How Is THCa Flower Made?

November 18, 2024

Curious about the recent buzz around THCA flower and wondering where it all began? Or maybe you’re here because you just enjoyed some top-tier THCA buds from Bay Smokes!

After those first few hits, your mind drifts into that creative zone where the most random—yet strangely profound—thoughts start flowing.

This blog will explain everything you need to know about THCA flower production. Keep reading to have all your questions answered!

What Is THCa Flower?

THCa flower is just the flower part of the cannabis plant with high levels of THCA.

Simple as that.

As for THCa (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid), it’s a natural, non-psychoactive compound found in the trichomes of raw cannabis plants. It’s basically THC’s precursor – the compound that later becomes the THC most people know about.

That’s right! THCA has existed naturally in cannabis plants all along and isn’t something synthetic cooked up in a lab.

This begs the question: So why the recent hype? The answer is an interesting mix of nature and law.

The 2018 Farm Bill made hemp-derived cannabinoids like THCa flower legal federally, along with other hemp products like CBD flower and Delta 8 flower, as long as they don’t exceed 0.3% THC level. This created a loophole in getting high legally.

How? While THCA does not produce psychoactive effects in its raw form, it transforms into delta-9 THC once exposed to heat. This means when you smoke, vape, or cook with THCA, you’re basically ingesting THC as the heat triggers a process called decarboxylation, converting THCA to THC.

How Exactly Is THCa Flower Made?

Back to our main question - How is THCa flower made? Technically, THCa flower isn’t “made” but is grown like any other natural plant.

Let’s briefly go through each stage of the plant’s journey - from the seeds to the final product on the dispensary shelves.

Understanding The Cannabis Plant Growth Cycle

Germination and Seedling: Where It All Begins

It all starts with a seed sprouting to life in the first 3-10 days. Here, the tiny seedling needs a warm, humid environment to thrive.

Growers keep the temperature between 70-85°F and humidity at 70%. The seedling stage typically lasts 1-2 weeks. It sets the foundation for healthy plants that will eventually produce buds with high concentrations of THCA.

Vegetative Stage: Building the Base

Once the plant has its first few sets of leaves, it enters what growers call the vegetative stage. This stage is when the plant focuses all its energy on growing. During this time, plants need 18-24 hours of light. Master growers closely monitor nutrients and ensure the hemp plants get plenty of nitrogen for leaf growth.

Depending on the strain and growing conditions, this stage can last 3-16 weeks. The key is to give the plant enough time to develop a strong structure to support those heavy, thca-rich flowers later on.

Flowering Stage: THCA production goes into overdrive

Now, things get fun. The flowering stage lasts for about 8 - 11 weeks. It is when the plant starts producing trichome-covered hemp flowers with high THCA percentages. Growers trigger this stage by switching the light cycle to 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness.

During flowering, cannabis plants need different nutrients, such as less nitrogen, more phosphorus, and more potassium. To prevent mold, humidity levels are reduced to 40-50%, and the temperature should stay between 65- 80°F. This precise control maximizes cannabinoid production and THCA content.

Cultivating THCa Flower

Skilled growers use specialized cultivation methods to grow marijuana flower with higher levels of THCA and low delta-9 THC levels for legal compliance. It’s a fine balance that requires expertise, environmental control, and the right strain selection. Let’s take a look at what makes exceptional THCA flower.

Seed Strain Selection

Choosing the right cannabis strain makes all the difference. Breeders start with seeds from proven genetic lines (like Purple Haze, OG Kush, Blue Dream, etc.), knowing that good genetics sets up the potential for maximum THCA.

Growing Methods That Boost THCA Content

Experience shows that certain growing methods can increase THCA in cannabis buds. Light exposure, temperature, humidity, PH, and nutrient management are all key at different stages of plant growth.

Organic vs Non-Organic

Here is where you differentiate top shelf thca hemp flower from the average flower. At Bay Smokes and our partner farmers, we only use organic farming. This means adding natural amendments to our soil and avoiding synthetic pesticides.

Yes, organic farming’s yields are smaller than those of conventional methods. Still, the result is a cleaner, better-tasting flower with more natural terpenes. Non-organic methods using synthetic nutrients may produce bigger harvests. Still, they can’t match properly grown organic buds’ quality and flavor profile.

Indoor vs Outdoor

Indoor growing gives growers total control over their environment. They can set temperature, humidity, and light cycles year-round. This consistency usually means THCA levels are more consistent in the final product.

Outdoor is cheaper and uses natural sunlight, but you’re at nature’s mercy. Weather, pests, and seasonal light cycles all impact your results. Some experienced outdoor growers can still get high THCA, but it takes more experience and flexibility.

Harvesting THCa Flower

After about 10 weeks, it’s time to harvest. Timing is everything here. Harvest too early, and you’ll miss the peak THCA production. Harvest too late, and THCA starts the decarboxylation process through aging.

So when’s the perfect time to harvest? The answer lies in the trichome color. Growers use magnification to check trichome color frequently near harvest time.

Clear trichomes mean it’s too early, and amber signals it’s too late. The ideal harvest window is when most trichomes are milky to hue white.

Sharp, sanitized tools are used to cut and trim the buds. Most growers cut whole branches and hang them upside down to start drying. Handling is kept to an absolute minimum to preserve potency.

Curing THCa Flower

After harvesting, the drying and curing process begins. It’s the most important process for preserving THCA and bringing out the flower’s full potential.

Over the next 72 hours, the buds are dried in a humidity-controlled environment out of direct light.

Then, curing follows, where the buds spend several weeks in airtight containers under precise temperature control. This allows the remaining moisture and chlorophyll to break down naturally while preserving THCA and developing richer terpene profiles.

You can ruin all the previous work if you rush this stage.

Generally, curing involves:

• Transferring dried buds to airtight glass containers

• Daily “burping” of jars to release excess moisture

• Temperature control around 70°F throughout the process

• Regular monitoring to prevent mold and ensure even curing

• 2-8 weeks of patience for optimal results

Proper Storage Post-Curing

The cured cannabis buds are then stored in airtight glass containers in cool, dark places around 60-70°F to prevent mold and degradation by light. Humidity packs help control the humidity, keeping the buds at optimal moisture levels to preserve potency and flavor for longer.

Lab Testing for Quality

Quality control doesn’t stop at cultivation and curing. Lab testing is the final step to ensure you get premium, safe THCA flower and, most importantly, a product within the Farm Bill’s and local laws’ legal limits.

The testing process is multi-step. First, samples from each batch are taken and sent to independent labs. These labs use advanced equipment to break down the flower into its exact composition. They measure everything from cannabinoid percentages and terpene profiles to the presence of unwanted substances like:

• Pesticides

• Heavy metals

• Microbes

• Mold and mildew

• Residual solvents

• Mycotoxins

These lab results are Certificates of Analysis (COAs), which are included with every purchase from reputable brands like Bay Smokes.

Final Thoughts on How THCa Flower Is Made

Take a minute and think about all that goes into making premium THCA flower. Selecting the right genetics to nail the conditions for each growth stage and timely harvesting and curing.

It’s a delicate dance to obtain the highest-quality, most potent THCA flower while keeping it safe and pure.

However, only some growers follow those processes and quality control standards. That’s why buying from trusted sources that follow proper cultivation techniques and testing protocols is super important.

And while THCA products below the stipulated THC limit are legal to sell federally, state laws can vary. Remember to always check your local laws before buying or using.

Where To Buy Reputable THCa Flower?

Ready to try premium THCA flower? Bay Smokes has a decade of experience growing and delivering top-shelf hemp cannabis products. We stock various exotic and rare strains, all organically grown in state-of-the-art indoor facilities right here in the USA.

Looking for big, beautiful nugs or smalls on a budget? Our THCA flower delivers consistent quality and potency. Each strain is chosen for its unique terpene profile, and all products come with full lab testing for purity and potency.

Try the Bay Smokes difference, where quality meets legality compliance and premium THCA flower meets affordability.

Shop our selection today and discover why we’re setting the standard for premium THCA flower in the market. We discreetly ship to your door the same day or the next day.

FAQ:

Is THCa flower grown differently?

No, THCA flower is grown the same as regular cannabis. The difference is in the strain selection and harvest timing to keep THCA levels high and THC levels under federal regulations.

Is THCa natural or synthetic?

THCA is 100% natural! It is the precursor to THC that exists abundantly in living cannabis plants.

How is THCa flower different from regular cannabis flower?

The primary difference between THCA flowers and regular THC flowers is in their composition, which affects how they are treated from a legal standpoint.

THCA flower are high in non-psychoactive THCA and low in THC content. Regular flowers have already converted most of their THCA to psychoactive THC through light exposure and aging.

Does THCa have the same effects as THC?

Yes, once you heat it. When you smoke, vape, or cook with it, THCA converts to THC through a process called decarboxylation and has the same effects as regular cannabis.

Is THCa Safe?

Yes, when appropriately grown and lab-tested for quality, THCA is generally safe. Always buy high-quality THCA flower from reputable brands like Baysmokes that are third-party lab-tested to ensure it’s free of pesticides, heavy metals, and other contaminants.

Is THCa flower sprayed?

No, quality THCA flower is not sprayed. High THCA levels come from strain selection and growing conditions. However, some low-quality producers might spray their products, so always buy from trusted sources with lab test results.