ANATOMY OF A HEMP STICK

Cannabis is a very complex plant made up of different parts. Each part has its own purpose. Knowing the different parts of the plant and their functions can help growers to increase yields. Read this quick guide to learn more about the anatomy of the hemp bud.

What is a hemp plant?

The bud is the flower and edible part of the cannabis plant. The bud is one of the most important parts of the cultivation process. After the cannabis plant has flowered, these buds form resinous glands that contain cannabinoids and terpenes. This is the part of the plant that contains the highest concentration of THC and CBD and other cannabinoids. If you provide optimal nutrient supply, proper lighting and an optimal environment, the buds will swell and coalesce into dense and long flowers.

Anatomy of a cannabis bud

The structure of cannabis buds is not very complex and is very similar to that of other plant species. Below, we'll take a look at the main parts of cannabis buds and their characteristics:

Leaflets

Thebracts are located around the female reproductive tract. These are the leaves that provide protection to the reproductive organs of the pollinated female plant. They resemble tiny tear-shaped leaves and are densely covered with trichomes. As the female plant is pollinated by the male plant, the bracts envelop and begin to protect the seed sac. The bracts contain the largest number of trichomes on the entire plant and are the main source of THC and CBD.

The Chalice

The cannabis calyx is often confused with the bracts. The calyx is found inside the bracts of the female cannabis plant. The calyx is not visible to the naked eye. It is made up of calyx petals, which are smaller leaves that protect the base of the flower. The calyx provides strength and structure to cannabis flowers and also protects the reproductive organs from damage. For many cannabis growers, the sticky and strong calyxes are the most popular part of the structure of cannabis sticks.

Pestik

The pistil houses the reproductive organs of the flower. The main function of the pistil is to produce seeds. The pistils contain many fine threads that resemble hairs and are referred to as stigmas.

Scar

Thestigmas are part of the reproductive organs of female plants. They are thin hairs on the pistils. They trap pollen that is transferred to them from the male plants. Initially, the stigmas are white to transparent, turning red, orange and yellow as the plant matures. However, their colouration is largely dependent on the particular variety. Many growers refer to the stigmas as pistils. However, a pistil is the entire reproductive organ, including the two stamens.

Wheels

A cola is a cluster of canes growing close together. There can be a large number of stakes on a single cannabis plant, but the main one, also known as the main stake, is always at the top of the plant. In general, the larger, heavier and more densely covered in trichomes, the better the quality of the cola . Not all stakes mature at the same time. The main cola, for example, matures faster because it is located at the top of the plant where more light hits it.

Sugar leaves

Sugar leaves are tiny, resin-covered leaves around which the stamens grow. They are called 'sugar leaves' because of the whitish coating of the trichomes that make them look like they have been sugared. They are usually cut before harvesting, but can easily be used to make edibles and concentrates.

Trichomes

Trichomes are small, but they are an important part of the cannabis plant. They are the main part of the resin and are easy to spot. They are small, spongy resin glands that resemble tiny crystals that cover the buds and sugar leaves. Trichomes produce terpenes, fragrant substances with medicinal properties. In addition, trichomes also produce medicinal cannabinoids such as CBD and THC, and are responsible for protecting plants from predators and the elements.

Stem

The stem is the base of the cannabis plant. It gives the plant structure and ensures its stability. The stem carries fluids and nutrients from the roots to other parts of the plant. The upper part of the stem can be cut off to encourage the plant to grow and thus reach the stage where the cannabis plant will grow more branches and buds. However, the stems can also be used to make hemp products such as rope or fibre, and can also be ground up and used in hemp butter.

What is the difference between male and female hemp?

Cannabis is a dioecious plant, which means it has two sexes and the seeds produce male and female plants. The sex is most obvious in the flowers, which vary depending on the sex of the plant. Cannabis plants show their sex by what is found between their nodes, where leaves and branches grow from the stem. In male plants, this is where the pollen sacs are found. In female plants, the stigmas that trap pollen appear .

The anthers can be seen at about the fourth week of growth. Around the sixth week, it should be definitively clear which sex the plant is. Growers should separate male plants from female plants as soon as possible. This is because male cannabis plants may start to pollinate female plants and thus seed your female plants, which will interfere with the efficiency of flowering.

The difference between Sativa and Indica buds

Indica varieties usually have dense, thick and heavy buds at the flowering stage. The risk of fungal attack is often much lower in indica varieties than in sativa varieties.

Sativa plants produce airier and more malleable buds than indica plants. As a result, sativa buds are slightly wider and much more susceptible to grey mould infection.

Why do cannabis buds have different colours?

Most cannabis varieties are predominantly green in the early stages of growth. However, if you have the opportunity to look at more varieties or grow some yourself, you will see that cannabis plants can be different colours, including purple, pink, blue, red, brown, orange, white and even black. The coloration of cannabis plants can be affected by several different factors, including temperature, nutrient levels, soil acidity and alkalinity, and the amount of light. All of these factors can affect the ratio of natural dyes produced by the plant, resulting in different colours of cannabis. However, there are also varieties of cannabis that can produce distinctive blue and purple stick colours due to their genetics. Thus, the different colours of cannabis buds can be the result of genetic factors, environmental influences or a combination of both.

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