Obviously it’s your garden so you do you but....
That plant “might” have been in the harvest window for a commercial dispensary grow that doesn’t care about anything but turning another crop, but it wasn’t grown to it’s full potential from the looks of it otherwise.
The reason to let the plant finish growing the last 2-3 weeks of its life are to reach the full potential of the plant. Chopping early misses out on significant weight which comes in the form of bud density at that stage. I’ve watched plants start to bend strong branches the last 2-3 weeks because the weight increases so much, easily 20/30% weight increases after the point you would have already cut the plant based on your pictures and comments. It also limits the full potential of the terpene and cannabinoid levels.
I have nothing against letting the plant dry in the pot, I’ve done it before. But you don’t want to start that process until the plant is actually done growing or you are missing out on potential.
I totally agree with you.
I only do this when I'm in my harvest window. That pic, all pistils have turned brown and calyxes have started swelling. In fact, that plant is starting to foxtail thus the white pistils. In terms of trichomes, about 70-80% cloudy and the rest are divided between amber and clear.
My observation is this......my own observation(only) based on several grow and dried this way.
1. calyxes continue to swell
2. significant increase in trichome production
3. pronounce terpine profile
So far I havent experience what you call decrease in weight. But just to humor you, what if the calyx weight is not there. I would trade weight to trichome density anytime. The plant in that picture, I have grown that strain a few times and I know what it looks like in its full maturity...in term of weight and trichome density and terpine.....all I can say is....its nothing compared to the same plant finished this way. Since I started doing this, people who used my stuff have asked if I'm growing a different strain....the common comment that it's a lot stronger (their word). So I guess I must be doing something right.
My thing is very simple.....you guys dont have to believe me or whatever....just try one plant, easy.
Here's another pic
