My Store:

Where would you like to shop?

Aylmer

115 Talbot St W, Aylmer, ON N5H
1J6, Canada

Select Store

Belleville

20 Bridge St W, Belleville, ON K8P
1H7, Canada

Select Store

Brantford

153 West St, Brantford, ON N3T
3G4, Canada

Select Store

Brighton

43 Main St, Brighton, ON K0K 1H0,
Canada

Select Store

Brockville

2107 Parkdale Ave E, Brockville, ON
K6V 5W1, Canada

Select Store

Cambridge - King

960 King St E, Cambridge, ON
N3H 3P3, Canada

Select Store

Cambridge - Main

51 Main St, Cambridge, ON N1R
1V6, Canada

Select Store

Campbellford

52 Bridge St E, Campbellford, ON
K0L 1L0, Canada

Select Store

Chatham King

85 King St W, Chatham, ON N7M
1C7, Canada

Select Store

Chatham McNaughton

170 McNaughton Ave W,
Chatham, ON N7L 1R4, Canada

Select Store

Fort Erie

201 Jarvis St, Fort Erie, ON L2A 2S7,
Canada

Select Store

Goderich

4 Courthouse Square, Goderich,
ON N7A 1M3, Canada

Select Store

Grand Bend

31 Ontario St N, Grand Bend, ON
N0M 1T0, Canada

Select Store

Gravenhurst

125 Muskoka Rd S, Gravenhurst,
ON P1P 1X3, Canada

Select Store

Guelph Gordon

951 Gordon St #8B, Guelph, ON
N1G 4S1, Canada

Select Store

Guelph Wellington

715 Wellington St W, Guelph, ON
N1H 8L8, Canada

Select Store

Hamilton

326 Ottawa St N, Hamilton, ON
L8H 4A1, Canada

Select Store

Hanover

513 11th Ave, Hanover, ON N4N 2S3,
Canada

Select Store

Huntsville

30 Main St E, Huntsville, ON P1H
2C8, Canada

Select Store

Kapuskasing

18 Circle St, Kapuskasing, ON P5N
1P4, Canada

Select Store

Kitchener

4396 King St E #1, Kitchener, ON
N2P 2G4, Canada

Select Store

Leamington

3-11 Erie St S, Leamington, ON N8H
3A6, Canada

Select Store

Listowel

780 Wallace Ave N, Listowel, ON
N4W 1M2, Canada

Select Store

Midland

212 King St #1, Midland, ON L4R
3L9, Canada

Select Store

Mississauga

1370 Dundas St E #7, Mississauga,
ON L4Y 4G4, Canada

Select Store

Napanee

7 Market Square, Napanee, ON
K7R 1R3, Canada

Select Store

New Liskeard

324 Whitewood Ave W, New
Liskeard, ON P0J 1P0, Canada

Select Store

Niagara Falls

4695 Queen St, Niagara Falls, ON
L2E 2L9, Canada

Select Store

North Bay Main

496 Main St E, North Bay, ON P1B
1B5, Canada

Select Store

Oshawa

1076 Cedar St, Oshawa, ON L1J
3R9, Canada

Select Store

Ottawa

1262 Wellington St. W, Ottawa, ON
K1Y 3A5, Canada

Select Store

Owen Sound

978 3rd Ave E, Owen Sound, ON
N4K 2K9, Canada

Select Store

Parry Sound

34 Seguin St, Parry Sound, ON P2A
1B1, Canada

Select Store

Port Colborne

349 King St, Port Colborne, ON L3K
4H2, Canada

Select Store

Sarnia

129 Mitton St S, Sarnia, ON N7T
3C5, Canada

Select Store

Sault St Marie

898 Queen St E, Sault Ste. Marie,
ON P6A 1Y7, Canada

Select Store

Simcoe

26 Robinson St, Simcoe, ON N3Y
1W4, Canada

Select Store

St. Catharines

92 Pelham Rd, St. Catharines, ON
L2S 1T1, Canada

Select Store

Stratford

673 Ontario St, Stratford, ON N5A
3J6, Canada

Select Store

Strathroy

51 Front St W, Strathroy, ON N7G
1X6, Canada

Select Store

Sudbury

372 Riverside Dr, Sudbury, ON P3E
4K3, Canada

Select Store

Tillsonburg

110 Broadway, Tillsonburg, ON
N4G 3P6, Canada

Select Store

Timmins Riverside Drive

670 Riverside Dr, Timmins, ON
P4N 3V9, Canada

Select Store

Timmins Third Ave

214 3rd Ave, Timmins, ON P4N 1E1,
Canada

Select Store

Trenton

82 Division St, Trenton, ON K8V
4W5, Canada

Select Store

Wallaceburg

740 James St, Wallaceburg, ON
N8A 2P5, Canada

Select Store

Welland

16 Steel St, Welland, ON L3B 3L9,
Canada

Select Store

Windsor

1368 Ottawa St, Windsor, ON N8X
2E8, Canada

Select Store

Close Icon

The Anatomy of a Cannabis Plant and Its Life Cycle

Published On:
July 6, 2022

Read time:
4 Minutes

a close-up of trichomes, giving a microscopic look at the anatomy of cannabis plants

Cannabis is having a huge moment in the spotlight. According to 2021 reports, a total of 14,207,079 packaged units of cannabis were sold across Canada for medical and non-medical purposes. 

Because of how far the cannabis industry has come, it’s only right that we take some time to appreciate its roots—don’t you think? True North Cannabis Co. is here to walk you through the anatomy of a cannabis plant and its life cycle

Cannabis Plant Anatomy 

In the world of commercial cannabis, it’s the female cannabis plants that take centre stage. After all, they are the ones responsible for producing the resinous flowers rich in terpenes and cannabinoids—which are used to create your favourite cannabis products!

Let’s take a look at the individual parts that make up the anatomy of a female cannabis plant:

The Anatomy of a Cannabis Plant

Stem

Not only does the stem act as the physical support for the plant, but it’s also responsible for transporting water, sugar, and nutrients across its various parts. 

Nodes

The points where the stem branches out are called “nodes.” 

Fan Leaves

Next up in our guide on the anatomy of a cannabis plant, we have its most iconic part: the fan leaves. These serrated, veined leaflets that fan out from the centre of the cannabis leaf convert light energy into chemical energy for photosynthesis

Flower

Unique to female cannabis plants, the flower is its reproductive structure. There are several parts that make up the flower:

That dense and central cluster of flower buds that sits at the top of the plant is called the “cola.” It’s the most potent part and contains the most resin.

You’ll notice that each flower on the cola features clusters of small, green, tear-drop-shaped leaves. These are known as “bracts” that protect unfertilized female seeds and contain high numbers of cannabinoids.

Next on our guide on the anatomy of cannabis plants are the resin-rich trichomes that cover each bract. It is this part of the anatomy of the cannabis plant that has high concentrations of terpenes (what make certain strains smell or taste different from one another) and cannabinoids (compounds found in the cannabis plant that can interact with the endocannabinoid system).

The reproductive parts of the flower sit on the pistil. Here, you’ll find thin, hair-like strands called “stigmas” that catch pollen from male plants.

 Thousands of cannabis plants in pots in a grow facility

Cannabis Plant Life Cycle 

Germination/Seed

Stage length: (3 to 10 days)

The life cycle of a cannabis plant all begins with the seed or germination stage. You’ll know that seeds are ready for germination when they are hard, dry, and brown. The ones that are white or green and still squishy in texture are not likely to germinate.

To encourage germination, the seeds are usually watered in a paper towel. 

Seedling

Stage length: (2 to 3 weeks) 

Once the seeds have sprouted, it has officially turned into a seedling! To support the developing anatomy of cannabis plants, it’s time to move it into a growing medium, such as soil. 

At this stage, you’ll notice that the seedling’s stem will grow upward. Also, the cotyledon (seed leaves) and fan leaves will start to grow from the stem. 

During the seedling stage, maximum light and the necessary water levels are absolutely vital. 

Until cannabis plants develop the full number of blades on new fan leaves (about five or seven blades per leaf), they are still considered seedlings. 

Vegetative

Stage length: (3 to 16 weeks) 

When the cannabis plant starts to develop a thicker stem, more nodes, leaves and branches, that’s when you know it has reached the vegetative state. The need for a much larger pot also becomes evident. 

An increase in warm water, nitrogen, and potassium-rich nutrients are all necessary at this point. 

Flowering

Stage length: (8 to 11 weeks)

The flowering stage is when the resinous cannabis buds develop. It all starts with the pistils growing out, which causes the buds to become thicker. 

In the latter stage of flowering, trichome density increases, and the plant becomes very sticky. 

Harvesting

Once the buds have transitioned from a white colour to a reddish-orange hue, that’s the indicator of it being ripe. To ensure maximum taste and effect, harvesting usually takes place when the pistils are dominantly brown in colour. 

a person rolling a joint with freshly ground cannabis buds

Enjoy The Best Products That Stem from Cannabis Plants 

Discovering the anatomy of cannabis plants and their life cycle will make you realize that all great things really do take time. Treat yourself to the best offerings that stem from nature’s favourite herb when you drop by True North Cannabis Co.’s dispensaries.

We’re Ontario’s fastest-growing retail shop that offers the lowest prices on all cannabis products. Drop by any of our locations and discover our extensive range of flowers, pre-rolls, edibles, concentrates, vaporizers, and topicals

Check out our daily promotions and start shopping for steal deals today!

Share this article

Keep Reading

What is a Hydroponic Growing System for Cannabis?

Read the Article

Budtender Strain of the Month: Organic Gold Butter MAC

Read the Article

Vaping vs Smoking Weed: What’s the Difference?

Read the Article

Find your
True North

True North Cannabis has democratized the industry making quality cannabis affordable, and accessible for our customers.

True North Cannabis Co. Logo

Welcome!
Are you over 19?

Welcome to True North Cannabis Co!

Please verify your age to enter.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Shop Cannabis