How do you increase trichome production in your cannabis plants?

Are you ready to take your cannabis plants to the next level? An effective way to do this is to maximize your plants’ trichome production for improved levels of terpenes and cannabinoids.

What are trichomes?

Trichomes are the true essence of cannabis plants. They contain the essential compounds in cannabis buds: terpenes and cannabinoids. This means that without them, cannabis products are tasteless and have little or no therapeutic and psychoactive benefits.

A quick look at a cannabis bud under a microscope will show you thousands of fungus-like structures extending from the surface of the buds. Trichomes have also been called “mushrooms” because of their bulbous tips. The terpenes and cannabinoids of cannabis plants are housed in these bulbous spikes. Trichomes are important to the survival of cannabis plants as they act as barriers to pests and pathogens.

Scientists have found that the best way to increase or significantly improve the production of trichomes is to take advantage of their protective nature. It can’t be done in a day or a week; it is a continuous process that begins during the vegetative phase of the plant. Growers make simple changes to the plant as it develops into a mature plant to help it reach its full trichome potential.

stress is important.

The strange aspect of increasing trichome production is that it induces stress in the plant. Stress is a very important principle that triggers the production of more trichomes.

This type of stress is called “good stress.” When increasing trichome production, care must be taken not to compromise the well-being of the plant. Bad stress could limit the growth of the plant and, in extreme cases, lead to death.

Inducing this good stress in the plant is one way to stimulate the plant’s biological defenses. This way, the plant will produce more trichomes to combat the threat, resulting in increased cannabinoid and terpene production. Experienced growers have learned to subject these plants to controlled stress conditions. This usually happens during the vegetative to flowering phase. This gentle strain ensures that the plant’s self-defense mechanism is activated in good time.

The process of increasing trichome production

In the vegetative phase, stress is applied to the plants. Although the young plants are still too young to produce trichomes, the stress imposed helps the plant build up good structure and stability to withstand future pressures. The pressure at this stage is more or less to make the plant stronger.

stress training

There are two techniques for stress training a young sapling. These include high-stress training (HST) and low-stress training (LST).

HST uses harsher methods to inflict pain on the plant. It mainly involves cutting or breaking off a stem after the plants have developed nodes. On the other hand, LST is a less aggressive form of manipulating plants into the desired shape. The plant is gently bent without exerting excessive pressure.

It is not advisable for less experienced growers to attempt HST. as this can lead to adverse effects. It’s best to stick to a low-stress workout. Crucial to both options is that the plants should recover perfectly from the various types of stress they are subjected to.

The flowering phase

The vegetative phase is mainly used for stress training the plant. The flowering phase is the key point to boost trichome production.

Before you begin, you need to stock up on some trichome-boosting supplements. These supplements are essential to getting the plant to produce the highest number of trichomes possible. You need to apply the best nutrient blends to your plants. For the best results, stick to the manufacturer’s dosage recommendations.

Also, it is best to use extra bright lights for the plants. Optimizing the plant’s exposure to light strengthens its determination to develop bigger and better buds. You can add side lights in your greenhouse or indoors. You can also use LEDs. Another less expensive method is to cover the entire facility with reflective clothing.

What should I do

2-3 weeks before harvest your plants are expected to have a well-established nutrient routine. At this stage you should look for ways to supplement your already positioned lamps with UV-B lamps. Exposure of plants to UV-B has resulted in an increase in trichome production. Plants need this light supplement towards the end of their growth cycle.

The recommended UV-B light source is a metal halide grow lamp. Luckily it’s cheap. Excessive exposure of plants to this light has negative consequences. You must also ensure that you are dressed in appropriate protective clothing to limit your exposure to light. You also need to keep the plants at an optimal humidity and temperature of 35-40% and 15-16°C.

7–10 days before harvest, you can split the stems or subject the plant to less aggressive stress to maximize trichome production. Another important activity at this crucial time is rinsing. Flushing removes excess nutrients from the soil. This action sends the plant into self-defense as it must now sustain itself by relying on its nutrient bank.

Two operations must be carried out 48 hours before harvest. The first is to water the plants with ice water while the other is to keep them in total darkness for at least 24 hours. Make sure your environment has a balanced temperature and humidity level to avoid destroying everything you’ve worked so hard to create.

Conclusion: It’s harvest time!

By the time it’s finally time to harvest, at least 60% of the trichomes on the plants will have turned milky white. You can confirm this staining with a microscope. At the same time you can check whether the stamps have taken on a darker colour. These two methods are the best ways to determine if it’s the optimal time to harvest your plants.

Using all of the highlighted tips is not mandatory, but doing so would increase your plant’s chances of producing top-notch trichomes.

This is not the end of your production; You still need to dry and cure your buds before they are suitable for consumption.

WHY TRICHOMES MATTER READ THIS…

WHAT ARE TRICHOMES AND HOW TO CREATE MORE OF THEM?

OR…

THE HISTORY OF TRICHOMES IN THE WEED YOU SMOKE, READ THIS!