Cannabis Basics: From Plant to Product

Cannabis is a dioecious plant (separate male/female) originating from Central America/Mexico. Female flowers produce seeds when pollinated by males. Modern cultivation focuses on unpollinated female flowers (sinsemilla) for premium product.

Growth Cycle

Pre-flowering: Sex reveals at ~⅓ lifecycle (7-day window). Males removed immediately.

Flowering: Indoors triggered by 12/12 light cycle. Outdoors follows seasonal photoperiod (mid-August to mid-September onset, October-November finish).

Harvest: Timed by trichome maturity. Large fan leaves removed; flower clusters (buds) retained.

Curing: Slow drying (7-14 days, low humidity, moderate temperature) then airtight storage.

Key Insight

Seed formation in female flowers drastically reduces cannabinoid yield and product quality—hence male removal is critical for commercial and personal cultivation.

Understanding this biology informs every cultivation decision.