Trouble reading today's article? Click
here: Issue #259 - Sunday, April 2, 2017 Dear Fellow Grower,
In today's issue... - Learn the reasons why buds can end up being weak, and learn how to strengthen your cannabis!
- Learn how to store cannabis properly so it never loses potency!
- Check out the Trophy Pic of the Week, which shows the dramatic difference between two different auto-flowering strains!
Nebula Haze & Sirius Fourside (founders of GrowWeedEasy.com) "The THC levels were not high. The main reason is that the plants were receiving only a moderate amount of light during flowering."
~Ed Rosenthal
Why is My Weed Weak? by Nebula Haze |
So you grew some cannabis, and unfortunately, it's not as potent as you would have liked. Perhaps you aren't getting much of an effect, or even worse you may be getting negative side effects like headaches or racing thoughts. There are a few reasons this happens and today I'm going to break it down so you grow marijuana with the
potency and effects you're looking for! |
The biggest factors when it comes to cannabis potency are...
1.)
Strain
The number one contributor to the potency is the strain. Unfortunately, growing seeds from "strong" weed doesn't always result in strong weed. In order to get consistent potency, it's important to start with good genetics. Fortunately there are many talented breeders who have stabilized specific strains so you can choose a strain that produces the effects and strength you're looking
for!
There are literally thousands of great strains, each with their own unique effects!
However, I think my all-time favorite strain for pure potency is Sour Diesel by Reserva Privada. It gives you a head rush; I almost had to put a warning on it! 2.) Harvested Too Early
Cannabis buds are not potent when they first grow in, and need time to
mature before they're ready to harvest. Not only that, buds harvested too early are more likely to give you headaches or racing thoughts. It's common for new growers to harvest their plants too early, and as a result their buds will not be as strong as they could have been, or have unwanted side effects.
This bud was harvested too early, and as a result the mental and physical effects were very weak! 3.) Didn't Provide Enough Light
When a plant doesn't get strong light levels during the flowering
stage, it can result in small, airy buds that don't have a strong effect.
Up to a point,
more light is better! Some growers even combine more than one type of light, like this grower who combined both HPS and LED grow lights!4.) Buds Dried Too Fast After Harvest
Buds need to be slow dried for at least 2-3 days (and as much as 7-10 days) immediately after harvest for the best results in
potency. This is step one of the post-harvest process. As a grower, if you pick a few buds early you'll notice that the potency of a "live tested" bud is lower than buds that have been properly dried and cured.
5.) Buds Weren't Cured for 2+ Weeks
After buds have been slow dried, they should be put in air
tight jars that are "burped" daily for at least 2 weeks. This process of storing newly dried bud in an airtight container while giving them periodic bursts of fresh air is called "curing".
Curing reduces harshness and the "green" taste of newly dried buds, and curing also helps your bud regain its "cannabis smell" which tends to fade during the drying process. Make sure buds never feel moist, they should
be dry!
Put fresh or "green" buds in glass mason jars to improve the quality
During the curing process you should open your jars daily, but otherwise keep buds air-tight! 6.) Very Seedy Bud (Was Pollinated)
If your buds are exposed to pollen (either from a male
plant or a hermie plant), then it can develop seeds in your buds. A few seeds aren't going to have much effect on the overall potency of your buds, but very seedy bud that's been heavily pollinated can sometimes be weak because the plant was putting more energy into making seeds than producing trichomes.
This is an example of a pollinated marijuana bud with a seed exposed
7.) Incorrect Ratio of THC to CBD
There are dozens if not hundreds of compounds in cannabis
(some of the most common are cannabinoids and terpenes) that each change the overall effects of the bud. This means there's more to potency than
just strong vs weak. Different strains and buds have different effects.
For example, if you have a strain that is high in CBD, it will prevent the buds from having a psychedelic effect even if THC is there. Therefore, if you're looking for a strong mental effect, it's important to choose a strain that's relatively
low in CBD. On the flip side, high levels of CBD is very suitable for certain medical marijuana patients.
Cannabis that feels "weak" usually either has low levels of THC and/or high levels of CBD 8.) Getting Used to Strain
If you've been enjoying the same strain for a while, especially if
it's also from the same harvest, the feeling of potency may start to lessen over time. If you don't want to feel "messed up" that can be a good thing, but if you want to maximize the overall perceived potency and "strength" of your cannabis, you will get the best results by changing strains on a regular basis if possible.
If you're consuming the same harvest for a while, it
can start to feel less potent over time as your body gets used to the effects.
(Increase the Perceived Potency of Weak
Buds)
What's the Best Way to Store Weed? |
When it comes to storing your cannabis, the method you choose makes a big difference in how long your buds maintain potency and freshness!
I've tried a few different methods for storing
marijuana over the years, and the following two methods seem to work best for me!
Using Glass for Storage <-- Recommended - Air-tight and smell-proof
- Doesn't stop the curing process, and buds may actually continue to cure and gain potency over time
- Doesn't affect the natural smell/taste of buds (unlike plastic, metal and some types of wood)
- Won't cause trichomes to break off due to static
- Buds last for 1+ years in a cool, dark place without losing potency
Using the Freezer for Storage <-- Great for Long-Term
Storage - If using Freezer Bags (as opposed to glass jars), buds may lose some of their smell/flavor over time due to the plastic, and are easily damaged from handling in their frozen state. However using glass jars in the freezer will help prevent these problems.
- Always allow buds to warm up to room temperature before handling to prevent trichomes from breaking off into the jar
- Buds that are frozen will maintain their potency for years
A plastic baggy will dry out your buds and reduce their smell over time! Avoid if
possible!
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Subject: About this awesome web site
Message: Thank you Nebula Haze for all the info you guys have put together on this web site, it's everything I need to know plus more. I have a blood disorder that left me with nerve damage. Medical weed has helped so much it gives me a brake from pain. I have been
growing in the summer in my tomato greenhouse. I am wanting to set up a grow in the house I am legal to produce. Will be using your great site a lot. Thanks again
Kerry |
Trophy Picture of the Week! |
This is just a post that I hope some new growers will read and use the information given, a small point of information that I feel, overlooked, could be as annoying to other new growers as it is to me, right now!!!
Dear new growers, please take the time to
research the strains you are growing, and take into account the height your plants will grow to, don't choose by name, like me, or you could end up in trouble, like me.........the heights of strains differ wildly as you can see below.
The small plant is White Widow auto and the big one is Onyx auto, I resorted to supercropping the main stem of the Onyx but she stood back up stronger than before?!! I supercropped again out of desperation but it's not good enough as you can see, I know this stuff is exciting people but take a minute to read the specs and you won't end up like me.
~Vapo69
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This was such an awesome and demonstrative picture, I had to share! ~Nebula We encourage you to forward this email to a friend in need!
Check Out Our Growing Community! |
Check out our friendly growing community to ask questions, discuss your grow, share pictures, or otherwise talk about growing cannabis with other real growers!
Ask Questions & Talk With Other Growers!
Please note: We let each person in manually, so please be
patient after you request to join and we'll try to let you in as soon as possible!!
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Next, learn how to improve... |
Who Runs This
Newsletter? |
Nebula Haze:
I'll be honest with you, when I first started growing, I struggled. Now, it is my mission to
make it easier for new growers to get started as well as help advanced growers get bigger, better yields with less time and money. We are updating and adding articles every single week and our goal is to eventually build a comprehensive growing resource so anyone and everyone can grow if they want to! If we all share the knowledge there's more buds in the world for everyone :) |
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Learn which seed sources are personally recommended by Nebula Haze |
Sirius Fourside:
Sirius Fourside is a hobbyist grower who has gained the bulk of his experience growing in water as a medium (deep water culture, bubbleponics).
"Growing cannabis can be a relaxing hobby in and of itself, but it also saves you money and keeps you from having to deal with shady characters. Cannabis is much easier to grow than people give it credit for, and growing in water
doesn't increase the difficulty much, if any. But whether you want to grow in water, coco, or a different medium, we'll show you how easy it can be!"
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Disclaimer: Grow Weed Easy only recommends products that we've either personally checked out ourselves, or that come from people we know and trust. For doing so, we may receive a commission. Nothing in this e-mail should be considered personalized Financial, Legal, or Medical Advice. The contributors to this magazine grow legally under their local laws but are not lawyers or medical professionals. Any decision to grow marijuana should only be made after consulting with an
experienced lawyer or other legal adviser. Any medical decisions should only be made after speaking with a doctor or other medical professional. Be safe!
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