Hemp flowers: stages of flowering, care and harvesting

Table of Contents:

• What are cannabis flowers and how do they begin to form
• Indica and sativa: peculiarities of flowering and cone formation
• Plant care and harvesting: how to get aromatic and resinous cones

What are cannabis flowers and how do they begin to form

Hemp flowers (buds) are the female inflorescences of the cannabis plant, which are the most valuable for growers. It is in them that the main active ingredients are concentrated: THC in the buds, terpenes and resinous substances. These compounds determine both the strength of the effect and the flavor characteristics of the finished crop.

The process of marijuana bud formation begins after the plant enters the flowering phase. In photoperiodic varieties, this stage is triggered when the daylight hours are shortened, while in autoflowering varieties, flowering begins automatically 3-5 weeks after germination. The right lighting conditions during flowering, as well as optimal temperature and humidity conditions, play a decisive role in flower development.

The emerging cannabis buds gradually gain volume, become covered in sticky cannabis resin and emit a characteristic aroma ranging from sweet to spicy. It's during this period that it's important to give the plant extra care and apply the right flowering fertilizer to unlock the potential of the genetics.

Those who want to get dense and rich cones with a fast flowering time, should pay attention to varieties with a predominance of indica. Such plants are more compact, form buds faster and give a rich harvest. If the grower wants to start with reliable genetics - it is worth buying indica seeds and providing quality conditions.

Indica and sativa: peculiarities of flowering and cone formation

Each cannabis plant is either a subspecies of indica, sativa, or a hybrid of the two. Genetics directly affects how the cannabis plant blooms, what buds are formed, what the flavor will be and the timing of the cannabis harvest. Let's look at the main features:

• Indica
  Indica varieties are ideal for growing in confined spaces and in closed systems (grow boxes). They have a short life cycle and an accelerated flowering phase. Indica buds are dense and massive, with a high concentration of THC in the buds and a strong sedative effect. The aroma is usually rich, earthy, with notes of spice and pine. To obtain a stable and abundant harvest, it is recommended to choose feminized marijuana seeds with indica predominance.
• Sativa
  Sativa plants are taller and have a longer flowering period, but make up for it with the voluminous and airy buds of marijuana. Sativa buds are rich in cannabis terpenes, often with citrus or fruity notes. The effects of their use are more often invigorating and stimulating. Sativa is often chosen for grooving in the outdoors, where the plant can realize its full potential.
• Hybrids
  Many modern varieties are the result of crossing indica and sativa. This approach allows breeders to create versatile plants with fast flowering, resistance to external conditions and balanced effects. By using feminized marijuana seeds, the grower is guaranteed to get only female plants capable of producing full-grown cannabis buds, without the risk of producing male specimens.

Understanding the differences between indica and sativa is important for effective grooving and selecting the best variety for space, lighting conditions and desired effect.

Plant care and harvesting: how to get aromatic and resinous cones

When a cannabis plant enters the flowering phase, its needs increase dramatically. In order for the buds to gain weight, become resinous and acquire the bright aroma of the buds, maximum care must be provided. The quality of the harvest depends directly on lighting, fertilization, humidity and a timely response to stress factors.

If you are an indoor grower who wants to reduce odor, especially in a confined space, you may want to consider low odor cannabis seeds. These plants have a milder, less pronounced aroma during flowering, but still produce potent and high quality cannabis buds with a high THC content.

The final step is harvesting the cannabis plant. The maturity of the buds can be determined by the appearance of the trichomes (milky or amber) and the way the cannabis flower looks: dense, resinous, and brightly scented. After cutting the plant, it is important to properly dry and cure the buds to preserve all of the cannabis terpenes and bring out their flavor 100% of the time.

Related articles:

• Harvest is finalizing
• What affects the color of the bumps?
• How cannabis plants are pollinated
• Which genes are responsible for the size of cannabis plants
• What are terpenes?

Attention! Errors Seeds does not encourage you to grow cannabis and does not promote it in any way. Cultivation is prohibited by the legislation of Ukraine. The article is of scientific and introductory interest only.