What are the Parts of the Cannabis Plant?

Cannabis is an incredibly dynamic plant. It has existed on our planet for thousands of years, with thousands of different weed strains growing all over the globe.

Whether you love to smoke cannabis flower and watch cartoons, dab extracts to de-stress, or use edibles to try to get a better night’s sleep, the plant offers seemingly something for everyone.

But have you ever wondered how those sticky, frosty buds you love so much came to be?

It turns out that the cannabis plant takes a lot more love, care, and preparation in order for it to produce delicious-tasting and potent nugs. Every component of the plant matters, as does every moment, from seed to smoke.

Want to learn more about the parts of the cannabis plant, and how it grows? STIIIZY has you covered.

Cannabis plant life cycle

Cannabis has four primary life stages: germination, seedling, vegetative, and flowering. It can take anywhere from 10-32 weeks, or about 3-8 months, to grow a cannabis plant to maturity.

The timeline varies based on whether you grow from seed or clone, and if autoflower genes are present.

If starting from seed, germination will take between 3-10 days. This is when the seed will sprout from the ground.

Leaves start forming during the seedling stage, lasting anywhere from two to three weeks. The roots will extend, and little “fingers” will emerge on the fan leaves. Once you begin to see five or seven leaves, the plant is officially vegging.

The vegetative stage is when the plant truly starts to come alive. This stage can last from three weeks all the way to 16 weeks, depending on plant variety and growing environment. The plant will grow taller and more robust, and may need some training.

The flowering stage is when the trichome-laden buds begin to form—the true stars of the show. This part of the cannabis plant’s life usually lasts eight to nine weeks but could go longer.

Growers know to harvest when the large fan leaves change color from green to yellow and milky white trichomes appear amber.

Dry and curing cannabis

Once a cannabis plant has reached maturity, the stalks are removed and dried. This process can take two to seven days, depending on humidity. Once a stalk snaps in half with ease, the plant is dry.

At this point, buds are removed from the stalks and trimmed of smaller leaves. They go into an airtight container like a tote or mason jar to cure. This process takes a few weeks, seeing the containers regularly opened to distribute airflow.

This process is essential because it allows the cannabinoids and terpenes to mature and give the consumer a delicious and rich smoking experience.

Parts of the cannabis plant

While most people are focused on the buds, there are several parts of the cannabis plant. All of them are important in helping the plant thrive—and produce the tasty nugs we all know and love.

Let’s break down the parts of the cannabis plant from bottom to top.

Stem

Just like most other flowers, the cannabis plant has a stem. These long stalks provide stability and are the central source of flower growth.

Node

Nodes are where branches grow from the stem or other branches. They’re also how growers tell if they have a male or female plant, since they often are where the plant’s reproductive organs form.

Pistil

The pistil contains the cannabis plant’s reproductive parts. Long, thin hairs called stigmas in female plants collect pollen from male plants.

Bracts

Found in female plants, bracts are found near the pistil. They are actually among the most potent parts of the cannabis plant thanks their numerous resin glands.

Calyx

The microscopic calyx lives inside the bracts. It provides protection for the plant’s reproductive organs.

Fan leaves

Large, seven-point leaves on the cannabis plant capture light but offer little in the way of active compounds like THC.

Cola

No, we don’t mean soda. The cola is where groups of flower buds grow together, with the most robust sitting atop the plant.

Flower

The flower of the cannabis plant (aka the buds) is where the majority of the active ingredients live. These are the parts that are removed to smoke.

Sugar leaves

These smaller leaves grow around the buds, and often contain valuable active ingredients. Sometimes called trim, these leaves are typically processed into cannabis concentrates or used to make edibles and topicals.

Trichomes

Trichomes are crystal-like structures coating buds and sugar leaves. These are where the majority of the cannabinoids and terpenes live. They also are a natural deterrent to pests during the cannabis plant’s growth cycle.

Trichomes can be removed from the bud and consumed on their own. When loose, they’re sometimes referred to as kief. Kief is usually smoked on top of cannabis flower or on its own. Kief can also be pressed into hash or rosin, which is typically dabbed.

Indica vs sativa cannabis plants

When people hear the terms indica or sativa, they usually assume it’s used to describe a specific weed strain’s effects. However, the words are actually used to describe a variety’s genetics and growth patterns.

Indica weed strains originated in the Hindu Kush mountain range across Central Asia. The plants are usually shorter and bushier, with a shorter life cycle. Indica strains are usually more sedating.

Sativas are native to warmer climates like Africa and Mexico. They tend to be taller and lankier, and take a bit longer to cultivate than indicas. Sativas usually offer more energizing effects than indicas.

The vast majority of varieties nowadays are some type of hybrid, having been subject to selective breeding starting in the 1960s. This includes exotic strains and old standbys like Blue Dream.

Whatever strain of weed you choose to smoke (or grow), there are plenty of choices for all occasions and environments. Not sure which is right for you? Consider how you want to feel, and journal the results when you try new strains. Soon you’ll know just the right strain for you.

At STIIIZY, we only use top-shelf premium cannabis flower for all of our cannabis products including our 40s infused blunts and pre-rolls and proprietary weed vape pods. Find all of STIIIZY’s cannabis products here.