & environment if used improperly!
Monitor Growth & Tend To Necessary Maintenance Tasks
Keep close eye out any signs disease such yellow foliage wilting stems– these are usually caused improper care maintenance being taken care regularly; additionally monitor pH levels periodically adjust accordingly using pH testing kit purchased from local hydroponics store otherwise risk harming plant health long run due nutrient lockout occurring due extreme acidity alkalinity buildup inside soil medium itself!
Clean Up The Leaves
Before you gather marijuana, you must make another choice. Will the leaves be trimmed before or after the drying process?
- In humid conditions, trim before. It will assist you in avoiding any mold problems.
- In humidity-less environments, trim after. Flowers without leaves sometimes dry out too rapidly.
- Following that, suspend the branches.
- Leave a plate beneath and hang it upside down to catch any falling leaves.
Avoid These Blunders While Picking Cannabis
You are now aware of the proper methods and tools for cannabis harvesting. Try to avoid these mistakes:
Early Harvesting
Your output, and bud potency are all compromised if you harvest cannabis too early.
Using Too Much Cannabis
Overhandling marijuana cleans the resin away and reduces its value for sale, gifting, and smoking. Maintaining the herb’s quality will require respect.
Less Touch
Have you had a sizeable garden? Invite your family and friends to assist you in plantation and harvesting. Having assistance during cannabis harvest is beneficial for batch stability. Twelve hours might change the effects of your cannabis plant from stable to extremely sedative during harvest windows. The harvest buds should be dried and trimmed.
Examples of Cannabis Plants Ready to Harvest
Indica-Dominant Hybrid: These plants typically grow shorter and bushier than their sativa counterparts, with large leaves that tend to be a darker green color. Indica–dominant hybrids are usually ready to harvest 8–11 weeks after flowering begins.
Sativa-Dominant Hybrid: Sativas tend to grow taller and skinnier than indicas, with light green foliage and longer flowering times of 10–16 weeks before they’re ready for harvesting.
Autoflowering Strains: Autos require less time in the vegetative stage compared to photoperiod strains; they usually reach maturity around 8–10 weeks from germination or clone planting and are typically ready for harvest sometime within 2–4 weeks of beginning the flowering stage.
What Comes After The Harvesting Of Cannabis?
Well done; you’ve succeeded! Now, here’s how you can prepare those colas for your bong, vaping, smoking, and mind-bending eves.
Trim Your Marijuana
While puffing burning leaves is unpleasant, buds are a better choice. Spend time trimming the fan leaf for a more consistent, smoother smoking experience. Do you understand how to cut marijuana? It’s simpler than you would imagine.
Drying Of Trimmed Bud
Weed must hang out and dry for a while after harvesting, preferably in an environment with humidity levels of between 45 and 55 percent. Mildews and other microbes thrive in internal wetness. It might spoil the entire batch. The drying process can take 14 days.
Medicate with Marijuana
Trace quantities of moisture inside each bloom are eliminated during curing stage. The entire curing procedure can take up to 3 weeks. It’s simple; you only need a few mason jars and some patience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can I take the top-half of the cannabis plant for harvest?
Irrespective of how much you prune and trim your cannabis plant, the top side will always obtain more light. There, the buds ripen before those below.
Q. Which is better, nighttime or early harvesting?
Early morning, marijuana contains more crystals, terpenes, and THC. Additionally, it absorbs moisture throughout the day, lengthening the time it takes to dry.
