flowering/pistil question

[bobcat1963]

How many weeks into flowering until pistils start to darken?I know some strains finish sooner than others,so a general answer is what im looking for.I have four bagseed females,so there all different.Two of the strongest/healthiest plants showed some darkening of the topmost pistils today.I am 21 days into flower today.Is this "normal"? Thanks in advance.

 

[bounty29]

Don't worry about what the pistils look like, it really doesn't mean a thing. With bagseed that you have no idea on, your best bet is to buy a handheld microscope from Radioshack (like $10) and check the trichomes, and harvest based on that.

 

[bobcat1963]

Thanks for your reply,I was just wondering if pistils turning dark was normal at three weeks of flower.Im not looking at it from a harvest standpoint.Thanks again.

 

[bassmechanic27]

Usually, on my grows, the pistils don't start turning until after week 4 or 5 or even later. If you are looking for a ripeness chart though, go get yourself that microscope bounty spoke of. That is the essential $10 you need to have the best smoke. Good luck!

 

[facelift]

It's possible that the calyx with the dark hair is now holding a seed. The pistols tend to shrivel and change color once it has been pollinated. i say this because 3 weeks is kind of early for a plant to start ripening. If someone had a 21 day strain, they could make a fortune.

 

[bounty29]

Good point facelift, that's definitely a possibility. Might be a hermie and self pollinated.

 

[Tony Aroma]

I was wondering just the opposite about my current grow. I'm into the 7th week of flowering and virtually all the hairs are still white. I usually don't start looking with a microscope until the hairs start changing color, but I checked the other day and found cloudy trichomes. I know they aren't ready yet, since they are still very noticeably getting bigger and denser every day. Based on my past experience, I was a little surprised.