The Truth About Trichomes: What Every Canadian Weed Buyer Should Know
You want to buy weed online in Canada and get the highest-quality cannabis products possible. To do this, always opt for marijuana varieties with an abundant coating of trichomes.
Trichomes on weed play a crucial role in the fragrance and flavour. Plus, they influence your overall experience when you smoke a certain weed strain.
If you’ve been smoking weed for a while, you’ve come across cannabis trichomes.
But if you’re new to the world of marijuana, you’re likely wondering what these are.
We’ve put together a comprehensive guide to tell you all you need to know about it.
To start with, we’ll break down the different types of it on weed.
We’ll then tell you what cannabis trichomes do and why they’re such a big deal among Canadian stoners. You’ll learn about the difference between the calyx and trichomes.
Finally, we’ll tell you how it influence the flavour, fragrance, and potency of different cannabis strains.
What Are Trichomes and Their Function?
So, what are the trichomes on bud?
Simply put, trichomes are tiny, hair-like structures found on the leaves and flowers of cannabis plants.
Trichomes on weed serve the evolutionary purpose of protecting it from:
– Predators
Trichomes on cannabis plants help protect them from predatory insects and other herbivores.
A study on the effect of trichomes on these insects found that the chemicals released by trichomes impact their movement, egg-laying process, and predation potential.
Some of it even exude a sticky substance that entraps insects, leading to their eventual death.
This protects the plant from pest infestations.
– UV light
While the sun is crucial for photosynthesis, it gives off potentially harmful UV rays.
Fortunately, the trichomes on weed have a shiny surface that reflects the unwanted rays.
– Harsh environmental conditions
Pot trichomes do more than keep away insects.
These appendages enable cannabis plants to interact with their environment.
They can, for instance, help manage water loss by acting as a natural sunscreen.
That explains why the trichome-rich flower you buy from an online dispensary in Canada is so resinous and moist.
– Herbicides
Trichomes in weeds have been found to contribute to herbicide resistance.
This means an individual plant survives doses of herbicides that would have been lethal to others.
This work as a barrier, protecting plants from herbicides and other chemicals.
These are the evolutionary functions of it.
However, in cannabis plants, these structures play a more specific role.
What Are Trichomes On Bud?
When you look at cannabis buds, you’ll notice an array of hairy, resinous structures.
Weed trichomes have multiple roles, including:
– They’re a biochemical factory
These are responsible for the synthesis of terpenes, THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids.
This means trichomes are the only reason we’re able to get high on weed.
They’re also the reason we’re able to enjoy a complex, dynamic fragrance when we smoke cannabis dispensary weed.
– They’re a visual indicator
Weed growers look at cannabis trichomes during the flowering stage to determine whether or not they’re ready for harvest.
When it turn from clear to milky white, which indicates high THC concentration, growers know it’s the optimal time to harvest.
As you can see, trichomes are crucial to the growth of cannabis and all plants in general.
This is why you should opt for trichome-rich strains when you buy weed online in Canada.
Types of Pot Trichomes
When you look at cannabis plants from a distance, all trichomes look the same.
However, there are three distinct types of cannabis trichomes, including:
1. Capitate-stalked trichomes
These are the most common types of cannabis trichomes.
They’re easily visible to the naked eye and are larger than other trichomes.
You can distinguish capitate-stalked trichomes by their large, globular balls and long stalks.
They have a larger surface area for terpene and cannabinoid synthesis, resulting in an enhanced potency, flavour, and scent.
2. Capitate-sessile trichomes
These are relatively common, but they are much less abundant than capitate-stalked trichomes.
While they have a similar ball-and-stalk structure, they’re much smaller, less prominent, and harder to see.
Capitate-sessile play a crucial role in terpene and cannabinoid synthesis.
3. Bulbous trichomes
Bulbous are incredibly small and can only be observed with a magnifying glass or under a microscope.
With an average length of 20 micrometres, they’re spread on the stems and leaves of cannabis and other plants.
These have a short stalk, a small bulb, and limited cannabinoid content.
They take on an amber hue when the buds are ready for harvest.
What’s the Difference Between Cannabis Calyx and Trichomes?
Some stoners tend to use the terms “calyx” and “trichomes” interchangeably.
However, here’s some clarity.
The calyx is a protective node that grows first when cannabis plants enter the flowering stage.
This teardrop-shaped structure holds the reproductive organs and provides a surface for trichomes and pistils to grow.
Simply put, the calyx is a physical structure, while these are hairy appendages that grow in the calyx.
Exploring the Chemicals Synthesized in Cannabis Trichomes
We’ve mentioned in passing that trichomes are responsible for producing cannabinoids and terpenes.
Let’s discuss each of these chemicals in greater detail:
1. Cannabinoids
Cannabinoids are naturally occurring compounds found in cannabis plants.
Of the close to 500 compounds present in the plant, between 80 and 100 are listed as cannabinoids.
However, most of these occur at very low levels and are downright undetectable.
The most abundant cannabinoids in the cannabis plant are THC and CBD. Other minor cannabinoids include CBG, CBC, and CBN.
Let’s take a quick look at the cannabinoids synthesized by pot trichomes:
– THC
This is an abbreviation for tetrahydrocannabinol, the most abundant cannabinoid.
THC is psychoactive, meaning it can impact your psychological, cognitive, and emotional processes.
When you buy weeds online in Canada, this is the compound that gets you high.
The more THC cannabis contains, the more intense the effects will be.
If you don’t like smoking weed, you can buy THC edibles from our Cannabis Canada dispensary.
– CBD
CBD is a nonpsychoactive chemical occurring in cannabis and, more abundantly, in hemp plants.
Short for cannabidiol, this compound doesn’t get you high.
CBD products are, therefore, perfect for cannabis enthusiasts who don’t want to get intoxicated.
You’ll find a diverse selection of CBD gummies when you shop from an online weed dispensary.
You could also buy CBD flowers or edibles infused with both THC and CBD.
– Minor cannabinoids
These are lesser-known compounds in the cannabis plant, existing in significantly smaller quantities than THC and CBD.
Examples of minor cannabinoids include CBC, CBG, and CBN.
CBG (or cannabigerol) is non-intoxicating, while CBN (or cannabinol) is sedating.
Yet, CBC (or cannabichromene) is an anti-inflammatory.
2. Terpenes
Terpenes are a class of natural compounds occurring in cannabis and other plants.
These chemicals are responsible for the bold scent and taste you encounter when smoking your favourite cannabis strains.
Different strains have different terpene profiles.
This explains why every strain has a unique fragrance.
Besides creating a delightful cannabis experience, terpenes help attract pollinators and keep away herbivores and pests.
A few common examples of cannabis terpenes include limonene, myrcene, pinene, terpinolene, linalool, and humulene, among others.
Cannabis trichomes play the role of secreting terpenes.
You should, therefore, opt for trichome-rich flowers when you buy Canadian weed online.
Your favourite marijuana dispensary likely has some options you could choose from.
Evaluating Cannabis Trichomes
When you shop from a reputable weed shop, you’ll be most impressed by the clustered layer of trichomes on the weed.
That said, not all strains are created or grown equally.
Some strains produce more trichomes than others.
However, the best trichomes are not only numerous but also large, bulbous, and healthy.
Here are a few factors to look out for when assessing the quality of this on the weed you just bought at an online dispensary Canada:
– The colour of the cannabis trichomes
As we mentioned, the colour of it on weed announces how much THC the flower contains.
Milky, crystal-white indicate peak potency, while an amber hue points to a more relaxing experience.
– The density of the trichomes
This refers to the amount of cannabis trichomes on your buds.
You can assess this using a magnifying glass if you have one.
Buds with many trichomes packed closely together will result in a more potent smoking experience.
This is because they have a larger surface area to produce cannabinoids and terpenes.
– The texture of the pot trichomes
The best flower has sticky, downright oily terpenes.
This indicates that it has been grown, dried, and cured properly.
On the other hand, if you notice that its presence on the weed are a bit dry and flaky, this indicates that it has been overdried.
It could also be an indicator of old bud.
– The structure of the cannabis trichomes
You can use a jeweller’s loupe to assess the structure of the trichomes on your weed.
If you see numerous long, thick, and resinous trichomes, you can be sure you’re smoking craft cannabis.
Looking at it on cannabis may seem like overkill, but seasoned stoners know what’s up.
When you buy weed online in bulk from a new cannabis store, you can’t afford to take chances.
Do Trichomes Turn Into Kief?
Yes, it can turn into kief.
kief is simply the collection of dried, fallen trichomes from cannabis buds, rich in cannabinoids and terpenes.
Trichomes: The Future Of Cannabis Breeding
A few years ago, the only factors most stoners would consider when they bought weed online were the THC concentration levels and whether the strain was sativa, indica, or hybrid.
Things have changed.
Today, most enthusiasts are educated about terpenes, cannabinoids, and the entourage effect.
Since they understand the role it plays, they’re demanding trichome-rich flowers when they buy weed from their favourite online dispensary.
As a result, breeders are now focusing on creating strains that grow dense, bulbous, and resinous trichomes.
They’re also following the best nutrition and lighting practices during the growing stage, enhancing the secretion.
Growers also employ proper harvesting, drying, curing, and handling practices to retain as much trichome content as possible.
At this very moment, someone is obsessing over the bud you’ll buy at a retail cannabis store or online dispensary six months from now.
Want To Order Weed Online? Our Online Dispensary Can Help
Now that you know what cannabis trichomes are, you’ve got one more thing to consider when you order weed online.
And that’s to identify the best place to buy cannabis online.
West Coast Cannabis is the trusted online pot dispensary in Canada.
We’ve got a diverse selection of trichome-rich weed strains at our cannabis store.
We’re talking about some of the most popular AAAA-grade weed strains in the country.
We’re a cannabis dispensary Vancouver stoners love to shop from, and we’ve got something for every stoner.
Whether you’re looking for dried flowers, pre-rolls, edibles, or vape carts, you’ll find them at West Coast Cannabis.
Remember, all our products have been thoroughly tested to assess their trichome count, potency, terpene concentration, and THC levels.
You’re, therefore, guaranteed a high-quality cannabis experience when you visit our online dispensary in Canada.
What are you waiting for?
Place an order from our online weed dispensary today!
