NanoGadget
Well-Known Member
check back in 10 to 14 days.
Trichomes & Harvesting
- Thread starter k0ijn
- Start date
sunwestgenetics2021
Member
Thanks! this helps first timers on their first harvest
stawawager
Well-Known Member
Hmmm? Can you do selective havesting. My top canopy has matured faster than anything below the canopy. Can I let the lowers go for another week or 2 and chop da top?
Doleritejack
Member
I'm just finishing my first grow of Pineapple Express (or that was what I bought?). But right near the end we had a massive heat wave and the grow room temp went as high as 47C!!! I've managed to salvage some of it but the yield is way down and buds ae loose and leafy The trichomes are 90% cloudy and approx 10% amber but there's also a few distorted trichomes that are PURPLE. The bulb on the end of these ones is not circular. It's long, thin and straggly. Anyone seen this before? I use a 20 times loupe for first inspection and then use a microscope at about 40 times. So the definition is pretty clear and it's definitely purple. The heat wave of 40C+ is still with us and drying slowly is a major prob. Curing is and keeping it from turning crispy is also a battle. I've found a cool space and got the temp down to about 24C. But I fear damage has been done. Smells OK though, but no sweet aroma yet, only hay.
Mullumbimby
Well-Known Member
Yes, and some people get good results from this approach, but remember your plant will be using up space and light that another plant coud be using to get started, so nothing comes for free.
Kipkib
Member
Hello am I ready for harvest? ThanksHarvesting your weed based on trichomes is probably the easiest way for most growers to harvest as close to peak harvest as possible.
The difficulty in the method comes with how to determine the state of the trichomes and what each state means.
If you have the equipment needed it is however very easy and with experience it gets even easier.
To explain how to harvest by trichomes properly I will go into detail as to how to determine when trichomes are at their peak and which substances these trichomes contain, which are desirable and which are not.
The first thing you need to know is that there are 3 "states" in a trichomes development.
The first state is clear. Clear trichomes contain precursor cannabinoids (cannabinoids are the different substances in cannabis).
These precursor cannabinoids are not psychoactive (they do not produce a 'high') yet and harvesting clear trichomes will not give you a proper harvest.
The second state is cloudy/milky. Cloudy trichomes contain fully realized THC (the by far main contributing substance in any cannabis high).
You want to get as close to 100% cloudy trichomes @ harvest to get the most potency out of your plant. It's impossible to get 100% cloudy trichomes, since trichomes are always being produced and are always maturing, even after harvest the trichomes will continue to develop.
The third state is amber. Amber trichomes contain degraded THC --> CBN. CBN represents a loss of 90% potency (from THC).
CBN is not desirable in any harvest, since it not only represents a huge loss of potency but research into the substance has also shown that CBN does not produce a high like THC does, CBN produces a more sickly feeling not a true high.
Understanding the difference between clear - cloudy - amber trichomes is essential in getting a proper harvest with a peak potency.
This image is a good helper to remember the differences:
To understand how substances change and are developed in cannabis you will need to read extensively on each substance to understand what each substance does and how they affect each other.
This image is helpful in getting a vague knowledge of substances in cannabis and how they develop:
I will not go deeper into what each substance (CBG, CBD, CBC, CBN, THCV etc.) do, suffice to say they all play a part in the cannabis high, albeit a minor part for most of them, since THC is the main factor in a cannabis high.
Some provide pain relief, some reduce muscle spasm, the list goes on and research is still being done to figure out all of the benefits of these substances.
I can however post an image that explains rather well which effects the substances have on the human body:
Trichomes are of course not the only indicator of when to harvest.
There are other factors that should be taken into account when determining when to harvest.
Calyxes on the plant will swell up, these swollen calyxes are a sign of maturity.
The pistils (what some new growers call hairs) will change colour (often to an orange tinge) and recede into the calyx.
Receding pistils are also a sign of maturity.
Then there is the overall look of the plant. Many experienced growers simply go by this factor, they can determine peak harvest just by looking at the plant and seeing how it looks from afar regarding colour tinge and the look of the calyxes.
All these factors should be taken into account when harvesting. All of these factors usually align when peak harvest approaches.
The best way to check how the trichomes on your plant are doing is by means of a loupe or a microscope.
I would recommend getting ones that can at least go to 60x magnification.
Getting one that can go to 100x would be even better, but the more magnification the more cost.
All you have to do is take a small sample of a leaf with trichomes on it, or if you have a loupe or a USB microscope simply look at the trichomes on the plant to determine their 'state'.
It's important that you check all over the plant, since trichomes will usually develop and produce faster at the top(s) of branches and slower and the bottom of the plant.
Some people choose to harvest the tops first and let the bottom nugs grow a bit more to let the trichomes mature and develop further but also to let the buds fatten up more. It's a judgement and preference call really.
It's almost impossible to harvest without at least some amber trichomes (and some clear), keeping the amber trichomes to the minimum is key if you want maximum potency out of your plant.
Usually if you are careful and watchful you will end up with around 5% clear trichomes, 10% amber and 85% cloudy trichomes.
That is a very reasonable % split and is what you should be aiming for.
References & sources:
http://montanabiotech.com/
Marijuana Chemistry:
Genetics, Processing And Potency
Attachments
Northeastskier
Well-Known Member
Incorrect and a well propagated fallacy. Sativa or Indica determine the plants morphology (shape) and nothing else. You could obtain various chemotypes of Sativa or Indica with completely different psychoactive qualities, or different morphologies with the same psychoactive qualities.
Hi All, appreciate any advice you can give. Growing 3 females of unknown strain, pretty sure they're are two stubby little indicas and one sativa. Im battling to pick the right time to flush. On one indica, hairs are just starting to go red, bottom leaves are yellowing and I think trichs are going cloudy, but its bloody hard to tell, thats the first three shitty photos. If this looks a little cloudy, and about another two weeks to harvest, and I can flush nowish to you guys, Im think im on the right track. Other two pics are the other two, any thoughts/feedback would be good. Cheers
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Last edited:
StoneyJake
Active Member
a couple more weeks IMO
RealG8R95
New Member
Appreciate you posting this, I learned a few things I thought I knew.Harvesting your weed based on trichomes is probably the easiest way for most growers to harvest as close to peak harvest as possible.
The difficulty in the method comes with how to determine the state of the trichomes and what each state means.
If you have the equipment needed it is however very easy and with experience it gets even easier.
To explain how to harvest by trichomes properly I will go into detail as to how to determine when trichomes are at their peak and which substances these trichomes contain, which are desirable and which are not.
The first thing you need to know is that there are 3 "states" in a trichomes development.
The first state is clear. Clear trichomes contain precursor cannabinoids (cannabinoids are the different substances in cannabis).
These precursor cannabinoids are not psychoactive (they do not produce a 'high') yet and harvesting clear trichomes will not give you a proper harvest.
The second state is cloudy/milky. Cloudy trichomes contain fully realized THC (the by far main contributing substance in any cannabis high).
You want to get as close to 100% cloudy trichomes @ harvest to get the most potency out of your plant. It's impossible to get 100% cloudy trichomes, since trichomes are always being produced and are always maturing, even after harvest the trichomes will continue to develop.
The third state is amber. Amber trichomes contain degraded THC --> CBN. CBN represents a loss of 90% potency (from THC).
CBN is not desirable in any harvest, since it not only represents a huge loss of potency but research into the substance has also shown that CBN does not produce a high like THC does, CBN produces a more sickly feeling not a true high.
Understanding the difference between clear - cloudy - amber trichomes is essential in getting a proper harvest with a peak potency.
This image is a good helper to remember the differences:
To understand how substances change and are developed in cannabis you will need to read extensively on each substance to understand what each substance does and how they affect each other.
This image is helpful in getting a vague knowledge of substances in cannabis and how they develop:
I will not go deeper into what each substance (CBG, CBD, CBC, CBN, THCV etc.) do, suffice to say they all play a part in the cannabis high, albeit a minor part for most of them, since THC is the main factor in a cannabis high.
Some provide pain relief, some reduce muscle spasm, the list goes on and research is still being done to figure out all of the benefits of these substances.
I can however post an image that explains rather well which effects the substances have on the human body:
Trichomes are of course not the only indicator of when to harvest.
There are other factors that should be taken into account when determining when to harvest.
Calyxes on the plant will swell up, these swollen calyxes are a sign of maturity.
The pistils (what some new growers call hairs) will change colour (often to an orange tinge) and recede into the calyx.
Receding pistils are also a sign of maturity.
Then there is the overall look of the plant. Many experienced growers simply go by this factor, they can determine peak harvest just by looking at the plant and seeing how it looks from afar regarding colour tinge and the look of the calyxes.
All these factors should be taken into account when harvesting. All of these factors usually align when peak harvest approaches.
The best way to check how the trichomes on your plant are doing is by means of a loupe or a microscope.
I would recommend getting ones that can at least go to 60x magnification.
Getting one that can go to 100x would be even better, but the more magnification the more cost.
All you have to do is take a small sample of a leaf with trichomes on it, or if you have a loupe or a USB microscope simply look at the trichomes on the plant to determine their 'state'.
It's important that you check all over the plant, since trichomes will usually develop and produce faster at the top(s) of branches and slower and the bottom of the plant.
Some people choose to harvest the tops first and let the bottom nugs grow a bit more to let the trichomes mature and develop further but also to let the buds fatten up more. It's a judgement and preference call really.
It's almost impossible to harvest without at least some amber trichomes (and some clear), keeping the amber trichomes to the minimum is key if you want maximum potency out of your plant.
Usually if you are careful and watchful you will end up with around 5% clear trichomes, 10% amber and 85% cloudy trichomes.
That is a very reasonable % split and is what you should be aiming for.
References & sources:
http://montanabiotech.com/
Marijuana Chemistry:
Genetics, Processing And Potency
PioneerValleyOG
Well-Known Member
I believe you left out the most important element.
You must check the trikes on the calyx, not the leaf, not the bud.
Only the calyx trikes will reveal the stage you desire
Roger A. Shrubber
Well-Known Member
think you misspoke, calyxes ARE the buds...at least the constituent components
PioneerValleyOG
Well-Known Member
Last edited:
Roger A. Shrubber
Well-Known Member
buds are stacks of calyxes...peel a bud apart, and you get a pile of calyxes and sugar leaves.
CALYX:
Botany
the sepals of a flower, typically forming a whorl that encloses the petals and forms a protective layer around a flower in bud.
the white pistils or stigma come out of the calyxes, all those white hairs are on separate calyxes.
https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/blog-getting-to-know-the-cannabis-calyx-resinous-to-the-top-n414
PioneerValleyOG
Well-Known Member
Actually, the calyx is the protective layer if the sepals. However, I am not disagreeing with you. We seem to both be referring to factual information we have learned.