To obtain a better crop in a marijuana crop, by increasing the production of trichomes on the buds
Trichomes make your buds potent. This is why most growers are interested in getting their cannabis plants to produce as many trichomes as possible. Here are the main strategies that growers use to increase the number of trichomes. Enough to make your plant shine like a Christmas tree...
Light on the production of trichomes
For best quality, the light should be very bright at the flowering stage. Cannabis plants grown in low light tend to grow less trichomes. In addition, it produces much less buds ... In addition a bud encrusted with trichomes is usually produced under strong and bright lights like HPS. But this is not the only factor that influences the production of trichomes.
UV-B
Some growers (including some celebrities like Ed Rosenthal) believe that exposing cannabis buds to UV-B light for the last 2-3 weeks before harvest can increase trichome production and overall bud potency ( Bud). Although not yet proven, this may be in part because the trichomes are theoretically there to help protect the plant from UV-B rays.
UV-B is the name of a "color" of light in the weaker blue / purple spectrum that humans cannot see. It is produced by the sun and causes damage to plants and humans.
In fact, almost all organisms on earth have defenses to protect themselves against UV-B rays. Humans, once too exposed to the sun, are exposed to UV-B. Cancer results in extreme cases. In short, our skin protects us by becoming darker in response to sunlight. Instead of a tan effect, the plants therefore produce trichomes. Theoretically, cannabis could therefore protect us against UV-B rays ...
Metal halide (MH) lamps produce UV-B radiation just like the sun. Although HD lights are generally only used in the vegetative stage, it may be helpful to expose the buds to UV-B light for the last 2 weeks before harvest to increase trichome production. UVB light is also produced by incandescent bulbs. But they are not really bright enough to be used for this purpose.
Another option for UV-B light are reptile lamps. Obviously, they will not be as powerful as a Metal Halide lamp ...
LED lights
Although most LED lights do not produce UV-B light, some growers believe that the unique light spectrum of many LEDs emphasizes certain aspects of the plant, including trichomes. In fact the plant produces more trichomes as a defense against certain types of LED lights. In general, the quality of the "aggression" by LED, will depend on the price that you put there ...
In addition, in nature, trichomes protect the buds from many hazards, including insects. Thus, the plant produces more trichomes in response to certain types of stress.
Alternate temperature and humidity
The main thing to remember to increase your trichomes is to modify your environment for the last 2-3 weeks before harvest. What to remember is:
- A humidity level of less than 30% - So a drop in humidity of the growing space of less than 30%, during the last 2-3 weeks before harvest. Make sure that your temperature remains below 26 ° C, so that your herbs do not dry on the spot and therefore lose power ...
There are two ways to reduce humidity while maintaining the right temperature:
- Déshumidificateurs - They absorb, or remove moisture while releasing heat ... But those of good qualities, such as "Air Conditoners", get rid of humidity while cooling the air.
Stress your plants "positively"
Since cannabis plants can produce trichomes as a response to certain types of stress, some growers attempt to “shock” their plants in the “right” way in order to trigger this natural reaction. The only proven method is to lower the humidity and control the environment / lighting as outlined above. But there are other unproven techniques that may or may not work… The popularity of these methods is however worth mentioning.
Physical stress
Some techniques like supercropping (bending the stems without tearing) can increase the production of trichomes. However, this technique should be avoided for diseased or already damaged plants. It is therefore important to look at your plants closely ... Supercropping comes down to folding the plant in a way that twists them without tearing their structure. If done right, the yield will be even better at harvest.
Another physical stress, some producers reduce the leaves. Be careful because if you don't have a lot of healthy, green leaves it can discolour your buds… Others will immerse their plants in ice water just a little before harvest. This in order to “shock” their roots, a kind of water stress… These techniques are not proven, but they are strategies without a lot of downsides if they do not work.
Increase of supplements
Some supplements sold in growshops actually claim to increase either the number of trichomes or the potency of your weed. The best and the worst will be found there ... But some products in the supplement world have time to prove themselves over and over again.
For example, Rhizoflora Terpinator is one of the most popular supplements among American growers. As the pal its name, it helps increase the production of trichomes. It is used by established growers and marketers to increase the number of trichomes and the production of terpenes. Other great supplements do this too, refer to your favorite growshop. But it has in particular been tried and tested by many professional producers in the cannabis world.
Choose a strain naturally rich in trichomes
If your strain does not have the genetics to produce a lot of trichomes, the chances are less that you will modify this… Although the advice given in this article will help you maximize the genes in your plant… But as a general rule, it is difficult to compensate for genetics if they are basically poor and mediocre.
That being said, some strains don't show a lot of trichomes, even though they are very potent. Like, for example, some Sativas and Hazes, or Sour Diesel. So if you think "glitter" on your plant is an important thing, you need to choose the right strain. At this point, you are armed with all the information you need to grow your own Christmas encrustations: buds covered in trichomes.
