KNOW YOUR TRICHROMES

Here's a simple infographic I've put together to illustrate a trichrome's lifecycle. There are three identifiable phases, hence the 'Tri'.

Trichromes, often referred to as crystals or frost, is the part of the cannabis plant that houses THC among other psychoactive cannabinoids.

If you look closely at the bud, usually with a loupe or magnifying glass, you can make out some fine detail of the trichromes. Although, for a more thorough view, I recommend something like this USB microscope you can hook up to a monitor, giving you a view that's a little easier on the eyes.

There are three distinct phases of trichrome maturation: Clear, Cloudy, and Amber. Harvesting during different phases of maturity can yield wildly varying results when it comes to strength and type of high.

CLEAR

• Typically no psychoactive properties.
• First phase of trichrome lifecycle.
• Harvest now only if THC content is not important.

CLOUDY

• THC Cannabinoids start to become active.
• Not fully mature, but tips may indicate amber.
• Can be harvested based on preference; high can be 'racier'.

AMBER

• Trichromes will be amber, with some cloudy mixed in.
• Fully matured, will not produce more potency past this point.
• Produces a high usually of the 'couchlock' variety.

If you'd like to know more, High Times happens to have a recent article that goes into much more detail about the specifics of trichrome anatomy. You can jump over to it here.

There is still no "official-official" guide to all this trichrome stuff, but hopefully I've helped make things a little easier to digest for you, and inspired you to research further. There's a lot of expertise out there.

For example, here's another great explainer over at rollitup - Trichrome 101

Reach out to me if you have any questions or comments. Thanks!