Trimming and Harvesting Cannabis Plants

In this article, I explain everything you need to know about trimming, including the different types of trimming, the tools and equipment required, which leaves to keep for making hash, and more.

Dry Trimming vs Wet Trimming

Many growers enjoy trimming their plants and getting up close and personal with them. In contrast, others find pruning to be backbreaking work and the most challenging aspect of being a grower. There are two methods for cutting your plants after they have been harvested, which are wet or dry trimming.

Dry Trimming Explained

For the grower who prefers to cut the stem of the plant and allow the entire plant to hang from the top of the grow tent or dying room. Dry trimming means allowing the plant to become dry over a 10-14 day period before cutting away each individual bud and cleaning them up.

• Dry trimming is best suited for growers with a large number of harvested plants.
• Trimming when the buds are dry can speed up the trimming process.
• A grower can make dry sift hash with the dried leaves and popcorn buds
• A screen or tray should be used when dry trimming to collect trichomes.
• Dry trimming gives a grower a 10-14 day rest period once the plants are chopped.

Wet Trimming Explained

If you prefer the idea of trimming your buds whilst they are still wet and fresh, then wet trimming is ideal. Wet trimming must be done before the buds dry out and is typically performed within 12 to 24 hours after harvesting the plants. You can use a drying net to place each of the carefully wet, trimmed buds onto, or hand the side branches upside down to dry for the next 10-14 days.

• Wet trimming cannabis should be done sooner rather than later.
• Freshly trimmed buds can be placed onto a fabric dry net.
• A grower can save the wet trim and put it in the freezer.
• Wet trimming can be a long process compared to dry trimming.

Hand Trimming vs Machine Trimming

Now that we have discussed the differences between wet and dry trimming cannabis plants, let's examine the distinctions between hand trimming and machine trimming.

Hand Trimming Explained

For the grower working on a small or large scale, hand trimming involves getting comfortable in a chair, grabbing a pair of sharp scissors, and manicuring each leaf and bud. Hand trimming can take a long period of time, and it is recommended to take a break every 2-3 hours to avoid back pain and loss of enthusiasm. 

Machine Trimming Explained

Commercial-scale grow houses will prefer to use trimming machines as they save time, speed up the job and make life much easier when trimming hundreds of plants. Machine trimmers are straightforward and carefully remove the fan leaves and smaller leaves from wet or dry cannabis plants. 

Trimming Plants Before Harvesting

You can start trimming your plants during the cannabis flowering stage if you want to remove the large fan leaves before cutting the stems to hang them. This is known as defoliation of the plants, and many growers find that doing a quick defoliation will save them time once the plants have been harvested. 

Tools and Equipment Needed for Trimming Cannabis Plants

To trim your cannabis plants, you will need to be well prepared. Below is a checklist to help you be as professional as possible. 

• A controlled drying room, such as a grow tent
• A pair of sharp scissors
• A plastic bag to collect the fan leaves
• Trimming tray to collect the resinous plant material
• Latex gloves

What to Do With the Trimmed Plant Material

When you are wet or dry trimming your plants, you will end up with two types of trim. The first will be resinous and sticky leaves that contain trichomes, and the second will be leaves that have no resin at all. Below is a breakdown of what you can expect and your available options.

Fan Leaves With No Resin

These types of leaves will be the largest fan leaves. These often contain no resin whatsoever and should be cut off the plant first, then thrown into a rubbish bag or added to a compost pile. They have no use for hash making and should be the first thing to remove when trimming.

Fan Leaves With Resin

If you have been growing some great genetics, you will notice that the fan leaves contain a high amount of resin. When this is the case, you will want to be as delicate as possible when removing them from the plants. The goal is to save them for the trim pile, as they will be used for hash making, so preserve them as best as possible.

Small Leaves With Resin

Once the largest leaves have been removed, the next step is to save all the smaller leaves that are closest to the buds. These will certainly contain lots of trichomes and will make the best hash. Cut away as much of the entire leaf as possible and preserve as much high-grade plant material as possible.

What About Seeded Buds?

Discovering that your cannabis buds contain seeds during trimming can be a real kick in the teeth. Seeded buds will definitely lower the quality of your crop: nobody wants to find seeds in their buds, as they taste awful when they're accidentally burned during combustion, as recommended by Seed Stockers.

I would recommend cutting away the seeded buds and using them for hash making, as they will still contain trichomes and produce a top-quality piece of hash; however, do not waste your time smoking them.

Making an Isolator With the Trim

• Trim should be frozen immediately after harvesting when making isolator.
• Bubble bags are used to separate the plant material and resin.
• A live resin isolator is made using fresh, trimmed plant material.

Dry Sifting the Trim

• The plant material should be dehydrated before sifting.
• A series of screens is used for separating the trichomes.
• Dry sifting will produce a larger return compared to an isolator.

What Is Scissor Hash?

Scissor hash is the hash that accumulates on the blades of your scissors, and will have a dark brown or even black colour. This hash is actually extremely potent and flavoursome, and can be smoked between trimming sessions. A good tip is to save the scissors hash and put it to one side, and reward yourself with a nice joint after every day spent in trim jail!

My Final Thoughts on Trimming Weed

Trimming your plants should be a time when you get excited about it, and even though it may take several days, sitting in a chair and meticulously trimming, make sure you take your time and do not rush. The cleaner and more accurately you can cut your buds, the more plant material you will obtain for making hash. 

Based on my experience trimming cannabis plants, make sure you have a radio, or some entertainment to keep you busy during those long hours, and make sure you take a well-deserved break every 2-3 hours.