Live Stoner Chat When do you harvest

[Blackanwhite1]

The questions in the title but I’d like different peoples take on this.

I know we always talk about cloudy trichomes, Amber trichomes, pistils turn orange etc. but what else do you look out for as a sign to harvest at the optimum time?

When would everyone say the ideal time to chop would be for optimum stone/yield?

 

[puggle6]

This has been done to death but it helps to have a discussion when trying to resolve these issues when we second guess ourselfs!

I will try to explain my process.

I do intently look at trichomes but it doesn't always seal the deal.
I am a plant whisper in the sense that I consider a lot of details about the individual plant when making decisions, I've tried journals etc and the best I can manage is fairly eclectic grow threads so I'm trying to explain some indicators that guide me.

Main one is the bud sack the orange hairs come out of, I always keep an eye on them, if they open to much buds might get bigger but they loose bulk density, it then makes me manage temp and humidity very closely.

If buds start to look "ricey" I've gone to far.

Sun leaves departing with very little effort (not always accurate)

Foxtailing shits me (can tolerate it on high sativas) tells me it's strain and or environment and cut losses at convenient time as they can keep going for ages with no real benifit

So yeah, that's a few things I look at when deciding when is the right time

f6

 

[Blackanwhite1]

Thanks for the reply man. Very informative

 

[Tankat]

When the leaves start dropping and not really responding to the light no more will be best sign a think. The buds are taking all the plants energy then and will be really white and frosty. Ad say when hairs are mostly turned and personally ad go for more or less all cloudy trichs with a few going brown but am no expert. In the past av chopped the main cola and the bigger ones around it and left some of the lower ones a few days just to mature a bit more. Almost forgot the aroma also leads you in right direction haha


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[Blackanwhite1]

Just had a quick check there and when I eventually get into focus I still see maybe a 50/50 ratio of clear and cloudy trichomes and the pistils are probably only about 25% orange.

 

[AutoWonders]

Add one more for the "checking trichomes" team. I've yet to be led astray.

 

[fryge]

combination of general look, how many fresh white pistils there are(and the rate new ones are appearing), and trichomes.
the pistils are my main indicatorbut when it looks close to finish based on pistils, I also check trichomes, since pistils can prematurely turn brown/orange due to weather. however trichomes are not 100% reliable either I think, at least not if you go for amber, I've had plenty of plants that were ready but never showed any amber, only cloudy trichs.

but sometimes I'm forced to harvest prematurely due to budrot, so in a way budrot is an indicator for my harvest time too.

 

[Hippy_BiotabsF70]

Sugar leaf colour. They change when ripe in my experience. Trichs can be very misleading.

Also, define “maximum stone”. The colour of the trichs partly corresponds to the stoniness of the high.

 

[Hippy_BiotabsF70]

When trichs turn brown, the bud is already past its max potency. It’s now becoming higher in CBD instead of THC. The stoney bit.

 

[Dr.Bubbles]

Loupe/Microscope as well as general strain length is a good window. Not to mention, when it's finishing up it swells and packs on pure denk weight. In the last 10-14 days the buds will double in density. So keep an eye on shit like that. A microscope cheapie can be had for $10 or so on Amazon and works great for trichome spying....the rest is more of a feel thing that you will get as you successfully put more harvests under your belt. You can always cut a bud whenever you like. Experiment, take notes, and see how you like your harvest per strain. Some are better picked earlier and some a tad later. Mind you, the window from picking early to picking late is only approx 5 day for max yields/diminishing returns. And dont underestimate the powerful help AFN friends can be. Just get some good pics and toss it to the wolves if you are still having questions. I personally like to pick Indica strains before the trics go amber so it's not couch lock. I hate anxiety and being "baked"

There called KAAHBS Joe