Trichomes, the brain and Coppertone.
Trichomes (/ˈtraɪkoʊmz/ or /ˈtrɪkoʊmz/), from the Greek τρίχωμα (trichōma) meaning "hair", are fine outgrowths or appendages on plants, algae, lichens, and certain protists. They are of diverse structure and function. Examples are hairs, glandular hairs, scales, and papillae. (Wikipedia)
Who would have guessed that the euphoria given by consuming a great bud is a result of the plant creating secretions to protect itself from the elements such as ultraviolet broadband light (UVB) - the same light that can cause skin cancer in humans! (Ok, a botanist out there would have but...)
There are many compounds that make up the cannabis plant: THC, terpenes and cannabinoids. All of these active ingredients are produced by microscopic glands called Trichomes. These glands are the tiny factories that produce the active ingredients found in cannabis.
There are many compounds that make up the cannabis plant: THC, terpenes and cannabinoids. All of these active ingredients are produced by microscopic glands called Trichomes. These glands are the tiny factories that produce the active ingredients found in cannabis.
There are three types of trichomes; Bulbous, capitate-sessile, and capitate-stalked. All produce the active ingredients in their stalks with the majority created in the head of the gland. Bulbous are very small and barely visible except when using a microscope, whereas the capitate-stalked are visible and are what is commonly referred to by people looking at a good bud as "crystals" and are usually an indicator of the quality of the herb - BUT not always! Sometimes a stressed plant can show secretion from the glands but the cannabinoid concentration of things that one considered valuable such as THC could be low.
"...it may be man who has had the most influence on the plants’ development through many years of favoring strains that consistently produce more of these gooey resin heads."
"...it may be man who has had the most influence on the plants’ development through many years of favoring strains that consistently produce more of these gooey resin heads."
Now, where it gets interesting is how and when to hit these glands with ultra violet light at precisely the right time to get the valuable cannabinoids - or at least the ones you are looking to harness - to their maximum strength. And it all comes down to photosynthesis.
Chemicals such as vacuoles and plastids get produced in the stalks of the trichomes and then travel up to the head. Once they are affixed to the head they produce by-products such as the sap (terpenes) from the plastids when bombarded with UV light and of course, it determines the concentration of THC and CBD.
Chemicals such as vacuoles and plastids get produced in the stalks of the trichomes and then travel up to the head. Once they are affixed to the head they produce by-products such as the sap (terpenes) from the plastids when bombarded with UV light and of course, it determines the concentration of THC and CBD.
This is where the true "master grower" takes over. There are no two strains that like precisely the same amount of light - or even the same precise light spectrum and the time that the trichomes are exposed to the UV (long wave ultraviolet light) and UVB (shortwave ultraviolet light). Also, knowing WHEN to commence the "flowering" period.
" Its believed the leaves makes a "Sun screen" to protect from the uvb"
Even the type of light bulb can have a huge impact on the flowering period. For example, HPS bulbs (high pressure sodium vapour lights) have the perfect colour range for cannabis when flowering but MH (metal halide lights) have a far better spectrum for the growing period. There are other factors when choosing the right lighting for your grow which will be covered in a future blog. (Here is a great article on lighting.)
So, the light type matters. Short-wave ultraviolet B (UVB) is the light that can cause skin cancer. It is also the best for when a plant is in its final flowering stage. According to a grower names "Tulip" in a chat forum, "exposing BUDS to UVB lighting in flowering increases trichome production. Naturally in parts of the world with high levels of UVB like Afghanistan or Kush Valley or Thailand have high levels of UVB in their atmosphere. Its believed the leaves makes a "Sun screen" to protect from the uvb, and that sun screen people say are (produced by) trichomes."
Cannabis Culture puts it like this: "The chemicals in the trichomes make cannabis less palatable to hungry animals and can inhibit the growth of some types of fungus. The resin also helps to insulate the plant from high wind and low humidity, and acts as a natural ‘sun-screen’ in protecting against UV-B light rays. But since trichomes contain euphoric properties attractive to humans, it may be man who has had the most influence on the plants’ development through many years of favoring strains that consistently produce more of these gooey resin heads." (http://www.cannabisculture.com/content/2009/06/12/inside-trichome#prettyPhoto)
So basically, man has manipulated the different strains to increase the active ingredients in cannabis by increasing the number of the trichomes and have selected grow methods that force the plant to produce more sunscreen. We are smoking the coppertone of the plant world.
" Its believed the leaves makes a "Sun screen" to protect from the uvb"
Even the type of light bulb can have a huge impact on the flowering period. For example, HPS bulbs (high pressure sodium vapour lights) have the perfect colour range for cannabis when flowering but MH (metal halide lights) have a far better spectrum for the growing period. There are other factors when choosing the right lighting for your grow which will be covered in a future blog. (Here is a great article on lighting.)
So, the light type matters. Short-wave ultraviolet B (UVB) is the light that can cause skin cancer. It is also the best for when a plant is in its final flowering stage. According to a grower names "Tulip" in a chat forum, "exposing BUDS to UVB lighting in flowering increases trichome production. Naturally in parts of the world with high levels of UVB like Afghanistan or Kush Valley or Thailand have high levels of UVB in their atmosphere. Its believed the leaves makes a "Sun screen" to protect from the uvb, and that sun screen people say are (produced by) trichomes."
Cannabis Culture puts it like this: "The chemicals in the trichomes make cannabis less palatable to hungry animals and can inhibit the growth of some types of fungus. The resin also helps to insulate the plant from high wind and low humidity, and acts as a natural ‘sun-screen’ in protecting against UV-B light rays. But since trichomes contain euphoric properties attractive to humans, it may be man who has had the most influence on the plants’ development through many years of favoring strains that consistently produce more of these gooey resin heads." (http://www.cannabisculture.com/content/2009/06/12/inside-trichome#prettyPhoto)
So basically, man has manipulated the different strains to increase the active ingredients in cannabis by increasing the number of the trichomes and have selected grow methods that force the plant to produce more sunscreen. We are smoking the coppertone of the plant world.
