Let me first say that my plants are "ready" when I say they are. I am the grower, I have the power.
In my experience, some strains and phenotypes are best taken to full maturity while others smoke better taken a week or two early. Here's one right at 8 weeks flower. She could go 9 weeks but always start throwing nanners at 8 so I harvest her right before she starts herming as to not pollenate the rest of the plants.
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Here's the funny thing...I have let her go the full 9 weeks just picking off the nanners as I go.
The buzz is not as good when she is more mature. The early, "racey" type effect adds to the high tremendously. Without it the effect is overwhelmingly indica and almost too much.
9 weeks flower, two puffs and its nap time! 8 weeks flower, two puffs and instant euphoria. Time to get shit done.
A truly mature plant is pretty obvious. The pistils all recede into the calyx's and the calyx's swell.
I just recently got a decent camera so I don't have a picture of a fully ripe plant, but like I said to start. In the end they are always ready when I decide.
This is the internet. Your gonna hear a thousand opinions. This is mine.
Your plant still needs a couple weeks to mature. Chop now and have looser, leafy, less potent flowers. Wait two weeks and if all is well, the flowers will increase in weight and potency at least another 25%. Patience is a virtue.