In the world of cannabis consumers and enthusiasts, there are many unique terms and phrases to know, from casual terms like bud and nug to more complex, scientific terms such as CBD and THC. “Cannabis flower” is one of the phrases that gets talked about a lot, and it’s important for every cannabis connoisseur to know what marijuana flower actually is, what it looks like, and how it can be used.
What Is Marijuana Flower?
Cannabis flower, also known as cannabis bud or nug, is a term used to describe the part of a cannabis plant that can be smoked. Typically, the term is used when referring to plant material that has already been dried and cured, ready to be used in joints and blunts, but it can refer to fresh cannabis plant material too. Flower is the most popular form of recreational cannabis and medical marijuana to consume, thanks mostly to its versatility; flower bud can be used and consumed in a lot of different ways.
What Does a Marijuana Flower Look Like?
While still part of the plant, the cannabis flower is usually quite easy to spot, due to its tear-like shape and the frosty coating of trichomes around the outside. When dried and cured in nug form, marijuana flower typically looks like little green and brownish balls or clumps of plant material.
Anatomy of a Flower
Cannabis plants may seem simple on the outside, but they’re actually quite complex organisms, with lots of different parts. The anatomy of a cannabis flower or plant can include the following key components and structures:
- Flower – The flower itself is only found on female cannabis plants. It contains the CBD, THC, and other key ingredients like terpenes and cannabinoids that trigger various effects in the human body.
- Cola – The cola of the cannabis flower is the name given to clusters of buds growing tightly together. Colas can be found around the branches, with the largest cola usually situated on top of the plant.
- Pistil – The pistil is where the reproductive parts of the flower are located. These parts are recognizable for their thin, hair-like strands, known as stigmas, which gather pollen from the male plants to allow for reproduction.
- Bracts – The bracts are situated around the reproductive parts of the flowering cannabis plant. They’re green and dotted with resin glands, making them very high in terms of cannabinoid content.
- Trichomes – Trichomes are very small crystaline structures found on the outside of flowering cannabis buds. They serve as a form of protection for the flower and secrete both CBD and THC, among other cannabinoids.
Marijuana Strains
There are three main forms of cannabis flower: Indica, Sativa, and hybrid.
- Indica – Indica cannabis is known for its low levels of THC. It tends to be grown in areas with brief winters due to its short flowering stage. This type of cannabis flower is recommended for its relaxing effects and sleep benefits.
- Sativa – Sativa cannabis stands out for its high levels of THC when compared to Indica. It has thinner and longer leaves too, growing best in very warm conditions. In terms of effects, this type of marijuana flower triggers people’s creativity and can make them more expressive.
- Hybrid – There are also hybrid forms of cannabis flower, made with both Indica and Sativa elements and offering a mixture of effects and benefits. They can have various different sizes, shapes, and ideal growing conditions.
What Makes a Good Cannabis Flower?
It’s possible to learn a lot about cannabis flowers simply by observing them. A visual inspection can tell you a lot about the quality of the bud in question. The best flower tends to have a naturally appealing appearance, with bold colors and pleasant aromas. It shouldn’t have any noticeable flaws like the presence of insects or mold, and there shouldn’t be any kind of discoloration. The number of trichomes can also be a key factor; if you see more trichomes, the cannabis in question will usually be more potent.
Flower Consumption Methods
As stated earlier, one of the best benefits of CBD flower is that it’s highly versatile. You can consume this part of the cannabis plant in a lot of different ways, making it ideal for medical marijuana users who want to experiment with different methods or recreational cannabis enthusiasts who like specific consumption methods like blunts and joints.
Here are a few different ways in which you can consume cannabis flowers:
- Joint – Joints are essentially cannabis cigarettes, made from rolling up some ground flower in the smokable paper.
- Blunts – If joints are like cigarettes, blunts are more like cigars. They’re made by a rolling ground flower in empty cigars or blunt wraps.
- Pipes – You can also smoke flower in a pipe, which is one of the most popular ways to consume it.
- Bong – Bongs are another option for consuming cannabis flower, letting you filter the smoke through water for cleaner hits.
How to Store Cannabis Flower?
Proper weed storage is absolutely essential in order to preserve the quality and potency of your flower and avoid any problems like mold development or flower degradation as time goes by. And when it comes to storing flower, there are several factors to take into account:
- Light – Weed should be kept in a dark place, as light is able to negatively impact its quality, reducing its flavors, aromas, and overall structure too.
- Air – Air control is another key factor here, as a lack of air can lead to moisture building up in your bud, but too much air can accelerate decomposition. It’s best to keep flower in sealed containers like mason jars, giving them a little air, but not too much.
- Moisture – Too much moisture can be terrible for cannabis flower, accelerating the growth of mold and mildew. Ideally, you’ll want to keep the humidity levels at around 60% to preserve the structure, color, taste, and aroma of your nugs.
- Temperatures – Weed connoisseurs often talk about storing flower in cool, dark places, and there is a scientific reason to that; too much heat can allow germs and mold to start growing on your buds, so it’s best to keep it at temperatures below 70 degrees.
Where to Buy Marijuana Flower in Los Angeles, California?
Happy Leaf Collective offers a wide variety of marijuana flower including Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid. Check out our menu to find the best strain for you.
Marijuana Flower in Los Angeles, California
Green Dragon
Green Dragon produces premium indoor-grown flower is cultivated to maximize flower quality. Green Dragon products are known for both their flavor and their potency.
Jungle Boys
Jungle Boys is a collective of Los Angeles cultivators working to grow clean and potent cannabis at their state of the art grow facilities, and produces flavor-packed vapes filled with solventless single-source rosin extracted from hand-selected Jungle Boys flower.
Folium Farms
Folium Farms produces consistent quality cannabis with scientific precision. Their facilities use the latest sustainable hydroponic cultivation practices that maximize the quality of their flower while minimizing their impact on the environment.
East Fork Cultivars
East Fork Cultivars produce craft cannabis using sustainable and responsible methods, growing plants under the sun and harvesting their crop by hand. Their naturally-grown flowers cover a wide range of chemical profiles for every preference.
Heroes of the farm
Heroes of the farm grow high-quality craft cannabis in the foothills of Mt. Hood, creating unique strains through crosses between many well-known strains.
Noble Farms
Noble Farms is a family-owned recreational cannabis producer. Noble Farms focuses on small-batch boutique cannabis cultivation, with an emphasis on connoisseur-grade flowers.
Oregon Roots
Oregon Roots aims to provide the best craft cannabis to both patients and recreational users, including its own exclusive strains produced by crossing selected strains to perfect their flavor and effect.
Kumba Hills
Kumba Hills provides full transparency in the lifecycle of each of their strains from seedling to harvest, so customers can rest assured knowing their cannabis was properly cared for and grown on a manageable scale.
Leap
Leap is dedicated to cultivating excellent Cannabis flowers through state-of-the-art growing practices, ensuring consistent quality and plant integrity.
Urban Pharms
Urban Pharms brings the highest quality products to cannabis consumers. Their premium cannabis products include both sun-grown and indoor full-spectrum flower, as well as extract cartridges and pre-rolls.
Gud Gardens
Güd Gardens is a recreational cannabis farm that sustainably produces both sun-grown and indoor cannabis flower. Gud prides itself not just on its excellent cultivation practices, but also its attention to detail in the drying and curing process to provide the perfect end result.
Emerald Valley Growers
Emerald Valley Growers are passionate about growing high-quality cannabis products, combining years of experience, top genetics, and optimum growing conditions. Emerald Valley Growers produces both recreational and medicinal cannabis flower and oils.
Phyre
Phyre produces handcrafted, ultra-premium cannabis grown in living soil according to sustainable cultivation practices. Phyre combines the latest in cannabis cultivation science with environmentally-friendly methods.
Dirty Arm Farm
Dirty Arm Farm provides the highest quality flower, extracts, and edibles to all. Dirty Arm ensures that its sustainable cultivation practices will preserve the environment for generations to come.
818 Genetics
818 Genetics marijuana artisans and master strain breeders use small-batch, artisan cultivation methods to maximize the potential of each plant’s cannabis genetics. This results in pristine, pesticide-free craft cannabis flower, which is then fully flushed and gently slow-cured for several weeks.
Autumn Brands
Autumn Brands is licensed cannabis producer, providing cannabis grown in the sun of Santa Barbara County. It uses sustainable practices to minimize water wastage and eliminate the use of pesticides to preserve the natural environment.
CLaybourne Co.
CLaybourne Co. produces a wide range of unique cannabis products including their Gold Cuts selection which takes only the best results of their in-house breeding and selection program for a truly premium flower.
CANNABIOTIX
Cannabiotix is a boutique cannabis company created by expert cultivators to provide top quality cannabis to connoisseurs. All of their flower products are hand packaged and stored in ideal conditions to ensure a crisp and fresh end result.
Cream of the Crop Gardens
Cream of the Crop Gardens prides itself on crafting the highest quality flowers available to California cannabis connoisseurs. Their cannabis is cultivated to produce fragrant terpenes and unmatched flavor in every strain.
Elyon Cannabis
Elyon Cannabis products are sun-grown by hand in enriched soil. Their eco-friendly greenhouse growing methods promote the conservation of natural resources and guarantee a luxurious, quality cannabis experience.
Glass House Farms
Glass House Farms are expert cultivators who craft cannabis flower by hand, in state-of-the-art greenhouses, drenched in the Southern California sun.
Grizzly Peak
Grizzly Peak specializes in growing, packaging, and distributing carefully handcrafted unique, proprietary-owned genetic strains. As a result, they offer high-end cannabis flower not found anywhere else.