Trimmed CBD buds are desirable because they have a smoother taste, and looks aesthetically pleasing. However, the main reason why they are trimmed is that they offer a better consumer experience. Trimming cannabis is achieved by removing all the leaves as well as the stems. The chlorophyll in these parts of the hemp flower can give CBD buds a bad taste. Cannabis leaves and flowers also do not have potent levels of cannabinoids, so trimmed buds give you more for your money.
So, how is hemp flower trimmed? The answer to your question is that they can be trimmed by hand as well as a machine.
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Hand Trimmed CBD Buds
Hand trimming is how plants have been traditionally manicured. However, trimming a hemp flower by hand requires skill and a lot of time and labor. The good news is that trimming does not require a great deal of training, but it does require practice.
When it is done correctly, a hand-trimmed bud can showcase that particular species’ unique qualities as well as its beauty. Also, there is very little loss of the bud material. Hand trimming CBD buds does take a lot of time. This is because every bud has to be carefully chosen and then trimmed.
Every CBD bud is different, and so it will require selective treatment to yielding its full potential. So, hand trimming is often limited to higher quality buds or ones that are more fragile to ensure max yield for commercial distribution.
How are CBD Buds Hand Trimmed?
Hand trimming hemp flower requires a pointed cutting blade and pruning shears. You may also want to wear gloves because your hands will get very sticky. Rubbing alcohol should be on hand to clean off sticky shears and sanitize them.
How to Trim CBD Buds
Start by trimming away the buds from the stems. Next, remove the large fan leaves. Finally, use the shears to carefully trim away the smaller sugar leaves that grow from the bud. You will want to discard stems and fan leaves but keep the trimmed sugar leaves. The trim from the sugar leaves can be used for making CBD prerolls or extracts.
Machine Trimming
Using a machine to trim hemp flowers is effective and quick. It is always a good idea to use a machine when you have a large inventory. Some machines can trim up to 20 lbs. in a single session. There are various types of machine trimmers, so there is bound to be one that suited to your budget. Though cheaper trimmers can’t always accommodate a very large volume.
Using a machine trimmer does not require any skill. Most machines are pretty straight forward to use and can be used by anyone.
Which Method is Best?
The best trimming method for hemp flower will the size of the crop, and the quality of the buds. Hand trimmed hemp flower is good for premium smokable flower. For hemp flower that will be used for extraction mechanical trimming is more economical and practical.
Another option is to “hash cut” the flower. When you hash cut flower you do not take as much care in removing sugar leaves. However, if you do not have access to cheap labor, mechanical trimming is the best option for processing large amounts of CBD buds.
