Heading to full bloom stage
Cannabis plants have a short life cycle, but it’s not uncommon to see them grow to maturity in about three months. During this time, they go through many changes. At its budding stage, the plant begins to grow and develop buds. As the flowers begin to open, the flowering process begins, and the plant becomes covered in hairs at its pistil stage, signaling the beginning of the flowering period.
The plant will enter the finish stage once all of its seeds have been produced and matured. In nature, the plant dies after pollination, and then seeds disperse naturally. However, humans prefer to harvest the seeds before the plant dies.
Here are some of the stages and major changes you’ll notice as your cannabis plant matures.
Budding Stage: The first two weeks of a cannabis plant’s life consist of the vegetative stage. Vegetative refers to any growth stage where the plant doesn’t produce flower parts yet. The plant is focused on producing roots and establishing a strong foundation for future growth. Red Head Mature
Vegetative stage also includes leaf formation. These leaves are small and thin, and their job is to collect nutrients and water from the environment. A cannabis plant uses these leaves to take in carbon dioxide while releasing oxygen back into the air. You should expect to see green, thin leaves with no stems, or no visible stem at all. Buds will be tightly closed and covered in brown-colored trichomes. Red Head Mature
Vegetative Stages ends with a burst of growth, and the plant produces branches and grows taller vertically. Also known as the “bud stage,” this is the critical stage of a cannabis plant’s development. Here we see the emergence of the male and female reproductive organs (pistils and stamens).
Flowering Period: The second week of a cannabis plant’s lifecycle is dedicated to the flowering stage. This is the time when the plant produces flower clusters and begins to produce cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are active ingredients in cannabis that give the plant its effects. The amount of THC and CBD in each strain of cannabis differs.
During this stage, the plant will start to exhibit larger leaves and bigger bud formations. There may be some slight variations in color depending on genetics. This is the point in a cannabis plant’s lifespan when it enters the “heady” stage.
Pollinated: Once this stage occurs, the plant will stop growing until it reaches the finishing stage. This is due to the fact that the plant is now ready to produce seeds and reproduce.
The Cannabis plant passes pollen onto the pistil, which will carry out the actual reproduction process. When the plant is mature enough, it will reach the fruiting stage and produce seeds.
Fruiting Stage: After pollination, the plant starts to produce flowers and seeds. The plant continues to grow until all of its seeds have reached maturity.
Harvest Time: Your plant could be ready for harvesting anytime between 6 and 8 weeks past the flowering stage, depending on the variety. Harvesting early means less work for you and potentially higher yields. The sooner you pick, the fresher the product will stay.
This stage marks the end of a cannabis plant’s lifespan. If you’ve kept your plant properly watered throughout its lifetime, it should easily wilt and die without much drama.
