THCA flower is made by growing cannabis plants under special conditions. The goal of the grower is to cultivate high levels of THCA while preventing THCA from converting to THC.
In this article, we’ll explain how to grow high THCA cannabis flower under the right conditions so your flower is legally classified as hemp.
Is It Legal to Grow THCA Flower?
The legal requirements for growing THCA flower depend on where you live. In states that allow for recreational marijuana users to grow their own plants, the answer is yes. It’s legal for you to grow THCA flower for personal use in these states.
In all other states where growing recreational marijuana is banned, you must acquire a hemp producers license to grow THCA flower legally. This is also true if you want to produce THCA flower for resale in any state. Reselling THCA products also requires a retail sales license and TAX ID.
Some states, such as Idaho, do not allow any type of hemp production or sale. Always check your local laws before starting a grow. If you are starting a THCA business, hire an attorney to help navigate the legalities of THCA products and the 2018 Farm Bill.
How to Grow THCA Flower
THCA flower is made through a meticulous growing process that involves selecting the right cannabis strains and optimizing growing conditions to maximize THCA content while minimizing its conversion to THC. Here are the key steps involved in growing THCA flower:
Selecting Strains with High THCA Levels
The first step to make THCA flower is selecting the right strain. Certain strains of cannabis are naturally rich in THCA and produce high levels of THCA without doing any extra work. Strains like Apple Fritter, Gushers or Black Runtz have higher THCA levels just from their genetics.
Always purchase your THCA seeds and clones from a reputable THCA vendor. Ask the vendor for previous lab testing for the strain to ensure the THCA levels meet your standards. Using clones from the same plant guarantees that your THCA hemp flower will have a high percentage of THCA.
Germinate Cannabis Seeds
Next, you’ll need to germinate cannabis seeds and plant them. To germinate your seeds:
- Wet a paper towel and fold it around your seeds.
- Place the moist towel and seeds into a ziploc bag leaving an inch unsealed for a little air exchange.
- Store the bag in a warm place (70 to 85 degrees) to promote growth.
If you can keep your seeds moist and warm for a few days you’ll see them sprout. Once the seed has sprouted, you’re ready to plant your cannabis in your growing medium.
THCA Flower Growing Conditions
Most cannabis farmers growing THCA prefer to grow indoors or in a greenhouse, so they can have more control over environmental conditions. THC is a natural form of defense for the cannabis plant. THCA converts to THC trichomes as a way of sheilding the plant from harmful heat and UV rays.
Typically, marijuana growers will keep lights close to the top of their canopy to promote higher THC levels. Heat changes THCA into THC so hemp growers will distance their lights and lower the temperature of their grow room in an effort to make THCA more stable.
THCA Flower Optimal Growing Temperatures
The optimal temperature for growing cannabis is between 70 and 85 degrees. If you’re growing THCA flower, it’s best to keep your grow room on the colder side at 65 to 70 degrees. Using LED grow lights with inline fans can dramatically reduce the heat within your grow environment.
Running a cold grow room presents it’s own set of challenges with root systems of the cannabis plant. Colder soil can promote mold growth and root rot which can ruin your crop. Try using heated blankets or heated water tubes to raise the temperature of your soil without raising the overall temperature of the room.
Light Cycles for Growing THCA Flower
The lights for vegetative stages of THCA plant growth should be on for 18 hours a day. Eighteen hours of light and six hours of darkness give your grow area time to cool down and decrease chances for THC production. It can also help save onaa cooling costs when compared to a 24 hour light cycle. 24 hour light cycles are doable, it’s just not recommended to produce legal hemp plants.
THCA flowering stages should be done with twelve hours of light and twelve hours of darkness. This light cycle mimics the natural light during later days of summer, causing the plant to flower. It’s very important to monitor temperatures during the flowering cycle as this is when the plant converts THCA into THC the most.
Nutrients for THCA Flower
Using the right nutrients can increase the THCA in cannabis flower. While there are no specific nutrients for boosting THCA levels in cannabis plants, you can give your crop the best chances by growing strong, healthy plants.
Use a two-stage nutrient system with different formulas for the vegetative and flowering stages. During the vegetative stage use a “Vegetative” or “Grow” nutrient formula high in nitrogen to promote leaf and stem growth. For the flowering stage, switch to a “Bloom” nutrient formula low in nitrogen but high in phosphorus and potassium to encourage bud development.
Some popular nutrient brands for cannabis cultivation include:
- Advanced Nutrients – Their pH Perfect Sensi Grow + Bloom system is highly regarded
- General Hydroponics
- Fox Farm
- Dyna-Gro
Key nutrients and supplements to consider:
- Big Bud – A bud bulker to increase yield and potency
- Bud Candy – A carbohydrate solution to enhance flavor and aroma
- Overdrive – Used late in flowering to maximize bud development
- Micronutrients and beneficial bacteria/fungi for root health
For organic growing, consider supplements like:
- Sea kelp
- Leonardite
- Protein hydrolysate
- Potassium sulfate
Harvesting and Curing THCA Flower
Timing your THCA harvest is critical. You want to get the most yield, while avoiding prolonged exposure to UV rays and heat. Harvest times will vary depending on the strain and take an experienced eye to know when your crop is ready. It’s always best to ask the THCA vendor you are purchasing your clones or seeds from what the average time is for that strain. Don’t reinvent the wheel!
After harvesting high THCA hemp flower, a slow cure is recommended for all THCA strains. Keep your curing containers out of direct light and in a cool, dry storage area. The optimal temperature for curing THCA flower is between 60 and 70 degrees. Once cured, store your THCA flower in airtight containers to prevent oxidation.
How Do I Know If My THCA Flower Is Legal To Sell As Hemp Flower?
The one tricky part about growing THCA flower is that if you mess up, you could be growing marijuana by accident. It’s best to grow in states where it is legal to grow both and have the proper licenses to produce THCA flower and marijuana.
It’s the law in all states to have your cannabis and hemp flower tested before you sell it. Any flower that tests above .3% THC by dry weight, cannot be sold as hemp flower, it’s legally considered THC flower.
Lab testing also guarantees the potency of THCA flower. Levels of THCA pre-decarboxylation indicate whether or not you grew some fire buds. It also indicates high levels of potentially harmful substances, such as heavy metals that may have been present in your soil.
Does The Process of THCA Farming Seem Daunting?
Don’t worry, HIGH THCA has you covered! You can buy THCA flower that has already been grown to perfection. All of our hemp products are lab tested to ensure that our high-quality THCA flower is also safe for consumption. If you like to smoke or vape THCA flower, check out our large selection of HIGH THCA buds.