I seek guidance wise ones

[sssmdg]

Setup -
1 4' 8 bulb t5 ho
1 2' 6 bulb t5 ho
Jardin dr120T tent
filters and fans
coco \ rice hulls
temp 78 -80
Top Feed every watering

Nutes -
David's Grow Simply Path - Full Line
Cal \ Mag Plus
Root Roids

Ok so I started this all out 6 months ago and things are well, a few harvests done and many more to come.

To the point, this plant was a donor seed - no clue what is it outside of a health stinky girl.

She has been in the flower tent since Jan 02 so not long, however all things point to my untrained eyes as she is ready, 80 plus % of her beard has turned red which I know from you folks that does not necessary mean smoke me. As you can see from the pictures the plant in covered in frosty sticky goodness and has been for 4 weeks now.

I have no need to pluck her early the last two ladies have me more than happy.

Any advice would be great and I hope to get at least one smart ass comment, I do enjoy them.

 

[Jnugg]

Are you checking the trichomes with a 60x to 100x scope?

The key points of harvest are...

1) Pistil turn from white to orange to a dark orange/reddish color.

2) Calyxes begin to swell and dark orange/reddish pistils begin to receed way back into the calyxes.

3) Trichomes are either 90% Milky/Cloudy and 10% Clear,or 90% Milky/Cloudy and 10% Amber.

 

[RonSmooth]

I would let them go at least 10 weeks from flip. Only then will I start looking at trichs.

The main colas should be dense and look fat and bloated. The leaves dont have that healthy green color and texture. They will be more brittle and start taking on more autumn colors.

The plants will drink less, growth/swelling will slow/stop and the buds will take on an orange tint.

When you look at trichomes, look for the one that look like mushrooms. The heads should look ready to burst and they should be the dominant type. When the majority are cloudy I harvest.

Nobody ever wishes the had harvested earlier. If you cant wait 10 weeks, give them at least 9 weeks. You have nothing to lose and potentially a lot to gain

 

[Jnugg]

I would let them go at least 10 weeks from flip. Only then will I start looking at trichs.

The main colas should be dense and look fat and bloated. The leaves dont have that healthy green color and texture. They will be more brittle and start taking on more autumn colors.

The plants will drink less, growth/swelling will slow/stop and the buds will take on an orange tint.

When you look at trichomes, look for the one that look like mushrooms. The heads should look ready to burst and they should be the dominant type. When the majority are cloudy I harvest.

Nobody ever wishes the had harvested earlier. If you cant wait 10 weeks, give them at least 9 weeks. You have nothing to lose and potentially a lot to gain

This is strain dependent.Some 8 week strains left to go 10 weeks or longer will end up with way too many amber trichomes.Some say the more amber trichomes the more couch lock the high,but...

Amber trichomes are a sign if THC degrading to CBN and while it may feel like a couchlock high,it isn't a true couchlock high like from a pure Indica.Instead it is a muddy couchlock.

Also I find that towards the final few weeks of flowering,plants drink more,but feed less.

 

[tokersmoke]

I agree with jnuggs.pay no attention to days harvest on the trichs.Just from A quick glance visually they look ready!!Harvest time is heavily depend on eviroment and strain saying 10 weeks minimum is too broad.

 

[St3ve]

another one voting to check the trichs. Its the only way to KNOW.

At first glance, I would say they need a little more time. BUT this is a guess.. there is really only one good way to be sure.

 

[RonSmooth]

If I have a plant that has been flowering for 3 weeks, has undeveloped flowers, all young, white stigma and lush green foliage but I see a few amber trichomes, is it ready for harvest?

Of course not. Thats why it is important to recognize the more obvious physical signs of maturity before even looking at trichomes.

 

[St3ve]

If I have a plant that has been flowering for 3 weeks, has undeveloped flowers, all young, white stigma and lush green foliage but I see a few amber trichomes, is it ready for harvest?

Of course not. Thats why it is important to recognize the more obvious physical signs of maturity before even looking at trichomes.

if you can find a good percentage of amber at 3 weeks I'd say something is going wrong and/or unusual. I can't imagine how many amber trichs your strains have by the time harvest if they are getting there at 3 weeks.

it takes time under light for them to change color.. and time is what we are gauging. If you have methods that work well for you, great. But if I let all my strains go for 10 weeks before starting to look for signs I would have already gone past the peak times for harvest. I know because I have been on some of these strains now for at least 20+ runs(4+ years).

you are right though, trichs are not the end all for checking ripeness.. however in my experience, they are a more reliable place to start.