Harvesting cannabis plants outdoors is not similar to indoors. The main difference is that when growing your cannabis indoors, you can control all the environmental factors, including temperature, humidity, light, and more. However, when you are growing outdoors, you cannot control these things. Therefore, you will need to know how to deal with them so that your plants will still be healthy and produce a good yield.
The first thing that you need to do is to determine when the plants are ready for harvest. This can be tricky because many factors can affect the plant’s maturity, such as the weather, the strain of cannabis, and more. However, there are some general guidelines that you can follow.
Generally, indica strains are ready for harvest around eight(8) weeks after flowering. On the other hand, Sativa strains can take up to 10 weeks. However, these are just general guidelines, and your plants may be ready earlier or later than this, depending on the factors mentioned above.
Once you have determined that your plants are ready for harvest, the next thing that you need to do is to prepare for the harvest. This includes trimming the leaves, removing the large fan leaves, and more. Trimming the leaves will help increase the airflow around the buds, which will help them dry faster.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to harvest your cannabis plants outdoors:
1. Inspect and Cut Down the Main Stem
The first step is to inspect your plant and cut down the main stem. When inspecting your plant, look for any signs of pests or diseases. If you see any, make sure to remove them right away.
Once you have inspected your plant, cut down the main stem carefully without damaging the buds. To do that, use a sharp and sterilized knife or scissors. Cut the stem at an angle so that more surface area is exposed to air. The angle should be about 45 degrees.
2. Cut Off the Side Branches
After cutting down the main stem, cut off the side branches carefully. Again, use a sharp and sterilized knife or scissors to avoid damaging the buds. Remember that the side branches contain a lot of leaves, so make sure to remove them as well.
However, some strains with relatively large leaves, such as indica strains. For these strains, you can leave some leaves on the side branches to help protect the buds from the sun.
3. Trim the Leaves
After cutting off the side branches, it’s time to trim the leaves. Start by removing the large fan leaves first. These leaves are not needed and will only slow down the drying process.
Once you have removed the large fan leaves, trim the smaller leaves around the buds. Again, trimming the leaves will help increase the airflow around the buds and dry them faster.
4. Dry and Cure the Buds
Now that you have trimmed the leaves, it’s time to dry and cure the buds. Start by hanging them upside down in a dark and cool place. Ensure good airflow in the room to help dry the buds faster.
Once the buds are dry, you can then cure them. Curing helps improve the taste, smell, and potency of the buds. To cure the buds, put them in jars and seal them tightly. Store the jars in a cool and dark place for at least 2 weeks. After that, your buds are ready to be smoked or used in edibles.
In Conclusion
This is a general guide on how to harvest your cannabis plants outdoors. Remember that many factors can affect the harvest, such as the weather, the strain of cannabis, and more. So, make sure to keep that in mind when harvesting your plants.
