Examining the Different Phases of Growing Cannabis and Key Attributes
For those that are getting into the cannabis industry – as an investor or on the growing and cultivating side – it’s important to understand all the core attributes about the product. Regarding cannabis, that means having a firm grasp on:
- Cannabis plant anatomy
- The phases of growing cannabis
- When to harvest cannabis
- The main cannabinoids and their effects
- Cannabis state and federal laws
- How to use cannabis testing equipment
In this entry, we’re going to take a deep dive into cannabis plant anatomy and the different phases of growing cannabis. For growers and cultivators, having an intimate understanding of the crop and its growth cycle is what allows them to determine when to harvest cannabis. This is especially important for growing operations who haven’t yet secured their own on-site cannabis testing equipment.
Growing Cannabis – The Four Phase Life Cycle
When growing cannabis, growers must keep the lifecycle of the crop top of mind. As a cannabis plant matures, its cannabinoid levels mature with it. Ideally, the cannabis plant is harvested when active cannabinoids, such as THC, are at peak levels of purity and potency. The following are the four phases of growing cannabis:
- Germination: Marked by the occurrence of the sprout emerging from the soil; germination lasts 3 – 10 days.
- Seedling: A period marked by the development of the plant’s first cotyledon leaves, which typically develop in pairs; this phase lasts between 2 – 3 weeks.
- Vegetative: The period where the crop further develops by growing stems, branches, stalks, and the signature fan leaves; the vegetative period lasts between 3 – 16 weeks.
- Flowering: The period where the crop begins to bud; the female flowers (consisting of cola, bract, and stigma) will be crusted by crystal resin, which are known as trichomes; the flowing period lasts between 8 – 11 weeks and only occurs in female plants.
Cannabis Plant Anatomy – Main Elements
Expert growers and cultivators who have been working with cannabis plants for years are adept in assessing the maturity of crops by examination alone. This makes them far less dependent on cannabis testing equipment; however, testing remains an essential part of growing cannabis, as does knowing which parts to test. The following breaks down the main elements of cannabis plant anatomy:
- Seeds: Produced only in female cannabis plants; they are roughly the size of a match head
- Taproot: The main root of a cannabis plant
- Stalk: A centralized main stem that grows lateral branches
- Branches: Grow laterally and produce fan leaves
- Fan leaves: The signature fan-shaped leave of the cannabis plant; these are discarded because they contain minimal levels of resin, if any
- Sugar leaves: Small leaves that are coated in resin; buds form around them
- Buds/flowers: The flower of the cannabis plant; it contains active ingredients such as terpenes and cannabinoids (THC, CBD); a cluster of buds/flowers is referred to as a cola
- Bract: Denoted by tear-shaped leaves that are coated in heavy resin
- Pistil: Contains the flower’s reproductive components
- Stigma: Very thin strands that extend from the pistil that collect pollen
When to Harvest Cannabis and How Cannabis Testing Equipment is Used
Knowing when to harvest cannabis is determined in a couple of ways. The first is by having the crop assessed by an expert grower who’s well versed in determining the maturity of these types of crops. The appearance of trichomes, bract, and buds are heavy indicators.
The second way is by getting crops tested by a third-party lab or by using in-house cannabis testing equipment. One of the major benefits of having cannabis testing equipment on-site is that lab results can be obtained on the same day of the test. By comparison, third-party labs usually have a backlog of samples to get through, which may delay test results for several weeks.
For those that are part of a growing and cultivating operation that requires reliable testing, Elite Robotics currently offers two solutions. The Cannabot line consists of a containment device that hermetically seals samples until they’re ready to be tested and an analyzer. Using our cannabis testing equipment, growers and cultivators will be able to test their crops to determine THC potency and purity levels, along with other key metrics.
Learn more about our cannabis testing equipment or become an investor by contacting Elite Robotics at (805) 987-6217. Or send us a message directly using our contact form.