how do you know when to harvest?

bodybuilder27

Active Member
how do you know when to harvest the plant?
is it a certain amount of weeks after flowering begins or when it startsto be dying visably you harvest etc???

cheers
Matt
 

Spittn4cash

Well-Known Member
when u cant hold out any longer..or when everybody is dry..:lol:

but seriously, check the trichs with a magnifier, if they look how u want them to look then harvest.

When should I harvest my plants?

The 30X and 100X lighted magnifier are tools everyone serious about harvest timing should have. They make it easy to monitor the resin development process. After seeing 400X images of resin glands, I decided to also buy the 100X magnifier. It supplies a superior view, providing an enhanced perspective of resin gland condition and development.

I recommend buying the 30X model first and if you would like to expand your analytical capabilities, buy the 100X model. They both allow for a much closer inspection of the clarity, color and condition of the resin glands, which should be swollen and unbroken while remaining transparent and slightly amber, if at all, at the peak of ripeness. Some prefer harvesting earlier, as THC degrades to more sedative cannabinoids as the glands ripen.

Harvest timing is a matter of personal preference. When the glandular trichomes are clear with very little, if any coloration, THC levels are at their peak with CBD and CBN both at levels that will not overly influence the THC with their sedative effects. Some prefer more overwhelming narcotic type effects, allowing the resin glands to cloud and begin to amber or darken to increase overall cannabinoid content. The resin glands appear and therefore will mature at different times. A compromise is made when determining the desired overall maturity level to harvest. It depends on the growers preference in effect and palate.
 

Spittn4cash

Well-Known Member
shouldn't you harvest when the hairs turn a brownish color?

some strains -yes, others -no

Indicas mature faster than sativas, so they'll tun the hairs brownish red while the buds ripen, then at some point youll notice that the production of white hairs will stop, so check the trichs with a scope ("yup, they're milky white, with a few amber") and then harvest.

but sativas and most hybrids (sativa X indica) hairs turn brown right before a growth spurt. so harvesting at that time would hurt yield and potency.


on one occasion I had a plant with hairs that didnt even turn brown until week 14; two weeks before harvest. so I checked the trichs and they were mostly cloudy. I harvested early and lost a whole lot of potency.

I learned to never assume bcuz of the colors of the hairs when to harvest, and to always check with a scope.
The highest potency is when the crystal glands are "milky white" and not "cloudy".

There is a huge difference. for example, Notice the sky the next time it is Clear, Cloudy, and completely white and you will see what I mean.

the THC inside the crystal glands are what gives the bud potency, not the hairs.
 

tidalracepaddler

Well-Known Member
you can get a 60-100x magnifier at radioshack for 16$ its worth it, when little crysolith mushroom caps are cloudy to amber, time to harvest! more of a up-energetic stone comes when the caps are clear, cloudy and amber to orange caps are cerebral "couchlock" stones.
 

SunnyD

Well-Known Member
u'll know when they're ready.....scope it. but also the look of the bud. The hairs will turn brown and the bud will lighten up from dark green to a lighter color...
 
when u cant hold out any longer..or when everybody is dry..:lol:

but seriously, check the trichs with a magnifier, if they look how u want them to look then harvest.

When should I harvest my plants?

The 30X and 100X lighted magnifier are tools everyone serious about harvest timing should have. They make it easy to monitor the resin development process. After seeing 400X images of resin glands, I decided to also buy the 100X magnifier. It supplies a superior view, providing an enhanced perspective of resin gland condition and development.

I recommend buying the 30X model first and if you would like to expand your analytical capabilities, buy the 100X model. They both allow for a much closer inspection of the clarity, color and condition of the resin glands, which should be swollen and unbroken while remaining transparent and slightly amber, if at all, at the peak of ripeness. Some prefer harvesting earlier, as THC degrades to more sedative cannabinoids as the glands ripen.

Harvest timing is a matter of personal preference. When the glandular trichomes are clear with very little, if any coloration, THC levels are at their peak with CBD and CBN both at levels that will not overly influence the THC with their sedative effects. Some prefer more overwhelming narcotic type effects, allowing the resin glands to cloud and begin to amber or darken to increase overall cannabinoid content. The resin glands appear and therefore will mature at different times. A compromise is made when determining the desired overall maturity level to harvest. It depends on the growers preference in effect and palate.
So, I am new to this.....I have 3 good starts in my garden. I planted themabout third week of May. Was surprised how long took to sprout....but it is odd weather here, raining alot and cool....so tomatoes are not even doing that good. My quesstion what are " trichs ", I will buy magnifyer such has been suggested..... but I guess I should study the anatomy of the plants I am growing. The plants will flower and then? Again sorry for not knowing....but thought I would ask.
Thnx - excuse my ignorance :)
 
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