Questions about harvesting

[canadagrown]

Hey guys. I am 35 days into flower of AK 47. The website says it flowers in 50 days. Can I go by this? I don't have a microscope or anything and I have no idea how easy it will be to see amber trichomes as this is my first grow. I'm growing 2 plants of AK-47 and 1 Fast Sweet Dreams. I grew with cfls for veg and now a big 400 watt cfl for flower. I couldn't be happier with the size of the plant and number of buds. It will be a good size yield for sure. The trichomes look very clear right now but a few of the pistils have turned brown...only about a handfull but worth mentioning I think.

My next question is when to start flushing? According to the website I am about 2 weeks away from harvest. Should I start flushing at the next watering?

Thanks guys!!

[canni13is]

if you are looking for a desired state of high id recommend getting a microscope. They are $15-$20. Its the only real way to tell when a plant has reached its peak ripeness. Most people want a mix between a head loopy high and a sleep couchlock high. Which is a mixture of cloudy and amber trichs. Its really hard to tell when you are about 50% amber with no microscope. So either you will harvest too soon and get a more heady high (which most new growers do because the anticipation gets the best of them) or you will harvest too late and get more of a tranquil feel. So if you just wanna harvest when the bud looks good to you and roll the dice and see which one you get it doesnt really hurt anything. The most important part for potency is id say the dryin and curing of the bud. Most people are going to harvest within an ample time but improper drying and curing of buds happens alot more often and effects potancy more . Good luck. let us know how it crops out.

[canadagrown]

if you are looking for a desired state of high id recommend getting a microscope. They are $15-$20. Its the only real way to tell when a plant has reached its peak ripeness. Most people want a mix between a head loopy high and a sleep couchlock high. Which is a mixture of cloudy and amber trichs. Its really hard to tell when you are about 50% amber with no microscope. So either you will harvest too soon and get a more heady high (which most new growers do because the anticipation gets the best of them) or you will harvest too late and get more of a tranquil feel. So if you just wanna harvest when the bud looks good to you and roll the dice and see which one you get it doesnt really hurt anything. The most important part for potency is id say the dryin and curing of the bud. Most people are going to harvest within an ample time but improper drying and curing of buds happens alot more often and effects potancy more . Good luck. let us know how it crops out.

Preach on about the drying and curing my friend, that was going to be my next question!

[canni13is]

Preparing a crop for premium quality smoke, meaning taste and potency is actually really easy. Im not going to suggust technique to do it as i think there are multiple ways that will produce the same results. Ideal Frist step is to dry the bud open air for around 7 days and would be with a fluxuation of tempture (cold nights, warm days) helping the plant stay alive ( cuttings stay alive after you cut them off... no difference) so that it can burn off as much chlorophyll as possible. This will improve the taste of the smoke as you wont be burning as much chlorophyll while smoking ( green wet taste) but tasting more THC. Most people hang dry as they feel it gives more of a uniform even dry. Key is to make sure its 85%-90% dry. After drying its ready to smoke but not ample to smoke. Curing for as long as 6 weeks can drastically improve potancy over a 1 week dry. Taste ive found to improve too as the during a longer curing time chlorophyll has broken down and evaporated even more. Now when i say drying and curing is easy.... it is. People fuck it up when they step away from these basics. Using food dehydrators.... microwaves... just stupid shit. Not properly storing your bud while curing to its full potental is a common mistake along with not maintaing the cure ( burping the container and rotating the buds).once you crop out you will notice a difference week to week in potancy and taste ( provided you dont sell it or smoke it all) once there is no change... well my friend there should be your final product. Cheers.

[RAINHAZE]

if you are looking for a desired state of high id recommend getting a microscope. They are $15-$20. Its the only real way to tell when a plant has reached its peak ripeness. Most people want a mix between a head loopy high and a sleep couchlock high. Which is a mixture of cloudy and amber trichs. Its really hard to tell when you are about 50% amber with no microscope. So either you will harvest too soon and get a more heady high (which most new growers do because the anticipation gets the best of them) or you will harvest too late and get more of a tranquil feel. So if you just wanna harvest when the bud looks good to you and roll the dice and see which one you get it doesnt really hurt anything. The most important part for potency is id say the dryin and curing of the bud. Most people are going to harvest within an ample time but improper drying and curing of buds happens alot more often and effects potancy more . Good luck. let us know how it crops out.

I am about 7 days away from harvesting my AK47 auto. It looks like one massive bud with leaves poking out of it and it is covered top to bottom with clear trich's. Now from what I gather, the strain is a sativa indica mix. But I really prefer the heady high of a good sativa.
So ..by what your saying I could possibly harvest it now, cure it properly, and my end result would be a good heady high as if I planted a sativa only strain?
If this is correct that would be a great way of adjusting to my preferences.
Otherwise I'll just wait for the 50-50 ambers.
Also @ canni13is; thanx for the info on curing time. I will try a longer curing time.

[bigtopsfinn]

I am about 7 days away from harvesting my AK47 auto. It looks like one massive bud with leaves poking out of it and it is covered top to bottom with clear trich's. Now from what I gather, the strain is a sativa indica mix. But I really prefer the heady high of a good sativa.
So ..by what your saying I could possibly harvest it now, cure it properly, and my end result would be a good heady high as if I planted a sativa only strain?
If this is correct that would be a great way of adjusting to my preferences.
Otherwise I'll just wait for the 50-50 ambers.
Also @ canni13is; thanx for the info on curing time. I will try a longer curing time.

Don't harvest now if the trichs are still clear, they haven't reached their full potential yet. Wait until they are all (or almost all) cloudy/milky. I say this because some strains will go from all clear, to all cloudy, and then start to amber. Others might start to get some amber while there are still some clear trichs.

[canni13is]

AS bigtoppsfinn stated. Harvesting a plant while the trichs are still clear is decresing yeild and potency. Its when the trichs turn to a milky color is when the peak potancy window has arrived and will stay until the trichs have turn all amber. Once all amber its all down hill again as waiting too long will again start decresing potency. If you are all clear right now you have a little bit to wait. But this changes very fast so keep an eye on the trichs daily. And trichs are different then pistols. Just because you have a bud with 100%amber/red pistols doesnt not mean it for sure has 100% amber trichs. The only real way to tell is to look at the trichs themselves with a microscope.

[RAINHAZE]

OK. Will do. Thanx.
I have a printers lupe that works pretty good so I will keep an eye on the trichs for another week or so.:thumbsup:
..damn, was hoping I found a way to harvest earlier. :jointsmile:

[canni13is]

[quote=canni13is] So either you will harvest too soon and get a more heady high (which most new growers do because the anticipation gets the best of them) QUOTE]

Lol we all have tried to find ways and tricks. But nature is nature and you cant really cheat that.

[canadagrown]

Thanks for the great replys guys.

This might be a stupid question but how would I look at the trichs if I had a microscope? All microscopes I've used have to be put down and you put what you are looking at on a slide and then look at it. By microscope do you mean magnifying glass? Sorry if this is a retarded question. I am a pharmacist which may make this even more embarassing as I've dealt with microscopes throughout school hahaha.

[bigtopsfinn]

No it's not your science lab microscope... but a pocket microscope, 30-100x, with built in light. (The stronger, the better). This one's 60-100x:

http://www.ubergizmo.com/photos/2007/8/pocket-digital-microscope.jpg

[canni13is]

If you dont have or cant get ahold of a microscope a decent camera will provide at least some what of a tell tell sign. Example:Cannabis Forums Message Boards - Medical Marijuana, Cannabis Club, Dispensary, News (http://boards.cannabis.com/attachments/indoor-growing/238499d1266862085-first-grow-looking-advice-img_0489.jpg) I took this picture with a canon powershot sd750. A pretty ordinary camera. 7.1 mega pixel. Nothing to fancy about it. I can take pictures of my buds and then looking at them on my computer. You can actually see the difference between the amber colored trichs vs others. This just gives me a rough estimate of amber %. you can still have alot of clear trichs thou which as we discussed before youd want to wait to turn. YOU DONT HAVE TO GET A MICROSCOPE.... but again if you are looking for a desired quality from your crop its almost a staple to have.

[canadagrown]

My next question is when to start flushing? According to the website I am about 2 weeks away from harvest. Should I start flushing at the next watering? If not how long before should I start to flush? Thanks guys.

[canni13is]

Right now i wouldnt be giving it anything but pure water. On its last water id water it about 3x more then it should be. you can always use cleaners and what not. but i think just cutting out nutes 2 weeks before and then giving it a big wash on its last watering will do the trick.