So first off, let me start by saying I have always harvested by looking at the trichomes. It seems to be the most agreed upon way. I can’t help but think about this one thing lately though.
There are many harvests I see where the trichome development is showing about 2-3% amber, the rest cloudy; but the flower doesn’t appear to be fully developed. Sometimes there are pistils that are still white.
When we harvest cloudy trichs, is that basically to get the highest THC %? I think this next plant, I will let it go until both the pistils and trichs are ready. I realize I will have more amber, which means THC will further break down into alternate cannabinoids, which will probably make it more sedating maybe?
I thought to myself “would I ever pull an unripe fruit or vegetable?” Maybe the plants true expression has more amber, and more of an entourage effect. I could see how commercial growers would want to avoid this because you would lower your THC % , which the market doesn’t really want right now.
But honestly, even those plants with 30%+ THC don’t hit as hard as some of the 15%THC plants heavy in terps and flavanoids.
I’m just thinking out loud, not sure if what I’m trying to say even makes sense. I hope everyone has an amazing humpday!
Here’s an example. To me, the nugs didn’t even look close to being done. But after checking the trichs, I harvested.
Just a personal preference but I would have let them go a bit longer. The amber appears to be more on the leaves and not the buds. That said harvesting time is really about what the grower wants.
Plants don’t hit their full genetic potential unless they are healthy AND taken at the actual ends of flower.
It really depends. I’ve grown plants that never stop pumping out pistils.
I think of it as a peak window. Harvest wherever you think it’s right.
I don’t sweat potency at all.
Then you’re not growing medical grade cannabis.
Potency is numero uno in the mmj world.
If the plants still “pumping out pistils” it’s not done yet.
This is a good topic, I have pulled way to many plants a bit early. Sometimes it’s out of necessity other times I may be impatient. I think to get the maximum a plant has to offer that extra week or so sometimes makes all the difference.
It really depends on the strain and what I want to feel out of it. As a general rule I like to take them when 15-20 Amber, all milky with maybe 5% clear. Sometimes depending on strain I will take them all milky and 30% amber that’s about as far as I let them go. 
Before the evolution of dope scopes, as I’ve been taught anyways, one would simply put the old eyeball on the plant to tell how close or if it was finished.
In my experience, one would look at the overall condition of the plant. The things to look for would be the plant nearing the end of its life. Yellowing and dying leaves, of course plumping up of the buds, and another thing. Not sure if many belive this, but, as the plant nears its end of life, the stalk will become more hollow. If you pinch the stalk between your fingers and it collapses, this, along with the other signs, point to a plant that is near its end of life cycle, and therefore, ready to harvest.
This is just how I was taught, and practiced, and had luck with.
The first time I used a dope scope, I harvested way to early. It wasn’t until I learned that you want to check the trikes on the calyx, not the sugar leaves, not the bud core, the calyx, when those are amber, that’s a tell.
Hope this helps.
Ima try out the calyx one for sure. The stems on this sherbanger are usually pretty hollow. I’ve tried adding calcium, it just seems to be a genetic thing
I saw them 
, mostly sativas will do this, interesting subject, here’s a good article … 
Great read. All kinds of good info in there.
I recommend multiple harvests of each plant.
Like, Blueberry stuff is most terpy at around 7 weeks, but the buds are more medicinal around week 9 and plump up again around week 10.
For nerve pain, I like week 12-16 if I can (strain dependent)
For example, commercial growers harvest Chemdog at week 8. I like to go to week 12-14.
Personally, for medicine, I go about two weeks later than everyone else. Gives a good blend of thc and cbn. Plus more biomass for FECO.
Commercial harvests are on the early side to get max terps.
A general indicator is when the fan leaves start to fall off and plant stops drinking water.
Depends on the strain, new pistils can still come when scoping the plant says they are ready. Also depends on what you are trying to achieve. I do not mind a sedative smoke at the end of the night but that would not do in the morning.
I’m gonna have to agree with bunny on this one.
Based on this study:
- Trichome heads have a cuticle which bursts/tears and secretes (exudes) resin when they mature.
- This bursting and secretion happens around the same time as trichomes start to turn amber.
And, as we know,
- Ambering of trichomes is due to oxidation of phenolic compounds (cannabinoids).
- Oxidation is neither good or bad, but it IS the reduction of THCA to other compounds (CBN and others, hard to find studies on it specifically).
So, my take is, generally:
- If we see amber trichomes, the heads have already started to oxidize, and separately, have started to tear open and leak/ooze resin.
Which leads me to believe that an “early” harvest is the way to go for maximizing potential THC levels, not just because of avoiding oxidation, but because amber trichome heads leak resin. I assume that we want to keep the resin IN the trichome head, basically.
I recall that DJ Short recommends an early harvest, when trichomes are still clear. That said we just have a absolute litany of parroted posts on every forum stating “two more weeks” and to seek some % of amber trichomes. In a world of disinformation, I guess I’m starting to think that commonly memed knowlege is usually “wrong”.
Does anyone have any experience in this domain?
FWIW, I am harvesting a test subject of Barney’s Farm LSD over the course of around two (2) weeks, where the first colas were pulled with crystal clear trichomes at day 64F. I’ll pull a few more when they are cloudy, and then the rest with 50% amber. Then, a blind testing process will begin. Wish me luck!
I’ll bite! What does the oxidation “do” for you? I can totally see it calming the high, or being evidence of reduced THCA (THC) levels once consumed. Have you smoked the same plant pulled both early and late?
I can’t tell you from an on the plant perspective but I can say that my year old oxidized hash is the sleepiest most wonderfully narcotic thing in my arsenal.
Alright it’s a fight I guess.
I have a TMI question my friend! This is open to all really, I’m honestly curious and hunting for the recipe here.
Does the more narcotic vibe increase or decrease “somatic sensation” to put it PG-rated?