Bud Structure

What’s the best bud structure to seek out? What’s the perfect size nug? While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to these questions, the size and shape of a bud is generally linked to the cultivar’s genetics. As we stated in our Sativa V Indica post, the description Sativa and Indica refers solely to the physical growth structure of the plant. Sativa cultivars typically grow tall with thinner-fingered leaves like our GMO and Indica plants grow shorter and stockier, with fat-fingered leaves like our Papaya. This distinction plays a big role in the bud structure of different cannabis plants. Sativa cultivars will have more of a long thin, loose, sometimes airy structure, while Indica nugs are typically much fatter, more dense and compact. What’s better? It’s all based on personal preference and for us the shape is a fairly irrelevant detail to consider when choosing the right cannabis cultivar for you. Small buds or big buds is also a matter personal preferences. Going hand in hand with bud structure, nug size is something primarily based on cultivar and genetics. Of course there are chemicals and additives that can be used to alter bud size but generally speaking nug size is dependent on genetics. When discussing the size of nugs it’s important to consider all of the factors. A common practice in the agriculture world, and more recently in the cannabis industry, that is frowned upon, is the use of Chemical PGRs. Chemical Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs for short) are used to mimic a plant's growth hormones and help encourage the density of the buds and in turn the yields. It is similar to HGH in humans, think Barry Bonds’ forehead in his prime. How can you tell if PGR’s were used on the cannabis plant? Hard to detect by the untrained eye but an experienced consumer or grower can tell right away. The nugs that were grown using PGR’s will look unnaturally round in shape and inflated, like someone on steroids. Peep the the photo in slide 2 for a decent example. Some large nug cultivars like Blue Dream or certain OG’s that bulk up can look naturally large; their calyxes are pronounced and true to the genetic but with PGR’s they are bulked up and almost rounded so much it looks like a golf ball or tennis ball. Just gotta know the cultivar and how it’s supposed to look in it’s natural prime. So just say no to chemical- based PGR’s! What do we prefer in terms of large versus small nugs? Trick question. We love those cultivars that are pretty to stare at due to their resin content, but we as a company are much more focused on our terphunting than nug size or resin content. When it comes to bud size, most of us prefer small nugs because the ease of breaking them up as well as the resin coverage-to -plant material ratio typically being slightly higher. That being said, Who doesn’t love a giant beautiful nug like that Unquestionably OG picture above. Questions?...hit us up!