Leaves

Marijuana Horticulture

by Jorge Cervantes

Once the large leaves are fully formed, THC potency has generally peaked out. Smaller leaves around buds continue to develop resin until buds are ripe. Peak potency is retained, as long as leaves are healthy and green; nothing is lost by leaving them on the plant. harvest leaves if they show signs f disease or rapid yellowing that fertilizer has failed to cure. Once they start t yellow and die, potency decreases somewhat. This is true especially with fan eaves that grow before the buds. The large leaves turn yellow when nitrogen rich fertilizer is withheld during flowering.

Cut the entire leaf, including the leaf stem and toss it into a bag. Paper bags breathe well and can be closed by folding over the top. Plastic bags do not breathe, so the top must be left open. If the petiole is left on the stem, it shrivels and dies back. This little bit of dead plant attracts moisture and mold. Removing it will avoid mod problems.

Keep the paper bag in a closet or area with 40-60 percent humidity and 60-70F temperature. Reach into the bag once or twice a day and stir leaves by hand. Leaves should be dry to the touch in five to seven days. Once dry, place in the freezer to get ready to make Ice-O-Lator hash.