[Drewsif]

Is this why so much outdoor maintains the distinct flavor of its substrate through cure? The plant is pulling nutes from the soil during day, and emptying during night.

I dont have room for clones or Id do a side by side. Been doing 2 days of dark to stew the terps, but i think it's keeping my bud from tasting like shrooms, also.

Some bud taste exactly like it's mix and never cures into a weed flavor.. Im guessing it was harvested during lights?

[Miraculous Meds]

I think that has a small % to do with the flavor. The more important aspects are how the plant was grown. Never allowing nutrient build up. Proper even dry, and cure.


The idea behind the night harvest, or lights off harvest, is that there will be a maximum # of terpenes left, before the sun, or light, starts to degrade them during the day cycle. Indoors some people leave there plants in the dark for 24 to 48 hours before harvesting. I know some that let the plant dry completely on the stalk in a dark room before harvest. Outdoors, I guess the best you could do is right before sun up. Or if its in a pot, bring it inside, in a dark room. I personally haven't proven it to be beneficial to myself, yet, I still follow the practice as best as possible, to harvest after a night cycle, right before lights on. The idea seems solid, but id like to see testing confirming what % difference there is in terpene amounts.

[udontknowme]

Leaving the plants in darkness for 24 hours before harvest is pure nonsense IMO. It does not make a blind bit of difference, chop them when it's most convenient.

[Betterhaff]

I always harvest my herbs (basil, oregano, etc.) first thing in the morning before the sun hits them. It is the preferred way according to a lot of herb gardeners. The natural oils are more concentrated and not degraded by sunlight.

Probably would also apply to cannabis since it has similar oils and terps. I have to harvest my outdoor when I’m able since I grow a lot of it guerilla but I do try to harvest at night, partly for this reason and partly for stealth.

[Patmando22]

The thc is supposed to bild up all night and peek in the mornings befor first light also starches are more prevalent in the plant matter vs the root system in the day time so a night time or early morning harvest would prevent most of those starches from being in the smoke

[moose eater]

I chop 'em after 1-2 'days' of darkness, due to the plants processing during light versus dark cycle. Only been doing it that way 2-4 years. Used to just hack 'em when I had time.

[Farm Hero]

Know many old schooler's here have read grow books saying the exact opposite. I remember the authors saying to harvest in the peak of the afternoon, when resin content is at its highest.

Reckon things could have changed since then, however it is common to see contradicting advice on cannabis so who really knows.

Been known to keep indoor crops in the dark for up to 3 days while waiting to be trimmed. Did this to give the lights a break more than anything.

[Speed of green]

The sun rarely takes a three day break

[moose eater]

Originally Posted by Speed of green

The sun rarely takes a three day break

True, but that's a hurdle overcome with 6-mil black poly/visqueen or agricultural cloth if one is in a greenhouse...

Or a light-switch, if indoors...

Some folks up north I've known move plants in larger containers, on up to 1/3 of a 55-gallon drum, into sheds, if need be with the use of a hand-truck, etc., too.

Where there's a will, there's a way.... Or.. where there's a will, someone is getting ready to pass on an estate.

[Speed of green]

i mean that the plants have not evolved to expect three days of darkness, so i doubt the darkness promotes any benefit.

when i first started growing several years ago i tried it side by with a couple plants and didnt notice a difference.