Yes, terpenes—those aromatic molecules that make cannabis so special run an annual harvest gauntlet. More than half the terps the plant produces will never make it to the bag. Even more will be smoked without a proper cure.
Growers chop plants too early, they burn terpenes in the dry room, or they rot terpenes in containers that were sealed too soon. Also, sellers sell and consumers smoke flower before it’s fully cured and in its prime.
Leafly has tons of resources to get you through your first harvest season. But we also wanted to recap the basics with an expert. Watch the video above as Leafly Senior Editor David Downs—author of “Marijuana Harvest“—runs down the top tips to save those terps with Bay Area-based expert Post-Harvest Manager Danielle Boudreaux. Tips include:
Chop plants when trichomes are ripe
Hang-dry branches whole in a cool, blacked-out room with a fan gently circulating
Keep the drying room at 60F, and the relative humidity at 55RH. Monitor remotely with WiFi sensors from Govee.
Hang dry for 10 to 14 days until the thickest bud stems crack, but do not fully break. Don’t rush the dry.
Remove branches from the line and finish drying in bins for at least a week until the terpene smell overtakes the water and plant smell
Do not seal wet bud in jars—the water and lack of oxygen promotes rotting
If only it all went so smoothly. Watch the video for troubleshooting tips as well.
Here’s more articles to help you harvest, dry, and store buds
Spring has sprung and with it fresh veggies in the garden. High season has also kicked in for cannabis gardeners: clone and seed sellers are doing brisk business as growers big and small ramp up for the 2024 full-sun outdoor run.
You can grow a pound of AAA-grade buds off a single outdoor plant if you get started today. Here’s how from Leafly’s weed grower’s guide to 2024.
Where to start
Start with Leafly’s first-ever Weed Gardener’s Almanac for 2024. Learn the right thing to do at the right time to stay synced with the seasons and maximize your investment in seeds, soil, water and time.
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The official Leafly Weed Gardener’s Almanac 2024
You can also start with Leafly’s Learn/Growing section—our evergreen guide to the basics of weed gardening.
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Leafly’s guide to growing marijuana
Can’t grow? No problemo
How to order weed delivery online with Leafly
What to grow
Man, do we have some options for you! Our affiliate link partners want you to start with “The best cannabis seed companies”. Featuring groups like:
Beyond that, we published our biggest, independently reported, 100% organic, 100% AI-free guide to the best seeds and clones to grow in 2024. Part 1 has the hot-hot new-new from the top dogs. Part 2 digs into strains related to Sour Diesel and Chemdog and such. Part 3 focuses on strains perfect for making extracts (aka hash) both old-school and new.
Modern cannabis too strong for you? No sweat, we have some excellent picks for strains with a balanced amount of THC (which causes euphoria) and CBD (which can moderate THC’s effects).
How to grow it
So you figured our where to start and what you want to grow—now you need to know how to grow it!
For that we got a fresh story on the ‘living soil’ wave sweeping cultivation. What is living soil? Read about it and start that compost pile today!
Get pest management tips from Kannabia Seed Company.
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How to keep your grow pest-free with Kannabia Seed Company
Leafly Strain of the Year 2023 is Permanent Marker—Here’s how to grow that strain and catch that wave.
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How to grow the Permanent Marker strain
How to harvest it
Growing is only half the battle. So much good pot is destroyed in the drying and curing phase where you got to keep temps low, humidity balanced, and avoid mold.
Here’s some fresh drying tips for an experienced master.
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Expert interview: The science of saving those terps at harvest
Then check out our evergreen guides to drying and curing:
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The ultimate guide to drying and curing cannabis for the best results
Troubleshooting your garden
If you want to make God laugh, tell Her your plans. When things go off the rail, practice a positive, solution-oriented mindset and enjoy the chance to learn something new from our troubleshooting guides.
The best part about growing weed is the friends you make along the way. You’ll be stronger and happier when you grow in community with your fellow gardeners and cannabis culture. Plug into your new network by attending these amazing cannabis events, all across the country.
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Ultimate weed contest calendar of 2024
Are you excited about growing a pound yet? You should be. The golden era of ganja shines even brighter when every garden has a seven-leafed tree poking out of it. Remember: She who is not busy growing is busy buying!
