Almost Done Need Help

[yung a]

How do I know when my babies are done blooming? What are the things I need to look for please be specific I'm in the 8th week of blooming?
Should I use distill water for a week now and than chop it done as in no more nutrients? And Can I chop down the branches that are done or I have to chop the whole thing down? I'm sorry this is my first grow and I'm almost done I'm so excited.

[mackSwell]

When the pistals start to turn from white to brown/orange and withdraw into the false seed pod, and some of the trichomes (crystals on the buds) turn
from clear to yellow/amber/orange brown, they are about finished.

If you are seeing the beginnings of color change, yes - stop nutes. This will give you a cleaner tasting smoke.

Yes, you can selectively cut buds... Sometimes a new one will form where you cut one off too! Or you can cut branches that are ready. You don't have to chop the whole thing down at once, but once you've cut the majority of the branches, it will probably start to die anyway.

There is a wide range of opinions on the absolute optimum time to harvest, based on the proportion of trichomes that have turned colors, but keep in mind that if MOST have turned, the THC level has begun to drop. When you harvest can effect the type of high you will get... Earlier may be more cerebral & up, later more stupid & couch-lock. It's a matter of preference.

You may wish to harvest some buds early - when just a few trichomes are turning, then some a bit later, and some later still. Label each, dry and cure, and then when you smoke them you can decide for yourself which you prefer for your next grow.

The longer you wait, the more the buds will weigh, so if you plan to sell some, keep this in mind.

Congrats!

[mackSwell]

P.S. If the humidity in your grow space isn't too high, you may wish to go completely dark (0/24) for the last 2-3 days, or at least extend your dark time beyond 12 hrs. This can increase THC in your buds. But beware - too much dark time w/higher humidity will lead to mold on your buds!

[Zandor]

P.S. If the humidity in your grow space isn't too high, you may wish to go completely dark (0/24) for the last 2-3 days, or at least extend your dark time beyond 12 hrs. This can increase THC in your buds. But beware - too much dark time w/higher humidity will lead to mold on your buds!


Sorry to disagree with you mack but extra dark will not increase the THC percentage or the chemical content. That is set by the environment and the genetics of the strain.

The only true way to know when to harvest is by viewing the Trichomes. Yes you are correct about the color change.

Cloudy is peak and cloudy with 10-20% amber will give you a long strong stone and a great body high or couch lock stone) Early harvest is clear & cloudy but it does not last as long as the optimal harvest time.

The pistils will change color when they die off and dry up. Either temperature or time will make that happen. The color of the pistils is not a fair or even a good judge when to harvest. You are not after the pistils they are just a part of the plant's sex system. You want to smoke the Trichomes because that is where you get the high from not the pistils.

[HighSeekerz]

I thought you were supposed to harvest when the plants trichomes are 60% amber... I personally think mine are at about 50% so I have started to flush. I plan on flushing for a couple weeks... The buds seem to have hardened up overnight with only the water...

[Zandor]

When the Trichomes are amber that means that the THC inside is starting to degrade in quality. It does not take long for it to die off to from that point. If the Trichomes are amber and still standing tall then you are fine; but if the Trichomes are amber and falling over then it's either dead or dieing at that point.

That is why I said harvest on the average.

[mackSwell]

Sorry to disagree with you mack but extra dark will not increase the THC percentage or the chemical content. That is set by the environment and the genetics of the strain.

No apology needed... I love a good, informative discussion! Now here's where I argue, but in the most respectful and inquizitive manner. *grin*

Is the amount of light/dark not part of the environment?

I read that THC production occurs mainly during the dark hours, and that going dark for a few days at the end of flowering will therefore maximize THC production (within the limits of the strain, of course).

I am currently unable to give a source for this info, but if I find it, I'll post it. But I did find similar info right here at Cannabis.com:


Leaving your plants in teh dark for the last 2-3 days is a very good technique, while your plants are in the dark they are producing THC.

Not having tested this by putting some branches in full darkness and leaving others on 12/12 then measuring the THC content with a gas chromatograph or what-have-you, I cannot say from personal experience whether or not this is factual... Which is why I didn't say "This WILL increase the THC. I guarantee it!" *wink*

I do know from experience that extra-long nights (longer than 12 hours) will hasten ripening...

So as long as you don't go moldy, extra dark could be a good thing, for one reason or another, eh?

[mackSwell]

The pistils will change color when they die off and dry up. Either temperature or time will make that happen. The color of the pistils is not a fair or even a good judge when to harvest. You are not after the pistils they are just a part of the plant's sex system. You want to smoke the Trichomes because that is where you get the high from not the pistils.


Yes - Trichomes are the indicator for HARVEST time. But since the question was:

(all bold face below mine for ease of reading the info on point)


How do I know when my babies are done blooming? What are the things I need to look for please be specific I'm in the 8th week of blooming?

Pistil color change should not be used as the sole (or even the primary) indicator that harvest time has arrived, but it is an indicator that the blooming cycle is coming to an end.

This pistil stuff isn't my opinion... See the following references:


At the end of the flowering stage, examine your bud to see if it is ripe and ready for harvest. Here are some indicators to help you identify that it's harvest time; however, please note that not all of these indicators will appear on every strain.
â?¢ 50 percent to 70 percent of the pistils change color
â?¢ Plants stop producing crystals
â?¢ Plants stop producing resin
â?¢ The fan leaves and lower leaves have turned yellow and are starting to drop off
â?¢ The smell has reached a peak
â?¢ Bud mass has not increased in the past few days


And this, from http://www.marijuanapassion.com/forumWOW/Full-Marijuana-Growing-Guide.html#HARVESTING-AND-DRYING

Plants are harvested when the flowers are ripe. Generally, ripeness is defined as when the white pistils start to turn brown, orange, etc. and start to withdraw back into the false seed pod. The seed pods swell with resins usually reserved for seed production, and we have ripe sinse buds with red and golden hairs.

And this, from http://greenmanspage.com/guides/harvest.html

The pistils of the young flowers are bright white and turn reddish brown with age. The pistils and flowers develop from the bottom of the bud to the top. The older, lower pistils are the first to turn reddish brown. For most basic indicas this usually happens by the sixth week in the flowering cycle. It is about this time that the calyxes begin to swell.

Calyx swelling is a major indicator of peak maturity. The lowest, oldest calyxes swell first and the swelling works its way up to the highest, youngest flowers on each bud. At peak maturity about 90% of the calyxes will almost look seeded, they are so fat.

Three quarters to 90% of the pistils will have turned reddish brown as well. For a basic Indica this takes well into the seventh week of the flowering cycle.

And yes, time will cause changes to the pistils, just as time will cause the trichomes to change color. Pistils, buds, trichomes - They are all related, and develop relative to one another.

Pistil color change is an indication that the buds are ripe. When to harvest is thereafter decided based upon the trichomes.

Unless of course, you've had full trichome color change with pistils that are still completely white... I've never seen this myself, but I suppose it could happen in some strains/under some conditions??

[Zandor]

I will be happy to have a fun discussion with you. I love to have a good debate with friends.

But this morning I need to shovel show so we can drive off the mountain down to the city to deal with Dr. Meds, see family and friends down there.

I will stop back by later when I have proper time. I don't want to be rude; it would be a blast to talk in chat about this but then others may not learn.

I think this is a good topic for a show too; do you mind?

[unmeg]

I agree with Zandor on this one.
Trichomes is the proper way to get the right time to cut...
peace enjoy your day Zandor.
peace

[MisterE]

Would it be fair to say that if you dont have the capability to examine the trichomes, then of course you need to look for the next best indicator?

Seems as simple as that to me anyway. The precision instrument, microscope, makes for a more precise measurement.

[mackSwell]

Zandor -

Ugh... Shovelling. I feel your pain. I used to live in northern New York State.

Good topic for "a show"? I am unfamiliar with this phrase. But I'm game, whatever it is probably... As long as it doesn't involve me flashing my 'girls' for beads. I did enough of that in New Orleans. *smirk*

Unmeg -

I also agreed with Zandor on this point:

Yes - Trichomes are the indicator for HARVEST time.

MisterE -

I think of the pistil-change as more of an alert that blooming is ending and it is time to check on those trichs. A decent magnifying glass ought to do the 'trich'...

[HighSeekerz]

Allright, well ya'll do whatever ya'll gotta do today. No snow here, just some light ice. I am going to try to find me a decent lighted 30x magnifying glass somewhere close by... Then I am going to go check my babies trichomes (not pixels) and see how they look. I am growing bag seeds, so I dont really know what strain they might be, but they look healthy and are at 64 days flower on 12/12. I have been flushing straight PHed water for 5 days in the GH grow buckets. I might chop them and see how they are if the trichomes look like they are past their prime. (I was hoping to flush a little longer!)

[Zandor]

MackSwell

Robert Clark said a very long time ago that the pistils can and will change color due to temperature, Humidity and even to minor environment change. So that says they are only an early indicator that the sex life of the plant is coming to an end and not necessary the maturation of the plants cycle of life.

I have read most of what KP posted and 90% of it is old news plagiarized from many other sources. Problem when you plagiarize is you may be passing on not only old news but rather incorrect information and spreading the wrong message or even incorrect information. I am not saying KP is guilt of anything; but rather the source was. Some is spot on and others are just flat wrong and have been disproved many times many years ago. I will not debate that today, just thinking about all the incorrect information out there gives me a head ach.

Our understanding of this great plant is always changing but the basic principle is here to stay.
The cycle of life is well understood so there is not much room for debate there.

You are saying that using the pistils can tell you when to start looking at the Trichomes but you should harvest by the Trichomes if you want true peak harvest then that is correct and I will give you that.

Using the pistils to set the time table to harvest is in-correct and not accurate so providing that type of misinformation is only spreading the wrong message to new growers.

Robert Clark and even Mell Franks, Jorge, Ed and others that have been around the block more then once all agree that there is no proof to date and at best only anecdotal evidence that prolonged dark may increase THC.

The whole idea of the dark period is very old; and with over 30 years of personal observation; I have noticed with my own eyes that it does look like there are more Trichomes but they are not more of them they are just pointing differently. The problem is that in the dark period there are many axons being produce that are only produced in the dark cycle and they boost the CBC as well. You are after the THC and not the CBC and there is a direct coloration between THC, delta9, CBC, CBN as well as others.

There is yet another study on going in the Netherlands that is trying to answer this question but they are finding that more of the CBC, CBN and about 25 other compounds’ found in the plant can interfere with THC production. I do not know when they will publish their findings but I assume it is still years away. There are still no conclusions and only more questions.

This plant is all about the Cycle of Life that it goes through and if you learn the little things about this plant you can grow larger, fatter, heaver buds but it’s all about the Cycle of Life of the plant.

You do know you can dry up pistils and with cool temperatures and dry humidity at an early cycle then normal for the plant? If it's early enough you can get the plant to turn hermie as well. That is when the plant feels that its life is coming to an end and it has not reproduced yet so life will find a way to survive. Hermies’ are that way to survive.

Most hermie plants are from excess heat but they can also be from an early forced sexual maturity of the plant and the pistils drying up to early as well.


When I said it would make a good show…..I guess I assumed you read my sig line about my podcast show on growing I have been doing for a while now.

[dusto2k3]

radio shack has a 60x-100x glass that is great and only about $10

http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=illuminated%20microscope&origkw=Illuminated%20Microscope

[mackSwell]

Zandor,

Ah... Podcast show.
Show away... Let me know if I can be helpful, even if it is as the Designated Dummy. *grin*

Dark: So do you think it is ill-advised to go dark at the end due to the CBC increase? I suppose if one were planning to water cure, that might be less of a factor (if CBC is one of the water soluables... I'm not sure if it is). But we don't want to gunk up our high with miscellaneous cannabinoids.

Pistils: I think we are actually in agreement on this. *chuckle*

About them drying up early... Yes, I've seen this happen. But I'm wondering if they ever dry up late - As in, by the time once notices changes in the pistils, peak trichs have passed? If this is a possible scenario under certain conditions, then pistils should be completely disregarded as a sign of the end of blooming/plant sex life.

You make an excellent point about disseminating information that is less-than-accurate. Hopefully folks will read my whole post (that trichs are key) and not start chopping immature buds based upon the pistils alone... I'd hate to contribute to any wasteful weed practices! *horrified look*

As for that headache... *passes you a tasty smoke*

[Zandor]

Zandor,

Ah... Podcast show.
Show away... Let me know if I can be helpful, even if it is as the Designated Dummy. *grin*

Dark: So do you think it is ill-advised to go dark at the end due to the CBC increase? I suppose if one were planning to water cure, that might be less of a factor (if CBC is one of the water soluables... I'm not sure if it is). But we don't want to gunk up our high with miscellaneous cannabinoids.

Pistils: I think we are actually in agreement on this. *chuckle*

About them drying up early... Yes, I've seen this happen. But I'm wondering if they ever dry up late - As in, by the time once notices changes in the pistils, peak trichs have passed? If this is a possible scenario under certain conditions, then pistils should be completely disregarded as a sign of the end of blooming/plant sex life.

You make an excellent point about disseminating information that is less-than-accurate. Hopefully folks will read my whole post (that trichs are key) and not start chopping immature buds based upon the pistils alone... I'd hate to contribute to any wasteful weed practices! *horrified look*

As for that headache... *passes you a tasty smoke*


Thanks for the smoke.....:jointsmile:

To answer you Q: Yes it is possible that a large percentage of the pistils may never change color or die off. Nature will always find a way to survive.

For example in KBS growing you keep the RH humidity for the first part of the flower cycle. You don't start dropping it until the last month so that means that the temperature will keep most of the pistils viable even to the end of the last week before they die off. You do get a few colors in your buds and that does look cool. I assume other growing styles can keep the pistils viable to the end as well but it's the true KBSers that have it down to a science.

[mackSwell]

Okay folks - You got it here: Once you've gotten past the rhapsodic thrill of spotting the pistils & sexing your plant, IGNORE THEM!

Even if they put on a Suess-esque hat and flamenco dance for you, singing,

"Harvest time is here, joyous smoke is near!"



...It doesn't mean jack

(except perhaps that you've been smoking some hella-good weed).
*grin*

[unmeg]

radio shack has a 60x-100x glass that is great and only about $10

http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=illuminated%20microscope&origkw=Illuminated%20Microscope

OMG That sure is a Arrogant Bastard in your avatar!!!!!!!!!
Herse some Bubba for ya

[Zandor]

Okay folks - You got it here: Once you've gotten past the rhapsodic thrill of spotting the pistils & sexing your plant, IGNORE THEM!

Even if they put on a Suess-esque hat and flamenco dance for you, singing,


"Harvest time is here, joyous smoke is near!"




...It doesn't mean jack



(except perhaps that you've been smoking some hella-good weed).


*grin*


Well that is closer to right then some may know....lol

Just think about what is to come soon is about what they can tell you.

Happy growing all :cool:

[choctaw44]

I have a question about flushing. I thionk 2 weeks is a good length of time,corect me if I'm wrong. I use all foxfarm product with some gravity glower hardner in the last 3 weeks. So to judge when to harvest by trich color change and or pistils How would I know when to cut out nutes and start with clear clean water? Thanks for any replies