Anna WilcoxPublished on October 17, 2014· Last updated July 28, 2020
If there’s one attribute that distinguishes cannabis from its plant-family counterparts, it’s trichomes, the tiny, sticky, white glandular hairs that cover the marijuana flower, giving it a “frosty” appearance. Though many plants and algae have developed trichomes of one type or another to trap insects or protect themselves against herbivores, when it comes to cannabis, trichomes have become one of the most coveted and used parts of the plant.
Why, you might ask? Trichomes are the primary source of terpenes and medicinal cannabinoids in the marijuana plant. Once buds are harvested and dried, these terpenes flake off into a light colored, sand-like substance known as kief.
Since the highest concentration of vital cannabinoids like THC are found inside trichomes, it’s no wonder that growers continuously seek new strains and cultivation techniques that maximize the amount of trichomes on each bud. While grow environment drastically affects the amount of trichomes produced by any cannabis plant, some strains certainly produce more trichomes than others.
