How to Harvest Your Indoor Cannabis Plants

In this article, I break down the right time to harvest cannabis, the tools and equipment needed, the different harvesting methods providing a step-by-step guide for each, explain the signs to look for when harvesting cannabis, and drying and curing cannabis buds to allow you to prepare in advance and harvesting cannabis like a pro.

Table of Contents

• When Is the Right Time to Harvest Cannabis Plants?
• The Tools and Equipment for Harvesting Weed Plants
• The Different Methods for Harvesting Cannabis
• Method 1 – Trimming Fresh Cannabis Plants
• Method 2 – Trimming Dried Cannabis Plants
• How to Check If Your Plants Are Ready to Harvest
• The Best Temperature and Humidity for Drying Weed
• My Final Thoughts on Harvesting Cannabis Plants

When Is the Right Time to Harvest Cannabis Plants?

Harvesting weed plants should not only be based on the flowering time of the strain, but you take into consideration trichome development, how mature the calyx and bracts have become, resin and terpene production, as well as the ratio of white to orange or brown pistils. You don’t want to harvest cannabis too early resulting in a less superior final smoke and yield, and you don’t want to harvest weed too late.

The Tools and Equipment for Harvesting Weed Plants

• A clean and sharp pair of scissors.
• A magnification tool to check the trichomes.
• Latex gloves to keep your hands free of resin.
• A drying room set to the correct temperature and humidity.
• Hooks to hang your harvested plants on.
• A drying net to place the freshly trimmed buds on.
• A plastic tray to collect the leftover leaves.

The Different Methods for Harvesting Cannabis

If you are a first-time grower, and are not sure the best or most practical way to harvest cannabis, then below are two different methods that you choose. Every grower is different when it comes to how they choose to harvest and dry their plants.

Method 1 – Trimming Fresh Cannabis Plants

This method of harvesting weed will be done when the plants are still fresh. The goal behind harvesting freshly trimmed plants is to meticulously cut away the buds off the plant, and to clean the buds up by removing all of the smaller surrounding leaves. The buds should then be placed on a drying net inside the drying room, where they will be left for a period of 10-14 days to air out and become dry enough to place into curing jars.

Step 1: Using scissors, cut away the buds from the plant.

Step 2: Carefully and delicately cut away the resinous leaves.

Step 3: Place the buds onto a drying net and provide space between them.

Step 4: Leave the buds on the drying net and check them after 10-14 days.

Step 5: When the buds have become dry, place them into an airtight jar to cure.

Method 2 – Trimming Dried Cannabis Plants

The second method involves cutting down your weed plant, removing the large sized fan leaves and allowing the entire plant, or side branches to hang on hooks inside the dry room. You will then need to wait 10-14 days before the buds are dry and then you will begin the trimming process. Once the buds have been dry trimmed, you can then place them into curing jars.

Step 1: Using a knife, cut down the plants at the base.

Step 2: Cut away the large sized fan leaves using scissors.

Step 3: Hang the plants upside down using hooks.

Step 4: Provide space between each hanging plant.

Step 5: After 10-14 days, inspect the buds to see how dry they have become.

Step 6: Cut away the buds from the plants and carefully trim them.

How to Check If Your Plants Are Ready to Harvest

As a beginner grower, you should base the optimal harvest window on how mature and ripe the buds have become. Using the flowering time as a guide is one way, however following the checklist below will be the best and most precise way to know your weed plants are at the perfect stage to be harvested.

Calyx and bract development

Cannabis buds will be made up of calyx and bracts. As a weed plant becomes closer to being ripe, these will become swollen and tight, covered in resin with brown or orange pistils wrapped around. Harvesting cannabis when the calyx and bracts are undeveloped will affect yield, potency, flavor and aroma.

Trichome colour and maturity

Using a magnification tool to inspect the buds up close, will reveal trichome development and the color of the trichome head. Trichomes up close will appear either clear, milky or have an amber appearance.

The ratio of mature pistils

The first signs of pistils are pre flowers that will appear one or two weeks after the lights have been flipped to 12/12, according to M.S.N.L. As a cannabis plant gets closer to the harvest window, the white fuzzy pistils will begin to fall down and change colour to either brown or orange and begin to wrap around the calyx. When the pistils are 75% -85% brown or orange, this will be the best time to harvest.

Resin production on the buds and leaves

How resinous the buds have become during the final weeks of flowering, will be a way to determine if the plants are ready to chop. The trichomes contain all of the essential oils, terpenes and cannabinoids.

The Best Temperature and Humidity for Drying Weed

• The drying room should be 50-60% relative humidity.
• The temperature should be 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Cannabis plants will take between 10-14 days to dry out.

My Final Thoughts on Harvesting Cannabis Plants

Harvesting weed plants at the right time will ensure you have the best looking, tasting and smelling crop possible. Avoid harvesting early as this will only produce a less superior crop and will significantly affect potency.

Leaving your plants for too long can cause the buds to produce a heavy and sedative effect. Follow the checklist covered in this article and you will be on your way to producing cup winning buds and the ultimate smoking experience!

Feature photo is of a tent of cannabis plants ready to be harvested. Photo credit: Stoney Tark.