How to Harvest Pot Plants Outdoors

If you have grown marijuana plants outdoors, it’s important to know when to harvest them. Harvesting at the right time can make a huge difference in the potency and quality of your buds. In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know about how to harvest pot plants outdoors.

Understand the Flowering Stage

Before you start harvesting your plants, it’s important to understand the flowering stage. This is the time when your plants begin to produce buds or flowers. You can tell when your plants are entering the flowering stage by looking for small white or yellow hairs on the buds.

Once your plants enter the flowering stage, they will mature at different rates. Some plants may mature in as little as 7 weeks while others may take up to 14 weeks. Knowing the flowering time of your particular strain will help you decide when to harvest.

Know When to Harvest

During the flowering stage, the hairs on the buds will change from white to red or brown. This is a good indication that your plants are getting close to harvest time. However, it’s important to also look at the trichomes on the buds.

Trichomes are the tiny crystal-like structures that cover the buds. When the trichomes turn cloudy or milky, it’s a sign that your plants are ready to harvest. If you wait too long, the trichomes will turn amber and the potency of the buds will degrade.

Harvesting the Buds

When it’s time to harvest your plants, you will need to cut the buds from the plant. Use sharp scissors or pruning shears to snip the buds off the plant. Be careful not to damage the buds or the surrounding vegetation during the process.

You will also need to trim the buds to remove any excess leaves or stems. This will help improve the overall quality of your buds. Once you have trimmed the buds, you will need to dry them.

Drying the Buds

After you have harvested and trimmed your buds, you will need to dry them. To dry your buds, hang them upside down in a cool, dark, and dry place. You can use string or fishing line to hang the buds so that they are evenly spaced and not touching each other.

Let the buds dry for at least five days, up to two weeks. Be sure to check them daily to make sure they are not getting moldy or overly dry. Once the buds feel dry to the touch and the stems snap instead of bend, they are ready for the curing process.

Curing Your Buds

To cure your buds, place them in a glass jar and seal the lid. You can use a humidity pack to help regulate the moisture level inside the jar. Store the jar in a cool, dark place and open it once a day for a few minutes to allow for air circulation.

The curing process can take anywhere from two weeks to two months, depending on the humidity level and temperature in your storage space. Once the buds are cured, they will have a smoother smoke and a more potent high.

Conclusion

Harvesting your pot plants outdoors is a rewarding experience. By understanding when to harvest your buds, and how to properly dry and cure them, you can ensure that you get the highest quality buds possible. Follow these tips, and you’ll be on your way to enjoying a successful harvest.