Nitty Gritty question about trichomes and when to cut

It is easy to get lost and confused here even with all the expert advice. This question, and hopefully a solid answer, might help a lot of us here.
I finally was able to get a robust plant to the end of the road. I have not harvested it yet. There are people saying wait wait wait, until you see 20-50% amber in the trichomes. Others say, I don’t really pay attention to the trichomes I just watch … this or that… stigmas?. The people that say wait for the amber trichomes are adamant with their views.
My specific question is what exactly is the reason for waiting for the amber trichs? Is it all about maximizing the potency of the harvest? Is that the only reason? ( Not a bad reason ). If it is the only reason, does anyone know how much difference there will be in the outcome? Like 20% vs 18%, for instance? Or are we talking 20% vs 10%, as an example?
As I watch my plant, I see it has changed dramatically in the last week. The yellowing leaves are now drying up and fall off with a touch of the finger. I have macro pics of the buds and see the trichs. No amber yet that I can see but I wonder how the plant is really doing. Should I take it now? Is it possible that it can be damaged due to continuing to sit in the light when it seems to be finished (at least from a foot away)?
One pic of full plant and two of macros of the buds.
Jack Herer Auto. Soil. Foxfarm. pH 6.3. Temp 70F to 82F. Humidity 40-60 depending

priestriver said:

It is easy to get lost and confused here even with all the expert advice. This question, and hopefully a solid answer, might help a lot of us here.
I finally was able to get a robust plant to the end of the road. I have not harvested it yet. There are people saying wait wait wait, until you see 20-50% amber in the trichomes. Others say, I don’t really pay attention to the trichomes I just watch … this or that… stigmas?. The people that say wait for the amber trichomes are adamant with their views.
My specific question is what exactly is the reason for waiting for the amber trichs? Is it all about maximizing the potency of the harvest? Is that the only reason? ( Not a bad reason ). If it is the only reason, does anyone know how much difference there will be in the outcome? Like 20% vs 18%, for instance? Or are we talking 20% vs 10%, as an example?
As I watch my plant, I see it has changed dramatically in the last week. The yellowing leaves are now drying up and fall off with a touch of the finger. I have macro pics of the buds and see the trichs. No amber yet that I can see but I wonder how the plant is really doing. Should I take it now? Is it possible that it can be damaged due to continuing to sit in the light when it seems to be finished (at least from a foot away)?
One pic of full plant and two of macros of the buds.

Click to expand...

Hmmm... I was just looking at the macros on my computer. Think I see amber now. (some anyway)

I pursue the mostly cloudy/amber or clear. Don’t want any clear and no more than 15% amber,if that.
It don’t happen that way at times.

I go by all the pistils turning color and receding. Then I look for all cloudy/white trichomes.

At this point a few amber are nice. Ignore any white pistils on foxtails.

I see white pistils and clear trichomes in your image. But, it is close !

Cheers.

Get the plant ready before looking at trichs, swollen calyxes with receded pistols and no fresh pistols being thrown, then start looking with the loupe for amber, there's no hard fast rules at this point but during the transition from milky to amber there's a lot of terps develop and weight gained.

priestriver said:

It is easy to get lost and confused here even with all the expert advice. This question, and hopefully a solid answer, might help a lot of us here.
I finally was able to get a robust plant to the end of the road. I have not harvested it yet. There are people saying wait wait wait, until you see 20-50% amber in the trichomes. Others say, I don’t really pay attention to the trichomes I just watch … this or that… stigmas?. The people that say wait for the amber trichomes are adamant with their views.
My specific question is what exactly is the reason for waiting for the amber trichs? Is it all about maximizing the potency of the harvest? Is that the only reason? ( Not a bad reason ). If it is the only reason, does anyone know how much difference there will be in the outcome? Like 20% vs 18%, for instance? Or are we talking 20% vs 10%, as an example?
As I watch my plant, I see it has changed dramatically in the last week. The yellowing leaves are now drying up and fall off with a touch of the finger. I have macro pics of the buds and see the trichs. No amber yet that I can see but I wonder how the plant is really doing. Should I take it now? Is it possible that it can be damaged due to continuing to sit in the light when it seems to be finished (at least from a foot away)?
One pic of full plant and two of macros of the buds.

Click to expand...

Your plant isn't ready imo.

Star Dog said:

Your plant isn't ready imo.

Click to expand...

Thank you for the feedback. Pretty cool to be able to draw on all the experience in here