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Tag: Cannabis Seeds

Growing Cannabis Plants with Seeds

Posted on by Boss Phil

Now, the option of growing a cannabis plant with seeds is apparently more trouble-free, assured strategy for the newly growers. This is the most complacent and the most doable approach to creating access to the cannabis plants. You can also choose Cannabis Seeds based on your desired size, flavor, flowering times, and effects. If you think that it is terrorizing to grow plants that came from seeds, then perhaps you can rest yourself now because it actually suggests less trouble compared to growing plants using culticlones.

There are several seed banks available which propose products that are proven and tested. Seeds coming from seed banks are most likely efficient. Since you can maneuver the variety of your choice, it will be easier for you to determine the best cannabis strain for you. For sure you do not want to waste your time and money by purchasing products that are low in quality.

It is also good to understand that there are three various types of seeds for cannabis plants, namely:

  1. Autoflower Seeds– These seeds are cultivated by mixing ruderalis with either Indica or Sativa. These seeds instantly start flowering with few numbers of weeks of fertilization without having to change the cycle of the light. Autoflower seeds are mostly suggested to beginners who have limitations on height and time.
  2. Feminized Seeds – These seeds are cultivated by mixing two female cannabis plants. One of them was strained to produce male pollen sacks. Since the feminized seeds do not have male chromosomes, they are likely always female. The feminized seeds are commonly recognized as more cost-efficient because anyone can anticipate for all the seeds to become female.
  3. Regular Seeds – These seeds are cultivated by mixing the male and female cannabis in order to generate offspring. Characteristically, these seeds will consist of male and female cannabis plants. This illustrates that approximately one-half of the total seeds you fertilized will have to be culled in order to distinguish the male plants from the female plants.

Another thing that can justify the significance of seeds over clone is that it is commonly what is common to the cannabis plant. Marijuana is known to be an annual plant, which means that its life can only extend up to one year. Marijuana is not equipped with the capability of being active for a longer period of time and it does not flower for a longer period. Thus, clones taken from mature mother plants may be getting old already and might yield minimal buds compared to seeds.

Cannabis plants that are grown from seeds will possess a cordial structure of root. People who do not have any knowledge of gardening, the main part of the full root system of a plant are the taproot. The taproot penetrates deeply in the surrounding soil and ingests a huge quantity of nutrients. A clone plant is not capable of flouring a tap root, therefore, it can never be as solid and hearty as the plants grown from seeds.

Advantages of Seeds:

  1. Pathogens – With seeds, you can have a clean beginning.  You are assured that there is no inheritance of risks such as diseases and pests.
  2. Endurance – Seeds produce more enduring plants since seeds have a taproot.
  3. Acquisition – Seeds are easier to get and easier to produce all by yourself. The seeds can be shipped in any part of the world and can be delivered right in your door.

Disadvantages of Seeds:

  1. Variable – Seeds are completely dissimilar. It simply means that if you purchase one bag of seeds, the unique gene expression will be present between the cannabis plants. Although this is a fun type of variety, it can also signify that there is no chance that you can ever grow similar plant again except if you use clones.
  2. Sexing – When growing with the regular seeds, it will be required that you figure out the sex of every plant and eradicate the male plants. The step of figuring out the sex can be tough. This will normally require a microscope and some practice to effectively determine the sex.
  3. Viable – Well, not all seeds are already mature or hearty enough to fertilize. Normally, hearty and fully enhanced seeds are color brown as contrary to yellow or white.
  4. Time – Growing with seeds will normally take longer as compared to clones, except if you use autoflowering seeds. The extensive period of the growing seeds is due to the procedure of figuring out the sex. Big thanks to the modern technology; this procedure can now be finished during the first two weeks of fertilization with a tissue specimen.

Yes, there was a point of time when clones were famous and well acknowledged. However, growers had concerns on the odd characteristics of their plants have brought them back to the technique of seed growing.

By understanding the differences between seeds and clones in growing a cannabis plant, it will be easier for you now to come up with a decision of which side you will go. At least, you now have a better picture of what these methods are after comprehending the best and also the worst facts of each growing strategy. Whether you plan to plant indoor or outdoor, either seeds or clones can be used in growing the cannabis plants. You can also solicit advice and tips from your fellow growers if you want to be certain with your choice.

Growing cannabis plant either through seeds or clones can serve well depending on you really need. You must be certain of what kind of result you are looking for. Seeds and clones both have their good and not so good aspects and all you have to do is to weigh and evaluate these things. At the end of the day, it will still go back to the personal preferences and taste of the growers. Needless to say, one should really be wise and be careful when deciding which method to apply as it will completely affect the absoluteness of the growth of the plant.

How to Clone a Weed Plant

Posted on by Boss Phil

There are two ways to grow a cannabis plant. One, you can grow almost all strains of cannabis from seeds. Second, you can grow some cannabis plants using clones or cuttings. Growing from seeds is the most traditional but some strains are not available in seed form anymore. This is why some cannabis growers resort to using cuttings to grow plants. But not all plants may be cloned so consider this information when choosing the strain you want to clone.

Why use clones

Clones take the short cut to grow healthy cannabis. You no longer have to deal with germinating your seeds and going through the tough yet very crucial seedling phase. Many experienced growers agree that this is the most important part of every cannabis grows. If you fail during the germination and the seedling phase, your yields will greatly reduce and your plants won’t be as healthy as they are.

Remember the strain you love to consume over and over again? With cloning, you will be able to preserve the flavor, taste, and aroma that you love about this strain. With cloning, you can get the same plant, its appearance, the recreational effects and the medicinal effects that you crave for.

But a word of warning, cloning can only go as far as a number of generations. The genetics of a parent plant will eventually change due to an overproduction of hormones. This is why you need to make sure that the parent plant is in good health and is ready to provide you with good clones.

Things you will need for cloning

You need the following to clone cannabis plants

  • A healthy parent plant

You need a healthy parent to grow healthy clones. Healthy plants are essentially plants that don’t have any growth issues. These plants grow new leaves and stem almost daily during the growing phase. These plants are also free from pests and molds.

Parent plants are also still in their growing phase or vegetative phase. These should be actively growing so these could be at around three or four weeks into the growing phase.

  • A sharp or preferably new razor blade

You need a sharp blade or preferably a new blade so this will cut well. Avoid using scissors to cut your clone plants because these can crush the stem and cause more damage. Remember that cutting clones is stressful for any plant and you should give your plants as little stress as possible.

  • Growing medium, we prefer you use peat cubes at this stage

Although you can use a variety of growing mediums for your plant, it would be a good idea to start peat cubes. Why peat cubes?

Peat cubes are easy to use and you can easily transfer your peat cube-grown plants to a long-term, permanent growing medium after it has matured. Peat cubes are very cheap and are so easy to use. This will be discussed more in the cloning instructions below.

Another popular growing medium is Rockwool. This is similar to peat cubes but the cubes start out as very hard cubes. These should be immersed in water overnight to increase in size before use.  

  • Cloning powder or gel (optional)

You may or may not use cloning gels or powders. This is actually made of hormones that will stimulate the growth of the clones. This is available from online gardening stores or you can purchase this from a local garden shop.

  • A clean and sterile area for cutting

You need a clean and tidy working area. As much as possible, the area should be sterilized because you will be cutting your plants and exposing it to bacteria that cause plant diseases. Use soap and water to clean the area and dry with a soft, clean cloth afterwards. Use 70% isopropyl alcohol to disinfect the area. This will be enough to clean and sanitize your working area for cloning.

  • A humidity dome

This is available from gardening shops and online cannabis growing shops. This is basically a large dome where you will place your cannabis clones. Inside, the temperature and humidity inside the humidity dome are strictly controlled with an electronic system.

State of the art humidity domes are now available, with the ability to hold more clones and will be able to fine-tune temperature and humidity. You can also use this to grow all kinds of plants even herbs, vegetables, and fruits.

  • Intense grow lights

When it comes to grow lights, there are a few types that you can use. The most common are LED and CFL lamps. There are different advantages and disadvantages of each type of lamp.

LEDs are known to be the most efficient. These are brighter, will last longer and are cost-effective since it costs less to use LED lamps than other forms of lighting. The downside of using LED lamps is that it is very expensive. But the cost can be easily augmented since it will take a long time before you replace your bulbs.

CFL lamps are also very popular because these are available in different wattages and tints. These are inexpensive but are not as bright as LEDs.

  • Protective gear

As you create a clean and sterile environment where you will cut clones, you also need to protect your plants from microorganisms that you may give to your plants. Wash your hands thoroughly and use isopropyl alcohol to sterilize your plants. You may also use gloves when handling your plants.

  • Water

You need clean and safe water for your plants. As much as possible use distilled water or bottled water at this time. This will avoid any problems with pH as well as any nutrient imbalance.

The Steps to Clone Cannabis Plants

There are a number of ways you can clone your cannabis plants. You can do this in water, soil and in Rockwool. These are time-tested methods that you can actually do yourself. These can be done at home using the materials indicated above.  

No matter what method you choose, work in a sterile environment because dirt and dust will ruin the quality of your work. Treat our cannabis clones with TLC. These need the best care to grow into healthy, well-adjusted and high-yielding cannabis plants that will grow lovely resinous flowers.

Cloning Cannabis in Rockwool

Cloning in Rockwool is a very popular one of the most popular methods. It’s quick and easy and gives very favorable results.

  1. Soak Rockwool cubes in water for about two hours

This will make the Rockwool fatter and will expand many times its size. Use water that is pH balance at 5.5.

A word of warning for Rockwool users: Rockwool cubes are very popular but this material starts out as very dry and can irritate your respiratory system and your eyes if the tiny bits reach your eyes and nose. Be sure to wear a face mask and gloves when working with Rockwool.

  1. Prepare your clones

After soaking the Rockwool in water for two hours, remove these and let these drain. Take a cutting and remove almost all its leaves except for the ones that are found at the top. This is done to stimulate the plant to start growing roots.  

  1. Dip the tips of t the clones in cloning gel or cloning powder

Take one clone cutting and hold it gently along its body and then dip the bottom tip in cloning gel or powder. Some growers even double dip: they dip the tip in cloning gel and then dip this again in cloning powder.

  1. Place the clone in a Rockwool cube

Take a Rockwool cube and locate the small hole or section for the clone. Place the clone inside, carefully place the tip (the section that was dipped in cloning gel) inside the cube.

  1. Place your cubes under bright grow lights

When your cubes are ready, place these under intense growing lamps. Your clones should receive at least 18 hours of light in a day. A CFL bulb is recommended for cloning using Rockwool pellets. Clones should be kept at a temperature between 72-75 degrees. When you maintain this growing condition, your clones will finally grow roots in just 7 to12 days.

  1. Use a humidity dome

To ensure success, you might want to consider placing your plants inside a humidity dome that provides the best growing environment that is conducive to root development. Your clones will stay in this dome till the time it grows roots.

  1. Transfer in a growing medium

After growing more roots or complex root systems and you can see more new leaves, it’s time to transfer your plants in a growing medium. You may use soil, coco coir or grow your plants in hydroponics.

Cloning Weed in Soil

Cloning in soil is the most common way of growing cannabis clones. With this method, there is no time wasted because you will already cultivate your plants in its final growing container. But if you still want to grow in a smaller container like a party cup, you may still can; although you may risk stressing your plant when you transfer to a larger growing container.

Small young plants especially clones can be prone to stress, therefore, you must handle these carefully. There are many reasons why your plants can become stressed and one of these is transplanting from one growing container to another.  This is why most growers that cultivate in soil start growing their young plants in soil in their final containers.

  1. Take the cutting from the mother plant.

Cut the clone from the mother plant. Use a sharp blade and cut the clone at a 45-degree angle.

  1. Remove any mature leaves from the stalk of your clone.

Removing mature leaves should be done to stimulate the cutting to grow roots. Leave only the leaves at the tips of the cutting.

  1. Dip the end of the cutting in water and then in cloning gel or powder.

You must move quickly after removing mature leaves. Dip the tip in water and then in cloning gel. You may triple dip to ensure early growth of the clone roots; dip once in water then in cloning gel and finally in cloning powder.

  1. Place growing soil in growing containers.

Use the best soil for growing cannabis plants: sandy-clayey soil. This type of soil is porous but will absorb water and nutrients better. It will remove excess water and nutrients too. Make sure that your container has adequate drainage from the bottom. Water the soil until you see water runoff from the hole at the bottom of the container. Wait till the soil is moist before placing the clone.

  1. Stick the clone in the soil.

As soon as the soil is moist you may now stick the clone into the soil. For soils that come with nutrients flush this with pHed water to prevent any nutrient imbalance. Clones don’t need to be fed at this early stage so just water your plants twice or three times a week. When all the growing conditions are met, your clones will grow roots at around 7 days.

Cloning cannabis in water

Aside from Rockwool and soil, you can cultivate clones in water until these grow roots. This is very easy to do and most growers that use this technique agree that it is very effective and will support root growth in clones faster than most methods. You will use clean, pHed water for this method. This will ensure that your plants grow without suffering from nutrient imbalances.

  1. Take cuttings from the parent plant.

Cut the clones in a 45-degree angle using a sharp blade. Doing so improves the surface area of the stem to efficiently take in water and nutrients.

Remove the mature leaves at the lower part of the cutting. Just leave the leaves that are located at the tip.

  1. Place water in a tall container.

Use clean pHed water for your clones. Use a tall and large container that will fit all the clones or cuttings you have taken from the parent plant.

  1. Replace water that has evaporated from the container.

It may take up to 7 days for your plants to develop roots and during this time, water from the plants will have evaporated. Replace this and never let the container be without water. Roots will soon appear on the 7th day onwards. When this happens, it’s time to transfer your plants to a better growing medium, soil, coco coir or grow this in hydro.

Growing and maintaining your mother plant

Thanks to a healthy and well-developed mother plant, you have clones that will grow into young cannabis plants soon. It is therefore very important to ensure the health of your parent plant so you can harvest more clones in the future.

A mother plant is simply a cannabis plant that has been cultivated to remain in the vegetative phase. How is this so? This is done by constant trimming of the large fan leaves and pretty much most of the plant’s parts. This way, the plant still thinks that it is in the vegetative phase and it still needs to grow more leaves and stems.

To maintain the health of the mother plant you must have at least three or more plants. This way, a plant can rest and recuperate while you still have other plants to harvest from.

Having a collection of healthy mother plants is essential because you cannot clone the same plant over and over again. Doing so can hurt the genetics of your mother plant leading to the growth of weak plants with many different health issues. Your plants can also develop mutations as a result of tireless cloning.

The mother plant deserves a good area in your growing space where it can relax and recuperate after harvest of clones. Keep it under 18 or more hours of light every day to initiate the growing cycle. You may use a separate tent or growing cabinet for your plants if possible.

Stop feeding nutrients to the mother plant for at least a few days before harvesting clones. This reduces nutrient overload in clones as they are transferred to a new growing environment like peat cubes, Rockwool cubes, and soil.

Is it Better to Grow Plants from Seeds or from Clones?

The taproot in plants grown in seeds is a huge advantage. Growers will be able to cultivate strong, resilient and healthier plants when they grow these from seeds rather than from clones. The taproot makes a lot of difference to keep a plant healthy and able to take in nutrients for growth and development.

The taproot also helps plants adjust to weather extremes which are mostly true for plants grown outdoors. Cloning is faster and cost-efficient when it comes to leapfrogging the seedling phase of the plant. Growers don’t need to spend much on growing supplies to grow more plants and there is no need to bother with germination as well.

How to Germinate Weed Seeds: The Definitive Guide

Posted on by Boss Phil

Germinating weed seeds refer to the process of making your seeds sprout, that is when white, little tendrils pop out of the seeds.

Your marijuana cultivation project usually starts with this process. It could be challenging if you are not familiar with the method just yet.

To help you out, read through this guide and learn more about the water soaking + paper towel germination method as the best way to germinate Cannabis Seeds.

Cannabis Seed Germination – Cup of Water + Paper Towel Germination Method

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The cup of water + paper towel germination method is a tested way to germinate Cannabis Seeds. In this guide, we will discuss this process in detail.

Reminders

Before starting the germination process, it is best to prepare everything that you need, including your workspace. Make sure that all the tools are cleaned accordingly. This is to make sure that cross contamination is avoided. Also, it is important to ensure that all necessary materials are available.

Preparing a checklist would also help. Make sure that you have the following:

  • A glass/cup
  • A plate
  • Tweezers
  • Bottled Spring Water/Distilled Water
  • Absorbent Kitchen Paper Towels

For the water, make sure that you only use bottled spring water or distilled water. Boiling water does not help either. It only kills the germs but does not necessarily remove impurities.

For the absorbent kitchen paper towels, use the really absorbent ones, not Kleneex tissue.

Optional Step

To further encourage the seeds to start germinating, you may do light scuffing of the seeds. This can be done using fine sandpaper, or even an emery board. You may also opt to shake the seeds inside a pill bottle. This process will enable the outer shell to loosen it. At the same time, the water will be able to penetrate easier, thus starting the germination process accordingly, and earlier.

Fill a glass with water, leaving it to stagnate inside a room with a temperature higher than room temperature, specifically between 20 to 25 degrees Celsius.

Place the seeds into the glass and observe them as they float. Allow the seeds to soak for about 12 to 18 hours. Take note that the process of soaking the seeds is the most important step.

After soaking the seeds, check each of them, tapping gently with your finger. You may even see the seeds sinking to the bottom.

You may observe the seed shell cracking, with a small, white root starting to appear. This is the signal that the germination process now is starting. You may wonder how long to leave seeds in water. Leaving them for 14 to 18 hours is fine. Still, it is just fine if the shell has not yet cracked towards the end of this time period.

Take note that it is not advisable to soak your seeds in the cup for more than 18 hours. Also, the tap roots should be allowed to grow to a length reaching 3 cm to 1 inch.

Preparations

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After seeing the seeds crack open, with white root forming, you can start using two or more paper towels in order to make a thick, folded layer on top of the plate. Using distilled rainwater, make sure to moisten the paper towels enough for them to be damp, but not soaking wet. If there is any excess water, make sure to drain them.

After 14 to 18 hours of soaking the paper towel, place the Cannabis Seeds between the two folded paper towels. Give enough space for the seeds in order to prevent the tangling of the new taproots.

The germination plate should be stored in a closed, dark space, but make sure to keep the layers moist. This can be done by dripping water at least every 5 to 12 hours. They just need to be kept wet, but not soaked.

Another thing that needs to be taken seriously is to make sure that the paper towels do not dry out. They need to stay moist. This may have to be given more depending on the humidity levels of the environment. This means the need to regularly check the dampness of the towels throughout the process.

Also, the plate with the completed germination should be placed away from direct sunlight. Rather, it should be placed on a heat source, a warm appliance perhaps, in order to help the seeds to absorb more water. The room temperature should stay at 21 to 29.4 degrees Celsius. With enough darkness, moisture, and warmth, better results are encouraged.

Important Notes

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It is very important to check the paper towels and the Cannabis Seeds at least twice or thrice a day for every 24 hours. During this period, make sure that you do not touch the seeds. Ensure that there is a proper moisture level in the towels, and wait for the taproots to surface.

If there is a need to touch the Cannabis Seeds, using tweezers is recommended. Take extra care in moving the seeds because they are so fragile at this stage that they can be damaged quite easily when transplanted or transported. The taproots should be especially untouched.

When the taproots reach about ¼ inch or ½ inch in length, the process of germination is now complete. The Cannabis Seeds are now ready for transplanting into the soil, with the taproot facing down.

Most of the seeds will begin germination within just 24 to 48 hours. However, there are some seeds that may take as long as a period of 7 days, mostly depending on the strain. So long as the directions mentioned above are followed, then you can expect up to 80% success in germination. This method has been designed to replicate the actual process that the seeds usually go through when grown in a natural environment.

Germinating Cannabis Seeds – Summary

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Before you start with germinating seeds, there are certain things that you need to take into consideration as something very important. For example, it is recommended by expert growers to use only bottled spring water.

With this said, you can now proceed with the process in germinating Cannabis Seeds.

Step 1: Prepare Your Seeds. First, place your seeds in a cup. Make sure that the water is at room temperature. This should be done for 14 to 18 hours. Since the seeds normally float, you can sink the seeds to the bottom of the cup using your fingers.

If you notice that some of the seeds do not sink, do not worry. This is just fine. It also does not matter at this point whether the seeds start cracking or remain uncracked. It is also advised not to PH your water, use water coming from a well, or use reverse osmosis.

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Step 2: Get two pieces of thick paper towels and place them on top of a dinner plate.

Step 3: Pour the seeds together with the water on the paper towel. Afterwards, fold the towel over the Cannabis Seeds to cover. Drain any excess water. This is a vital step to ensure that the seeds could feel air, moisture, and heat simultaneously.

Avoid putting the seeds in a drawer, cupboard, as well as other small, closed spaces. Doing this will only pose more difficulties for the seeds to crack and open.

Step 4: The seeds will start to crack open at this time. You will see a taproot beginning to develop. With this, you can allow the taproot to grow half a centimeter to three-quarters of an inch before you transplant the seeds.

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Note that the number of days in which the seeds will germinate may depend on the type of strain of the seeds that you are trying to grow. Still, it may take between 2 to 7 days to crack open.

At this point, it is recommended to use only plain soil for plotting. Avoid using nutrients on the soil, especially during the first three weeks of growing.

It is important to avoid covering the plate using another plate, a ziplock bag or plastic wrap. Doing so will only stop the free flow of oxygen as the weed seeds also require airflow, warmth, and moisture.

Possible Reasons for Germination Failure

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Since there is still a percentage of failure during the germination process, it is best to know what the possible reasons are.

  • The seeds should be allowed to sit on the paper towels for about 14 to 18 hours. If you fail to do so, perhaps removing them earlier, then the seeds will fail to germinate as the seeds were not soaked in the cup of water long enough.
  • Another reason for failure is if the paper towels end up either being too wet or too dry. The seeds could drown, or dehydrated.
  • The seeds can also die if the temperature in the place where you are placing them is too hot. This could also be the same if the temperature is too cold.
  • Avoid suffocating the seeds in plastic. Seeds also need air to breathe.
  • There is a possibility of failed germination if you are using tap water. Tap water often has too many impurities.

Emergency Germination

In such a case that your seeds end up failing to germinate, the reason is most likely due to lack of water. To save the process, make sure to drop the seeds in a cup of distilled water, leaving them right there until you start seeing a tap root surfacing. When it does, you can then start with the paper towel method until you notice that the tap root reaches ½ inch long.

Planting Your Germinated Weed Seeds

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After seeing that the Cannabis Seeds have finally sprouted, it is very important to plant them right away. At this point, it is very important to make sure that you do not touch the taproots using your finger. If you do, the seed may still survive, but damage to the root may slow down or even stunt the growth of the seedling right from the start.

Plant with the Root Down

When you plant the seeds, do so in a way that the white root faces downward. The root should be about a knuckle deep into the growing medium. The top, on the other hand, should be just beneath the surface of the medium. Keep in mind that while the success rate of the paper towel germination method is high, there will be instances wherein you will lose a seed. Keep in mind that most of the time it has nothing to do with how you did it.

Within the first few weeks of germination, you may notice that some seeds start germinating right away, while others may take longer. There are a number of reasons behind this, ranging from the age of the seed to the temperature, and several others. Usually, the amount of time does not have to do with the health of the plants in the long run.

Once the seeds are planted safely, you can now start turning on your grow light. The heat that comes from the light source will also improve the germination rate, and it can also help the seedlings to open their leaves.

If there is a need to transplant the seeds from one pot to another, avoid doing so until you notice that they are already established well, and have at least a couple sets of nodes, or leaves. As suggested by some growers, planting the seedlings in a peat pot or solo cup is a good option so that they can just cut the cup away for easier transplanting.

Keep in mind, however, that moving the seedlings a lot may stress the plant, even stunting their growth. Too much of this stress can even cause your plant to die. Therefore, it is best to plan right from the start so that you can easily plant your seeds after germination without having to move them around a lot.  

How to Grow Marijuana from Seed

Posted on by Boss Phil

Growing Cannabis Seeds are entirely attributed to the quality of the seeds. There is no chance for the plants to grow better than the seeds to which they grow from. Back then, seeds shops were nowhere to find. Hence seeds were preserved from unique buds – however, this was entirely a shot in the dark with plenty of tests with possibilities of errors. Fortunately, people now understand more about marijuana seed growing.

The growing of Cannabis Seeds is not a hard method to follow. In fact, even the growers who have just first started the venture of marijuana planting can easily try it. Nonetheless, the method is an expedition of phases. Cannabis Seeds are best to be grown with seeds because of the fact that their life cycle is short. With that being pointed out, you must be able to monitor daily your marijuana plants for moisture, diseases, pests, light, and nutrient inadequacy. If you are not confident with yourself in working with commitment and in dedicating enough time, then maybe you can blow the idea of planting Cannabis Seeds.

Similar to all types of gardening, growing marijuana is an ability that can be improved after a certain period of time. The process comprises steps that are easily learned but it requires a gleefully stoned life span to become adept. There is not enough justification for one to feel browbeaten by growing Cannabis Seeds. The method is actually simple but can either be cheap or costly depending on your preferences.

Gathering details and understanding the basics of growing Cannabis Seeds is a perfect state to begin at. Coming with a primed decision in the earlier period will boost your harvests. Here are the common basic steps on how to grow marijuana from seeds:

1. Choose Your Kind of Cannabis Seeds

The selection of seeds can be astounding. Ruderalis, sativa, and indica are some varieties which are accessible in just a click. You have gained personal knowledge based on your personal experiences. You may assess what kind of strains have suited well in your gutter before. Think about what kind of strain have worked well for you as a treatment to a certain ailment. These are basic things you can always go through when deciding for your own Cannabis Seeds.

After consolidating your personal preferences, you now contemplate on your growing lifestyles. Are you planning to grow your Cannabis Seeds in a small limited space where indicas or autoflowering strains can grow best? Or would you opt to grow your seeds in your huge backyard where your Cannabis Seeds can freely grow either in big pots or directly planted in the soil?

2. Basics of Marijuana

For you to achieve the best growth of your Cannabis Seeds while it gives you the dewy buds, your Cannabis Seeds would demand the basic things.

1. Air

To ensure the firmness and the appropriate exchange of gases, your marijuana seed needs an open fresh air. Well, there will be no issue if you grow your seeds outdoor since your plants will be denuded to air. However, indoor plants will require an intake of fresh air, old air exhaust, as well as a fan necessary for the movement of the air. Nonetheless, environments bolster molds, pests, and poor growth. The accumulations of gases will feat the growth of the plant.

2. Light

To ensure hearty vegetation of the Cannabis Seeds, there should be over twelve hours equivalent light for each twenty-four hour period. Growing the seeds indoor will let you control the light with the use of timers. On the other hand, in the planting of seeds outdoors, the germination should be deferred until the time when plants can finally be defined to the daylight of more than twelve hours and get direct sunlight of eight hours at a minimum each day.

3. Nutrients

Similar to other existing living creatures, marijuana plants also need fuel for them to grow. An ideal fragile mixture of soil that is abundant with minerals, vitamins, composts, and living organisms can provide your marijuana plant with sufficient food intended for the entire life cycle. You can further enhance the quality of your soil by watering it with a compost tea or other organic mixtures such as feather meals or molasses.

4. Water

Like the other living creatures, marijuana required water so that they can grow, flourish and deliver its biological purposes. If you are residing in a place where rainfall is a regular visitor, then the outdoor seeds can get all it requires. Huge marijuana plants are notably parched. If you intend to produce big plants, then you will definitely have to complement water in between the rainfalls. In indoors, the water turns to be the instrument that delivers nutrients. Uninterrupted water is made use to regularly lavish the soilless systems and the hydroponics.

5. Humidity

Growers do not have any command over humidity if plants are grown outdoors. Growers are literally under the grace of the climate. The positive thing is that the alternatives in humidity, as well as the healthy biological capacities, have to adjust to a modifying grow atmosphere and this makes your marijuana plant uniquely enduring. For indoor plant growing, the control for humidity is very necessary from the seeds to flowers. The leaves aspirate atmospheric moisture as one of their daily functions. A balanced humidity creates for hearty pests and mold-free surroundings.

6. Temperature

Marijuana plant is very tough and it can endure either in heat or cold temperature. But just like any other living things, the plant can also get stressed if they are exposed to extreme temperature. The marijuana plant can go through the survival stage with temperatures too high for over a long period of time. The acceptable temperature that would support a durable growth of marijuana is twenty-seven degrees centigrade. This ideal condition is easier achieved when indoor by securing fans, heating and cooling mats, and air conditioning units. The lights will definitely produce heat which requires being vented. For outdoors, the grower will have to choose their time. You must be aware of your specific climate. You can use a sun cycle to achieve the right timing.

7. Growing Medium

The organic growers shall make use certain types of soil each time inside or out. Nevertheless, the soil is not the only consideration. Balanced mediums which are completely dependent on nutrients consist of rock wool, perlite, or coconut coir.

3. Lights for Growing Indoor Cannabis Seeds

With the authorization of marijuana, choices of lights have been exploding absolutely. The deciding factor will be the budget.

Grow cupboards – Entirely tailored for marijuana and available to go refined grow cupboards created by individuals who have plenty of experience. If you have so many extra dollars, you can also use carbon filters, fans, lights, timers, another clone, and flower chambers. You can get these items and use them through plug and play.

Lights that are suited for each budget – You can use a primitive but proven to work effectively Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) or a small Light Emitting Diode (LED) set up in just three hundred dollars, by average.

4. Germination and Marijuana Seedlings

The starting point of your marijuana growing is the germination of your chosen Cannabis Seeds. Every feasible seed has the complete information required to grow your chosen marijuana strain. The germination of seeds will only require the perfect conditions, and then the life cycle will start.  Remember that there is no way for the seeds to germinate unless the three common requirements are achieved – ideal location, water, right temperature with right warmth. Growing marijuana is a kind of organic procedure that does not impose strict rules. There are several methods known for germinating marijuana:

1. In Water

Just soak the seeds in water that is abundant in enzyme until you notice the taproot occur then place them in the medium. The seeds will rapidly drive and crack the surface after a week.

2. Straight Right in the Medium

Put the seeds right in the medium. This is to prevent any possible transplant injury. Almost all the time, it is more doable to germinate through a small pot of your preferred medium then put on larger pots or in the garden.

3. Germination Stations

Giving considerable manipulation over the environment of germination, the germination stations give temperature control, humidity, and can expedite the times of germination.

4. Paper Towel

The seeds are out on a paper towel that is moist and placed in a dark place with warm temperature. This is commonly enclosed with an improved plate or plastic to keep the humidity and the moisture. After waiting for a few days to one week, the seeds are expected to already germinate.

5. Jiffies, Rock Wool and Plugs Stations

Doable to keep as you can potentially have up to fifty seeds germinating right in a very limited space. The moment the seeds have already rooted, they can now be transferred to their ultimate location without having to damage the roots.

5. The Vegetation Stage of Marijuana

The instance the green leaves converge the light, the process of photosynthesis becomes enthusiastic. The plants begin to metabolize and the vegetative stage has started.

Indoors: The daylights are set to eighteen hours a day, while night lights should be six hours.  This does not require coordination with the substantial daylight hours. You have the option to schedule it to hours that would perfectly work for you. The use of electrical devices during off-peak times can help you save a significant amount of money.

The marijuana plants are delightful to be put in organic soil or if they are being nourished with nutrients which are created intended for the stage of vegetation. Plenty of fan-forced light winds hold temperature under full command and build up the young plants. Extraneous controls can be incorporated such as casting carbon dioxide in the surrounding. You can participate in training that is not stressful to boost the rate of plant growth and enhance the flowers potentiality of indoor marijuana.

6. Blooming Stage of Hearty Marijuana

The phase of blooming, flowering, and budding refers to a similar growth phase of marijuana. The next coming months is something to look forward since the aromas begin to manifest. Exciting floral setups also start to appear which are specific to your kind of strain. The phase of blooming has unique periods which are natural to all kinds of marijuana plants and start the moment vegetation is over.

7. Quality of Buds by Undergoing Harvest, Drying, and Curing

In the last periods, the nutrients are taken for granted and the plants will be cleared out with cleansed water. This ensures a classic nutrient flavor and accumulated salt piquancy.

1. Harvesting

Some would simply wet the trim by eliminating all the leaves as the plant is still firmly standing then crack the plant down beyond. Hang the branches until they get dry or simply lay the individual buds right on a drying rack. Others will choose to eliminate only the big sugar leaves than do the harvest and hang the entire plant. No specific rules were implemented except that you are required to do careful handling.

2. Drying and Curing Marijuana

Dry the buds in a dark place with cool temperature with minimal humidity. Preferably, this procedure would really take time and shall consume at least two weeks.

Monitor things regularly for tendencies of mounds and over drying: If dried, the thin branches will quickly break. The thick branches will still be minimally malleable.

3. Storage of Cured Buds

Open the top portion of the jar once daily during the first two weeks. This produces accumulated humidity which can moulder the buds. The moment the flowers get dried to the touch, belch the jar once every week.

You can do curing for as long as you desire. You can keep your basis by determining your choice of smoothness. The longer item you will do the curing, the smoother result you will get.

Taking the pleasure of growing your own Cannabis Seeds is not hard. Simply give the needed attention and enough patience so that you can gain the stinky advantages regardless if they were taken from the smallest spaces of your place.

How to Make Bubble Hash from Marijuana Bud or Trim

Posted on by Boss Phil

Are you looking for a marijuana product with potent yields? Then you may want to try bubble hash. Albeit it’s already circulating around the cannabis sector for some time, many people still don’t know of its existence.

The continuous spread of the fame of marijuana across different locations helps in bringing bubble hash to the hands of cannabis connoisseurs. Read on as we help you discover information about bubble hash. We’re also going to give you a guide on how to make bubble hash from marijuana buds or trims.

What is Hash (Hashish)?

All cannabis plants regardless of heritage or genetics produce trichomes. These tiny outgrowths are unseen to the naked eye but tend to look like fine hairs upon closer inspection. Aside from having the appearance of hairs, these elements have a stalk with a round head. Trichomes have the form of very small mushrooms living on the surface of cannabis strains.

Now, cannabis plant manufacturers store cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes on the “head” of trichomes. These areas give cannabis users highs and may even help in relieving pain. Most marijuana plants offer several hundred trichomes mixed with other cannabis plant matter.

If you separate the trichomes, you get a highly potent extract from the marijuana buds. This extract is known as a concentrate which is also known as a hash. Otherwise known as hashish, the concentrate also has other slang names like weed wax, marijuana wax, and kief.

Regardless of the name you want to call it, trichomes bunched together help inventive marijuana consumers in experiencing more potent highs and effects. Bubble hash is a type of hash made with certain methods like ice water or hand-rolling extraction techniques.

Bubble Hash: A Quick Overview

The concentrate known as bubble hash is a cannabis concentrate created by acquiring dried and cured buds or trims. Users would pass the plant material to small screens the progressively become smaller until the trichomes are left.

Bubble hash acquired its name from bubble bags. It may also refer to the bubbles when the cannabis connoisseurs smoke the concentrate.

Things to Need in Making Bubble Hash

Bubble hash is a high-concentrate yield coming from old and pure methods of bringing more potent effects and highs to marijuana users. Some of the things needed to create the product include:

  • Stir sticks
  • 3 to 4 ounces of a chosen cannabis strain
  • Purified water
  • Bubble bags
  • 10 to 15 pounds of ice
  • A 5-gallon bucket
  • Cheesecloth

The Pros and Cons of Hash

While there are benefits to obtaining and using the hash, it doesn’t mean the concentrate is for every cannabis consumer out there. Let’s check the pros and cons of hash:

Pros Cons
It’s very strong. A small amount can get users high faster than traditional cannabis strains. It has a longer shelf life than regular weed. It can produce cleaner smoke. It has lesser tar.High potency may provide stronger pain relief benefits.Easier to consume as compared to smoking. Plenty of cannabis plant material gets thrown or re-used.It has lesser aroma and flavor than many cannabis strains. High potency may lead to stronger adverse effects like anxiety. More expensive to purchase or produce.

The Different Methods of Making Bubble Hash

As we’ve mentioned in an earlier segment, hash has been around the marijuana sector for a long time. Many cannabis connoisseurs now use different techniques to extract the concentrate from marijuana plant material. Continue reading as we guide you through some of the common methods in making bubble hash from marijuana buds or trims.

The Hand-Rolling Method

If you’re looking for a method to extract cannabis concentrate without spending a penny, then try the hand-rolling method. It’s a technique that virtually requires no equipment except non-dried cannabis buds and very clean hands. Take note that you shouldn’t use dried cannabis trimmings when opting for this technique. Also, this particular procedure produces smaller yields as compared to other known methods.

To use the hand-rolling method of extracting bubble hash from marijuana plant material, start by making sure you’re hands are squeaky clean. Ensure the most organic results possible by using non-scented hand soap that won’t leave residues in your hand. Now, take your chosen cannabis strain in your hand. Remove any visible leaves or stems from the plant.

Next, place the non-dried cannabis bud in between the palms of your two hands. Gently roll your hands together (with the bud in between) in a circular motion. Make sure you don’t apply too much pressure to the bud. Too much stress can contaminate the hash with other plant particles.

When done correctly, you should see a thick, black resin appearing on the insides of your fingers and palms. This residue is your concentrate. All that’s left to do is to scrape the bubble hash to a clean surface and press all the material together to form a block or ball.

The Dry Sifting Method

If you thought the hand-rolling method was easy, then the dry sifting technique in creating bubble hash is simpler (and less messy). Many cannabis connoisseurs even prefer to dry sift their hash as compared to rolling their hands together to extract the concentrated material. Before we teach you this procedure, you may want to freeze your chosen cannabis strain in a Ziploc bag first. Place it inside the freezer overnight to make it easier to split the plant material and trichomes apart.

The dry sifting method of making bubble hash requires cannabis trimmings, baking paper, silkscreen, and an old credit card.

Start the process by placing a sheet of baking paper on a clean surface. You can use your kitchen table for this procedure but ensure there are no food byproducts found on the surface before you begin. Also, the baking paper should have slightly larger dimensions than your silkscreen. You need the large baking paper to catch the material falling off the screen.

Now, place the silkscreen above the baking paper. Place the cannabis trimmings on top of the silkscreen and proceed to move the screen around. Don’t make any sudden rocking movements as it won’t generate enough fine movements to extract the concentrate. Instead, use your hands to gently move the marijuana trimmings around the silkscreen. This movement helps separate the trichomes from the other plant materials. To know if you’re doing it right, there should be a small amount of black resin starting to form on the baking paper.

Continue to sift the marijuana trimmings through the silkscreen until you see about 10 to 20% of the total number of trimmings used. For instance, if you’ve been using 200 grams of marijuana trimmings, then you should now be looking at approximately 20 grams of concentrate.

Collect the concentrated cannabis material after you’ve sifted the trimmings. Use the old credit card to push all the bubble has to form a pile on the baking paper. You can also use the card to press the material to form a hash block.

The Blending Method

Another simple technique in extracting bubble hash from marijuana strains is the blending method. You’ll need your chosen cannabis plant, a blender, a coffee filter, ice water, a silkscreen, and one extra large glass jar.

Start by placing the trimmings of the cannabis plant in a blender. Fill the kitchen appliance with enough water to cover the marijuana in it. Add plenty of ice and blend all of the ingredients together for about one minute. You should have a thick, frothy mixture afterward.

Next, drain the mixture by passing it through the silkscreen to the glass jar. After you’re done, let the mixture settle for at least about 30 minutes. After going back to the glass jar with the mixture after the time period, you should now see sediments forming at the bottom of the container. These particles are essentially the bubble hash.

Pour about 2/3 of the water found inside the jar. To this process slowly to avoid losing the concentrated cannabis material found at the bottom. Fill the jar with more ice water next. Let the mixture settle for another 3 minutes after. Repeat the process of pouring off water from the jar, filling it with ice water again, and settling the mixture to separate as much has as possible.

Once you see that there’s little substance left at the bottom of the container, you can now drain the water off of the jar without worry of losing hash. Strain the remaining mixture found in the jar with the help of a coffee filter. Remember to squeeze gently to remove any excess moisture from the concentrate.

All that’s left after that step is to dry the material and enjoy consumption.

The Bubble Bag Method

Unlike the other known methods in making bubble hash, the bubble bag technique is relatively new. However, many cannabis consumers now see it as an extremely efficient method in gaining a large yield from chosen marijuana trimmings.  

For this method, you’ll need cannabis mesh bags, ice water, two buckets, a wooden spoon, and your preferred marijuana trimmings. Start the procedure by putting plenty of ice in one bucket (the more ice the better). Next, place the cannabis trimmings in the ice-filled bucket. Add enough water to submerge the ice and marijuana mixture.

Stir the ingredients in the bucket for roughly 15 minutes. The cold water helps in making the trichomes on the marijuana trimmings brittle. Also, the agitation caused by stirring allows the trichomes to break off when they’re thrown into the water.

The next step is to place your mesh bags in the other bucket. Curl the tops of the bags over the edge and secure them. Start with the finest mesh when placing the bags in the bucket. Now, carefully pour the ice and cannabis mixture to the bucket with the mesh bags. Wait for about 15 minutes for the mixture to sit and drain through the mesh bags.

Remove the first mesh bag you placed into the bucket and hold it above the container. Pour more ice water on the mixture afterward to help wash the remaining trichomes still present. Shake the bag slightly by doing small, rocking motions with your hands. This part of the process helps drain the mixture of moisture and water.

Repeat the process with each bag until you remove the last bag with the finest mesh from the bucket. Remember, don’t mix the different qualities of hash together. Once the mixture is dry, press each pile together to form a ball or block.

Tips to Acquire Quality Bubble Hash

Just like using any technique, there are ways to help guarantee the quality of the bubble hash extract. For starters, you can freeze your cannabis before attempting to remove the trichomes. Also, don’t forget to use clean water when using some method. Take advantage of purified water as tap water may contain chlorine and fluoride. Last, never use bad quality cannabis. There’s no remedy to using bad quality marijuana strains in attempting to extract trichomes from low-quality plant materials.

How to Use Bubble Hash?

After extraction, there are a number of ways for you to enjoy bubble hash. For instance, you can use the concentrate as an ingredient mixed with certain food. Sprinkle it on many food items like butter, honey, tea, or even candy. You may even want to sprinkle it on a salad for a healthy kick.

You may also want to sprinkle some bubble hash on joints and blunts. It’ll give your smoking experience a dash of flavor and an explosion of psychedelic effects. Sprinkling it in bongs and pipes may also be great ideas.

Make sure to stay patient when extracting the trichomes from other cannabis plant materials. Being hasty may lead to dire consequences, regret, and unwanted results. If a step requires you to wait for 30 minutes, don’t get too excited and move to the next step before the timer runs out. All your patience will pay off in the end as you can finally enjoy bubble hash from your chosen marijuana buds or trims.

How to Make Dry Ice Hash from Trim or Bud

Posted on by Boss Phil

Dry ice hash is one of the easiest and fastest ways that you can make hash from trim or bud. This method of extraction of that psychoactive resin from those awesome bugs is said to be the most efficient way to do so. Not only that, but it does not require you to use any solvents in the process.  Making dry ice hash from trim or bud not only helps you avoid inhaling any harmful chemicals but also allows you to have one of the smoothest and purest experiences of cannabis ever if done right.

Hash Potency and Purity

The potency of the hash is also dependent on the weed strain used and the extraction method used. Hash is definitely more potent than unprocessed buds. Note that hash purity varies as, in Europe, the confiscated hash during 2011 had 4 to 15% purity. This purity level was improved from 2000 to 2005 as the percentage of purity went up to 18. Note that purity means that the hash is free of adulterations such as plant material and other kinds of matter.

Concentrated Marijuana Resin

Note that the quality of the hash that you make is also highly dependent on the nugs. One great advantage of making hash is those lower quality buds will be extracted to become a concentrate that is a better form to take as it would require less consumption. Yet, keep in mind that the properties and medical benefits will still be the same. Hash is the buds separated to keep the precious resin to be kept in storage in that form. Be it indica, sativa, or a hybrid weed stain, the hash will be only good as the buds.

Making Hash is Easy

Now you may be thinking that making your own hash at home is difficult. You can do it if you approach it as a challenge that you can excel at. It truly is a breeze! And, what you will be making is a marijuana product that is so concentrated, just a little will go a long way to give a high that is that of world-renowned hash. You can even make your own hash according to weed strain!

Not a Chemical Process

You can make excellent hash and there is no need to have a science lab to do so. What you’ll require is easily available materials, a clean table to work on, a few minutes of your time, a bit of elbow grease, and of course, those fabulous buds to make into hash. And, using the dry ice hash method, you can use the dry ice again to make one to three batches of hash.

Hash Making

The process of separating the resin from the plant material has been done for hundreds of years. Here are a few other methods of making hash from trim or bud:

Charas

There is the making of small balls of hash that are known as charas. This is done with using the crude method of gathering the precious cannabis buds and then rubbing these between the hands. Then the sticky resin is collected and formed. This method may seem primitive but it works.

Drysift

This is the removal of dried plant material from the resin by using a screen to sieve it to become a powder. This drysift powder is also called ‘kief’. This powder is then processed further with the application of heat to make it into a hashish block. This block is pliable and gooey. This marijuana product is rather transparent and will melt if touched.

Chemical Separation

There is a chemical method of separation with the use of a solvent such as butane or ethanol to dissolve the resin from the buds. The plant material that does not dissolve will be filtered out and discarded. The solvent is subjected to the process of evaporation by being boiled so what will be left is the resin that is transformed into hash oil.

Why Make Dry Ice Hash?

There are many different ways of making hash. One of the more popular methods is with the use of butane as a solvent. Although this is pretty effective in extracting the resin from cannabis plants, there may be instances that traces of butane can be left in with the finished product. This makes it “tainted” and can leave you to inhale this harmful substance.

CO2 extraction or the dry ice method, on the other hand, allows you to get as much as of the cannabis resin as possible in the safest way there is. Not only that, but this process won’t pose too much danger in doing unlike with butane which is highly flammable.

Here are other reasons why making dry ice hash it the way to go:

It is Simple to Make

Dry ice hash is uncomplicated and very easy to make. You won’t need any expensive equipment at all to make it. You are basically just shaking a bucket to make it.

It Only Takes a Few Minutes

Other methods of making hash require the most part of your day to prepare. When you do it with dry ice, you can be done in just minutes. All you need to know is the right method and your bud or trimmings to be able to get your hash immediately.

You Can Use it Right Away

Making hash with dry ice avoids any moisture from seeping into the resin. This means that you can use the hash right after the process is over.

How to Handle Dry Ice

Before we go into how to make the hash, it is important that you know how to handle dry ice properly first. Dry ice is not dangerous at all there are just some precautions that you have to do to be sure that you are handling it properly. Because of its really low temperatures and it’s turning into gas, knowing these things are important.

  • First, you have to think about ventilation – Dry ice turns into CO2 when it evaporates so it’s best that you keep it in an area that has good ventilation to help you breathe. It’s really nice to see dry ice ‘smoke’ when this process happens.
  • Second, have some protection for your hands such as gloves when handling dry ice – The warmest temperature that dry ice has is  -190.3°F. If you use your bare hands to hold the ice, you can burn it quicker than putting it over a burning fire. Yes, dry ice will cause a kind of burn on the skin so be careful.
  • Third,  don’t use airtight containers – You want to avoid putting dry ice on these types of containers so that they won’t suddenly explode. This is because dry ice converts into CO2 very quickly so they need room to turn into gas.
  • Fourth, the last thing you have to know is that dry ice should be disposed of in the proper way – You can’t just put them down the drain since doing that will freeze your pipes. The proper manner to dispose of that the dry ice when it is used is to leave it in a well-ventilated area and allow them to disappear into gas.

Materials That You Need to Make Dry Ice Hash

  • Sanitized five-gallon bucket
  • Snow gloves or bbq gloves
  • Dry ice – 3lbs is needed about 6 ounces of hash
  • Hash bags, bubble bags, pollen bags, or mesh bags with small holes
  • Ground cannabis buds or trimmings
  • A credit card or an unused paint scraper
  • A large clean flat surface, tray, or plexiglass

How to Make Dry Ice Hash from Trim or Bud

  1. Place the ground marijuana and dry ice into the sanitized bucket. Just add it all in.
  2. Take the hash bag or any other kind of bag that you will use and fit it on the bucket opening. Make sure that if there is a mesh side, that it is correctly placed and is facing down to properly facilitate the filtering when the bucket is turned upside down.
  3. Pick up the bucket and slowly shake and swirl it. Do this for around 3 to 4 minutes. The movement will make the resinous stalks separate from the bud plant material.  Place the bucked down.
  4. Make sure that your clean surface, tray, or plexiglass is ready. Also, ensure that the bag covering the bucket opening is secure and will hold. Then, in one sure move, turn the cannabis and dry ice filled bucket upside down. This move will empty out the contents of the bucket into the bag. Simple but don’t make a mistake when you turn the bucket as all the stuff will fall onto a table or floor instead of into the bag.
  5. Once the bag has the contents of the bucket, hold the top part to close the ends. Then, start shaking the bag on the clean surface, tray, or plexiglass. Make sure that you are holding the bag securely. Keep on shaking. The resin will be filtered by the bag to drop onto the catch area.
  6. Keep on shaking the bag, making sure the dry ice is moving around so that the precious marijuana resin will fall. Stop shaking the bag when there is no longer any resin falling from it.
  7. Place the bag aside on top of a clean surface as you can use it again to filter more cannabis buds or trim if you plan to make more hash while the dry ice is still in good solid condition. If you don’t plan to make another batch, dispose of the used bag properly.
  8. Use a scraper or a credit card to gather the resin that is on that flat surface. You can push all the resin from the sides to make a neat pile in the middle of the area.
  9. Transfer the resin to a clean container.
  10. Repeat the process if you want to make hash using another weed stain by pouring the dry ice bag contents back into the bucket. Replace the hash bag.
  11. Repeat the process by pouring the dry ice bag contents back into the bucket. if you want to make hash using another hash bag with a different micron count.

Your dry ice hash from trim or bud is now ready to use!

About the Hash Bags

The mesh is important. The smaller the micron count of the mesh, the higher the quality of the marijuana product. A 73-micron hash bag is to be used to make golden kief which is hash resin in powdered form. If you use a 160-micron hash bag then there will be a bit more of plant material in the powder mix. If you are using other kinds of bags to make dry ice hash from trim or bud, just keep in mind, the smaller the holes used for filtering, the higher the quality of the hash that will be produced as it will have less plant material.

Don’t Cry Over Spilled Resin

Don’t gather any a dirty area as it has missed the tray or has fallen onto the floor as it will lessen the purity of your hash as that kind of resin you might want to save can be contaminated and adulterated, to spoil the quality of your DIY hash made using dry ice.

About Hash

Hash, also known as hashish, comes from the Arabic word that translates to the word “grass”. It basically is the essence of cannabis drawn out of the marijuana plant. Basically, it is the literal definition of cannabis concentrate and is also called cannabis resin.

The Very Essence of Marijuana

This is made out of the extraction of the trichomes, which are the stalker resin glands of the buds of a female cannabis plant. The resin is what holds all the medicinal cannabinoids and aromatic terpenes. These trichromes are the very essence of a marijuana plant. Since hash is derived from the buds of a  female marijuana plant, it does have the same properties. It is simply more powerful than smoking the buds as hashish mainly contains the resin.

How to Use Hash

It is difficult to smoke hash when rolled into a joint as it burns poorly. When rolling into a joint, the hash can be mixed with marijuana or tobacco so it will be easier to burn and smoke. Hash can be smoked using a pipe, bong, or herbal vaporizer.  It can be consumed orally as it is edible when it is in an oil form. Hash can be added to food when making edibles the proper way by subjecting the food item to heat, but make sure just to add a very small amount as it is a concentrate. Hash oil can also be added to food and drink to make it into edibles.

Enjoy using your own hash immediately after making it using dry ice!  

How to Make Hash – Your Ultimate Guide

Posted on by Boss Phil

One of the most potent forms of cannabis concentrates is hash. This goes by different names but to concentrate makers, this is simply known as hash. If you are growing cannabis and you would like to venture into making hash, it’s important to learn how to make one safely and efficiently.  

What is Hashish?

One of the earliest forms of cannabis concentrates is hash or hashish. This term is recognized all over the world as a potent form of cannabis because it is pure and unprocessed. Some hash makers use minimal heat and pressure to manufacture hash but the traditional way still holds till today.

Hash was initially enjoyed in Eastern Asia and is known as the word Charas in Hindi, a word that meant hashish. It is quite easy to harvest and manufacture hashish because all you need to do is to rub the buds between your hands or between any coarse materials like a piece of cloth, to collect the trichomes.

As you rub the buds, the precious trichomes naturally stick to your hands or on cloth. Workers further compress the collected trichomes into tiny balls and this is sold in the market as a potent, unprocessed hash.

Hash was already enjoyed in many areas in Asia but it was only in the 12th century when smoking it became popular. Smoking hash became quite a sensation especially in the different regions in the Middle East that different tools were invented just to enjoy its smoke.

The popularity of smoking hashish led to the creation of new techniques on how to process hash and to create purer substances. Hashish means grass and in Arab nations, hashish was made by passing cannabis flowers through a sifter or a sieve. The process was named dry-sifting and also included the application of low temperature and low pressure.

In dry sifting, the flowers are passed through the sieve which separates the resin glands from the flower as well as other unwanted plant matter. These are discarded because workers only want pure and potent products sold in the market. The harvested trichomes are dirty white in color and have a powdery appearance. The end product of dry sifting is kief.  This is usually heated and then pressed to make blocks of hashish. Hash is sold in blocks and you can actually find a number of sellers that sell these blocks in marketplaces in the Middle East.

What is Kief?

The growing and consumption are prohibited in most places around the world but in Lebanon and India, hashish is openly exported to different countries to manufacture all kinds of products.  

For many years, there have been a number of ways to collect the resin glands from the buds. But no matter how updated some techniques are, many kief manufacturers prefer to use a three-stage grinder.  A three-stage or three-chambered weed grinder will make sure that the buds are efficiently processed to get pure and very potent results. What happens during the grinding process is that the buds are loaded inside the first chamber.

The trichomes will then pass through a mesh screen. The trichomes will be broken off from the buds because of agitation.  The third chamber agitates the trichomes even further to remove all plant matter that would otherwise affect the potency and the aroma of the end product. The trichomes that will be harvested are used to make a variety of concentrated products. This may also be smoked and called kief.

Modern Techniques to Make Concentrates

While traditional techniques to make concentrates are still being used till today, modern techniques have been developed as well. These new methods make concentrate-making more efficient and high-yielding. However, there are some setbacks when using modern techniques. Some of these are known to be dangerous especially using solvents to remove THC from concentrates. So before trying any method, be sure to get proper training on the use of solvents and other chemicals for extractions. Safety is the number one priority when it comes to solvent extractions.

There are two main ways to create cannabis concentrates solvent based and non-solvent based extractions. A solvent is a liquid that dissolves a solute to create a solution. When you extract cannabis using solvents, you will use a solvent which will separate the psychoactive compound THC from the buds.

There are a few solvents used for making concentrates. You may use butane, carbon dioxide (CO2), propane and alcohol.  Chemical solvents like these will be fed inside a chamber filled with dried weed. The solvent will separate the resin glands which have THC from the flower. In the case of non-solvent extractions, solvents are replaced with water, temperature, and pressure.

Using Solvents for Extraction

Solvent-based extractions use chemical solvents and are known to be very efficient. But chemical solvents are often very flammable and are dangerous when extracted indoors. To improve safety, professional extractors use a “closed-loop” system to prevent the exposure of the concentrates to harmful chemicals. A closed-loop system will reduce risks of fire and explosion.  

Safety should never be overlooked which is why production should only be done by licensed professionals. It is very dangerous and illegal to make these concentrates at home so as much as possible, leave concentrate-making to professionals.

The Process

1. Packing the Cannabis Buds

A cylindrical container is used to pack the buds. This container is open on both sides but the top is a bit narrow to allow the solvent container like a canister to fit comfortably. The buds are loaded in the canister but are not packed very tightly. The buds need to be packed loosely to freely allow the solvent to pass through.

2. Insert the Solvent Canister

The solvent canister tip is inserted in position while the container is pointed downwards. A tray is positioned at the other end to catch any drippings or cannabis material that may fall as the steps are done.

3. Release the Solvent

The solvent is released from the canister by pushing the spray system forward. Usually, it could take a number of canisters to complete this step. This is what happens when butane or propane solvents are used.

4. Creating a Slurry

The solvent will pass through the container where the flowers are packed. As this passes, it will create a thick material known as a slurry. This is so called because it almost has the same consistency as a slurry drink. The slurry is very thick because this is a purely concentrated solution.  It has high amounts of residual solvent and will need further processing before this is can be consumed.

5. Purging the Slurry

The slurry will now need to be purged from solvents. Whether you are using butane, CO2, propane, or alcohol, removing any remaining solvent is necessary to get rid of the smell and the taste of solvent. Purging brings back the original taste and aroma of weed.

Purging may be done through evaporation, by vacuuming or by hand-whipping. Each method has different variations and will create different products with varying consistencies. Of all the three methods, the most common is vacuuming or using a vacuum oven.

6. Using a Vacuum Oven

When using a vacuum oven, the solvent is removed from the slurry leaving a residual solvent. There are many factors that can affect the way vacuuming is done but the most traditional vacuum method can last up to 7 hours.

Butane Hash Oil or BHO

Butane hash oil (or BHO for short) uses butane as a solvent. BHO is actually a versatile solvent because it can give you a number of end products with varying potencies such as shatter, wax, sap, budder and so many more. Using BHO is dangerous and you should never attempt to perform extractions unless you are an expert.

If you are going to make concentrates with this method you should work outside or in an area where there is adequate ventilation.  Using butane is exactly similar to what was explained above. And to prevent explosions and fires, BHO should be performed in a closed-loop system.

Extracting Using CO2

A safer way to extract concentrate from cannabis is the use of CO2. Because this solvent is natural gas in the body, it won’t cause any threat or explosion when used. CO2 extractions use temperature and pressure to remove the concentrate from the bud as well as the plant matter. To do this, special equipment is used. Various high-end equipment and tools are available and with these, the appearance and the effect of the final product may vary as well.

Propane Hash Oil or PHO

Propane hash oil (or PHO) uses propane as a solvent to extract concentrates from the bud and cannabis plant matter. PHO needs a higher pressure and lower boiling point. PHO is often favored because of its terpene preservation and more effective purging.

PHO creates concentrates that are the same as BHO such as wax, budder, shatter, live resin and so many more. Of all the flammable or combustible solvents, propane is more popular because the final product is a cleaner final product that is comparable to BHO. But there are a few downsides of using propane too. It is more expensive than butane.

Alcohol Extractions

Isopropyl alcohol or ethanol is considered one of the safer methods for concentrate extractions. The method is called QWISO” which stands for quick-wash isopropyl alcohol. Alcohol extractions are done quickly and use only minimal equipment and tools used. Ethanol is mostly used because it can be used and reused over and over again. The high recovery rate is a good thing because ethanol is quite expensive to purchase.  

The Most Popular Solvent-based Cannabis Products in the Market Today

CO2 Oil

CO2 oil is made by using CO2 as a solvent for extracting concentrates. Another name for CO2 oil is supercritical fluid and is manufactured by exposing the cannabis in extreme amounts of pressure and carbon dioxide. The final product is amber-colored oil.

CO2 extraction is safe and is very popular in commercial extractions. CO2 is more preferred because it yields purer, cleaner concentrates which can be made without wasting time and effort. CO2 is a natural gas which is even created by the body as a product of respiration hence, CO2 products will not be a concern to health.

After extraction is done, the product is sterilized so enhance shelf life. Usually, CO2 oil can be purchased in pre-filled oil cartridges. These cartridges are used to load vaporizers and can even be used to manufacture make edibles.

Wax/Budder

Wax and budder are very common concentrates and are made by treating plant matter with a solvent under a closed loop system. The result is a slurry that is very thick with a dark gold color and rich flavor. But this is not yet safe to consume. It will be hand whipped under low temperatures to remove all residual solvent.

The final product looks like whipped cream with an amber color. The aroma is very light with an accompanying light flavor profile as well. Although both products are produced the same way, budder is a finished product with higher moisture content and has an oily consistency; quite similar to butter. On the other hand, the wax is dry, solid and may crumble easily. Budder contains more moisture because it is subjected to less whipping than wax.

Live Resin

Another popular solvent-based concentrate is live resin. The process of how live resin is made is quite similar to how budder and wax are made but the material or the starting product used is freshly frozen cannabis buds or plant material. Cryogenically-preserved cannabis plant material is used hence; the finished product is like fresh cannabis. You will taste a strong, exceptional terpene and cannabinoid profiles comparable to the terpene and cannabinoid profile from a “live” plant.

Expect live resin to give you an excellent flavor and aroma which you will only be able to taste from an actual plant. And of course, depending on the strain you want to use, the flavor, taste, aroma, and effects of a live resin product, may vary. Live resin concentrates range in color from light amber to yellow and has a rich smell.  

Shatter/Taffy

Have you ever eaten taffy? We all know what taffy candy tastes and feels like to eat but do you know how taffy and shatter concentrates tastes like? Shatter and taffy were made by treating the plant material or buds with solvent inside a closed-loop system.

The slurry that comes from this extraction is collected on parchment paper and then placed inside a vacuum oven to purge the solvent. After purging the shatter will form and then spreads on the parchment paper.

The slurry may be baked in the oven for less than an hour while some do this repetitively until the solvent has been completely removed. Results may vary depending on how long the slurry stays in the oven as well as other factors. Sometimes purging may not proceed correctly and the product becomes “taffy-like” in texture. When the solvent is successfully removed from the concentrate, the end result is shattering. This is exactly what the name is; it shatters easily and can snap off easily as well.

Shatter comes in varying color from light to dark amber with a high terpene content and a fantastic aroma. Taffy may also look like shatter but may contain trace amounts of solvent because of any mistakes during the manufacturing process.

Distillate

Distillates are an updated type of concentrate manufactured using scientific equipment.  Machines are used to heat and vaporize THC and CBD the plant material or buds. As the plant material is heated, the vapor is collected inside a cooling system and then consolidated into beakers. The distillation process is repeated again and again in an effort to yield pure and potent concentrates.

“Short path distillation” creates a cleaner and more potent end product. There is little terpene left in the concentrate because of the heat applied to the material.

Pie Crust/Honeycomb

Concentrates may even take the form of dry pie crust. This is made by treating the plant material with solvent inside a closed loop system. As the slurry drips from the system, it is collected on a piece of parchment paper and then placed inside a vacuum oven to purge the solvent

After a few minutes inside a vacuum oven, the concentrate will begin to look like a patty. The patty is pressed to improve nucleation; this will transform the shatter-like concentrate into a pie crust form. Upon closer inspection, you will see that it has a honeycomb appearance.

Caviar & Jelly Hash

Cannabis caviar is as expensive as it sounds. This concentrate will have your pockets empty by the minute because it sells about four times the price of popular and quality cannabis concentrates and strains. The reason why caviar is very expensive is made by soaking the buds in potent hash oil. After a dip in oil, the flower is coated in kief and then dried for hours.

By the time the product is dry, it will have a very pungent smell with an extraordinary flavor. When you first see this concentrate, it looks like a regular flower, but the kief-coating envelopes the flower like a soft cocoon. And because of the many layers of potent products, the effects of this concentrate lasts longer compared to regular buds.

Meanwhile, the jelly hash is made by mixing kief and hash oil. Jelly hash is recommended for patients that are undergoing chemotherapy because it can deal with nausea, vomiting, poor appetite and for pain. Jelly hash has a jelly-like consistency and has a mild aroma and a fantastic earthy flavor.

Rick Simpson Oil

Rick Simpson Oil (or RSO) was created by Rick Simpson himself who claimed that this oil was able to cure his cancer. He made RSO using pure and light aliphatic naptha which removes resin. The end product is a very potent decarboxylated concentrate.

RSO is used for a number of medical conditions. Its therapeutic effects soar because of its THC levels as high as 90%. This oil is known as one of the earliest forms concentrates made through solvent extraction. Sadly, this oil is unavailable for purchase online or offline. But if you want to know how to make RSO, check out Rick Simpson’s official website.

Non-solvent Extraction Cannabis Products Sold in the Market Today

Non-solvent Extractions

Non-solvent extraction involves the use of ice to chill cannabis flowers up to sub-zero temperatures. This step agitates the resin glands so that these detach from the flowers. Heat and pressure extraction methods may also be used in non-solvent extractions.

Concentrates made by non-solvent extractions are popular for their smooth effects that highlight the aroma, flavor and overall effects of a product compared to products that use solvent-based extraction.

Non-solvent concentrates such as rosin and full-melt bubble hash are becoming more popular since these are extracted without chemical solvents similar to the cannabinoid and terpene profiles of solvent-based concentrates.

Non-solvent concentrates are considered a healthier alternative due to the absence of any residual solvent in a part per million (PPM) scale. All medical and legal solvent-based concentrates produced are purged and tested to make sure that residual solvent ppm levels adherence with FDA regulations.

The best non-solvent concentrates are made using fresh-frozen, high-quality cannabis flowers. Because there are no chemicals used the chemical structure of the plant remains unaltered. You will get rich and complete terpene and cannabinoid profiles.

Kief & Live Kief

Kief is the most traditional types of concentrate. It can be manufactured in a very natural way just by moving the buds in between your fingers. You may also use a three-chamber grinder that comes with a screen at the bottom to collect the trichomes. Processing of kief can take anywhere from a day to a week depending on the material that you used. Longer processing times is sometimes needed to get the right consistency of the kief.

Kief that has a fine texture may be the product of days of processing. The color may range from a light brown to brown or even tan color. The smell and the aroma depend on the strain you used. This form of cannabis concentrate is more potent compared to other forms because the buds were not altered in any form.

A product similar is live kief which uses the fresh-frozen flower. The weed plant that was used was cut during harvest then frozen immediately afterwards. Doing so preserves the cannabinoids and terpenes found in an actual plant.

A liquid nitrogen bath will remove the live kief. This final product is more preferred because of its more potent, flavorful, and aromatic characteristics. If you get a chance to smell live kief, you won’t be able to tell the difference from an actual plant. The aroma is like fresh cannabis plant and flavors are stronger compared to other concentrates.

Bubble Hash

Another form of a concentrate that has been manufactured without any solvent is bubble hash. Also known as water hash or ice water hash, this is made using ice, water, and a fine micron bag. The ice and water will freeze the trichomes so these can be easily harvested while the fine micron bag will remove plant material and residue.

Bubble hash is considered one of the safest concentrates because it does not use solvents as well as heat. No heat applied to the buds preserves the flower and thus the flavor and aroma plus the effects are not affected at all.  

What happens is that Ice water freezes the trichome glands. When the trichome glands are solid, these can be easily agitated and thus will snap off easily. The trichomes will sink to the bottom of the container because of their weight and this also makes it easier to collect them. Because the material is dipped in water, plant matter also separates and rises to the surface. The trichomes that are at the bottom of the container are extremely potent.

The material is further strained and dried. Drying removes any water left from dipping these in water and freezing. Drying also removes any residual plant matter.

How is bubble hash produced? First, you must decide how many bubble bags you need to extract the trichomes. Bubble bag sets are available in 25, 45, 73, 90, 120, 190, and 220 micron bags. These bags are placed inside a bucket, arranged from the lowest number to the highest with the 220 micron bag as the final stage.

The flower is placed in a machine called the washing machine. This is where it’s washed and agitated. Works like a regular washing machine; you can set the timer and the number of cycles per minute you want to use. The micron bags are used, but not within the washing machine.

Water, ice and the buds are combined with the washing machine. Once the cycle is complete, the water is removed while the extracted trichomes are drained and placed in a bucket that has the different bubble bags. Next, the trichomes are subjected to techniques similar to hand-washed extractions.

The bubble bags are filled with trichome-rich water. These are lifted and shaken to agitate the trichomes and to remove water from the bucket. Open the bag and you will find a patty made from pure trichomes.

The process is repeated for each bag while the hash that has formed from each bag is collected, separated and dried. The parties may also be placed in the freezer and when solid, grated onto parchment paper. This end product is fine and sifted and may be further processed in rosin extractions.

Full-Melt Bubble Hash

Another non-solvent concentrate is full-melt bubble hash. The way this is produced is similar to bubble hash but the end product is more refined. Because of its amazing quality, it is perfect for dabbing or vaporization. What is used initially is fresh-frozen flower a bud that has been frozen immediately after it was harvested. Even plant material (not the buds) may be cryogenically frozen and then used to make full-melt bubble hash.  

Using fresh frozen starting material will guarantee that the final product will give you a strong terpene and cannabinoid profile. Compared to other concentrates made without solvents, a full-melt bubble hash is more pungent. This is also slightly more potent than traditional bubble hash concentrates.  

Only trichome heads are used in this method, therefore, the final product has more terpenes with a fantastic flavor profile. The way the trichomes are washed is very important at this phase. It should be done very gently because the more trichome stalks will create a poor quality product.

The process used to make full-melt bubble hash is the same as making bubble hash. This is accomplished by bathing the flower in ice and water and by sifting this in micron bags. You have an option to hand wash your buds or use a washing machine instead.

Compared to making regular bubble hash, the washed product is freeze-dried and is made into patties once these are in solid form. When the patties are ready and are solid in form, these may be sifted and then placed over parchment paper using a fine mesh sieve.

The dried final product appears like kief, but this does not contain any plant matter. The end product is light brown to white in color.

Dry Sift

A form of kief is dry sift. This is a refined form of kief that was obtained by manual or mechanical extraction using screens. The product is placed through the sieve where it is passed over and over again to preserve the trichomes.

You will find products like full-melt dry sift. This is known as the highest grade kief and may contain 90% trichome resin depending on how it was manufactured. Because of this fine quality, this product may already be dabbed.

Half-melt dry sift will contain both trichome heads and stalks.  Kief is classified as the lowest grade, which means that this has the most number of plant contaminants and is not ideal for dabbing.

Meanwhile, live sift is from the fresh-frozen flower. This is to keep all of the cannabinoid compounds intact. Live plant matter produces more potent and very flavorful, aromatic features. You will find dry sift very fine with a nice light color.

Live sift is perfect on top of a bowl or consumed as it is. The reason why this concentrate is very potent is that it uses a live plant where the majority of cannabinoids like THC or CBD plus the terpenes are still present inside the trichomes.

Rosin

To make rosin you need a machine that will deliver heat and pressure. These machines will isolate the essential oils from the trichome heads and the end product looks like a solid resin.

Rosin is known as one of the easiest and the safest way to make concentrates. Before rosin presses and machines were used, home appliances were used to make rosin. Take note that it is legal to produce rosin at home because you don’t need to use any solvent to make concentrates.

Way before specialized equipment was made to make rosin; people used hair straighteners, various kinds of presses and kitchen equipment like tortilla presses to create rosin. These various household tools and equipment can do the job but are not that efficient. The finished product also varied in color and consistency.

Industrial-grade options started to be available after the need for a better and more efficient rosin press were in great demand. This demand triggered the DIY movement among concentrate-makers who want to own their own presses and make their own rosin labs at home.

Rosin presses are indeed efficient compared to home equipment and kitchen tools but are not recommended for home use without training. To date, there are new pieces of equipment that are available in the market to create a safer and top quality way to make rosin.

The most popular equipment by far is small hydraulic presses. These machines were able to help cannabis concentrate enthusiasts to make legal and safe rosin concentrates from home.

Rosin allows users to experiment in making other types of concentrates. And because solvents are not used the chemical structure of terpenes and cannabinoids are present in the flower. The end result is rosin with flavorful and pure effects.

A Few Tips to Remember

Find out more about the effects of the strain that you wish to consume so you will be able to have an idea about any side effect. Don’t rush; just enjoy the effects and you’ll surely have a lot of fun when you use hash and other cannabis concentrates.

To stay safe as you get high, try concentrates in a familiar environment. Take a moderate dose and if you are taking concentrates for medicinal purposes, use half your dose to avoid a very potent effect. Don’t use any concentrate to treat any medical condition. Consult your doctor first.

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