How much longer? Difficult to tell.

I have this Skywalker Og x Girl scout cookies hybrid that shows barely any pistils compared to, say, my green crack. Hard to tell what’s going on with it and how much longer it has. It’s at 12 weeks from seed.

both are autos.

Skywalker Girlscout (where are the pistils lol) It’s like it’s folding into itself.




2 weeks for this green crack?

First, very nice looking plants! The first pic is close to being ready, but I see no amber trichs, so it's got a little (2 weeks give or take) time left. The green crack is not as ripe and will take longer, 2-4 weeks. Keep checking the trichs on the calyxes (not the sugar leaves), when you start to get amber, it's time. More amber=more couch lock, less amber=more energetic high, your choice!

Phytoplankton said:

...More amber=more couch lock, less amber=more energetic high, your choice!

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Perhaps to a small degree

Genetics are the primary factor determining the perceived effect, not the presence or absence of amber trichs.

Billy the Mountain said:

Perhaps to a small degree

Genetics are the primary factor determining the perceived effect, not the presence or absence of amber trichs.

Click to expand...

Genetics (and growing conditions) determines how much THC is 'possible" in the trichs, the effect has to do with what stage the trichs are in and the ratios of THC to CBD.

4 STAGES OF TRICHOME DEVELOPMENT
Trichome formation and maturation change the potency and THC/CBD balance of a cannabis plant. There are four stages of trichome development to which growers must be privy in order to produce cannabis products used specifically in the medical marijuana industry as well as the recreational industry. During each stage, the trichomes change color, which is why a trichome chart is an essential point of reference for new growers. Throughout their development, trichomes appear clear, milky, amber, and mixed in color.
Because new flowers can grow on top of each other, flower clusters near a single plant can develop at different stages of trichome development. Choosing to harvest only the top of a plant can help growers get the most out of their harvest. Cannabis strains such as California Gold, Space Cookies, and Nebula are known for their brilliant trichome development.
CLEAR TRICHOMES
Clear trichomes are the first to appear on the cannabis plant during its transition from the vegetative state into the first week of the flowering process. Under magnification, the trichomes will appear either clear or opaque. During this stage, the plant is still forming THC and is not yet ready for harvest.
Harvesting buds too early in trichome development will produce a faint and potentially uncomfortable consumer experience. However, the appearance of clear trichomes throughout the lifecycle of a cannabis plant is a sign of healthy growth because cannabis plants are always forming new trichomes and producing more chemical compounds.
MILKY TRICHOMES
When a trichome begins to appear cloudy, the THC levels are beginning to reach their ideal potency and flavor. At this stage, the plant is not fully matured; buds will appear small and lack the rich aroma consumers expect. When cloudy trichomes are covering the plant, THC levels are much higher than CBD levels, which means the psychoactive effects of cannabis are most prevalent.
If harvested during this stage, many cultivars will produce a more uplifting experience. Trichomes remain milky for about two weeks during the lifecycle of a cannabis plant. Growers may choose to harvest the buds at this time if they plan to pair the strain with CBD oil.
AMBER TRICHOMES
Trichomes will begin turning amber in conjunction with milky trichomes. A plant that is covered primarily in amber trichomes will have higher levels of CBD, as much of the THC in the plant will have naturally converted to cannabinol (CBN). Growers can determine this stage by observing the lack of little white hairs on the bud.
During this stage, the hairs will appear a dark orange or brown color. This often reduces the psychoactive effects of cannabis consumption and creates a much more relaxing and sleep-inducing experience for the consumer. The medical marijuana industry often leans toward cannabis harvested at this stage because of its ability to manage pain and treat insomnia. Many Indica-dominant strains require growers to harvest the buds when at least 60 percent of the trichomes have turned amber.
MIXED TRICHOMES
For most cannabis harvests, growers look for a certain ratio of cloudy trichomes to amber trichomes. Many expert growers believe that the best time to harvest a plant is when the trichomes are 70 percent cloudy and 30 percent amber. Buds harvested with this ratio of trichome colors are frequently processed in the retail industry to create stimulating and cerebral effects for the recreational consumer.

Phytoplankton said:

Hummm:
4 STAGES OF TRICHOME DEVELOPMENT
Trichome formation and maturation change the potency and THC/CBD balance of a cannabis plant. There are four stages of trichome development to which growers must be privy in order to produce cannabis products used specifically in the medical marijuana industry as well as the recreational industry. During each stage, the trichomes change color, which is why a trichome chart is an essential point of reference for new growers. Throughout their development, trichomes appear clear, milky, amber, and mixed in color.
Because new flowers can grow on top of each other, flower clusters near a single plant can develop at different stages of trichome development. Choosing to harvest only the top of a plant can help growers get the most out of their harvest. Cannabis strains such as California Gold, Space Cookies, and Nebula are known for their brilliant trichome development.
CLEAR TRICHOMES
Clear trichomes are the first to appear on the cannabis plant during its transition from the vegetative state into the first week of the flowering process. Under magnification, the trichomes will appear either clear or opaque. During this stage, the plant is still forming THC and is not yet ready for harvest.
Harvesting buds too early in trichome development will produce a faint and potentially uncomfortable consumer experience. However, the appearance of clear trichomes throughout the lifecycle of a cannabis plant is a sign of healthy growth because cannabis plants are always forming new trichomes and producing more chemical compounds.
MILKY TRICHOMES
When a trichome begins to appear cloudy, the THC levels are beginning to reach their ideal potency and flavor. At this stage, the plant is not fully matured; buds will appear small and lack the rich aroma consumers expect. When cloudy trichomes are covering the plant, THC levels are much higher than CBD levels, which means the psychoactive effects of cannabis are most prevalent.
If harvested during this stage, many cultivars will produce a more uplifting experience. Trichomes remain milky for about two weeks during the lifecycle of a cannabis plant. Growers may choose to harvest the buds at this time if they plan to pair the strain with CBD oil.
AMBER TRICHOMES
Trichomes will begin turning amber in conjunction with milky trichomes. A plant that is covered primarily in amber trichomes will have higher levels of CBD, as much of the THC in the plant will have naturally converted to cannabinol (CBN). Growers can determine this stage by observing the lack of little white hairs on the bud.
During this stage, the hairs will appear a dark orange or brown color. This often reduces the psychoactive effects of cannabis consumption and creates a much more relaxing and sleep-inducing experience for the consumer. The medical marijuana industry often leans toward cannabis harvested at this stage because of its ability to manage pain and treat insomnia. Many Indica-dominant strains require growers to harvest the buds when at least 60 percent of the trichomes have turned amber.
MIXED TRICHOMES
For most cannabis harvests, growers look for a certain ratio of cloudy trichomes to amber trichomes. Many expert growers believe that the best time to harvest a plant is when the trichomes are 70 percent cloudy and 30 percent amber. Buds harvested with this ratio of trichome colors are frequently processed in the retail industry to create stimulating and cerebral effects for the recreational consumer.

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Yup, for a single plant that's valid, but it doesn't apply between different strains.

E.g. An energetic sativa is not gonna transform into couch-lock weed because its got amber trichs

Conversely, a heavy indica harvested early is not anything like a sativa high

I disagree, but that's cool.

First pic looks ready, give the other one a couple weeks.. I don't go by trichs..

Phytoplankton said:

First, very nice looking plants! The first pic is close to being ready, but I see no amber trichs, so it's got a little (2 weeks give or take) time left. The green crack is not as ripe and will take longer, 2-4 weeks. Keep checking the trichs on the calyxes (not the sugar leaves), when you start to get amber, it's time. More amber=more couch lock, less amber=more energetic high, your choice!

Click to expand...

Thanks! I did a trich inspection and still crystal clear for both, surprisingly. I’ll check the Girl Scout hybrid every few days. Want to guess the rest of the lot? Haha..have 5 more!

HydoDan said:

First pic looks ready, give the other one a couple weeks.. I don't go by trichs..

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That’s the fastest one then. I’ll harvest in the next couple days (will be my first ever, but how hard could it be ).

Btw, did a citrus foliage spray for that white mildew problem on that one plant (different post). Will see how it works out.

HydoDan said:

First pic looks ready, give the other one a couple weeks.. I don't go by trichs..

Click to expand...

What do you use to determine harvest time if not trichomes? What on that plant would you say makes you decide its ready to go? I see mostly milky on the pic you said is ready to go, would they turn more Amber as it dried thus ending up as more Amber trichomes anyhow?

I've got some plants I feel are done it's been 8 weeks since I went 12/12, they all look good, amber hairs, good sizes, but the trichomes aren't Amber, they are cloudy on some and still a mix of clear/milky on others, it's a mixed batch of strains. I was also reading about how the opinions are different of when the flowering period actually starts, at 12/12 or when the flowers put out their first white hairs, so 2 or 3 weeks after 12/12. Thus further adding to erm uh when are these ready to go? My plants are clones and I read that fact also changes the opinion of when is the beginning of 12/12, clones being from the flip, and seeds 2/3 weeks later. I'd not be happy if I chopped em all down 2 or 3 weeks early and missed out on some serious bulking up.

Thank you!

Duhh said:

What do you use to determine harvest time if not trichomes? What on that plant would you say makes you decide its ready to go? I see mostly milky on the pic you said is ready to go, would they turn more Amber as it dried thus ending up as more Amber trichomes anyhow?

I've got some plants I feel are done it's been 8 weeks since I went 12/12, they all look good, amber hairs, good sizes, but the trichomes aren't amber, cloudy on some and still a mix of clear/milky on others, it's a mixed batch of strains. I was also reading about how the opinions are different of when the flowering period actually starts, at 12/12 or when the flowers put out their first white hairs, so 2 or 3 weeks after 12/12, thus further adding to erm uh when are these ready to go? I'd not be happy if I chopped em all down 2 or 3 weeks early and missed out on some serious bulking up.

Thank you!

Click to expand...

The goal is to harvest when thc content is maximized. Harvesting too early you might be robbing yourself of potency. If you wait too long, thc converts to cbn (or something like that) in which case you're also robbing yourself of potency. Basically the plant material is degrading at that point.

Trichs are just one aspect. Brown-receded pistils and swollen calyxes are other aspects. There's no "one size fits all" harvesting guide that applies to every plant.

Some plants will stay 100% cloudy for a month, or more, seemingly never going amber. Some go amber quickly, etc, etc.

If you;ve got all cloudy, and all the pistils have receded, and you don't see calyxes swelling anymore, you're most likely in the harvest window. And it is definitely a window. One day less, or one day more isn't going to make or break your harvest.

Billy the Mountain said:

Yup, for a single plant that's valid, but it doesn't apply between different strains.

E.g. An energetic sativa is not gonna transform into couch-lock weed because its got amber trichs

Conversely, a heavy indica harvested early is not anything like a sativa high

Click to expand...

So true. It's a shame that bad advice has been so proliferated. Harvesting an indica early might give you a little raciness, but it ain't no 14+ week sativa high, not even close. I usually can't stand the high from any plant harvested too early, and I'm a sativa lover.

MtRainDog said:

Trichs are just one aspect. Brown-receded pistils and swollen calyxes are other aspects. There's no "one size fits all" harvesting guide that applies to every plant.

Some plants will stay 100% cloudy for a month, or more, seemingly never going amber. Some go amber quickly, etc, etc.

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^^^This

I agree that you shouldn't rely on trichs for ripeness. I've had plants I just let go, trichs never turned amber when they were well past harvest window. Based on the photos you are very close, another week wouldn't hurt but you could harvest now

obijohn said:

I agree that you shouldn't rely on trichs for ripeness. I've had plants I just let go, trichs never turned amber when they were well past harvest window. Based on the photos you are very close, another week wouldn't hurt but you could harvest now

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Did they change from milky to amber as they dried or nothing?

What about when flowering begins? Is it at the flip or when white hairs begin to appear? I flipped clones 8 weeks ago but they definitely took about 2 weeks or so to show the beginning of flowering, so does that put me at 8 weeks now or 6 weeks? This fact combined with the fact I don't see any amber trichomes makes me wonder what to do. The trichomes are milky on some and mixed milky clear on others, but they look ready to me, the hairs are amber and receded and the buds are a good size, but if I go by showing signs of flower as the beginning of flower im only at 6 weeks right now.

Duhh said:

What about when flowering begins? Is it at the flip or when white hairs begin to appear? I flipped clones 8 weeks ago but they definitely took about 2 weeks or so to show the beginning of flowering, so does that put me at 8 weeks now or 6 weeks? This fact combined with the fact I don't see any amber trichomes makes me wonder what to do. The trichomes are milky on some and mixed milky clear on others, but they look ready to me, the hairs are amber and receded and the buds are a good size, but if I go by showing signs of flower as the beginning of flower im only at 6 weeks right now.

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You gave yourself your answer there.
Ignore the calendar and chop when they look right to you. From your description they sound close to being ready.

Boatguy said:

You gave yourself your answer there.
Ignore the calendar and chop when they look right to you. From your description they sound close to being ready.

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Yeah but what's confusing me is they are 65/70 day strains which must be conservative estimates by the breeders, and if I go by when the flowers first started to form that puts me at 6 weeks, well short of even 65 days. And the fact the trichomes aren't amber also confuses me. If they going to bulk up more than now it would be in the last 2 weeks from what I've read, so me chopping them now would be a bad time. So yeah I don't know what to do.

Duhh said:

What about when flowering begins? Is it at the flip or when white hairs begin to appear? I flipped clones 8 weeks ago but they definitely took about 2 weeks or so to show the beginning of flowering, so does that put me at 8 weeks now or 6 weeks? This fact combined with the fact I don't see any amber trichomes makes me wonder what to do. The trichomes are milky on some and mixed milky clear on others, but they look ready to me, the hairs are amber and receded and the buds are a good size, but if I go by showing signs of flower as the beginning of flower im only at 6 weeks right now.

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It's an age old debate, and I don't think there's a right or wrong way to start counting. Like was already said, it doesn't really matter, the plant doesn't care how you're counting.

I just like consistency, so I always count from the flip. I also only put plants into flower after they've shown sex, so my females already have pistils when they enter the flower room.

MtRainDog said:

It's an age old debate, and I don't think there's a right or wrong way to start counting. Like was already said, it doesn't really matter, the plant doesn't care how you're counting.

I just like consistency, so I always count from the flip. I also only put plants into flower after they've shown sex, so my females already have pistils when they enter the flower room.

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These are clones.

So when you put them from seed as 12/12 from flip do you find the flower period to be what is predicted or longer?

Thanks for the help.

Duhh said:

What about when flowering begins? Is it at the flip or when white hairs begin to appear? I flipped clones 8 weeks ago but they definitely took about 2 weeks or so to show the beginning of flowering, so does that put me at 8 weeks now or 6 weeks? This fact combined with the fact I don't see any amber trichomes makes me wonder what to do. The trichomes are milky on some and mixed milky clear on others, but they look ready to me, the hairs are amber and receded and the buds are a good size, but if I go by showing signs of flower as the beginning of flower im only at 6 weeks right now.

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The answer is that you are at 8 weeks from flipping to 12/12 AND you’re at 6 weeks from the first sign of flowering. Many different variables figure into the length of time a plant takes to get from point A to point B.
Some strains take longer than others in general because of their genetic profile. But the growing conditions impact how fast (or slow) the plant will progress through the flowering cycle.
Those very same conditions affect trichome development as well. Many growers, myself included, have waited on milky trichomes to turn amber and watch day after day as it does not happen. Often in the meantime, clusters of trichs become degraded and the overall terp profile lessens.
Watch the plant not the calendar. Once the buds have went through their noticeable swell, almost all white pistils have turned and receded, and the aroma is at a peak, you’re in a good window. The trichs will be whatever they are and that’s what you’ve got…..no better, no worse.