slowandeasy
Cultivators Club
I press a LOT of Rosin. You can tell a lot by how a strain presses. This is where taking plants too long is not good. I agree, I believe Autos finish faster and also degrade/change effects, smells, tastes, ect faster than most Photo plants. For max Rosin production, Harvesting on the earlier side will yield a more light colored and Terpy extract. If you wait til the trichs turn Amber, some strains may have changed smells or looks even. Definitely if you take too long the Rosin production goes down. Visually it will be much darker and the smells will have changed. When harvested early, the Rosin tastes exactly how the plant smells. As the plant ages too much it degrades, the Terpenes change, and The smell/taste does as well. This is sometimes pleasing to have different smells, tastes, effects from same Herb. But if you go a few days too long with some Autos and the Quality can reduce quickly. This is why I say for someone new, you might want to take samples every few days once near the end of the cycle. I have taken a handful of Autos too long. I took a Cosmic Queen too long and it barely produced Rosin. The few I have Mephisto I have taken extra long were definitely of a much lower quality. I personally aim for mostly cloudy and very LITTLE Amber on my Autos. I think by the time you have a decent amount of of Amber and then dry it...the quality can change rapidly on certain Autos. The whole internal clock theory could play a role.I know you're not new to growing so this isnt neccesarily pointed at anyone particular in the thread but just to the general audience reading this thread and for the people in the future reading this thread
Heed @slowandeasy on this one. While I am of the school of thought that science shows the plant's max terpinoid, flavonoid and cannabinoid content will be at its peak and best state when all trichomes are milky, many want their effects to be different and the plant will metabolize the cannabinoids further as the plant ages. What a lot of growers will do is they will usually try this method of snip one bud when you think its done and do a fast dry in a few hours and smoke it. See how it does, if it's good chop the plant and trim, if not let it go a few days and try again. You know you may have lost a couple grams early. But if the plant is ready, then its ready and go to town. It really helps with mephisto strains especially for some reason. Plant effecta can have a very big difference in only a few days.
And yes, phenos can vary over time if refinements are made and seeds are still a genetic roll of the dice, just refined and mostly all the same number on every side but theres still random chance. And it is a discussion that was ongoing about a week back here. And things change. too and over time autos will advance further. I can honestly see autos overtaking photos for small home grows. In going to attempt photos but doubt I'll ever clone or do it for any serious attempt. Why spend 100 days for something I can do in 75 days... That's why I've learned when you find what works.... BUY THE WHOLE STORE
My theory is that that Autos have a Faster metabolism. They finish faster, and don't need light changes. This in my opinion translates to optimal Harvest time. I will use my Sour Stomper that I just cut down last week. It was cut down perfectly for my personal needs. It had mostly Cloudy on top and a mix of Clear/Cloudy a little lower. The looks and smell are Optimal, not underripe looking at all. The smells are intense, even after being dried. This IMO is one of the FASTEST things to change in Autos, smells decrease fast if taken too long. So my Sour Stomper, Pressing A+ Rosin. Perfectly done. Light colored and smells just like the buds at harvest, excellent yield and not over Terpy. Sometimes you can get Terpene heavy strains that smell and look stronger than they are. Many Purple strains look awesome and smell fantastic...but often don't pack the massive punch. Not always, but in general the lighter stains with lower Terpene levels press the best Rosin. I have a patient that always wants "light" colored strains, he thinks they are more potent. I will say in general I get more Rosin from lighter strains vs darker strains in general. But I also believe Terpenes can enhance your buzz. So for most Autos the Optimal harvest time for Terpene level and strength is when there is minimal AMBER at harvest.
