Does Size Matter? Big Vs. Small Nugs

Are bigger nugs better? Opening up a delivery of your favourite flower can sometimes feel like a letdown when you were expecting big, attractive buds and all you got were small, sad-looking chunks. We are here to settle the debate between Big Vs. Small Nugs.

Are small, under-sized nugs actually the gem of cannabis products? Nugs, both big and small, have benefits that could appeal to a variety of weed consumers. And the one that’s right for you could surprise you!

Here’s the actual difference between small and large nugs – and why smaller nugs just might be your next go-to weed order.

What Are Weed Nugs?

Before we get into big nugs versus the lesser-known benefits of small nugs, here are some weed nug basics.

What are weed nugs? Nugs refer to the end part of the cannabis plant, also called the flower. The term “nug” is used to describe the tear-drop-shaped bug tip of the cannabis plant.

Some cannabis consumers and dispensaries will even use the term as a loose unit of measurement for a single bud tip.

The size of weed nugs can vary significantly. Depending on a range of factors, some are as small as the tip of your thumb or less than a gram in weight, while others are the length of your palm – or bigger – and up to over 20 grams.

Are Large Nugs Better Than Small Nugs?

You may have heard that bigger nugs are the better choice. Why? Like anything in marketing, looks sell. The fact is that bigger nugs have what the industry calls “bag appeal.” This means that bigger nugs are what you typically see in films and ads. They look better and sell better.

Cannabis plants with big, healthy flowers and oversized nugs are usually a sign of quality care and growing techniques. And while bigger nugs do often indicate healthier plant strains and higher quality cultivation methods, that doesn’t necessarily mean that smaller nugs don’t also have their own merit.

Big and small nugs of the same strain could even be from the very same plant!

Why Are Some Nugs Smaller?

Nugs come in all shapes and sizes, and the properties depend on the strain of cannabis it comes from. In addition to the strain, there are several factors that determine the size of weed nugs, such as:

Methods of cultivation
Type of care by growers
Trimming methods
How and where it was grown (light exposure, watering schedule, pesticides used)
The way the plant was cut, dried, and cured
Type of strain
Placement on individual plant

All of these factors that make up the nug’s size and shape can also affect the overall quality!

The end size of nug you buy largely comes down to the plant and how it was grown and harvested. It’s up to the people harvesting the cannabis plants to handle dried flower with care – since it’s fragile once dried and can break easily. Sometimes, larger nugs will also break during shipping to dispensaries or when they’re being packaged, resulting in smaller products.

When it comes to growing methods, the difference in bud size can also be affected by the amount of sunlight plants get. Whether sunlight or artificial light, the amount of light exposure determines where the big flowers will grow on the plant – on top from overhead lighting or down the sides from natural sunlight.

Buds that flower close to the plant’s stem and near the bottom get less sunlight and turn out smaller. Of course, this stem and bud placement doesn’t affect the potency at all!
The type of cannabis strain can also play a part in the size and shape of weed buds. For example, Sativa-dominant strains are commonly known to produce buds that are thinner, longer, and skinnier. Indica-dominant strains usually produce flower buds that are harder, smaller, and more compact.

Are Smaller Nugs Less Potent?

Smaller nugs don’t directly mean that the weed is less potent or contains any less of the cannabinoids that cause either psychoactive or relaxation effects. However, bigger nugs are more likely to contain the tip end of the bug – which is where the flower naturally has a higher trichome density.
More trichomes = higher potency. Since trichomes are the hair-like growths on cannabis flower that produce terpenes and cannabinoids like THC and CBD, bigger nugs could contain a higher potency level than smaller nugs.

Why Buy Smaller Nugs? The Benefits of Small Nugs

Big nugs have a certain aesthetic quality that some enjoy. Smaller nugs, on the other hand, may not look great but do have a knack for filling up a dispensary container with only the good stuff (and nothing else).

Even though bigger nugs look better and have a potential for higher potency, let’s look at why small nugs are worth your time (and budget!).

Weight Matters

As many cannabis enthusiasts are well-aware, weight is way more important than sheer size. Cannabis is, after all, sold by the pound and not by the square inch.

Bigger nugs could be attached to heavier and thicker stems that add weight to the flower. If you’re purchasing your cannabis product by weight, you definitely don’t want an excess of stems. Why? Well, you can’t smoke the stems!

Even though larger buds sometimes look more attractive and promising, you can end up paying a lot more when the weight of the stem is factored in.

That said, it is possible to use cannabis stems in other methods of consumption, such as adding them to tea or making cannabis stem butter.

Budget Friendly

The fact that smaller nugs can come in at a lower price range is a huge selling point for a lot of consumers. And dispensaries like Taki Taki offer small nug options to meet those needs.

You will probably see dispensaries selling small-sized nugs for lower prices than regular-sized buds. For example, check out the Taki Taki small buds option for Cake Pop strain.

Big, thick nugs sell for up to $15 and $20 per gram on a good day, but “smalls” might only cost you under $5 per gram. If you happen to be ordering a few grams at a time or stocking up, that price disparity really makes a difference.

Rest assured, that smaller price tag doesn’t mean the weed isn’t as good as higher-priced large nugs! If your goal in buying weed is to get the most for your buck, forget about the aesthetic appeal of bigs and opt for some smaller nugs.

Quality and Effects

If ordering small nugs from your dispensary worries you, it shouldn’t! Besides knowing that smaller nugs are much more affordable, remember that smaller doesn’t mean different.

The chemical makeup of small nugs is essentially the same as larger buds from the same plant.

If your small buds come from the same strain as a larger piece of the flower, both products will contain the same cannabinoids and the same amount of THC and CBD within their chemical compounds. Even if some terpenes are lost in cutting or transport, you’re going to end up with more or less the exact same experience, flavour profile, and effects.

Storage Benefits

Another significant benefit of smaller buds is storage. If you’re purchasing weed products to consume at home, you also need to have a place to safely store cannabis until you use it.

The smaller the buds, the easier it is to find a reliable air-tight container. Since it’s crucial to keep cannabis safe so it doesn’t go bad or get into the hands of kids or pets, smaller nugs are a safer choice for storing discreetly and securely!

Buy Small Weed Nugs Online

If you want to try out some strains with smaller buds, there are some great options available online. Some strains, such as OGs and Girl Scout Cookies, will naturally produce smaller nugs, making them a good option if you’re worried about overpaying for “stemmage”.

In addition, Taki Taki takes the guesswork out of getting your hands on high-quality small buds. The online dispensary has two popular options for small bud cannabis.

MK Ultra Small Buds – THC: 23-25%. Available in 28 grams of indica-dominant value flower
– THC: 19-21%. Available in 28 grams of indica-dominant value flower.Cake Pop Small Buds Small Buds – THC: 19-21%. Available in 28 grams of indica-dominant value flower.

Or try some other regular-sized buds and cannabis products and compare the difference! Affordable big-bud flower options include Death Star and Critical Kush.

Small Nugs vs Big Nugs: Which Do You Prefer?

These days, legalization and distribution laws in Canada and the US have regulated the growing and cultivation of most cannabis plant strains. This means that while getting bigger nugs used to be the luck of the draw, consumers can now choose exactly the size, shape, potency, and quality of the cannabis they order online.

Whether big buds or smaller nugs are right for you, you can feel confident that the cannabis you order will be good quality, fresh, and offer you your desired effects and experience. It all depends on whether you’re more about value and storage (small buds) or potency and aesthetics (big buds).

Sources:

Taki Taki
Xpressgress: https://xpressgrass.com/post/small-buds-vs-big-buds/

Green flower: https://news.green-flower.com/what-can-you-do-with-cannabis-stems/

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