How is CBD actually produced? If you're asking yourself this question, you've come to the right place. You probably know that cannabidiol (CBD) is an active ingredient that is freely available for sale in the European Union and is extracted from the female hemp plant. CBD does not have the intoxicating effect of THC, but is said to have many health benefits.
So far, so good. But how exactly does the production process work in practice? What exactly happens from the cultivation of the hemp to the harvest to the finished CBD oil? Questions upon questions.
In this article, I would therefore like to provide you with everything you need to know about the entire CBD production process. Let's go!
You can find a brief overview here in advance:
Cultivation: How to grow CBD?
The journey of the natural substance CBD begins with the planting of the hemp seeds. This takes place at a row spacing of 0.5 to 1.5 meters and usually at the end of April to the beginning of May. For larger productions, the plants then grow on a hemp field and stretch upwards more and more - for other growers this takes place in the greenhouse.
The Choosing the right hemp varietythe soil quality and, of course, the climatic conditions play a key role in this phase of cannabidiol production. The hemp plants also require a Thorough careto grow healthy and develop an optimal CBD content for later use as the well-known CBD products, such as those from Justbobto be sold.
For the production of CBD oils, so-called "CBD hemp"special hemp varieties, such as industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa), Indian hemp (Cannabis indica), as well as Ice Rocks and Moon Rocks, which experience has shown to be particularly rich in the active ingredient.
Such hemp varieties are specifically developed, selected and bredto produce high amounts of cannabidiol (CBD) and low amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
In addition the following factors also play an important roleto allow hemp plants with a high CBD content to thrive.
Soil quality
Hemp tends to absorb pollutants from the soil. It is therefore important to pay attention to the purity of the growing soil. Experience has shown that hemp thrives particularly well in permeable soils with a neutral pH value.
The Soil should also be rich in nutrientsto support healthy plants and optimal CBD formation. A soil analysis is therefore highly recommended before cultivation in order to prevent possible deficiencies in advance.
Water supply and natural fertilization
Hemp plants require sufficient, but not excessive watering - the larger the plant, the more water is necessary for it to produce as much CBD as possible.
In addition, plant growth should only be supported with organic fertilizers, such as Coffee grounds, banana peel and bean water otherwise the soil quality will suffer from the artificial fertilizers in the long term.
Protection against pests and diseases
Protective measures against pests and diseases must also be taken during CBD production. In doing so, one should Natural pest control that the Avoids the use of chemicals. Ultimately, this also contributes to soil quality, Biodiversity and pest resistance, so that crop yields are also high in the long term.
For an overview, here are some "Pests" of the hemp plant and what you can do to keep them away:
- Thrips (by showering or combating predatory mites)
- Snails (put up a snail fence as a defense)
- Aphids (Promote ladybugs and parasitic wasps as antidotes)
- Fungus gnats (Set up yellow boards and do not keep the soil too moist)
Air circulation
When growing CBD in the field, as already mentioned, a Row spacing from 0.5 to 1.5 meters to ensure that all plants get enough air and sun.
Is CBD grown in a greenhousemanufacturers must ensure that the hemp plants have enough space for the air to circulate. This ultimately helps, Prevent mold growth and guarantee healthy plant growth.
Monitoring and maintenance
Of course, when producing CBD, the plants not only have to be constantly monitored for pests, but also for Signs of stress or illness be controlled. The Supporting and cleaning as well as the Removal of weeds from the ground are important.
Harvesting: How and when is cannabidiol harvested?
The chosen time of harvest not only influences the CBD contentbut also the wealth of other important ingredients, such as terpenes.
Now is a good time to harvest the plant material, if between 60 and 80 percent of the stamps (small hairs on the plants) are ripe - but before new seeds have formed. In principle, however, the ideal harvest time depends primarily on the conditions under which the plant is growing.
Once the hemp plants are thriving and ready to harvest, the harvesters carefully cut the ripe inflorescences from them. Subsequently dries They are crushed to preserve the quality of the flowers. They are then crushed and heated in preparation for the next step - the actual production of CBD.
3. production: How do you extract CBD from plant material?
After harvesting, drying and processing the CBD base material, the next step in the fascinating production of cannabidiol takes place: the Extraction of the valuable natural substance from the plant. And even though there are now even alternative, natural pressing methods for obtaining CBD, I would like to introduce you to the most common and useful extraction methods here.
Carbon dioxide extraction
With this technique, the plant material is first supersaturated with supercritical carbon dioxideto release CBD from the hemp plants. The thermal critical point is then approached again by increasing the temperature and reducing the pressure.
As soon as the carbon dioxide is gaseous again using this precise, effective method, it can be Separate from the CBD extract obtained.
Ethanol extraction
An alternative, simpler and inexpensive CBD production technique is the Solvent extraction with ethyl alcohol. The hemp plant is left in the ethanol bath for a few days so that it absorbs the alcohol.
Afterwards the Filtration which produces CBD-containing alcohol - without the plant substance chlorophyll. However, the method requires careful purification, as otherwise residues often remain in the end product.
Oil extraction
This safe, natural extraction method primarily uses Olive oil, MCT Oil or grape seed oilto obtain CBD. To do this, plant material and oil are mixed, heated in a water bath and filtered again after cooling. Unfortunately, however, more oil is used so that the concentration of the CBD extract ultimately suffers as a result.
4th product: What else happens in the production process until the finished CBD oil?
The final step on the way to your CBD oil is the careful mixing and dilution of the resulting CBD extract mwith carrier oils such as hemp seed oil or coconut oil.
This part of the process is intended to Increase the bioavailability of the active ingredient in our body. The CBD oil is then filled into the familiar small bottles or capsules and containers, labeled and offered for sale.
Important: It is important to understand that the final quality (in terms of effect, color, texture and taste) of a CBD oil depends primarily on the cultivation and manufacturing practices. Truly high-quality products are usually offered by companies that are committed to transparency and purity in their manufacturing processes. When choosing a CBD product, it is therefore worth researching the philosophy of the manufacturer.
CBD production explained simply
As you can see, the fascinating journey from hemp plant to CBD oil is a little more extensive than you might think at first. Just be aware that every plant in the field, every step in the Extraction process and every bottle of CBD oil you see is part of the elaborate production process. In the end, the appreciation for the versatile cannabidiol is all the higher.
"Nature must be experienced through feeling."
Alexander von Humboldt (more at Nature Quotes)
Do you have any questions, suggestions or your own experiences with the production of CBD? Then I look forward to your comment!
Stay healthy,
PS: CBD is said, among other things, to give us become more relaxed can. You can find out what else you can do for more inner peace and balance in the next linked blog article.
