How to Increase the Potency of Weed

When you smoke weed, you often judge it according to the effects it produces. Although many people like low-potency strains, it's a turnoff if you purchase something specifically for its strength and you end up feeling nothing. 

Cannabis potency can be gauged by the levels of cannabinoids like THC and CBD which are important for both recreational and medicinal cannabis users. Strains with high potency are often favored for their robust effects, resulting in heightened feelings of euphoria, pain relief, and relaxation. 

Medicinal users also prefer highly potent marijuana as it can help to reduce some symptoms associated with certain diseases. For them, a little of such potent strains goes a long way as they can save more money while enjoying the same effects. 

As a result, there has been an increase in the demand for high-potency marijuana. Fortunately, there are many advancements in cultivation methods and a growing understanding of the plant's medicinal benefits. Breeders and even home growers are continuously exploring several ways to boost the potency of their crops to meet consumer demands and stay competitive in the market.

Overview of Techniques for Enhancing Potency

Increasing the THC or CBD of marijuana involves a strategy that involves selecting appropriate strains, improving cultivation techniques, and taking care of post-harvest practices. Here's a brief outline of how you can elevate cannabis potency:

1. Genetics and Strain Selection

This involves choosing superior strains renowned for their elevated cannabinoid levels. Plus, breeders are always looking to cultivate stronger strains by crossing potent strains. 

2. Environmental Conditions

As a grower, you must provide proper conditions for growth such as light, temperature, and humidity levels. High-quality soil and nutrients are also important as they can help promote plant development. Additionally, you can use pruning and training methods to maximize yields. Finally, you should take care that the plants are not affected by deficiencies and diseases. This involves taking care of the pH and getting rid of pests as soon as you spot them. 

3. Harvesting and Curing

When it comes to harvesting and curing, the timing is crucial. Harvesting at the peak of production ensures high potency while proper drying and curing techniques are essential to preserve cannabinoids and terpenes. 

4. Advanced growing methods

These include growing in hydroponic or aeroponic systems for maximum efficiency. You can also employ high-stress training techniques such as super cropping for more yields. Other than that, you can supplement the plants with CO2 to boost photosynthesis and overall plant growth. Incorporating beneficial microorganisms can also improve root health and nutrient absorption efficiency.

5. Extraction

Finally, if you're not satisfied with the potency despite doing everything, you can transform the buds into concentrates by extracting the cannabinoids. Such extracts include hash, wax, and shatter to preserve cannabinoids and terpenes. 

By taking care of these five factors, you can ensure that you have the most potent weed you've ever grown. 

Understanding Cannabis Potency

Cannabis strength pertains to the intensity of the cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. The main cannabinoids that influence strength are THC and CBD. THC is the element responsible for the euphoric effects associated with cannabis consumption while CBD lacks psychoactive properties and is valued for its therapeutic benefits.

How is Cannabis Potency Measured

• Concentration of Cannabinoids: Typically, the potency is gauged by the percentage of THC and CBD in the cannabis flower or product. This measurement is often represented as a percentage of the weight. For instance, a strain containing 20% THC equates to 200 milligrams of THC per gram of flower.
• Cannabinoid Composition: Apart from the main cannabinoids like THC and CBD, other compounds like CBN, CBG, and various terpenes all contribute to the overall impact of cannabis, so they can be measured as well. 
• Laboratory Analysis: Proficient testing facilities utilize methods such as gas chromatography (GC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), for assessment of cannabinoid levels. These examinations offer an accurate analysis of the terpene compositions. 
• Decarboxylation: Cannabis samples often go through decarboxylation, a process where heat is used to convert cannabinoid acids (THCA and CBDA) into their active forms (THC and CBD).

Why Should You Increase Cannabis Potency? 

There are many benefits to increasing the potency of weed. Doing so will ensure that you have a high-quality product that's perfect for both medicinal and recreational users. Here are a few reasons why:

1. Enhanced Healing Benefits: Numerous medical marijuana users seek strains with increased potency as they offer relief from several conditions. Although some areas require more studies for scientific proof, higher potency is typically better than low potency strains that do little to nothing for medicinal cannabis users. 
2. Enhanced Recreational Enjoyment: Recreational users often favor cannabis with higher potency for a pleasurable experience. Elevated THC levels for instance can increase relaxation, euphoria, creativity, and sensory awareness. Additionally, you save money as you don't need a lot of weed to achieve the effects you want. 
3. Economic Advantage: For commercial cultivators, potent strains are worth their weight in gold as both medicinal and recreational users want them. It can command premium prices, especially in areas where cannabis is legal. In such cases, the cultivators get high returns for their investments. 
4. Medical Exploration: Higher potency cannabis is often used in research and clinical trials to examine its impact on various conditions. Researchers need potent cannabis products to ensure reliable outcomes in scientific studies.

In essence, elevating the potency of plants aligns with a range of factors like consumer preferences, market requirements, medical applications as well as economic considerations. While it improves the growth of the cannabis sector for commercial cultivators, it offers a better experience to both recreational and medicinal cannabis users. 

How to Increase the Potency of Weed?

Now that we have gone over the basics, let's go over each factor in detail to increase the potency of marijuana. 

1. Genetics 

Yes, it's all in the genetics. The first step to growing potent weed starts with genetics because the composition of a plant stands out as the most crucial element in determining its potential potency. 

You simply cannot force a plant high in CBD to produce lots of THC. The same is the case even if it's a low-strength strain. You see, boosting the potency of cannabis involves selecting parent plants with desired qualities and merging their genetics with other strong strains to create offspring with incredible features. Typically, modern genetic tools are employed to pinpoint markers linked to potency. This enables breeders to choose plants carrying these markers, streamlining the breeding process and enhancing the likelihood of achieving the desired potency levels.

From selective breeding to backcrossing, breeders put a lot of effort into choosing strains that match their preferences. These methods involve crossing a plant to one of its parent plants to reinforce desirable traits, like high potency, for example. Through generations of this process, a consistent and dependable strain is developed.

Sometimes, multiple strains known for their potency are crossed to create a strain with a diverse genetic makeup. This may result in the offspring displaying a mix of traits inherited from different parent strains.

As you can understand, this underlines the importance of choosing good strains with incredible genetics from reputable breeders as they spend a lot of time to create something magical. Therefore, you must opt for strains developed by breeders with a track record of producing top-notch cannabis. Established breeders typically offer consistent genetics. Whether you're getting seeds or clones, purchase them from well-known seed banks or dispensaries to ensure the quality and potential potency of your plants.

But, finding the best possible strain is easier said than done. There are thousands of cannabis varieties whether you purchase online or offline. Here are a few tips so you can “weed” out the bad ones. 

• Strain Selection

Cannabinoid Composition: Focus on strains known for their high levels of THC or CBD. For example, strains like Gorilla Glue, Girl Scout Cookies, and Bruce Banner are popular for their THC content while Charlotte's Web and ACDC are recognized for their CBD levels.

Hybrid vs. Landrace: Understand the distinction between hybrid strains (crossbreeds of different genetic lines) and landrace strains (original purebred strains). Hybrids often combine traits from parent strains to provide heightened potency and varied effects.

Lab Testing: Purchase strains with documented lab test results confirming their composition. 

User Feedback: Check out reviews from growers and others to get an idea of how strong a strain is.

2. Light

Establishing the best growing conditions is crucial for maximizing the potency of plants. By controlling light, temperature, humidity, soil quality, and nutrients, you can guarantee that your plants thrive and yield high levels of cannabinoids. Let's talk about lighting, which is the most important of them all. 

Light plays a role in cultivation. It facilitates photosynthesis, which is necessary for plant development and cannabinoid synthesis.

• Choose the Right Grow Light

Choosing the right grow light is extremely important for maximizing THC production in plants. You have several choices including HPS and LED grow lights. Of course, CMH lights are good too, but it all depends on your budget. 

While HPS lights have been historically renowned for their output and efficiency in producing high yields and dense buds, modern options like LEDs are gaining popularity for their enhanced spectrum coverage and energy efficiency.

HPS lights have their own downsides including excessive electricity consumption, producing too much heat, and having a limited light spectrum that may require cooling and ventilation. Plus, you need to use two types of lights like MH and HPS lights for a complete grow cycle. 

On the other hand, LED lights have become popular among both home growers and commercial cultivators in recent times. These modern LED grow lights offer several advantages over HPS lights as they don't consume too much power, generate less heat, and also have a customizable light spectrum that can be adjusted to meet the specific needs of cannabis plants during different growth stages. 

Full-spectrum LEDs are especially valued for their ability to replicate sunlight, providing plants with the range of wavelengths necessary for enhancing cannabinoid and terpene production. However, note that you must choose top-quality LEDs. While there are many options available, extremely cheap LEDs often compromise quality by offering inadequate light intensity and an incomplete spectrum. 

Therefore, Investing in a well-reviewed LED system is worth your time and effort as it ensures that your plants receive the lighting conditions needed for maximum potency and yield. Yes, they are expensive, but they often lead to long-term savings on electricity bills and reduce the need for additional cooling equipment, making them a wise investment for dedicated cultivators.

Now that you know a bit about the type of grow light you should choose, let's take a look at other factors associated with lighting. 

• Intensity of Light

High Intensity: Cannabis plants need light for growth. The intensity depends on the type of grow light you choose, which we have discussed above. 

Whether you choose MH, HPS, LED, or CMH lights, they all provide intense light. As long as you consider your growing space to buy grow lights accordingly, the lights will be intense and your plants will be happy. Just make sure that the lights are energy efficient and offer a full spectrum. 

• Distance from Light Source

Maintain the distance between the source and plant canopy to prevent light damage and ensure uniform light distribution. This distance varies based on the type of light you're using.

• Light Spectrum

During the growing or vegetative phase, plants benefit from blue light (400 to 500 nm) which supports the development of leaves and stems.

As plants transition to the flowering stage, red light (620 to 780 nm) becomes essential for forming buds and producing cannabinoids. Full-spectrum LEDs can supply the required light for the plant's life cycle.

To boost the potency of cannabis in the flowering stage, you must optimize the spectrum of your grow lights. Some LED lights offer control over the spectrum so you can adjust wavelengths that impact plant growth and resin production. So, either get lights that allow you to adjust the spectrum or get a full-spectrum light that can be used from the beginning to the end of the plant's life cycle.

To increase the potency, you can maximize white and UVB light while slightly decreasing red light intensity. This will also stimulate resin and trichome production.

Why should you do this? Well, this technique is based on how plants react to light. Trichomes — those tiny crystalline glands you see on the buds and sugar leaves — not only contain cannabinoids but also act as a defense mechanism against environmental stressors such as UVB rays. When exposed to UVB light, plants produce more resin as a response. 

Think of training techniques to understand this better. When you snip off the tip of the plant, for instance, you're essentially stressing the plant, prompting it to activate its defense mechanisms. Ultimately, the plant develops more colas and grows stronger. 

Similarly, you can simulate slightly stressful conditions even with lighting by using LED lights emitting UVB wavelengths to promote trichome formation.

Some growers only provide red light during the flowering stage. However, contrary to popular belief, some studies suggest that even blue light can increase the production of cannabinoids in the flowering stage as the plant still needs to conduct photosynthesis. White light, which contains a range of wavelengths including blue and red supports plant wellbeing and growth. 

That said, remember to use UVB light cautiously as high amounts can have negative effects. Moreover, it's not good for humans as well, so make sure you cover yourself well if you're using it. But, if you provide the right amount of light, it can stimulate the production of secondary compounds like cannabinoids and terpenes that enhance the potency, scent, and flavor of cannabis.

In essence, remember that it's all about the right balance. Do this right and you'll have the plants producing ample resin. You also need to be aware that while red light is crucial for flowering, providing too much can also prevent the plant from growing properly. 

3. Watering 

Typically, you will water your plants according to their needs and the strain you're growing. While some plants are very thirsty often, others don't need a lot of water. You can find out by lifting the containers and watering them when they are light. Or, you can water when the top soil is dry. 

However, if you want to increase the potency, you'll need to adopt a slightly different technique. 

First, try experimenting by reducing the amount of water you feed the plants. However, be very careful and keep a close eye on them to prevent them from getting too dry. Allowing your plants to undergo dehydration — just enough to lower moisture levels without causing harm — can be beneficial. Lowering the humidity in your growing area can also help achieve this.

This technique can work because plants respond to dry conditions by producing resin as a response, which is similar to their reaction to UVB rays. This approach capitalizes on the plants' innate survival instincts, which prioritize resin production as a shield against stressors they perceive. Simply put, slight dehydration prompts plants to devote energy towards synthesizing resin, thereby enhancing the concentrations of cannabinoids and terpenes in the buds.

But, you need to be careful and avoid extreme dehydration or you might end up losing the plant itself. If you do this correctly, you will tap into their natural defense mechanisms and boost the potency of your harvest. 

Remember, it's all about the balance again. Reduce moisture levels just enough to encourage plants to increase resin production without jeopardizing their well-being. Watch the plants like a hawk during this process to prevent them from becoming overly dry which could result in wilting or nutrient absorption issues.

Another method to induce slight stress using water is to do it by manipulating its temperature. This isn't practical if you have a large grow room with many plants, but you can use cold water or ice to induce stress. This approach can help lower the root zone temperature of plants potentially boosting resin production and potency. But, please don't try this if you're a beginner as there are chances of killing the plant. One way is to start with mildly cold water rather than using ice-cold water straight away. Then, you can take it from there based on how your plants react. 

4. Temperature 

Maintaining the temperature is essential for optimizing cannabis plant potency. Here are some key strategies for achieving and maintaining optimal temperature conditions. 

During the vegetative stage, you should aim for temperatures between 70-85°F (21-29°C) to support vegetative growth, strong root development, and overall plant vigor.

In the flowering stage, however, it's best to keep temperatures cooler between 65-80°F (18-26°C). Lowering temperatures towards the end of flowering during the night cycle can help boost resin production and protect terpenes. 

Providing lower temperatures during the blooming stage can have an impact on both the appearance and strength of cannabis plants. You need to do this just for a few days, though. For example, when there are just two weeks remaining to harvest, lower the temperatures. This will also enhance the chemical composition of your plants. This method is especially effective in preserving terpene levels and potency as terpenes are sensitive to heat and can break down at higher temperatures. Therefore, reduce the temps by about 10 to 15 degrees and you'll enjoy the rewards later. 

However, remember that there could be consequences if you overdo this. Decreasing temperatures too much can make it challenging to control the humidity, inviting the risk of mold and bud rot. But, since you'll be doing this at the very end, it won't be such a big deal. 

Since the temperature and humidity are connected intricately, you can rely on the VPD or Vapor Pressure Deficit which efficiently measures the difference between the actual amount of moisture present in the air versus how much it can hold when it's completely saturated. 

In short, it can serve as a stressor supporting plant growth and maximizing potency. Typically, the VPD can range from 0.5 to 1.5, so keep this in mind when adjusting the environmental conditions.

The VPD, in essence, tells you how your plants are possibly reacting to the environment around them. This way, you'll know whether the pores on the leaves of the plants are closed or open. As the pores are open when the plants conduct photosynthesis, you'll know that the plants are not stressed. On the other hand, if they are closed, it's likely because they are under some stress. Remember, this is ideal only when you're trying to stress the plants actively. For example, if the plants are stressed during the vegetative period, it could be due to other things like nutrient deficiencies or diseases too. 

Like other factors, the VPD also changes according to the growth cycle of the plant. But, you can stress the plants a bit more during the last few weeks of the flowering to pump up those terpenes and trichomes. 

Here are a few ways to reduce the temperatures without shocking the plants:

• Gradual Adaptation: Slowly decrease temperatures and take a few days to get to your desired temperature rather than lowering it all at once. 
• Nighttime Cooling: Cooler nighttime temperatures will be beneficial as it replicates the conditions outdoors. Thus, you can keep the lights off at night to reduce the temps. 
• Air Circulation: Proper airflow helps regulate temperature and humidity levels. Use oscillating fans for air circulation but make sure they don't face the plants directly. Exhaust fans and intake vents can not only help with ventilation but also eliminate heat and humidity in small spaces or warm weather conditions. You must ensure proper airflow to also prevent mold formation. 
• Close Monitoring: Since you'll be adjusting the temperatures quite a bit, keep a very close eye on them using sensors. In addition, check out the plants frequently to make sure they are okay with the stress.
• Additional equipment: Install an HVAC system or portable air conditioners to manage temperature changes. This can be very beneficial during the late flowering stage, especially if you live in hot climates. You can also use dehumidifiers to regulate humidity levels while lowering temperatures slightly to avoid bud rot.

5. Humidity 

Maintaining proper levels of humidity is vital for preventing mold and mildew while supporting plant growth. 

During the vegetative stage, the ideal range of humidity would be between 40 to 70%. Young plants benefit from slightly higher humidity levels as it aids in nutrient absorption and prevents dehydration.

During the flowering stage, however, it's best to aim for a range between 40-50% to avoid issues like mold and mildew forming on the buds. Remember, we also spoke about dehydrating the plants slightly by reducing water? This range of humidity will pair well in such instances, encouraging the plants to develop as many trichomes as possible. 

6. Harvest at the Right Time

Harvesting cannabis at the right time when it's at the peak of its potency will naturally get you more potent buds. Needless to say, this is the most important step if you want potent buds because if you go through the trouble of taking care of the plants properly and mess up at this last moment, all that hard work will be in vain.

The difference, in the effects and strength of harvesting at the peak compared to waiting can be quite significant. Timing plays a role in achieving the desired outcomes.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Monitor Trichome Growth

You already know a bit about trichomes. As the plant progresses far into the flowering stage, you need to pay more attention to the trichomes as they undergo various changes. 

Initially, trichomes are clear during the early flowering stage when cannabinoids are still developing and haven't reached their peak potency.

As the plant matures, trichomes become milky or cloudy, indicating that cannabinoids are at their peak potency. This is the best time to harvest if you're looking for awesome effects. In short, harvest when at least 70-80% of trichomes have turned milky. 

Over time, some milky trichomes may turn amber or brown signaling that THC is converting into CBN (cannabinol) which has sedative properties. If you want a couchlock effect, you can wait for some of the trichomes to turn amber. 

• Observe Changes in Pistils

Initially, pistils are long and fluffy and stand out from the buds during early flowering. But, as the plant approaches maturity, pistils curl inward. This change serves as another sign that the plant is nearing its peak potency.

Another change to look for lies in the color, just like the trichomes. Initially, they will be white and easily identifiable. However, with time, they start changing colors and become dark brown. So, wait for at least 80-90% of the pistils to turn brown if you want maximum potency. If you're looking for sedative effects, you can wait until all the pistils have changed colors and then harvest the buds. 

• Magnifying tool

As trichomes are tiny, you'll need magnifying tools like a jeweler's loupe or a digital microscope that allows you to see the trichomes clearly. 

• Conduct Regular Checks

Frequently examine the trichomes and pistils as they can mature pretty quickly. Trichome development can differ among buds particularly if the plant has experienced varying conditions or light levels.

7. Protect the Potency of Trichomes

If you're growing cannabis, you'll have to handle those juicy trichomes at some point — those glass-like structures that cover the buds. Once you grow a few plants, you'll get better at identifying them, unless you have so much heat in the room that the trichomes don't develop at all. 

Anyway, coming back to the trichomes, your primary job is to protect them as they contain cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids that contribute to their potency. Although terpenes don't necessarily make you high on their own, you still have to take care of the trichomes because the effects produced by the plant are a combination of several of these compounds. 

It might be tempting to rub the buds for a whiff, but even this innocent action can potentially harm the trichomes. Here are a few ways to protect the trichomes:

• Handle with Care

Avoid touching the buds to prevent damage. However, you can't escape them and have to touch them when harvesting the buds. In such cases, be very careful and try not to damage them. Place the harvested buds carefully on a tray and make sure there isn't too much rubbing. 

• Use the Right Tools

When trimming, wear gloves as you don't want the dirt and grime from your hands getting transferred to the trichomes. Yes, your hands are clean but it's best not to take chances. Next, use sharp scissors to minimize contact and reduce the risk of harming trichomes.

• Maintain Ideal Conditions

Ensure your grow room has proper humidity and temperature levels to prevent trichome deterioration. Extreme heat and low humidity can make trichomes brittle. Sometimes, the grow lights emit so much heat that the trichomes don't develop as much as they should. And, if they are present already, the heat can just kill them. This is why the buds don't have as much aroma as they typically contain when they experience heat stress. 

By following these methods you can make sure that the delicate trichomes stay unharmed, thereby preserving the cannabinoids and terpenes that enhance the strength and quality of your cannabis.

8. Drying and Curing 

Finally, we arrive at the most important factor that can increase the potency — drying and curing. 

• Drying

After you harvest, you need to start drying the buds immediately. However, you need to create the best drying conditions. First, keep the temperatures constant in the drying area, ranging from 60-70°F (15-21°C) with humidity levels around 50-60%. This setup helps prevent mold formation and ensures that the buds dry properly. 

Remember, you need the trichomes safe at any cost, so handle the buds with care and dry them in a room or tent to dry. This way, you'll also prevent them from getting exposed to light that can diminish potency and alter taste. Use fans to gently circulate air in the drying space but don't direct the airflow onto the buds or they will dry up excessively. 

Also, there are various ways to dry the buds. You can either hang the branches on lines or racks. Make sure the buds do not touch each other for proper air circulation. Or, you can place the buds flat on drying racks with proper airflow. 

Next, you only need to check the buds regularly for the best results. They shouldn't be too dry or wet. In short, they should feel dry when you touch them but shouldn't be brittle. The stems should snap when you break them but shouldn't bend, which indicates that there's still some moisture present in them. 

Typically, the drying process lasts 7-10 days, but it depends on your environmental conditions. 

• Curing

After the buds are dry, it's time to cure them. This process single-handedly boosts the potency, so don't ignore it. 

To cure the buds, place them in sealed glass jars, filling them up to 75% capacity to allow some air circulation that enhances the flavor and retains cannabinoids. Keep the jars in a dark spot with temperatures ranging from 60-70°F (15-21°C).

You all need to burp the jars for the first couple of weeks by opening them daily for at least 10-15 minutes to release moisture and let fresh air in. This practice also prevents mold formation. After the first two weeks, you can burp the jars only once per week. 

One important factor is humidity. To control that, you'll need to use humidity control packs inside the jars to maintain moisture levels around 62%, preventing the buds from getting too dry or too damp.

Also, regularly check the aroma. A musty smell indicates mold and excess moisture. In such cases, increase the frequency of burping. 

Allow the buds to cure for at least a month to observe noticeable improvements in both potency and flavor. However, extending the curing period for up to 6 months can further elevate the quality of the end product.

Be patient during the curing process as it ultimately leads to improved results in terms of potency and overall cannabis experience.

Summary: How To Increase The Potency Of Weed

So, there you have it! These are some of the most common ways to increase the potency of your cannabis buds. One thing you should remember is that you should dry and cure the buds perfectly. Don't think that your work is done once you harvest the buds. In fact, drying and curing properly enhances the potency and allows you to enjoy your favorite buds for a long time. 

If you follow these factors, you'll be able to harvest some of the most potent buds you've ever grown. Enjoy!