"Fluffy" herb less potent?

vapeguy

vapeguy

Well-Known Member
You know how some herb is "fluffy" (not dense), is it just me but it seems that fluffy herb is much less potent. For example from dense herb I may be able to get 5-6 good Volcano bags, but fluffy herb will give barely 2 or 3 bags.

Is it just me? Should I automatically avoid herb if it's fluffy?

Thanks
 
vapeguy,
kingofnull

kingofnull

ace
aab1 said:
You know how some herb is "fluffy" (not dense), is it just me but it seems that fluffy herb is much less potent. For example from dense herb I may be able to get 5-6 good Volcano bags, but fluffy herb will give barely 2 or 3 bags.

Is it just me? Should I automatically avoid herb if it's fluffy?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Funny, I was just thinking/wondering the same. I just switched from a really dense Kush strain to a 50/50 Juicy Fruit, which is very fluffy. The same amount of bowls I'd normally vape the Kush almost burnt the Juicy Fruit at the same temperature.
 
kingofnull,
M

mscm888

Well-Known Member
I tend to pass on "fluffy" and always consider it less desirable because traits I value in "dense" are not present.
 
mscm888,
D

dorkus_molorkus

Well-Known Member
mscm888 said:
I tend to pass on "fluffy" and always consider it less desirable because traits I value in "dense" are not present.
Click to expand...

some sativas are very fluffy & light, and of course a different high from those heavy duty indicas that are typically quite dense. maybe you enjoy the indica stone more than the sativa high?
 
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Roger D

Roger D

Vapor Wizard
In general fat buds are more full of resin and gives a stronger high. Thickness depends on how its has grew, how much light, all the others environmental factors, and the genetics.

Its a taste question, but I love it dense and shinny as possible. I love to get huge sweet clouds and a serious/heavy medication.

Fluffy shit don't work for me, my tolerance is quite high.
I got to put like 2/3 times more in the bowl, at least, and I don't have this fullness I get with my home made shit witch is really :goon: rock solid (LED+HPS)
 
Roger D,
djonkoman

djonkoman

Well-Known Member
there are different kinds of fluffy. you have the kind of fluffy from immature buds, or something screwed up with the grow. but there's as the fluffiness some sativastrains have, since denseness is considered best(and so there is being bred for denseness, selection towards denseness etc) I know that if I find fluffy buds that are sativafluffy and not screwed-up-fluffy, I'm guaranteed a good sativahigh.

also there is a bit a third subgroup bt I don't think you'll often find that commercially in the US, but outdoors here fluffy is better since fluffy buds are far more resistant to budrot under humid conditions, and so there are some danish outdoorstrains that are fluffy
 
tranceporter

tranceporter

The Cloud Conductor
Not all but most of the time I can determine quality by the FEEL of the bud by breaking a nug down with your fingers. Resinous and sticky fingers is always a good sign.
 
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farscaper

Well-Known Member
That seems IMO to be a total "your preferance" question. As listed above there are variables that can cause a "fluffy bud" such as environmentals or strain... But ive never based quality on density... A big fluffy bag that weighs 4g is the same as a dense bag that weighs 4g... Its just diffrent... The quality is in the effects and flavor... Ive never bought a bag on sight alone... And i never will.
 
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Z

Zookeeper

Active Member
I prefer fluffy buds. No real reason except dense buds= mold/mite risk, and fluffy is easier to break up without powdering. Regarding potency, I've never seen a correlation between denser buds being stronger. Sometimes fluffy means it was cropped out early do to bad grow. Trichomes also separate from fluffy buds a lot easier, maybe one of those 2 facts are why you keep noticing a difference?

I'd really like to learn more about the composition of the flowers tho. So many different 'styles' of buds, some traits are obviously grower influence, while others are genetically induced traits. I still dont know what a 'kush' texture is, every kush I've seen was completely different from the last, and I've been through dozens of em.Maybe FC could start a non-growers cannabis composition focus group :)
 
D

dannkk

Well-Known Member
Fluffy buds can be really good. It's like everyone else has been saying...just depends if they're fluffy due to a grower making mistakes/being impatient, or just a characteristic of the strain.

As an example, I've got two strains right now. Cheisal and an unknown kush(was told it's pineapple express, but i dont believe it. think dude got his stuff mixed up). The kush is really really dense. The chiesal(sour D hybrid), is really light and fluffy. Both great specimens. Both get me ripped.

I'd also make sure you're using the same amount of bud. Even after being ground...the pile of dense bud will look a lot smaller than the fluffy bud.
 
djonkoman

djonkoman

Well-Known Member
Zookeeper said:
I prefer fluffy buds. No real reason except dense buds= mold/mite risk, and fluffy is easier to break up without powdering. Regarding potency, I've never seen a correlation between denser buds being stronger. Sometimes fluffy means it was cropped out early do to bad grow. Trichomes also separate from fluffy buds a lot easier, maybe one of those 2 facts are why you keep noticing a difference?

I'd really like to learn more about the composition of the flowers tho. So many different 'styles' of buds, some traits are obviously grower influence, while others are genetically induced traits. I still dont know what a 'kush' texture is, every kush I've seen was completely different from the last, and I've been through dozens of em.Maybe FC could start a non-growers cannabis composition focus group :)
Click to expand...
kush is from the hindukush-mountains, a pure indica, so has dense buds. but since there are so many kushcrosses, with vrying how much kush is actually in it(genetically), especially in the US(here kushes are less common), so that could be why they're different very time.
 
djonkoman,
SD_haze

SD_haze

Well-Known Member
Zookeeper said:
I prefer fluffy buds. No real reason except dense buds= mold/mite risk, and fluffy is easier to break up without powdering. Regarding potency, I've never seen a correlation between denser buds being stronger. Sometimes fluffy means it was cropped out early do to bad grow. Trichomes also separate from fluffy buds a lot easier, maybe one of those 2 facts are why you keep noticing a difference?

I'd really like to learn more about the composition of the flowers tho. So many different 'styles' of buds, some traits are obviously grower influence, while others are genetically induced traits. I still dont know what a 'kush' texture is, every kush I've seen was completely different from the last, and I've been through dozens of em.Maybe FC could start a non-growers cannabis composition focus group :)
Click to expand...
Interesting point you bring up about dense=mold risk, as the only mold issue I've ever had was with some of the densest buds I've ever had :spidey:
 
SD_haze,
kingofnull

kingofnull

ace
dannkk said:
I'd also make sure you're using the same amount of bud. Even after being ground...the pile of dense bud will look a lot smaller than the fluffy bud.
Click to expand...

Good point; my fluffy flowers compress considerably more than dense herb.
 
kingofnull,
satan

satan

lucifer
In my opinion I think that the flufflier the herb the less potent. see the dense packed nugs are where it's at IMO. Being from around Detroit, you notice these things; growers have the fluffy well taken care of bud and the local dope peddler has some straight up tough chronic. I don't get it either, just go with it.
 
satan,
bridgesoid

bridgesoid

Well-Known Member
Fluffy herb is not necessarily less potent. A much better indicator of potency is a plants trichome coverage, (take a loupe with you next time your looking at herb and you'll also get a sense of how you like your trichomes at harvest time too). I'd argue that those of you finding fluffy herb weak are finding it so because the majority of what's available to you that is fluffy is weak and/or poorly grown.

It's like this for most of us. You are buying herb in a profit driven capitalist society. The vast majority of what's on offer has been bred to deliver a high yield of potent herb in a short time frame, (indica is perfect for this, it's dense and fast flowering).


If you get a chance try some Neville's Haze. 16 weeks flowering time and the buds are fluffy, but they also deliver an up, potent and rushy psychedelic high and a delicious delicate range of terpenoids to the palate. This is not a strain people grow for profit, you won't find it at your dispensary or peddled by your local dealer because its much less profitable than cash crop cannabis.

A lot of landrace sativas are also like this (long flowering with fluffy buds and awesome subtle flavouring) but they aren't in mainstream circulation because growers can harvest twice as much denser indica/hybrid herb in the same timeframe.
 
tranceporter

tranceporter

The Cloud Conductor
^ I prefer Sativas and the best Haze I ever smoked was SSH and the nugs were pretty fluffy although it was covered in trichs and was resinous.

And I agree those type of buds are definitely for the connoiseurs.
 
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Quetzalcoatl

Quetzalcoatl

DEADY GUERRERO/DIRT COBAIN/GEORGE KUSH
Well said, bridgesoid. My dad tells me stories of when he lived in Mexico, his neighbors would have huge plants. He would tell me how some were smaller, really bushy, and some were topping 10 feet tall, huge colas the size of his arm and whispy little ones as well.

My experience with sativas/"fluffy" buds have all been good... strong stuff for sure.
 
Quetzalcoatl,
kingofnull

kingofnull

ace
More anecdotal evidence:

When this thread started, I had just switched from an unknown Kush strain to Juicy Fruit. Juicy Fruit, being a Sativa dominant was very light and fluffy. I found the high very intense, but short acting. In addition, it would vaporize at a faster rate - identical bowl sizes would change colour from green to brown much faster with the Juicy Fruit than the Kush. I was getting 3-4 large bong hits from the Juicy Fruit which was far less than I was getting while vaping the unknown Kush strain. Also, my ABV was coming out much darker with the Juicy Fruit - almost black.

I just picked up some Afgan Kush and the difference is night and day. I'm getting 5,6,7 bong inhales easily, and the ABV still comes out a lighter colour than the Juicy Fruit and at the same weight/bowl size of the Juicy Fruit.

I know I'm comparing apples to pears here, but there's my anecdotal "evidence".
 
kingofnull,
bluesurfboy

bluesurfboy

Member
experience is best way to tell but ive had dense buds smoke thin, depressing amounts, then some airy buds producing some nice vapor clouds. so... generally speaking i would agree but there are some hidden gems out tehre.
 
bluesurfboy,
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