Tips From Industry Experts:

How to Prepare Your Cannabis Grow for Harvest Success

After months of meticulous cultivation, the post-harvest phase is a critical step in ensuring the quality, potency, and safety of your cannabis yield. Implementing well-defined Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for post-harvest solutions is essential to maintain consistency and produce a premium product. Below, we outline a comprehensive set of SOPs to guide you through the post-harvest process.

1. Harvest and Initial Inspection

1.1 - Harvesting

From an SOP perspective, harvesting a plant is defined as cutting the meristem from its growing medium you actually have to have your annual worker protection standards training up to date or your three-year pesticide application license up to date. Someone with a three year application license within your facility can conduct that annual worker protection standard training to you and your employees within your facility. That task, according to the department of agriculture, does legally require specific training.

It is crucial to harvest during the optimal window based on trichome maturity and strain

characteristics.

1.2 - Initial Inspection

Inspect each harvested plant for signs of pests, diseases, or abnormalities. Remove any visibly damaged or compromised parts. Record observations for future reference and quality control.

2. Pruning and Trimming

2.1 - Pruning

First, you’ll want to focus on defoliation to removing heavy fan leaves off as much as possible to create a very uniform dry and a denser flower down below. Preserving the shape and integrity of the buds while removing fan leaves and sugar leaves is crucial to producing a much better product.

2.2 - Dry Trimming

If you`re a craft cannabis or commercial producer, you`ll want to choose a batch style trimmer. This is where Twister Trimmers Technology comes into play. Machine trimming buds eliminates the crushing of trichomes and loss of oils that occur with hand trimming, as well as contributing to the flower having higher THC levels. Not to mention they save you a lot of time. With this new technology, the art of trimming cannabis has been transformed from tedious to opportunistic.

3. Drying and Curing

3.1 - Drying

Hang the trimmed branches upside down in a designated drying area with proper temperature and humidity control. You’ll also want to ensure minimum handling. At this stage trichome heads are so delicate that the more they are handled, the more oils that are being lost. Machine trimming buds eliminates the crushing of trichomes and loss of oil that occur with hand trimming.

When drying it is critical to have good air circulation to prevent mold growth.

Its very important to avoid over drying. When drying and you think you’re at the point where you’re going to stop the dry and pull it off and harvest, turn off all dehumidification and AC and let the room settle for up to 24 hours if you can. You’ll then want to closely monitor the moisture in the room so you can see that its stabilized out. If you’re not seeing much change, you`re right in that sweet spot.

Record drying times for each strain to ensure consistency in future harvests.

3.2 - Curing

Transfer dried buds to clean, airtight glass containers.

Open containers daily for the first week to release excess moisture and prevent mold.

Gradually reduce the frequency of container burping over the curing period.

Monitor and maintain consistent temperature and humidity levels within the curing environment.

For cannabis flower, the ideal relative humidity (RH) range is 58%-62%. Maintaining this stable environment protects against trichome damage, terpene loss, over-drying and mold. Bovedaterpene shields bring your container to the perfect RH to protect it. Humidity control packs can monitor ambient humidity and add or remove moisture to deliver a precise RH. This gives your cannabis the optimal moisture content and keeps it true to its original form. When your cannabis terpenes are protected by a monolayer shield of purified water over the trichomes, you are assured to have the full terpene effect.

Label each container with strain information and harvest date.

4. Quality Control and Packaging

4.1 - Quality Control

Perform visual and sensory assessments of cured buds to identify any signs of contamination, mold, or off-putting odors.

Use a calibrated hygrometer to monitor humidity levels within curing jars.

Conduct sample testing to evaluate potency, cannabinoid levels, and terpene profiles.

4.2 - Packaging

Choose high-quality, moisture-resistant packaging materials that are airtight and light-proof.

Weigh and portion the dried and cured buds accurately for consistent product offerings.

Include strain information, potency details, and usage recommendations on packaging labels.

Store packaged cannabis in a cool, dark environment to maintain freshness.

Proper packaging and labeling are essential for complying with the various laws and regulations that govern the cannabis industry. These regulations often vary by jurisdiction and can include specific requirements for child-resistant packaging, tamper-evident features, and warning labels. Packaging isn`t just about looks – it`s about preserving freshness, maintaining potency, and ensuring safety. Properly sealed packaging keeps those precious terpenes intact. DIZPOT packaging assures that the flower will be in the same condition when it comes out, as it was when it went in.

Conclusion

Implementing rigorous Standard Operating Procedures for post-harvest solutions is pivotal in achieving consistent, high-quality cannabis yields. By meticulously following these SOPs, you`ll not only ensure the potency and safety of your products but also build a reputation for excellence in the cannabis industry. Keep in mind that these procedures may need to be adapted based on local regulations, equipment, and specific strains being cultivated.

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