headsrnice

"Continued Metabolism

Also as these metabolic process take place, the plant needs energy which leads it to consume the sugars, starches, nitrates, and minerals. Many of these compounds are metabolized and released as water and carbon dioxide, therefore removing what is essentially inert material from the pot increasing the concentration of cannabinoids therefore making it more potent.

Much of these positive metabolic processes can be most effectively begun with thourough flushing and stripping of the plant before harvest. This will help reduce the amount of time necessary for a good cure.

Curing will not only improve potency, but the color and look of most cannabis buds because as the chlorophyll is broken down purple, gold, and white coloration can emerge and the trichomes will appear more pronounced.

Decarboxylation

Some decarboxylization will take place during curing as well. This happens when the carboxyl group (COOH) located at C-2, C-4, or the end of the hydrocarbon chain at C-3 is destroyed leaving a hydrogen attached and liberating CO2.

Decarboxylization is necessary to convert cannabinoids to usable psychoactive forms; the plants (and your body) carboxylize cannabinoids to make them more soluble in water (for metabolic reactions and excretion).

Research indicates that this effect is fairly minimal during the curing process though. Decarboxylization will take place naturally very rapidly at temperatures of over 100C. So smoking and most any cooking will decarboxylize the cannabinoids. As decarboxylization occurs, the loss of CO2 will liberate a small amount of inert material making the pot more potent via concentration of the cannabinoids.

Taste & Odor

Terpenoids are the highly volatile compounds that give marijuana much of its’ characteristic odors, and therefore tastes.

The most current research also suggests terpenoids lend to the high, sometimes very significantly. Cannabinoids are phenolated terepenes so it’s not surprising that many hundreds of different terpenoids are synthesized as well.

As pot ages, some of the terpenoids go through polycyclic aromatization in the process of decomposition. This agglomeration of terpenoids will change the flavor; hence the ability of cured pot to show flavors that didn’t seem present in the original fresh material. Much of the very volatile terpenoids will also evaporate and or decompose, especially with prolonged curing or storage. This action will remove some matter from the pot increasing the cannabinoid concentration and therefore potency.

It must be noted that excessively long curing or storage, higher temperatures, or extremely low moisture content will cause such through evaporation of the terpenoids that the cannabis will generally loose almost all of it’s natural flavors."



After reading this article I began to wonder. If one was to harvest (cut down) at a average trichome maturity such as 75% cloudy/25% amber, would the percentage shift to more amber while the buds are drying and/or curing?

Also I saw recently on a grow vid that after cutting at the base of the stem about 6'' above the first branch and placing just the base tip of the main stem into a vase or water for a couple days helps the plant flush itself and thus shortening the time of cure after drying. Any truth to this? Sounds like it would make sense in reasoning.....

Roach

sticky this.


nice post.

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farmergiles

Good article.

Maybe a little. But you couldn't rectify the effects of harvesting early by curing- the ratio of cannabinoids in the bud won't change that much after harvest no matter the length of cure IME.

Better to feed with plain water for the last week or so with the roots still attached IMO, that way the plant can carry on maturing but you can still be good to cure on harvest. I'd have said that would be the most effective use of time.

I guess the method you describe might be useful if someone hadn't flushed excess ferts before harvest.
I'd be a little wary they might go mouldy if they were kept in water like that after harvest.

But I do definitely agree that getting rid of excess ferts one way or another before curing will improve the final quality and speed the cure.

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headsrnice

The main reason I'm asking is that I've had one that have been in the "clouding up" stage for a bit, at least 20 days and with my current situation I may not be able keep them much longer, gonna be moving. I can give her maybe a week at the most. I'm seeing a very few ambers towards the middle or bottom of the buds and def on the sugar leaves, but nothing but 75% cloudy-ish and 25%-ish clear on the majority of the plant. I did a quick dry about a half week ago but was still a really racey, short lived high, not totally what I'm looking for. Almost all the pistils have turned, only a few white ones left at the top of the main cola, and the caylx's have swelled. All the other signs are there, it seems that the trichomes have just been taking a bit to catch up.

With it being at least half sativa, does it sound close at all? Do sativa's get as many amber trichomes as a more pure indica?

headsrnice

I also am just about to my 2nd wk of flushing, would that possibly have any affect on the slow development?

HTAM

Once week 10 (after 2 weeks of flush) had expired, my plants came down no matter what the ratio of cloudy to amber was.

Adding to what FG said, I don't ever recall seeing a notable change in color of trics after I harvested.

Great find.

headsrnice

The thing that's just been getting me is that I see some trichomes that look milky white and some others that aren't quite there. Just don't wanna harvest too early.

farmergiles

Indicas tend to mature all at once.

Sativas mature in stages so not all the buds are at the same state at the same time. Some sativa plants never entirely mature in every bud so you have to make a judgement call on when to harvest.

Bear in mind that although trich colour is an indication of maturity, it is only an indication, the changes and effects of different plants will vary.

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headsrnice

One thing I did notice is that almost half started getting a little amber and the rest that were showing a tinge of amber filled in after a 48 hour dark period. Not sure if it was that it was just their time or whether the dark period helped that much? ..but to say the least the change appeared to be more rapid. Would like to do some tests to see what may quicken the process. I've read that UV, specificaly UVB light is what causes the change inside the trichome during the color changing stage. Makes sence since the tricomes are there most likely to protect the plant from sun/heat exposure among other things.

farmergiles

48 hrs of darkness just before harvest will tend to speed maturation but beware of mould.

The verdict is still out on the effects of UV as far as I know.

Metal Halide lights are good for finishing, IDK why, they shouldn't be according to the theory of mimicking the seasons by providing bluer light in veg and redder light during flower.

Edit- I don't think MH will speed maturation though.

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headsrnice

I agree with the use of MH or some form of supplemental blue light. Even using a few 100 watt equiv. CFL's will make a difference.