When Is Weed Done Growing? When To Harvest Cannabis

If you’re a cautious or inexperienced grower, it may be hard to determine whether your buds are ripe for the picking (without a microscope!). But if you’re looking for the best quality and consistency out of your growth, then you came to the right place. You’ll thank us down the road.

It is not a bad idea to get a microscope for cannabis because things are going to get pretty tiny.

The flowering stage of cannabis varies by strain but generally takes between 7 to 9 weeks.

The process begins when you expose the plants to longer periods of darkness, shifting their growth patterns.

Indica strains can increase up to 25% in size, while sativas might double before their growth ceases.

As the plants enter the flowering stage, you’ll notice the development of distinct male and female characteristics. Female plants start to produce white pistils, signaling the onset of bud formation.

These pistils may turn pink, red, or even purple as they mature, depending on the strain’s genetics.

Keep an eye out for pink flowers forming. Pink is a sign of something different and not precisely ripening. Count back one week from the time you see the first sign of color, and then start your countdown from there. Once you stop it, it will take about seven or eight weeks to ripen.

After a few clear days of sufficient darkness, the plant’s growth pattern changes. First, its growth rate, which can be five centimeters per day, slows down during the vegetative growth period.

Indicas will grow up to 25% bigger than before they started growing under a flowering light regimen. Sativas can double in size before growth stoppage occurs. Hybrids develop patterns of growth that vary between these two extremes.

This results in a dimorphism, which means that the male and female plants begin to look different from each other. The female plants grow short and stocky, with small leaves that spread out along the touch.

These underdeveloped leaves house copious amounts of sensimilla, the buds that develop into the best marijuana. This form of marijuana is wind-pollinated, so tall males yield more pollen than small females.

After a week of growth, female marijuana plants have thicker stems with shorter nodes between the leaves. The number of fingers on the new leaves reduces, and the plants no longer form leaves on alternate sides of the stem, but now the sides alternate.

This is when the female marijuana plants form their beautiful white pistils, which you can distinguish as hair-like structures that grow where the buds will eventually form.

A few weeks later, the first stigma is joined by a cascade of new blooms. This is when the plant starts to focus its energy on flowers. The color of the flowers looks like sunrises and sunsets, and they vary from white to pink or red.

As spring approaches, numerous clusters of young female flowers appear on a plant. As the months pass and the weather warms up, the clusters fill out with young unfertilized female flowers. These flowers look like they will last a while, but that’s not the case. When one type of flower dies, another kind of flower springs up in its place.

As the cannabis buds begin to mature, they show the first signs of calyx swelling. The female pollen sacs in the swollen calyx will soon release the plant’s seeds — if properly fertilized by her male counterpart.

Since the color of cannabis is a genetic trait of its particular variety, you will find that red-colored pistils are often found on indica strains and a more purple hue is an indication of sativa strains.

In this stage, the resin glands (or trichomes) are growing on the plant’s leaves. Their tiny, stalk-like appearance makes them look like hairs. Stringy white pistils can be seen between the actual leaf and the resin glands.

Trichomes typically begin to change color as the cannabis plant approaches maturity, which can take several weeks during the flowering phase.

Initially, clear or milky white, trichomes will gradually darken to amber, indicating peak THC content and optimal harvest time.

As the plant matures, watch for these color changes in the trichomes, which signal a shift from THC production to increased cannabinoid density, enhancing both the aroma and potency of the plant.

When marijuana flowers become more erect, look for the buds to swell. Increased resin production will be visible on the surface. These are signs that the period of heavy flower growth is coming to an end.

When new THC or terpenes are produced in the resin glands, they become so packed with pure, powerful medicine that the smell of the plant intensifies.

To determine when to harvest your weed plant, observe the trichomes—the tiny, crystal-like structures on the buds.

If you have a magnifying glass on hand, it can help you see them more clearly.

When most trichomes change from clear to a milky white or amber color, it’s generally the right time to harvest. Clear trichomes indicate underripe buds, while amber trichomes can mean the plant is past its peak THC content.

Timing your harvest when trichomes are mostly milky white ensures the maximum potency and flavour of your cannabis.

The ripening process of the cannabis buds takes some time after the flowering of the plant. From start to finish, flowering usually takes about 9-10 weeks when growing feminized photoperiod cannabis seeds. 

But some fast indica strains can be ready for harvest in as little as 7-8 weeks of flowering. In contrast, some long-flowering Sativa/Haze strains can take 13 weeks (or more) until they are mature enough for optimal harvest.

As flowering begins, you will notice white hairs, commonly called pistils, emerging from the small calyxes of the plant. The buds will grow in number as flowering progresses. 

As the buds begin to mature, the stigmas begin to turn brown while the trichomes begin to become more prominent; eventually, the tops of these glands begin to fill in. After a week or two, most of the stigmas are now brown, and the trichomes are more prominent. The glands continue to fill with THC and terpenes. They begin to bulge like balloons. 

The smell becomes more intense, but the bud is not yet ripe. But don’t get ahead of yourself: it has not yet reached its maximum intensity. You will know that your bud is ripe when its trichomes are fully erect, and the trichome caps are prominent. They are bulging with resin. The stigmas are brown.

A closer look at the bud reveals all the mature flowers. The buds are bulging, and almost all the glands are clear, but a few are starting to change color to either amber or milky white. At this time, the plants should be harvested. This period lasts about 72 hours on average, depending on the variety.

If you leave the buds for a week or two past their ripening point, the result can be buds with heavier, more sedating effects. But care must be taken as there is a fine line between ripe and over-ripe. 

Over ripe buds can have a general appearance of over-ripeness. The trichomes may be amber in color, and the terpene profile may be past fermentation and may not be as appealing.

Trimming cannabis buds is a dreaded but necessary step in the growing process.

Trimming your cannabis plants during the growing cycle is a good idea. It ensures you potentially harvest the healthiest plants with a potent THC level. It is important to remove dead leaves and parts of the plant to ensure a strong and healthy plant.

There are several methods for trimming the buds of your cannabis plant. You can trim cannabis by hand or by machine.

Machine trimming produces an aesthetically pleasing bud. However, machine trimming is not the best choice for flavor or potency. Not to mention that it can be costly and wastes a lot of the buds. 

Cutting buds by hand requires a level of attention, training, and experience to ensure the cannabis is handled and processed correctly. For example, you need to learn how to hold the bud to ensure that you don’t compromise its shape or shake off the crystallized resin.

Wet trimming is the method preferred by most growers. Wet trimming is done all at once: The plant is cut, the buds are cut from the branches, the buds are trimmed, and then placed on a drying rack, where they will remain for a few days. 

For dry trimming, the process consists of hanging the plant upside down for several days until the weed dries out. When it is dry, you will pull the buds off the branches and trim them. 

Some of the tools you’ll need to trim cannabis yourself are:

• Scissors (for trimming buds).
• Pruners (useful for large branches)
• A clean surface, such as a table
• Tray/cup and a clean surface
• Rubbing alcohol
• Rags

Step 1: Trim the plant and cut the branches.

With a good pair of scissors, cut the branches, dividing the plant into smaller pieces until you reach the main stem of the plant.

If dry trimming, you will now hang the plant to dry, in its entirety or in smaller branches. 

The dried plants will be ready to be trimmed 3 to 7 days later. If wet trimming, don’t worry about drying yet, and go to step 2.

Step 2: Remove the leaves & cut the buds off the branch.

Fan leaves are iconic cannabis leaves with five or seven tips. They have little to no trichomes, so get rid of them. 

Once the fan leaves have been removed, cut the individual buds off the branches.

Step 3: Trim off the buds.

Now that you only have the buds left start trimming them. If the buds are too big, divide them into smaller buds. 

1. Trim the stem at the bottom of the bud as close as you can without breaking the bud. 
2. Remove the leaves at the bottom that look like little birds’ feet.
3. Trim off the excess plant matter and manicure the bud. Tilt the scissors and keep moving them. 
4. Create an even surface around the buds. This includes removing the red pistils down to the foliage. 
5. Place all finished buds in a separate bowl or tray.

If the trimming is wet, you will need to put the finished buds on a drying rack for a few days. If the trimming is dry, you will need to package the buds for curing.

Like all living things, marijuana plants have evolved chemical defenses. The main component of the plant, cannabinoids, allows the plant to fight off bacteria, pests, and predators without harming itself.

The chemistry of cannabis plants is mind-blowing. You probably guessed it by now, but high CBD levels are excellent for treating pain without the psychedelic effects of pot.

For safer results, we suggest you try a grow box. These machines are basically a plug-and-play cannabis growing system that will do everything for you.

If you ever wonder how some buds are so tasty and others just plain gross, this is the best explanation we’ve found. It goes beyond the effects of a particular strain and looks at how each plant has been handled affects the taste.

Now that you know how to identify a bud that is ready to harvest, you need a plant whose flowers will be ripe joy. These cannabis strains promise to give you the best sensations you have ever had while smoking if you give them proper love and care.

The Purple Haze Feminized Seeds by the Homegrown Cannabis Co has been a favorite in the cannabis community for the sweet 60s. People associate this strain with Jimmy Hendrix’s song “Purple Haze.” Thus, this is a strain containing history, magic, and music.

The Purple Haze Feminized Seeds will grow a Sativa hybrid that produces from 14 to 18% of Delta 9 THC. That is a moderate dosage that makes it the perfect daytime use strain. It will wash away the bad vibes and fill your spirit with blissfulness and optimism.

As you learned above, these feminized seeds will be ready to harvest in nine or ten weeks in October. And when it does, you can expect a yield of 21 oz per square meter. But more importantly, you will see the most beautiful purple shades in a cannabis flower. It pairs with the tiny orange hairs, all covered in sugary white trichomes. The view is breathtaking.