What are Trichome Buds?

What are Trichome Buds?

Posted by Vaporizer Chief on 21st Feb 2022

There's always a lot more to marijuana than meets the eye. The Greek word "Trichoma”, which means "hair”, is the root of the word trichome. Cannabis trichomes are cannabinoids and terpene-producing extensions on the skin of cannabis flowers. They're usually gleaming, gooey, and smell great. They can be thorns, although, are commonly referred to as microscopic hair. The majority of people are unaware that trichomes come in various sizes, shapes, and metabolic functions.

Types of Trichomes on Cannabis

Type #1: Bulbous Trichomes

They're the tiniest of the lot and can be found on the entire plant's exterior. Because they're comprised of such a minimal number of cells, they can't be seen without a microscope. These can be as small as 10 microns in diameter, a small proportion of the largest. Although their ability to produce cannabinoids is still unknown, they give the cannabis plant an icy gloss and help the flower stick together. Cannabinoids aren't present in them.

Capitate Sessile Trichomes

Capitate-sessile trichomes, like bulbous trichomes, are only visible under a microscope. They're a little larger and have a head and a stalk. However, with a width of 20-30 microns, they are not as prominent or visible as the final category of trichomes. These trichomes create cannabinoids, just not to the same degree as the most popular kind.

Capitate-stalked Trichomes

The biggest trichomes are capitate stalked trichomes. These trichomes are responsible for most of the resin, THC, and other cannabinoids for cannabis cultivators. Our favorite capitate-stalked trichomes have a breadth of 50-100 microns. They can range in size from 200 to 300 microns in height. This is big enough to view without glasses. Capitate-stalked trichomes are abundant on female cannabis plants specifically.

Capitate stalked trichomes have a stem composed of epidermal and hypodermic cells. The resin gland's head, known as the 'capitate,' sits atop the stalk. The resin gland's ball-shaped tip has a waxy external cuticle layer that serves as a ‘skin’. Cannabinoids and terpenes are found within the resin head. Specialized cells located between the apex of the trichome stem and the round resin head create these.

The resin glands on a cannabis plant change their color as it grows, nearing harvest time. They gradually turn from transparent and colorless to cloudy and then amber/red. The buds and leaves of some cannabis strains can turn a deep blue/purple color. The trichomes can show a few of these colors.

When Do Trichomes Usually Appear on Cannabis?

Even though the majority of farmers begin monitoring the color of their cannabis trichomes right before the end of harvest, the trichomes are available on cannabis in tiny portions from the time it is a young plant. Even so, some of these will be hidden from view. Trichomes emerge initially in the flowering phase on healthy plants. The number of trichomes on the plant increases as it ages, and they become most prominent around the middle of the bloom. Trichomes turn from transparent to opaque, snowy white, and amber as they mature.

The more trichomes a plant has, the merrier for most gardeners. Assuming you began with the finest cannabis seeds, you'll notice a dense resin crusting of trichomes on the buds and leaves towards the end of bloom. The oils and terpenes in the resin tip spill out onto your fingertips when you crush the buds, giving off a wonderful fragrance. The marijuana plant has probably ripened past its peak potency when the trichomes turn into a detectable amber hue. Trichomes are a valuable predictor of when a plant is ready to be harvested because of this feature. When buds are milky white with little to no amber-like tints, it is the most acceptable time to pick them.

When to Harvest Trichomes

Trichomes are commonly used to determine when a plant is ready for harvesting. Your individual preferences define much. Cultivating your cannabis seeds has several perks: the ability to control the exact harvest time. It's essential to begin harvesting when the Trichomes have turned from clear to milky white.

Early harvests can provide a vibrant, energizing high for some folks. At this phase, the trichomes are transparent and colorless. Although yields aren't yet at their best, early harvest cannabis is ideal for some farmers. It's worth noting that not every Trichomes will appear the same after they're harvested. Because it is more exposed to light, the upper section of a plant matures earliest. It's therefore advisable to gather in phases to ensure that all of your buds are mature at the same time.

Some cultivars like waiting till the majority of the trichomes have turned amber/red before harvesting. However, at this phase, the cells that produce THC and terpenes slowly die, leading the trichomes to appear amber. The grown cannabis is dense, stoney, and has significant bodily impacts. Late-harvested weed is irresistible for some medical marijuana patients and recreational marijuana consumers looking for a powerful stone.

Typically, hemp farmers wait until most of their trichomes have turned cloudy, with the earliest symptoms of some becoming amber. When contrasted to early harvests with clear/transparent trichomes, this allows yields to improve marginally. The euphoria becomes more rounded as the physical effects become more fantastic.

Trichomes are a favorite of all growers. Motivation in enhancing and optimizing crop quality is at an all-time high as more individuals grow their marijuana seeds. The heart of your buds is trichomes. It's what gives your marijuana its potency. Learning what Trichomes do for your plants will enable you to get the most out of your yield by providing proper care and management, especially when it comes to hemp flower.