What are Terpenes and How does it Affect My Plants? Many people are not aware of the importance of Terpenes when they grow herbs. Terpenes are an extremely wide and varied class of natural compounds, made by some specific insects and plants, most commonly by conifers. They can deter a predator and herbivore and can also attract parasitic and insect larvae. The term “Terpenes” itself refers to a wide range of chemical compounds found in plants and that is why the term is sometimes referred to as a “chemical terpene” or even a “terpene class.”
Some common species of herbivores such as flies and ants use Terfenols to seek out food, which in turn attracts a host of insects including aphids and silverfish. On the other side of the coin, when a plant produces Terfenol as a defense mechanism it attracts an insect called “arthropod,” which feeds on its leaf litter and leaves. When a plant is under attack by arthropods, the Terfenol is released into the air and this allows the leaf litter to dry out and decompose. The resulting carbon dioxide gas is inhaled by the arthropod and this is what is called a “phytoplankton bloom.” This can have negative environmental effects, although studies are still ongoing. Some researchers believe that plant-based terpenes might play a role in protecting certain types of fruits from being eaten by insects such as mosquitoes. Also, terpenes can be used to protect food crops from being eaten by rats and mice.
Terpenes can also be used by aphids, which feed on plants. When a plant produces terpenes, the plant is protected from this type of feeding, since aphids have no taste buds. It is thought that the chemicals in the plant cause the aphids to secrete a defensive spray, which can repel most insects and eventually kill them. Now, enough of this science about terpenes. Let’s talk about terpenes in Cannabis.
When you think about cannabis-derived terpenes, what do you immediately think about? Do you think of the sweet and spicy aromas from the cannabis flowers? Are you thinking of the dank, smoky, pungent scents that come from cannabis plants in the wild?
These are the aromatic compounds that are found in marijuana’s flowers. Terpenes, or naturally occurring compounds found in cannabis, have been used in cooking for thousands of years. They are also found in many other plants, such as lavender and lemon. Many people consider the terpenes to be the magic “spice” that makes cannabis such a pleasurable drug.
What are Terpenes and How does it Affect My Plants? Many people are not aware of the importance of Terpenes when they grow herbs. Terpenes are an extremely wide and varied class of natural compounds, made by some specific insects and plants, most commonly by conifers. They can deter a predator and herbivore and can also attract parasitic and insect larvae. The term “Terpenes” itself refers to a wide range of chemical compounds found in plants and that is why the term is sometimes referred to as a “chemical terpene” or even a “terpene class.”
Some common species of herbivores such as flies and ants use Terfenols to seek out food, which in turn attracts a host of insects including aphids and silverfish. On the other side of the coin, when a plant produces Terfenol as a defense mechanism it attracts an insect called “arthropod,” which feeds on its leaf litter and leaves. When a plant is under attack by arthropods, the Terfenol is released into the air and this allows the leaf litter to dry out and decompose. The resulting carbon dioxide gas is inhaled by the arthropod and this is what is called a “phytoplankton bloom.” This can have negative environmental effects, although studies are still ongoing. Some researchers believe that plant-based terpenes might play a role in protecting certain types of fruits from being eaten by insects such as mosquitoes. Also, terpenes can be used to protect food crops from being eaten by rats and mice.
Terpenes can also be used by aphids, which feed on plants. When a plant produces terpenes, the plant is protected from this type of feeding, since aphids have no taste buds. It is thought that the chemicals in the plant cause the aphids to secrete a defensive spray, which can repel most insects and eventually kill them. Now, enough of this science about terpenes. Let’s talk about terpenes in Cannabis.
When you think about cannabis-derived terpenes, what do you immediately think about? Do you think of the sweet and spicy aromas from the cannabis flowers? Are you thinking of the dank, smoky, pungent scents that come from cannabis plants in the wild?
These are the aromatic compounds that are found in marijuana’s flowers. Terpenes, or naturally occurring compounds found in cannabis, have been used in cooking for thousands of years. They are also found in many other plants, such as lavender and lemon. Many people consider the terpenes to be the magic “spice” that makes cannabis such a pleasurable drug.
Terpenes are responsible for the smell that comes from cannabis in the first place. It is these molecules that give marijuana its pleasant smell, but they are also responsible for the drug’s addictive qualities. The high you get from smoking pot depends on how potent the terpenes are in cannabis. For example, the more potent the pot is, the higher the level of the terpenes it contains. Because these compounds are so addictive, they cause a person to take the drug for longer periods to achieve the same effect. When you get high from cannabis, it is the terpenes that give you pleasure. It is the terpenes that make the cannabis so appealing to many users.
