Cannabis is one of the most versatile plants on earth. It has been cultivated for thousands of years! For food, fiber, medicine, and its unique psychoactive properties. But behind every jar of flower or pack of pre-rolls lies a fascinating journey of plant development. In this post, we’ll walk through the major life stages of the cannabis plant, from seed to harvest, and highlight the role each part plays along the way.
Every cannabis strain we love begins with a seed no bigger than a pea. Inside its protective coat is an embryo carrying all the genetic information needed to produce a new plant. Once given the right mix of warmth, moisture, and darkness, the seed cracks open and reveals its radicle, the first tiny root that anchors the plant into the soil!
During germination, the radicle grows downward while the stem and first leaves push upward. When the tiny plant emerges, it enters the seedling stage. Seedlings display their first leaves, called cotyledons; small, rounded leaves that look very different from the iconic serrated cannabis leaves we all recognize. But don’t worry, you aren’t growing lettuce! For the next two to three weeks, the seedling focuses on building strength and stability.
Once established, cannabis shifts gears into vegetative growth. This is when plants grow tall, branch out, and develop their lush, fan-shaped leaves. In this stage, growers at Nimbus pay close attention to light levels, nutrients, and thoughtful pruning techniques, to encourage strong structure. With a plant from a seed, a healthy vegetative period usually lasts four to six weeks, depending on genetics and environment.
As plants mature, they enter pre-flowering, a transitional stage where you find out if you have a male or female plant, and the earliest signs of buds appear. Once the light cycle changes, cannabis begins its flowering stage. Here, energy shifts from building stems and leaves to producing buds rich in the cannabinoids and terpenes we are obsessed with. Resin glands swell, trichomes frost over, and the plant’s distinctive aromas intensify. Flowering usually lasts six to eight weeks, though some cultivars take longer.
Timing harvest and curing the plants is both a science and an art. Harvest too early, and the buds lack potency; too late, and cannabinoids may degrade. When harvested at the peak of maturity, the flowers are dense, resinous, and packed with compounds that shape their effects. Drying and curing complete the process, transforming raw buds into the finished product enjoyed by patients and consumers alike.
Understanding cannabis from seed to harvest gives us a deeper appreciation for the plant’s complexity. Each stage has its own agricultural challenges and its own rewards, and the choices we make as cultivators shape the quality of the final flower. At Nimbus, we celebrate not just the finished product but the journey—the biology, craft, and care that goes into every plant.
