By Luke Sumpter


Every grower is looking to get the most out of her/his cannabis plant. Whether this involves feeding it the proper nutrients or giving the right amount of light, it all comes down to trichomes. These tiny “hairs” seem to be the most common indication of a healthy and potent plant. While trichomes do not always signal a successful crop, they are essential in developing top-shelf marijuana.

Although all growers know trichomes to be important, most do not understand why the cannabis plant produces them in the first place. This is crucial to grasp if you want to achieve those deliciously resinous buds. Biologically, trichomes are used for self-defense. They’re the best natural way that female cannabis plants protect themselves from pests and pathogens. With “aggressive” aromas and tastes from terpenes and other compounds secreted by trichomes, insects tend to stay away from flowers. Trichomes also help coat the buds, defending them from harmful UV rays. By providing shadows, the plant can better control the amount of light it lets into flowers.

Today, we offer you a guide on how to get the most out of your cannabis trichomes.

Want to unlock every trichome-boosting secret? Download our Pro Growing Guide for advanced strategiesUV-B timing, light-deprivation, cold-shocking, plus precision PPM/pH and environmental controls to drive top-shelf potency.

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Genetics: The Key to Resinous Buds

There are two predominant factors that influence a plant’s yield and general health: genetics and environment. We can’t stress enough how crucial genetics are to start off with. If you want to achieve the best and most trichomes you can, choose genetics that are known to produce an abundance of them. When you get the best seeds, you’ve done everything possible for one of the factors. Now you only need to worry about environmental conditions. Remember, though, trichomes aren’t everything when it comes to potency. Make sure you fully understand what each strain has to offer before purchasing seeds.

Genetics: The Key to Resinous Buds

After breeding world-class cannabis genetics for decades, we’ve come across some outrageously resinous strains in our time. If you’re looking for peak trichome production, we could recommend a long list of promising genetics.

However, four strains certainly stick out from the crowd. Lemon Shining Silver Haze and White Widow both earned their titles from the amount of sparkling resin they produce. Such a large quantity of this viscous substance guarantees high levels of THC and terpenes.

ICE also holds the title as one of the best trichome-producers in our genetic archive. Otherwise known as Indica Crystal Extreme, this cultivar exudes an abundance of phytochemical-rich resin from her mature flowers. Finally, Royal Gorilla makes up the fourth member of our trichome-heavy quartet, with an outrageous THC level of 27%.

Lighting

Light underpins everything when it comes to growing cannabis, including trichome optimisation. Light provides energy to cannabis plants, which drives metabolism and cellular function. Adequate levels of light are needed to develop huge concentrations of trichomes, and therefore resin.

As it happens, cannabis plants growing near the equator seem to produce more resin than those in other outdoor locations. These plants also receive more UV light, another variable that helps to ramp up trichome production.

In these regions, excess UV can cause harm to plant tissues. In response, they produce more trichomes to protect themselves against radiation damage. There are several different types of lights that growers can opt for when looking to improve trichome content. Check out the two best options below.

  • LEC Lights

Light emitting ceramic (LEC) lights use ceramic arc tubes that give off a natural tone of light. As well as reportedly increasing plant growth and yields, they also give off UV-B. This type of light simulates the light cannabis plants are exposed to in their natural environment. In response, plants bolster trichome production as a protective mechanism.

  • UV Lights

Ultraviolet lights (UV) also emit this type of light. These lights are affordable and easy to find in pet stores and other retail outlets. Rig them up in your growing room or tent to expose your flowers to this trichome-boosting form of light.

UV Lights
  • Light Deprivation During Late Bloom

Sure, the right kind of light does wonders during the flowering stage. However, reducing light altogether towards the end of the flowering stage also has benefits. In fact, some growers choose to deprive their plants of light during the last 24–48 hours before harvest, in hopes that trichome levels will surge.

Humidity and Heat

In nature, cannabis plants produce resin primarily as a survival mechanism. Cannabinoids and terpenes are known as secondary metabolites—they don’t contribute to growth or reproduction, but they do protect plants against the outside world.

As well as defending against pests and predators, the resin produced by trichomes protects plants against adverse weather. By exposing your plant to an optimal amount of stress—enough to improve resin production without hindering plant development—you can take advantage of these survival mechanisms.

  • Humidity

By reducing the relative humidity in your growing space, you’ll expose your plants to a slightly more stressful environment, all while protecting the buds from mold. During late bloom, reduce the relative humidity of your grow room to around 30% for best results.

  • Heat

You can also harness temperature to boost trichome production. Too hot, and you’ll start to degrade the valuable yet volatile terpenes produced by the trichomes. Too cold, and you'll impact the metabolism of your plants. Aim for a temperature window of 21–26°C.

Genetics: The Key to Resinous Buds

Supplements

Cannabis plants grow happily in good-quality potting soil. But, if you want to take trichome production to another level, there are several supplements you can add to the growing medium. Use these substances to enhance root health, bolster yields, and increase the number of those mushroom-shaped glands.

  • Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB)

Bacteria often gets a bad rap. However, as we now know more about the microbiome and probiotics, we’re beginning to appreciate the good kind. The cannabis plant features its own microbiome, consisting of billions of beneficial microbes.

By adding LAB to your soil, this particular microbe will break down sugars into short-chain fatty acids. Your plants will use the latter in an effort to pump out more trichomes, cannabinoids, and terpenes.

  • Molasses

Molasses tastes great in food recipes, but it also serves as a key ingredient in healthy soils. Loaded with minerals, vitamins, and sugars, molasses provides many essential nutrients to cannabis plants while feeding friendly microbes in the rhizosphere.

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  • Amino Acids

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. Small organelles within plant cells called ribosomes link chains of amino acids together to create functional proteins that are used to create tissues, including trichomes.

Plant Training

We know that the right amount of stress triggers a surge in trichome production. Just as environmental factors can induce stress, so can physical training.

  • Super Cropping

Super cropping involves pinching branches, partially breaking them, and redirecting them to grow in a certain direction. It opens up the canopy, increases aeration, and boosts harvests. Besides, the damage you inflict to the plant’s tissue is believed to trigger the plant’s defense mechanisms—such as enhanced trichome production.

  • Avoid Touching Your Buds

Training encourages the rough-housing of stems and branches, but be careful of your buds! Trichomes are easy to dislodge—just take a look at the bottom of your stash jar. Handle your bud with care to avoid knocking these precious gems off.

Avoid Touching Your Buds
  • Cold Shock

Flush your plants with ice water to boost trichome production. Cold shock adds icing to the cake of training protocol. We advise using ice-cold water when flushing your buds during the late flowering phase. We hypothesise that this adds another element of beneficial stress, stimulating further trichome production.

Increasing Trichome Production: Take an Active Approach

Genetics plays the biggest role when it comes to getting the most trichomes out of your cannabis. However, as displayed above, many other methods can help growers to increase their numbers. Start out with one or two techniques and, as you master them, add in more as you go. Over time, you’ll achieve stickier and stickier buds overflowing with cannabinoids and terpenes.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: