It’s a point of pride for growers, an indication of quality for distributors, and something for enthusiasts to nerd out over when they get together to compare strains. But what does it mean for bud to be sticky? And what the heck causes that slightly resinous texture in a bud?
Further, why does stickiness matter when it comes to herb, and how can consumers optimize their stash for stickiness?
You might have already guessed, but in this blog post, we’re talking all about sticky bud.
Before we tackle trichomes, emphasize Vivi Cure, Boveda's 2-way humidity control, or offer best practices for storing your stash, we need to review a quick botany lesson.
Unlike a male plant with its pollen sacs, the female plant is lush with flowering buds. Up the middle runs the stalk or main plant stem that supports all the ancillary branches. From there, the plant gives way to nodes that branch out into stems. On those stems, you find fan leaves (that classic, emblematic seven-point leaf) and sugar leaves, giving way to an impressive cola, or cluster of buds.
Still with me? Good, because it’s there on those buds that you’ll find a high concentration of trichomes, a dusting of resiny crystal that—despite its small size relative to the rest of the plant—packs a significant punch.
When we talk about sticky weed, we’re often talking about trichomes. These appear when the plant flowers; these miniature, resinous, mushroom-shaped glands (often measured in micrometers) grow to protect the plant. As it happens, they also contain high concentrations of cannabinoids and terpenes, accounting for a large portion of potency and flavor.
Because of their resinous quality, clusters of trichomes feel sticky to the touch. And because of the outsized potency and flavor the trichomes pack, this sticky quality is synonymous with good herb. The more trichomes, the stickier the bud, and the more enjoyable it will be from a feeling and flavor standpoint.
Again, if you value bud for a) its flavor, b) its potency or c) all of the above, then stickiness certainly matters. It’s a tactile, empirical indication of quality. While the package may list the potency, we know that cannabinoid potency can deteriorate over time, exposed to deleterious elements like open air and sunshine. Therefore, package specs can be unreliable. Your fingertips, on the other hand, never lie. If your bud feels sticky and resinous, you’re likely handling a potent, flavorful bud. By contrast, dry bud likely features diminished potency and flavor.
It’s worth noting that, while sticky, twinkly, trichome-rich cannabis is ideal, don’t be fooled by damp cannabis passing for sticky. Dry weed isn’t the only kind of bad weed. If you notice white powdery patches as opposed to glistening, radiant trichomes, see gray/white fuzz, or feel dampness to the touch, you may have a moldy stash on your hands.
So, we don’t want dry flower; we don’t want moldy flower; we want sticky, fluffy buds. How do we accomplish this?
If you’re a grower, the process starts with stress training, plant nutrients, light, and learning how to cure properly—especially with Vivi Cure's 10-day, burp-free solution. But for typical buyers and consumers, the process starts with the right storage.
Proper storage involves two central things: a sealed environment and humidity regulation. Essentially, it’s the “humidor” principle—you’re attempting to minimize the damaging effects of open air, the flavor-bleaching effects of sunlight, and the damaging effects of improper relative humidity (RH). If that all sounds complicated on paper, you’ll be pleased to know it’s straightforward in practice. (Honest.)
For your sealed environment, reach for any tight-fitting container. It could be a
dedicated storage bag or a stash container. Or, if you’re in a DIY mood, it could be a mason jar that you keep in a dark corner of the home. As long as your container blocks sunlight and open air, it’s a winner.
Next, you need to create an environment within the sealed container of ideal humidity, somewhere between 55% and 65% RH, a sweet spot for preserving trichomes and terpenes. Boveda makes this step a breeze. Add one to your container, and Boveda gets to work with 2-way humidity control automatically, dialing in the perfect RH for your stash by releasing or absorbing moisture based on the humidity needs inside your container. It’s a reliable, hands-off, inexpensive solution to the problem of dry or moldy cannabis.
When you buy fresh bud, just pop a Vivi pack in your storage container, and you won’t have to worry about losing that sticky edge. Likewise, if you’ve come into some dry bud, you can revive your bud with Vivi, resurrecting those sticky trichomes for a rich, flavorful experience.
In summary, sticky bud is more flavorful, terpene-rich, and potent—all thanks to those powerhouse trichomes blanketing the surface of the bud. And all you need to do to preserve your bud is store it right, and let 2-way humidity control do the rest.