If you're going to do little harvests early (like I currently am because my smoke stash is gone,) you'd be better off taking the smaller formed popcorn buds (they don't amount to much anyways, and if you're going to be selective, take the flowers that aren't going to plump up as much. There's not a popcorn bud left on my plant lol... :X's Evil Laugh x: Nothing but big massive buds on there now. Must...resist... the urge... to TRIM!
I use the vaporizer for mine; grind 'em up or chop them up fine, load them up in the chamber; within 2 bags the moisture content is gone (the first two bags are pretty "wet" if that makes sense, moisture builds up a little inside the bag.) I've tried microwaving steaming on VERY LOW heat; it works but the buds taste and smell like poop; but it gets them pretty dry and fairly little damage to the trichs (inspected with 60x magnifier both before and after; saw no degradation at the lowest temp.) Still wouldn't recommend this method though; if you are going to do that you might as well just put them in front of a fan and get it over with.
Do you have a magnifier of some sort? I actually encourage you to try your buds at different stages of flower. See for yourself what the difference REALLY is between clear, cloudy, and amber trichs. It's been in my experience that clear trichs will still get you ripped; but at least for me; if I smoke a lot of clear trich'ed bud I'm peering out my blinds all evening looking for the popo. Induces paranoia in my brain I cannot tell you why. Cloudy trichs, more psychoactive; amber trichs, sit your butt down on the couch. I've heard of some strains that the trichs don't amber up; so there may be some exceptions to the rule; but I think you'll find a general consensus on the effects of when harvested.
Good luck bro; hopefully you can find something to tide you over in the meantime so you can let your baby grow properly; and have fun experimenting! :stylez rasta smoke:
