Harvesting, drying and curing Cannabis cultivation

1 harvesting, drying , curing

1.1 drying
1.2 curing
1.3 hash

1.3.1 hash oil


1.4 brick weed

harvesting, drying , curing

close-up of female cannabis bud in flowering stage. white trichomes can seen coating surface, darken flowering progresses.

there may different goals when harvesting plant:

seeds harvested when developed , after accompanying buds have begun deteriorate.
hemp grown fiber harvested before flowering,
cannabis grown cloning not allowed flower @ all.
cannabis grown smoking

a typical indicator plant ready harvested smoking, when trichomes have turned cloudy , 5% 15% of trichomes have turned reddish brown/amber.

in general, harvesting consists of drying , curing. curing oxidization , polymerization process takes place in sealed containers of cannabis, on time.

dry: buds placed in controlled atmosphere removing moisture content
cure: buds stored in sealed non-plastic container , left in dark place

ripeness defined point thc , other cannabinoid production has reached maximum levels, before cannabinoids have begun degrade/breakdown. seen under 30x-60x microscope examining trichomes on flowers. when trichomes undeveloped clear. turn white/cloudy when trichomes have max levels of cannabinoids. trichomes start turning amber/purple/red, when cannabinoid content has started degrade. harvesting before trichomes have turned white may reduce overall potency , efficacy time. harvesting late (past 15% amber) produces more of sleepiness effect thc degrades cbn.

some growers use brix meter measure sugar content.

drying

the plants dried @ room temperature in dark space. optimal keep temperature between 60 , 70 °f (16 , 21 °c) because many terpenoids (molecules partially responsible psychoactive effects largely responsible odor of plant) evaporate @ temperatures beyond 70 °f (21 °c). process can take few days 2 weeks, depending on size , density of buds , relative humidity of air. humidity should kept between 45% , 55% humidity. higher humidity create mold , mildew risk, while lower humidity cause material dry quickly. if plant material dries quickly, of chlorophyll fail converted different chemical form result in sub-optimal taste , harsher smoke when combusted , inhaled. stable temperature preserves cannabinoids well. believe flowers should hung stalks, allowing internal fluids of plant remain in flowers. others believe cut stem handy non-sticky place hang plant. roots removed, , when stems in middle of largest buds can snapped easily, plant considered dry enough cured. drying done in dark place, thc resins deteriorate if exposed light , degradation product cbn forms, altering cannabinoid profile of dried flowers.

drying harvest not considered risky novice indoor growers of cannabis assume have gotten safely end of grow time harvesting plants. however, speaking underestimate sheer scale of odor produced during cropping, moving , hanging plants dry. indoor growers in areas cultivation illegal may consider obstacle in overall efforts first 3 days of drying produces large amounts of discernible odor (organic molecules) grower himself/herself may desensitised to. these evaporating , discernible others anywhere in vicinity of general area. in populated areas consideration of containment & concentration (i.e. filters) of odor molecules may employed reduce risk. in less populated areas air movement dissolution , dispersal techniques odor management may employed i.e. ventilation high points such chimney or roof vents. whatever method employed, novice growers in illegal areas not underestimate sheer volume of organic molecules being dissipated air when harvesting.

cannabis dry curing when moisture level reaches 55%-65% rh. simple way check closing cannabis in airtight glass container hygrometer. container stored 12 hours @ 22 °c (72 °f) , hygrometer checked. 65% , above readings mean jar needs opened few hours , closed up, allow more moisture escape. jar again checked after 12 hours , process repeated until steady 55% reached.

curing

once cannabis dried 62%, sealed in airtight jars cure minimum time cure 30 days. growers cure long 6 months, while others not cure @ all. tobacco, curing can make cannabis more pleasant smoke. same reasons when drying, curing jars stored in cool, dark place.

tincture. ethanol used extract cannabinoids cannabis plant (thc soluble in alcohol). extraction process takes longer, results in edible product. cannabis stems, leaves , buds can used. resulting mixture can eaten straight, mixed food or smoked. many smokers prefer dip cigarettes in mixture, allows them smoke in public without detection. contact direct flame causes liquid lose thc content, thc vaporizes @ 157 °c (315 °f).

hash


cannabis hashish (hash)

hash thc concentrate containing extracted heads of marijuana plant s trichomes contain of plant s psychoactive thc. trim leaf (small leaves surrounding flowers) coated in large amount of trichomes collected various means make hash. 1 simple method of collection separate trichomes trim leaf using basic screen; plant matter containing trichomes run on or beat against screen separate trichomes. method involves freezing trim , agitating ice separate trichomes, mixture filtered through screen bags of decreasing screen sizes ranging 25-200 µm capture plant matter , allow trichomes pass bottom bag collect wet paste. paste pressed extract of water , pressed cakes , dried. in dry-ice sifting process trim leaf placed in filter bag dry ice , shaken allow pure concentration of trichomes pass through can kept powder or pressed cakes.

hash oil

hash oil extract formed when solvent, commonly including; butane, isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, hexane, or toluene, used dissolve thc concentrations. plant particulates filtered out , solvent carrying soluble resins evaporated or purged under vacuum. resultant oil may have high thc content (depending on parent material) , used in various cannabis-based products or smoked or vaporized concentrate. delta 9 thc (d9 thc) soluble in petroleum ether , less in ethanol. adding petroleum ether tincture extract d9 thc, leaving water-soluble chemicals in ethanol (certain cannabinoids, proteins, chlorophyll, etc.). butane more selective solvent typically carries lower amounts of undesired solubles, resulting in more pure thc. alcohol less selective butane, carrying other types of plant matter such chlorophylls , lipids, resulting in less pure hash oil, freezing plant matter prior making hash alcohol can prevent chlorophyll being carried. carbon dioxide (co2) has been used extract hash, special laboratory equipment needed since co2 functions solvent under high pressure.

paraguayan brick weed known piedra.


brick weed

brick weed curing , packaging method of cannabis cultivation consists in drying bud short period, if @ all, , pressing hydraulic press, compacting whole plant (bud, stems , seeds) brick, hence name brick weed. method used in top cannabis producing countries mexico , paraguay largely exported. brick weed has low thc level , less potent aroma , taste.