Trichomes are a vital part of cannabis anatomy, responsible for many of the plant's traits. Whether it's the shimmering appearance, sticky texture, or distinctive aromas, trichomes play a key role in shaping a cannabis strain’s unique profile. While the term “trichomes” may be new to some, they are essential for anyone involved in cannabis cultivation, particularly for those interested in solventless extraction methods like bubble hash.
Understanding trichomes and their functions is crucial, as knowing how to identify the best strains for solventless processing will give you a competitive edge.

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Trichomes are tiny, sticky structures that coat much of the cannabis plant, especially the buds. These microscopic glands are responsible for producing the cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids that define a strain's characteristics. While trichomes are not unique to cannabis — many other plants have them — they are particularly important in cannabis cultivation because they influence everything from potency to aroma.
In cannabis, there are three main types of trichomes:

• Bulbous Trichomes – The smallest type, found across the surface of the plant.
• Capitate Sessile Trichomes – Mid-sized, with a head and stalk, and more abundant than bulbous trichomes.
• Capitate-Stalked Trichomes – The largest, most prominent trichomes, visible to the naked eye and crucial for cannabinoid and terpene production.

In addition to the more prominent glandular examples above, non-glandular structures, like cystolithic and non-cystolithic trichomes, are also found in cannabis plants.

The various types of trichomes do serve a central role in protecting the plant. Trichomes are vital in the cannabis plant's defense. Protecting the flower from fungus, and animal predators, like flies, the sticky wall of the abundant structures acts as a repellent that most unwanted elements steer clear of. Trichomes also repel the sun to a certain degree. The same sticky barrier that blocks fungus and flies absorbs UV rays like a sunscreen would on a human.

Trichomes are valuable beyond its capabilities already listed. In addition to protecting and developing the plant, the color changes of the trichomes allow growers to know when a cultivar is ripening. Beginning in a clear stage, trichomes will, over time, change their hue to a milky white and then into its final coloration stage. When the colors are prominent, cultivators know its time to harvest.  

One common misconception about the color change of trichomes is that they do not in fact fully go from clear, to cloudy, to amber, but the basal cells at the base of the trichome head do in fact change color, which affects the light refracting throughout the head of the trichome. The more you know!

Finally, trichomes are responsible for what is known as kief or sift. The easiest of all concentrates to extract, sift, is created when the fragile trichome heads break free from the plant. The plant will lose its characteristics as more trichomes fall. However, those with accumulation tools from bags to grinders, can gather the fallen elements for use on top of consumable items, or in the production of top-shelf extracts like rosin and solventless hash when repeatedly cleaned with screens and static electricity.

Not every cultivar is going to serve solventless extractors well. This is an issue that numerous producers run into at some point or another in their production journey. Finding answers isn't as easy as one may think either. While the data lacks peer-review evidence, our team of experts have concluded that roughly one out of every three strains serve solventless producers well, as of this writing. In the future, as more geneticists breed strains that work well for solventless processing, this number will surely increase. When looking for a viable strain for extraction, we're looking for the needed bud structure and trichome head size that yield well under a solventless extraction process.

In short, producers look to avoid the all-too-often trichome detachability found in roughly two-thirds of strains in production. Structures must withstand natural elements, including ice water, heat, freezing and pressure that come with the various forms of solventless extraction.

Regardless of where a strain is sourced, cultivators are constantly searching for trichomes with large, prominent glandular heads and weak necks—ideal for solventless extraction. Expert growers, such as Farmhouse Studio Genetics, exemplify these sought-after traits. A perfect strain for extraction should have abundant resin, but not too tightly locked within the plant. This balance ensures the washing process is longer and more productive, yielding the desired oils without sacrificing quality. For precise identification, cultivators often rely on magnifying tools like a jeweler’s loupe or magnifying glass to closely inspect the trichome structures. Once they find a promising strain, they typically run test batches to fine-tune the process before scaling production.

For those wondering about solvent-based extractions, the process is simpler, as trichomes and plant resin are dissolved and stripped away. Terpenes are usually reintroduced during the later stages of production. While solvent-based methods have dominated cannabis extraction for some time, recent advancements in solventless technology are closing the gap. With increasing consumer demand for purer, cleaner products, we anticipate a market shift toward rosin and solventless hash as the preferred choice across the supply chain.

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