Dry Sift Screening

Dry sift screening is a post-harvest classification method that separates trichome-rich material from plant matter without solvents or water. The process uses a series of mesh screens to mechanically sort dried flower and trim by particle size, isolating trichome heads that fall through specific micron ranges. This classification reflects production technique rather than genetics, and the resulting concentrate grade depends on starting material quality, screen mesh sizes (typically 73–220 microns), and handling conditions. Dry sift products are often tagged by micron rating, with full-melt and near-full-melt categories commanding attention in breeding circles. Breeders frequently evaluate parent plants by their dry sift yield and trichome quality under screening.

Breeders working with resin production traits use dry sift screening as a phenotypic assessment tool to identify high-trichome-density plants. Strong performance under dry sift classification informs selection for future generations focused on hashish production and trichome morphology.