Tips to Grow Thick Marijuana Buds

You like big buds and you cannot lie.

For many growers, fat and dense buds are their reward after weeks and weeks of hard work, time, and even hard-earned money. But how exactly can you get your cannabis plants to grow dense buds?

Maybe you’ve tried your hand at cannabis cultivation, only to be rewarded with unappealing and airy buds. In this blog post, you will learn how you can also harvest denser buds.

What Causes Airy Buds?

Airy buds aren’t necessarily bad. In fact, some marijuana strains are genetically predisposed to produce airy buds. Indica strains, in particular, tend to have buds that are denser compared to Sativas which develop longer flowers. Hybrids, on the other hand, are influenced by which strain is more dominant.

But aside from genetics, there are a few factors that lead to lackluster cannabis buds.

1. Genetics

Genetics dictates a marijuana strain’s taste, scent, cannabinoid content, and even bud density. Generally, Indicas grow denser buds while Sativas have airy and loose buds. However, it is worth mentioning that Indicas can also produce airy buds.

If your goal is to harvest dense buds, you need to find a strain that is known to produce fat flowers. Growing dense buds requires a strong genetic foundation.

1. Lighting

Another factor that can lead to loose buds is lighting. When you are cultivating cannabis plants, one of the first things that you need to learn and master is finding the optimal distance between your lights and your crops.

This means finding a good distance that ensures that your marijuana plants get sufficient lighting without risking light and heat burn.

1. Temperature

Temperature can also influence bud density. Generally, marijuana plants thrive in a temperature range between 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the flowering stage.

If the temperature goes higher than that, your cannabis plants can succumb to various problems, including light and loose buds. However, you still need to consider the strain of the marijuana you are planning to cultivate. Generally, Indicas grow better in cooler temperatures while Sativas prefer warmer temperatures.

1. Nutrition

Loose and fluffy buds can come as a result of poor nutrition. Specifically, when you deprive your plants of essential nutrients like potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen during the flowering stage, you cannot expect them to grow denser buds.

1. Ventilation

Poor ventilation can also lead to less than stellar buds. Like most plants, cannabis needs plenty of ventilation. Proper ventilation allows the different branches of your crops to get sufficient air. Now, if your plants are crowded, you may end up with light and loose buds.

1. Small containers

Growing marijuana plants in small containers can hamper their root development. In turn, this prevents your crops from getting sufficient air and nutrients from the substrate.

1. Overwatering

Too much water in the soil dislodges oxygen. When this happens, your crops cannot get enough oxygen. In turn, this drastically affects your plants’ development and can potentially lead to airy buds.

1. Harvesting too early

One key mistake that could lead to poor bud development is harvesting before the right time. It is easy to understand why some growers are tempted to harvest as soon as they see their plants grow flowers. However, if you want fat and thick buds, you need to find the best time to harvest them.

How to Grow Dense Buds

Marijuana is quite forgiving, able to tolerate a few mistakes here and there. But if dense buds are your primary goal, you can’t leave anything to chance. Here are a few helpful tips for growers who want to grow dense buds.

1. Use dense bud strains

One of the keys to success in growing dense buds is finding a cannabis cultivar that produces dense and thick buds. You just cannot coax a cannabis plant to develop fat buds if it is genetically predisposed to grow fluffy buds.

When it comes to cannabis plants, genetics matters in a lot of things – from taste and potency down to bud density. If you want to harvest dense buds, consider cultivating a Sativa strain or a Sativa-dominant hybrid.

How to Look for a Specific Strain

Now that you know the importance of genetics in developing dense buds, the next order of business is finding more about a specific strain. Here are a few ways you can get to know a marijuana cultivar.

Draft a shortlist

Maybe you’ve seen a fellow cultivator and his harvest of thick and fat buds. Or perhaps somebody told you of a strain that is known to produce dense buds. Either way, create a shortlist of strains that you can research.

Conduct online research

One of the best things about researching certain things is that you have immediate access to the Internet. From Google to YouTube. growers can find various types of information about practically anything, including cannabis strains with the densest buds.

Take the effects into account

Don’t lose yourself in your quest for the densest buds. Sure, bigger buds are pleasing to the eyes. But at the end of the day, the effects of a certain strain matter just as much, or perhaps even more, than bud density.

1. Master cannabis lighting

Finding the optimal lighting condition for your cannabis plants is no rocket science. However, there are a few concepts that you need to learn and master. Most strains prefer bright lights. But how bright should your lights be?

One reason why some growers get fluffy buds is that they are using grow lights that are underpowered. And while some of these lights can make your plants grow healthy, they cannot provide sufficient lighting to entice your crops to grow denser buds.

Aside from the power output of your grow lights, another important thing to consider is the distance between them and your marijuana plants. The optimal distance will depend on the type of lighting you use.

If you are using LED grow lights, you should place them as close as possible to your plants without risking light burn. It is also a good idea to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations if you are unsure if you have found the right distance between your grow light and plants.

The same concept applies to CFL, fluorescent, and T5 grow lights – keep them close to your plants while watching out for signs of light burn. With HIDs, you will need to factor in the specific type of light you use.

But what if you are growing your crops outdoors? As a rule of thumb, outdoor cannabis plants need as much as eight hours of direct sunlight. To achieve that, you might want to move your plants to different locations at various times. On the other hand, if you think that your crops are getting too much sunlight, you can use a screen.

1. Maintain the right temperature

Temperature influences a host of factors, including the potency and density of the buds. In general, cannabis plants prefer a temperature range between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Most Sativas like higher temperatures while Indicas fare better in cooler temperatures.

As a rule of thumb, you should avoid increasing the temperature in your grow room beyond the upper limit of that temperature range. Otherwise, there is a considerable risk that you burn your plants and encourage the growth of fluffy buds. High temperatures in the grow room have also been associated with issues like low potency and fox-tailing.

Like high temperatures, cold temperatures can be just as bad for bud density. When it is too cold for your crops, the buds cannot fully develop and may become too fluffy.

One clear sign that it’s too cold in your grow room is the appearance of purple leaves. Purple leaves mean less energy for your plants because green leaves are more efficient in making energy from light.

1. Feed your plants right

Although cannabis nutrition is critical for all of the marijuana growth stages, it is even more important during the flowering stage. Simply put, you’ll get bigger and denser buds if you know how to feed your crops.

But it isn’t just about feeding your plants the nutrients they need. You also need to know the proper nutrient ratio. Knowing these two things will prevent nutrient deficits and nutrient burn.

Your plants need nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium during all the growth stages. However, the ratios will vary at each stage.

During the flowering stage, your plants will need a small amount of nitrogen. Be aware that giving your marijuana plants too much nitrogen can adversely affect the density of the buds. Once your crops enter the flowering stage, avoid giving them an all-purpose fertilizer which usually contains more nitrogen than your plants need.

Too much nitrogen can make your plants leggy. Even worse, an unnecessary amount of this nutrient can shift the focus of your plants away from bud production toward leaf and branch development.

As you decrease your plants’ intake of nitrogen, you should increase their supply of phosphorus and potassium. Many growers increase the amount of potassium by as much as two times the nitrogen they give their marijuana.

It’s also a good idea to read carefully the label of the fertilizers you want to provide your flowering cannabis. Be aware that all-purpose, grow, or vegetative fertilizers are bad for your plants. Instead, choose bloom fertilizers which are formulated especially for flowering cannabis plants.

If you prefer a more organic approach to cannabis nutrition, you should strongly consider using composted soil. Be sure to amend your soil strategically to ensure that your marijuana plants get the right nutrients at the right time.

Marijuana doesn’t require too many nutrients to thrive, especially near harvest time. When you feed your plants right until harvest time, you only end up wasting your money.

Although opinions on when to stop feeding marijuana plants will vary from one grower to another, most cultivators agree that you should minimize feeding around three weeks before harvest. Two weeks before harvest, you should stop giving your plants bloom nutrients.

1. Consider using supplements

Supplements can increase both bud density and overall yield. But before you purchase one for your crops, be sure that you nail cannabis nutrition right. Otherwise, you can end up wasting your hard-earned money. Simply put, supplements cannot compensate for poor nutrition.

Supplements that promise to boost the density of the buds contain a variety of ingredients, ranging from trace minerals to amino acids. But what these products have in common is that they contain a sugar source, potassium, and phosphorus.

Although these products contain a small amount of potassium and phosphorus, they are formulated with ingredients that enable plants to use nutrients more efficiently.

If you want a cheaper alternative to bloom supplements, you can try using molasses which is a known sugar source. Typically, cultivators add molasses to water during the latter phase of the flowering stage.

Aside from providing your plants with sugar, molasses also contains trace minerals that can increase bud size and density. Additionally, many growers report improvements in bud scent and taste.

1. Choose the right pot size

The size of your plants’ containers has a direct correlation to their size upon maturity. In turn, how big (or small) your plants’ size will affect bud size and density. A small container can inhibit the growth of your plants as well as their ability to produce big and dense flowers.

Many growers are shifting to the use of a container known as an air pot. This type of container offers a few advantages over conventional pots. For one, these containers facilitate faster plant growth. Second, they allow more air to get to the roots because they are fabricated using fabrics. Finally, these containers prevent your plants from being rootbound.

However, you should be aware that air pots make the substrate dry out faster. This translates to more frequent watering.

1. Expose the bud sites

If you want your cannabis plants to grow bigger buds, you must ensure that the leaves do not obscure the buds, preventing them from getting access to both air and light. When the buds don’t get enough light and air, they can become fluffy and less dense. Each bud should be separated from one another by a few inches.

Marijuana has evolved to grow big colas to gain more access to air and light. In the wild, the plant depends on the air for fertilization. When the buds are not exposed, it can be quite difficult to gain access to pollen. In turn, a plant may shift its energy away from bud production. On the other hand, exposure to air and light encourages the development of fatter buds.

But how exactly do you do that?

If you are a novice cultivator, the easiest and least complicated way to do that is to tuck the leaves. This allows you to expose more bud sites and ensure that your plants get sufficient light and air.

On the other hand, if you are a seasoned grower with a few years of experience, you can try defoliation, a technique that entails the removal of leaves. This technique works best for healthy plants.

1. Keep the relative humidity below 55% before harvesting

Two to three weeks before you plan to harvest your buds, decrease the relative humidity below 55%. Lowering the relative humidity in your grow room can coax your crops to further increase bud production.

Additionally, a lower relative humidity offers a few benefits, including enhancing bud taste and aroma, increased resin production, and boosting potency. According to some experts, a low RH level can also prevent bud rot from wreaking havoc on your plants.

Controlling humidity in an indoor setup is relatively easier compared to an outdoor setup. If you are growing your plants outdoors, how can you lower the relative humidity?

First, you need to start with cannabis seeds that match the environmental conditions in your area. Next, provide your marijuana plants with some cover if you are expecting heavy rains. This is particularly important during the flowering stage when you need to give your buds sufficient protection from wet weather. Finally, ensure that your crops receive ample amounts of air.

1. Know when to harvest

Seeing those dense buds dangling from your plants makes it hard to resist harvesting them. But you can end up doing yourself a massive disservice by harvesting too early.

If you pick off the buds before they are ready, you risk harvesting loose and fluffy buds instead of dense buds. Additionally, if you rush the harvesting process, your buds may lose some of their potency.

But how do you know when your buds are ready to harvest? Here are three basics rules to follow.

1. Half of the trichomes should have a cloudy appearance

Check the trichomes of your plants. When over 50% of their trichomes have a cloudy and milky color, then they are ready to be harvested. At this point, your plants are still producing THC. That can translate to more terpenes and a more cerebral effect.

However, if more than half of the trichomes have turned amber, it means that you are a bit late in harvesting the buds.

1. Make sure that 70% of the pistils are brown

Instead of checking the color of the trichomes, you can check the color of the pistils instead. This is called the pistil method.

In this method, about 70% of the pistils should have turned brown and curled inward before harvesting the buds. If 90% of the pistils have turned brown, you are late in harvesting.

1. Wait until CBG levels have gone down to zero

Cannabigerol or CBG is a cannabinoid usually found in high CBD cultivars. Your plants convert their CBG content into THC and CBD. And as such, it is best to wait until all the CBG has been converted into more desirable cannabinoids.

A few harvesting tips

To help you get the most out of your harvest, consider following these tips.

Schedule your harvest in the morning

If you wish to get big buds that are tasty, schedule your harvest during the morning. Marijuana plants use the nighttime for resin production and the daytime for producing energy.

Invest in a microscope

A microscope is a useful tool for determining whether the trichomes or pistils are ready for harvest. But if you have a DSLR camera, you can use it to check on the trichomes and pistils of your plants.

Do not harvest all the buds

Instead of harvesting all the buds all at once, consider staggering your harvest. This allows you to harvest the buds from the topmost portion of plants when they are ready for picking while allowing the buds from the lower portion to mature further.

1. Learn how to dry and cure buds

Proper drying and curing can help your cannabis buds become denser while providing a few other benefits, including improved taste and scent, drawing out unique flavors, harshness reduction, and increased potency. Additionally, buds that are cured and dried properly are less susceptible to mold and bacteria.

Drying and curing can spell a world of difference. Just try smoking freshly harvested buds and buds that have been properly cured and dried to understand why this final step matters. Simply put, if you want very dense buds with high potency, you need to dry and cure them.

The whole process starts the moment you cut your crops and lasts anywhere between three to seven days. That may seem like a long time but you will be rewarded with dense cannabis buds with great taste and high potency, making it all worth it.

An Overview of Bud Quality

Size and density matter. But these are just a few facets of bud quality. Certainly, you want to grow dense buds that your friends will envy. But apart from bud size and density, there are a few traits that separate premium marijuana buds from low-quality ones.

What separates top-tier weed from bad ones?

Dense buds

Dense buds aren’t just heavier and chunkier, they also look and taste better. Even better, you don’t need much to fill up a joint.

Absence of seeds

Premium weed does not contain seeds. In fact, the presence of seeds means less resin and potency because some of the plant’s energies have been diverted toward seed production.

Vibrancy of color

The color of the buds depends on the individual strain. But if there is one thing that good-quality cannabis buds have in common, that would be their vibrant color. Vibrancy is the result of numerous factors, including quality genes, proper growing technique, and sufficient drying and curing.

Trichome quantity

The more trichomes a bud has, the more its resin content will be. And the more resin a bud possesses, the more cannabinoids and terpenes will be there for you to enjoy.

Bigger Buds Should Be Your Goal

While the genes dictate most of a bud’s quality, there are plenty of things that you can do to grow dense buds. Follow the tips outlined above and soon, you’ll be rewarded with dense buds that you can be truly proud of.