Loss of trichomes during the harvesting process

Phillybonker

Phillybonker

Well-Known Member
Losing trichomes during harvesting, especially an outdoor harvest is unavoidable. That being said I have a few questions in regards to this subject....

1. When harvesting an outdoor grow I put the branches in a big plastic bag, I was wondering if leaving the fan leaves on would help protect the trichomes from the buds rubbing up against each other during the long track out of the bush, or would this make no difference to trichome losses as the buds would alternatively rub up against the fan leaves?

2. What is the estimated loss of trichomes during bud washing, any noticeable difference in potency?, anyone done a comparison?

3. Is the loss of trichomes noticeable when manicuring with a wet trimming machine VS hand trimming?
 
Phillybonker said:
Losing trichomes during harvesting, especially an outdoor harvest is unavoidable. That being said I have a few questions in regards to this subject....

1. When harvesting an outdoor grow I put the branches in a big plastic bag, I was wondering if leaving the fan leaves on would help protect the trichomes from the buds rubbing up against each other during the long track out of the bush, or would this make no difference to trichome losses as the buds would alternatively rub up against the fan leaves?

2. What is the estimated loss of trichomes during bud washing, any noticeable difference in potency?, anyone done a comparison?

3. Is the loss of trichomes noticeable when manicuring with a wet trimming machine VS hand trimming?
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I would leave the fan leaves on during transport, the buds rubbing against either other is no big deal, but the trichs will stick to the plastic bag. I don’t bud wash unless I absolutely have to, to me it ruins the taste and the density of the buds. Never done a comparison on THC %.
 
Phytoplankton said:
I would leave the fan leaves on during transport, the buds rubbing against either other is no big deal, but the trichs will stick to the plastic bag.
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I doubt that even the amount that sticks to the plastic bag is not that big of a deal either. I am thinking about all the hash making procedures that start off with getting the plant material as close to freezing as possible so that the trichomes will break off.
 
SmokingWings said:
I doubt that even the amount that sticks to the plastic bag is not that big of a deal either. I am thinking about all the hash making procedures that start off with getting the plant material as close to freezing as possible so that the trichomes will break off.
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I agree I doubt the loss is much, but I do know that warm trichs stick to everything! As you said, the loss would be worse with very cold trichs.
 
Trichs burst and stuck to the bag are a loss but you could make butter from the trich oil coated leaves.

I have only washed a couple times. Did part of a plant each time to compare. I may have done something wrong but it seems like a simple enough process. Washed buds had a flavorless smoke with less kick. Should have run the wash water through hash bags to see how much was lost. Could definitely smell the terpenes in the water.

If you are too rough trimming, the sacks burst and oil coat the plant material. There are plenty of things worse than oil soaked buds and trim.
 
Sativa1970 said:
Trichs burst and stuck to the bag are a loss but you could make butter from the trich oil coated leaves.

I have only washed a couple times. Did part of a plant each time to compare. I may have done something wrong but it seems like a simple enough process. Washed buds had a flavorless smoke with less kick. Should have run the wash water through hash bags to see how much was lost. Could definitely smell the terpenes in the water.

If you are too rough trimming, the sacks burst and oil coat the plant material. There are plenty of things worse than oil soaked buds and trim.
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Totally agree, the couple times I bud washed, using the baking soda, peroxide, lemon juice formula, it killed the terpene profile, and the buds that were nice tight nugs before the wash, became fluffy, airy, and tasteless.
 
If it were me I'd try harvest cold as possible, so any trichomes you might otherwise lose can be easily retrieved from the bottom of the bag like winter hash
Don't think it makes a huge difference though, you're gonna trim it anyway
 
in an outdoor grow you aren't losing enough to care about.
 
Phytoplankton said:
I would leave the fan leaves on during transport, the buds rubbing against either other is no big deal, but the trichs will stick to the plastic bag.
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Hmmm I'll see if lining the inside of plastic bags with glued on parchment paper or cellophane is practical.

Phytoplankton said:
I don’t bud wash unless I absolutely have to, to me it ruins the taste and the density of the buds. Never done a comparison on THC %.
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I don't mind the density of the buds being affected but the taste being ruined is a trade off I'll have to think about. I guess I'll wait and see how dirty and dusty my buds get before I make a decision on whether to bud wash or not.
 
Sativa1970 said:
Trichs burst and stuck to the bag are a loss but you could make butter from the trich oil coated leaves.
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Good idea, edibles is something I've never tried doing before but I've been thinking about doing it this time around. I always throw the trim but think it is a waste and I should be doing something with it.

Sativa1970 said:
Washed buds had a flavorless smoke with less kick. Should have run the wash water through hash bags to see how much was lost. Could definitely smell the terpenes in the water.
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That doesn't sound good, Phytoplankton also mentioned bud washing affected the taste of his buds.

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Sativa1970 said:
the sacks burst and oil coat the plant material. There are plenty of things worse than oil soaked buds and trim.
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Good point.
 
All of those frosty leaves that you don't really want to smoke are not waste. Get some bubble hash bags or slow cook them in butter or oil. Making canna butter/oil has a strong smell if that is an issue. Don't forget to test dosage of canna butter before cooking. Measure a 1/2 tsp onto toast so you know how much to add to your brownies. Only thing worse than a week edible is one that is way too potent.
 
Phillybonker said:
I want my buds looking as frosty as possible, I'm a bit of a perfectionist what can I say.
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it's an outdoor grow. perfection isn't anywhere close to the equation.
 
Phillybonker said:
I was 99% sold on bud washing, now I'm going to have to have a rethink.
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I figure that the temperature of the water is important. Close to room temperature seems best. Too hot or too cold and it definitely seems to have an effect on odor and color of the plant material.
 
SmokingWings said:
I figure that the temperature of the water is important. Close to room temperature seems best. Too hot or too cold and it definitely seems to have an effect on odor and color of the plant material.
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Have you had success washing buds, smokingwings? Mine always come out a bit smoother but bland. I used PH6.0 75deg water with 1 tps baking soda to 5 gallons of water. Soaked for 60 second then transferred to rinse water same PH and temp, for 60 seconds. Then hang dry. Also tried plant soap and lemon juice. Open to any suggestions you got wings.
 
Sativa1970 said:
Have you had success washing buds, smokingwings? Mine always come out a bit smoother but bland. I used PH6.0 75deg water with 1 tps baking soda to 5 gallons of water. Soaked for 60 second then transferred to rinse water same PH and temp, for 60 seconds. Then hang dry. Also tried plant soap and lemon juice. Open to any suggestions you got wings.
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Most of my group enjoys the more active high instead of a couch-lock so I now harvest at 8 to 9 weeks after flowering starts. When I went after the amber trichomes and couch lock I noticed much more loss of the skunky smell and the terpine taste after a wash.
 
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