How to tell judging cloudy vs clear trichromes

[4RockandStone]

2nd time grower, 1st time harvester. I've been using pistils to judge harvest period for the most part, but with my camera today I was able to get some okay pictures of the trichromes. One question I had was how to judge cloudy vs. clear. I've read plenty of articles, and it's probably my untrained eye, but I can't typically tell the difference between them unless it's super pronounced. Have two example pics here, one under grow lights and one without. My assumption is that these are mostly clear, but want to double check that I'm correct on that.

Other question is where I should be looking at trichromes to make a deterimination. Top colas, middle colas? At the sugar leaves, the buds, the pistils?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Wizzlebiz]

Take pics with normal light.

Clear have a shimmer to them cloudy look dull at the head.

Always look on the bud itself. The sugar leaves trichome colors don't help at all. They only confuse new folks.

I check top middle and bottom of each bud but thats more of a OCD thing for me.


And I assume your wondering if your plant is done.

I dont think so. There are white hairs in the small snap you gave.

 

[FastFreddi]

^^This^^ as well as where your source of light is located...the trichomes can appear cloudy if the light is at a bad angle, so be sure to move the source around as you inspect.
I'm with Wizzlebiz....check entire plant, not just a particular bud.
FF

 

[FastFreddi]

Shots of the entire plant, showing top and lower helps the community with advice as well.
Peace.
FF

 

[Wizzlebiz]

^^This^^ as well as where your source of light is located...the trichomes can appear cloudy if the light is at a bad angle, so be sure to move the source around as you inspect.
I'm with Wizzlebiz....check entire plant, not just a particular bud.
FF

Yes. I forgot to mention light refraction.

I try to take my pics in the shade. Its also easier to see white pistils left easier in the shade.

 

[4RockandStone]

Take pics with normal light.

Clear have a shimmer to them cloudy look dull at the head.

Always look on the bud itself. The sugar leaves trichome colors don't help at all. They only confuse new folks.

I check top middle and bottom of each bud but thats more of a OCD thing for me.


And I assume your wondering if your plant is done.

I dont think so. There are white hairs in the small snap you gave.

Not assuming it's done, it's got at least a couple weeks left. Wanted to know before I hit the window though so I can harvest at a few different points in the window and decide what vibe I like for next grow. Plus the wife is practically begging me to harvest early . She's dying for a sample.

By shade I assume you mean grow lights off, light source bit further away/outside of tent? Good to know about checking white pistils in shade as well. Feel like light refracts too much off the frost and gives everything a shiny look.

Since @FastFreddi asked, full pics and cola pics. She's a NL Auto, all pics Day 82. Flowering has been 12/12, was 24/0 before that (had to change her to 12/12 to trigger flower).

 

[FastFreddi]

Beautiful.
FF

 

[Wizzlebiz]

Not assuming it's done, it's got at least a couple weeks left. Wanted to know before I hit the window though so I can harvest at a few different points in the window and decide what vibe I like for next grow. Plus the wife is practically begging me to harvest early . She's dying for a sample.

By shade I assume you mean grow lights off, light source bit further away/outside of tent? Good to know about checking white pistils in shade as well. Feel like light refracts too much off the frost and gives everything a shiny look.

Since @FastFreddi asked, full pics and cola pics. She's a NL Auto, all pics Day 82. Flowering has been 12/12, was 24/0 before that (had to change her to 12/12 to trigger flower).
View attachment 4758665View attachment 4758664View attachment 4758666View attachment 4758668

Il share some photos that might help you.

 

[4RockandStone]

Beautiful.
FF

Thanks! This has been my new pandemic hobby. Some people took up baking, wife and I took up getting baked. First batch didn't ever flower due to bad genetics/overfeeding nutes, so we're out of edibles and hoping to get a Christmas harvest.

Yeah @Wizzlebiz that'd help!

 

[Tracker]

Looking good. I like to see mostly cloudy with a few starting to turn amber. I use a 40x-60x little microscope that you can get on amazon for pretty cheap so I can look more closely than you can see with the phones camera.

 

[Wizzlebiz]

Cloudy

Half and half.

 

[Wizzlebiz]

Looking good. I like to see mostly cloudy with a few starting to turn amber. I use a 40x-60x little microscope that you can get on amazon for pretty cheap so I can look more closely than you can see with the phones camera.

Everything in both of OPs pics are sugar leaves..... how are you determining anything from those?

 

[Wizzlebiz]

This is clear amongst cloudy. for contrast sake

 

[Tracker]

By "looking good" I mean to say it looks healthy. As indicated in other posts, post pics under white light using something for more magnification.

 

[4RockandStone]

Cloudy

Half and half.

Am I correct that some of the cloudiness leaks into the stem? At least that's what it looks like in the first pic, or it could be cloudy heads behind clear stems making it look like that. But can see a clear difference in the heads for sure.

 

[Wizzlebiz]

Am I correct that some of the cloudiness leaks into the stem? At least that's what it looks like in the first pic, or it could be cloudy heads behind clear stems making it look like that. But can see a clear difference in the heads for sure.

Yea thats correct. Really just focus on the heads tbh for accuracy.

And again make sure the trichomes you are looking at are on the buds not the sugar leaves. The pics you posted are definitely all sugar leaves.

 

[DoobieDoobs]

This is clear amongst cloudy. View attachment 4758677for contrast sake

 

[Wizzlebiz]

View attachment 4758686

Yea well if you smoke it you are definitely fucked for the day so its fitting.

 

[4RockandStone]

Yea thats correct. Really just focus on the heads tbh for accuracy.

And again make sure the trichomes you are looking at are on the buds not the sugar leaves. The pics you posted are definitely all sugar leaves.

Yeah, my best buds are in the back of the tent and I'm having trouble getting pics to there. I'll figure it out! Thanks for all your help!

 

[DoobieDoobs]

You should get that cheap amazon microscope OP. I bought this one and works good enough for checking trichomes .