first grow.. need help. +rep

okay so i have 2 plants that are about 3 months old. im switching to 12/12 in 2 or 3 days. but i have no idea on how to tell when its time to chop em down. what are trichromes? and amber? and what does cloudy/clear mean? thanks for any help!

trichromes are the small resin glands on the leaf and buds... use a scope to look at them refer to picture chart below

as the chart follows just clear trichomes wont get you high at all and would be a waste if harvested with clear. milky/cloudy get you a up head high and amber trichomes (red ones) give you a more couchlock stone hope this helped.

alright thanks guys! =) that really helps alot
but if i cant find a microscope or ne thing is there any other way of knowing the best time to harvest? iv heard that just for a couple days the buds will b drenched is thc, but if you wait to long it will go back into the stem or something. how do tell when the bud is the most potent? im growing lemon haze if that helps at all (i have no clue about genetics of lemon haze)

goto radio shack they have 60x -100x microscopes for less then 10 bucks got to have one to know when its best time to harvest

ive also read that when 2/3 to all the pistils (hairs) are red or orange is a good clue she is ready

Growman has set you straight.Reps GM.

thanks growman! i think ill b good ta harvest
all the help is much appreciated =)