It can be intimidating for a first-timer, but trimming your own flower is a valuable skill to have. Not only does it save you money in the long run, but it also allows you to better customize your smoking experience. In this blog post, we will walk you through the basics of how to trim your own weed. We’ll cover everything from choosing the right tools to avoiding common mistakes. So whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, read on for helpful tips and advice.
Why You Need to Trim to Get the Best Cannabis Buds
To trim cannabis simply means to remove the leaves from around the buds.
A cannabis plant grows like a flower with many leaves surrounding it. These extra leaves are called fan and sugar leaves. The fan leaves are huge corn husk-like leaves that grow from the tree’s branches, and the sugar leaves are small leaves that develop from your plant’s buds.
The leaves from the cannabis plant contain cannabinoids and terpenes, just like the buds. However, smoking these leaves is not recommended as they can be quite harsh.
By trimming your cannabis, you improve the smoking experience. You don’t want to wait through months of grow-time only to end up with subpar cannabis. By properly trimming your cannabis, you will avoid disappointment. If the end result is a plant that tastes too harsh and is difficult to enjoy, then nobody’s happy.
Trimming Weed: Do it Yourself!
Trimming cannabis on your own is actually not that hard. With the right tools and a little knowledge, you can do a fine job on your own.
The Trimming Process
The tools you need to hand trim your weed:
- Gloves
- Scissors
- A clean surface
- A receptacle for the buds
- A bowl
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Patience
Trimming should always be done with gloves. Gloves will shield your hands from the resin in the buds, as well as protect the bud from whatever grime you may have on your hands.
The bowl and alcohol are to clean your hands and scissors during the trimming process as you will have oily trichomes all over the place, particularly if wet trimming. The clean surface is used to guarantee that your buds aren’t tainted, and the clean container serves the same purpose.
Step 1: Cut off the branches
Once you have your gloves on, cut the buds/plants off of the large branches. It is much more manageable to work with smaller pieces of the plant than it is to keep the entire thing together while trimming.
Step 2: Remove the large fan leaves
After you have cut your plants from their branches, the next step is to remove the large fan leaves. (These are the recognizable iconic leaves that have become a symbol for cannabis. You know what they look like.) This can be easily accomplished by simply pulling them off.
Step 3: Buck (aka: “pluck”) the buds from the branches
After you cut the fan leaves away from the plants, carefully remove the buds from the stems. This is called bucking, in the industry.
Step 4: Trim the smaller sugar leaves from buds
Now that you’ve isolated your buds, it’s time to remove the smaller sugar leaves. The process is simple but tedious. Use small, sharp scissors to remove excess leaves without damaging the cannabis buds. Trim the correct way, starting at the bottom of the buds and working your way up. Remove any stems and minor leaves from the plant. Also trim the orange and red pistils as near to the bud as possible.
This process seems daunting at first, but with more practice and time you’ll develop speed and expertise.
Step 5: Cure and store your buds
Once you’ve trimmed your buds, it’s time for the final curing process. You will need to properly store your flowers so that they can rid themselves of excess moisture while breaking down sugars and chlorophyll.
The curing process is, without a doubt, one of the most crucial aspects of the whole growing process. It’s the last stage to ensure the quality of your product. To fully cure your buds, keep them in glass jars at a cool temperature and place them in a dark cabinet.
What is Wet Trimming?
Wet trimming sounds like it means wetting down the cannabis plant before trimming. Actually wet and dry trimming simply refers to whether you trim your marijuana before or after drying it. As far as the final result, it doesn’t really matter which method you use. It’s more a matter of process. In short, wet trimming is easier but WAY messier with sticky cannabinoid oils. So it’s your choice.
The Last Toke
The bottom line is that you don’t need to go out and purchase an expensive trimming machine. You can do it yourself with a few simple tools and some practice. With just a little bit of effort, you can have perfectly trimmed buds that will make your final product taste great. Follow these steps and get started today! If you need some help, we have many budtenders on staff at Frost your Denver Dispensary that would be more than happy to help you out.
