Hemp cones, or cannabis caps, are the most valuable part of the cannabis bush for any grower. They contain the highest concentration of recreational and therapeutic active substances. Hemp buds contain THC, the main psychoactive substance in marijuana. This is confirmed by the experts who are engaged in the registration of ohio weed card online https://dr-weedy.com/ohio/.
A successful grower always has to balance the quality of the cannabis and the quantity. For both characteristics to reach acceptable values, the grower must pay maximum attention to the care of the bushes, as well as perform competent drying and curing of the crop.
In this article, we will tell you everything a grower and the average user needs to know about cannabis cones.
The Biology of Hemp Cones
First, let’s get acquainted with the biology of the buds so that we can better understand how they develop and what processes take place inside them.
Sensimilla
The main active ingredient in cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC for short. It is found in all parts of the plant, in varying amounts, but it is most concentrated in the non-pollinated, female inflorescences of the cannabis plant, the sensimilla.
Cannabis leaves have the second highest THC content. However, the amount of the active substance in them is significantly inferior to the buds. This is why leaves, although interesting to a grower, are not very valuable. On the other hand, it can be used to prepare various concentrates and dishes. Also, some users note that the leaves have almost no effect on the growth of the body’s tolerance.
The gender of cannabis
The inflorescences are essentially the reproductive organs of cannabis. The plant is biodegradable, which implies that there are male and female individuals. The former also have inflorescences, but they look quite different and do not contain THC. They look like a banana bunch with pollen packed into it. When it lands on the female buds, the seed-forming process begins and the THC synthesis stops. For this reason, male cannabis plants are only of value to breeders. In other cases, they are necessarily removed from the female bushes or destroyed.
A collection of high yielding cannabis plants.
The structure of the cannabis buds
What do cannabis buds look like? In their anatomical structure, they are divided into four parts, each of which performs a different function and is of different value to the grower:
The cola. This is the branch or shoot with the crown. It is the stem on which the main bud is formed. A distinction is made between a central stake (main stake) and a secondary stake. The main stake forms the central crown of the bush. The others are smaller in size and are located on the side branches of the plant.
Calyx. It looks like a dense cluster of small leaves. It is on them in the greatest number of trichomes, which produce the active substances of marijuana. The sepals come in various shapes and sizes.
Pistil. The pistils grow out of the calyxes of the inflorescences. Externally, they are long white and, as they mature, red, yellow or orange hairs. Their primary natural function is to trap pollen.
Trichomes. These are glands that produce plant resin. They are located on the surface of the entire marijuana bud. Trichomes are present on the leaves, shoots, and sepals of the cannabis plant. Their main function is to protect cannabis from pests and adverse climatic factors. Trichomes are the most valuable part of the buds for the user. The plant resin they synthesize is a concentrated mixture of cannabinoids and terpenes. It is these that are responsible for the recreational and therapeutic effects of marijuana, as well as the flavoring qualities of the cannabis.
When do cannabis buds appear?
The formation of cannabis cones begins with the appearance of small growths and white pistils. The new growths can be seen at the growth nodes of the bush, at the ends of secondary shoots and at the top of the main stakes. The start of bud formation on the cannabis bush indicates that the plant has begun to bloom.Photoperiod varieties of cannabis go into flowering stage a
fter setting the light regime of 12/12. It takes them about a week or two, after which they produce their first flowers. In the wild, this is regulated by changing the length of the day. In indora, the plant will stay in vegetation for as long as it wants, as long as the light on/off schedule is not changed. This gives great scope for experimentation if the plant is photoperiodic.
Autoflowering cannabis varieties start blooming regardless of the light schedule. This happens when the plant reaches a certain age, laid down by genetics. Usually it takes 2-4 weeks for the vegetative stage, after which the pre-bloom phase begins and the first buds appear.
The bush develops gradually as the cannabis bush blooms, which is divided into three stages:
Pre-flowering. This is when the bud ovaries appear. The bush fully develops inflorescences.
The flowering itself. The plant stops its growth, redirecting all resources to the development of inflorescences, fully covered with trichomes, which begin to synthesize resin. The cones become sticky.
Maturation. The buds form into dense, resinous buds with an abundance of trichomes. At this stage, the THC level of the buds reaches its maximum. They become ready for harvests.