This article will talk about how to increase terpenes in cannabis in three simple tips. You can always add terpenes to buds, but there are also practices in how you grow cannabis to increase its terpene levels. As a grower, knowing these techniques will create more enjoyable cannabis for you and your customers.
You have probably noticed the growing discussion of terpenes in cannabis. After all, these compounds are not only responsible for the scent and effects of strains. It also offers medicinal benefits, so increasing their level in cannabis also becomes a goal for growers.
How To Increase Terpenes In Cannabis Successfully
Tip #1. Choose your strain
The first tip to increase terpenes in cannabis is by choosing the strain itself. This sounds simple, right? But before you roll your eyes, you must remember strains will never have the same terpene levels and chemical profile.
This is why you can have two cannabis varieties or strains with a similar name, yet they don’t have the same quality. You can prevent the stress of having cannabis with low terpene levels by merely starting with high-quality seeds or clones. They will cost more initially, but consider them an investment in growing quality strains.
You could also choose strains with specific terpenes in mind. For example, let’s say you want a strain that is uplifting but also therapeutic. You can grow cannabis that has myrcene and limonene as its primary terpenes.
On the other hand, you can search for strains high in terpinolene if you aim to grow cannabis products for health benefits. Strains with this terpene are not only fragrant, but customers also seek them for relieving insomnia and antioxidative properties. Lastly, don’t forget to research your favorite strain to know more about its primary terpene.
Tip #2. Improve growing conditions
As mentioned earlier, using an ideal growing environment such as a greenhouse should help create high-quality cannabis. The fact that you can maintain the ideal conditions will influence the quality of the plants. However, having perfect growing conditions also plays a significant role in increasing terpenes in cannabis.
Did you know that you’ll notice a difference in terpene profiles if you grow the same plants indoors and outdoors? This is because the variables like light, temperature, medium, and nutrients are also influential to the terpenes in cannabis. Something that you might overlook, such as the soil or light spectrum, can affect the flavor profile of cannabis.
Growing cannabis in an optimal environment where they won’t get stressed should induce more trichomes or terpenes. If you think about it, the flavors are unique to specific locations because of the varying factors. Check your growing space if any of these conditions are still optimal, especially if you notice a decline in terpene levels.
Lastly, the ideal environment and lack of stress are not the only conditions that affect the terpene profile of cannabis. You can also prune your cannabis during flowering or tie their branches, so the plant focuses its energy on the flowers. Removing the lower branches and fan leaves around the buds will help produce trichomes for better yield and quality.
Tip #3. Modify practices for harvest and curing
The last tip for increasing terpenes in cannabis is by doing certain practices before harvesting and during curing. For example, experienced growers recommend stopping fertilizing the plants two weeks before harvesting. This is because it prevents nutrients from building up in the buds that can affect their natural flavors.
Therefore, focus on giving cannabis with only water to help wash away excess nutrients. You’ll end up with a more aromatic strain instead of getting their flavors overpowered by what you feed them. But what about when you’re harvesting the plants?
In the greenhouse, it’s crucial to know the marijuana growing cycle so that you can harvest on time. Harvesting too late will break down the trichomes, thus altered terpene levels on the plants. Be on the lookout for visual cues that it’s time for harvest, including milky white trichomes and yellow leaves.
More so, be gentle in handling your buds and hold them by the stem during harvest to not destroy the trichomes. Now, as you cure, aim to preserve the terpenes in your harvest to ensure that they maintain their chemical profile. To do so, keep the humidity around 45 to 55% with low temperature and without light as you slowly dry the buds.
Conclusion
Terpenes are highly influential in getting flavorful cannabis with enjoyable effects. Therefore, it’s useful to remember how to increase terpenes in cannabis and ensure that you’ll end up with high-quality yield. For starters, start with high-quality strains or grow those with a primary terpene in mind.
Then, ensure that your plants are in a controlled yet ideal growing environment like the greenhouse. Factors like light, medium, and temperature affect the plant’s chemical profile more than you know. You can also prune the cannabis plants, so they focus their energy on the flowers instead.
Lastly, stop fertilizing two weeks before harvesting so that the buds maintain their natural flavors. It’s also important to gently handle them and harvest on time to not damage their terpenes. Check for visual cues to know when to harvest your buds at their optimal quality.