As the hemp and cannabis market has expanded and matured, more growers and consumers are broadening their knowledge of and interest in specialty terpenes. But what are terpenes? Are they the same as terpenoids? How can growers influence terpene production? GGSPro and The Hemp Mine have the answers to these questions.
Terpenes and terpenoids are secondary metabolites produced by many plants, not just hemp and cannabis. Terpenes are compounds made up of hydrogen and carbon chains, while terpenoids contain oxygen molecules or other functional groups. Both of these types of compounds are highly aromatic and are responsible for many distinctive botanical smells. For example, limonene, a terpene found in citrus rinds, puts off a bright, citrussy scent upon cutting into a lemon. Linalool, a terpenoid, produces the distinctive scent of lavender and some mints. Finally, myrcene is one of the most common terpenes and has an earthy, clove-like scent often found in hops or mangos.
With growing interest in terpene profiles and production, many growers wonder how they can boost terpene production. A number of products on the market claim to enhance terpene profile simply through foliar applications or drenches. However, research into terpene boosting products is, at this time, inconclusive. The strongest, most consistent factor influencing terpene profile is genetics. Every strain appears to have a consistent set of terpenes and terpenoids that it is able to produce. Through careful breeding and testing, new strains with refined terpene profiles and content are being developed.
The Hemp Mine’s focus on genetics has brought several terpene-rich strains to the market. THM’s Jack, FunDip, and Belle offer variety of terpene profiles. FunDip’s high diversity and overall terpene content makes it a great choice for high yields, while Jack has greater diversity in terpenes. Belle sits in the middle between higher yields and good diversity. Growers interested in these varieties and learning more about terpenes can purchase seeds and clones for this year’s growing season. Between the Hemp Mine’s excellent reference materials and GGSPro’s horticultural experience, the Griffin team has your questions covered. Reach out to your Griffin rep for more info!
