Newbie Harvesting Question

this is my second grow....well, first that looks like i'm gonna get more than 2 j's worth :D

i've been soil growing a skunk x widow hybrid. the seeds were really the cheapest ones they had at the bank (i didn't want to blow my wad on good genetics when i didn't know what the hell i was doing). planted 4 and got one female, so that one has been under a 400 watt hps flowering for 2 months today. its about 4 feet tall now.

first question, the buds don't look exactly like what i was expecting. each one seems to be about ten or fifteen 1/2" long little buds kinda close together. doesn't look like the hard as a rock, longer buds that i usually buy. is that because of the variety or do you think i might have screwed up.....just not as bad as the first time?

second question, i have read all about trichromes and such.....but i don't have a good magnifying glass. the pistils on the top of the plant are almost all red (reminds me of the red hair sin i bought in high school 20 years ago) and the bottom ones are all still white. does that sound about right or again....do you think i screwed up? i'm not really worried about the absolute peak harvest time and such on this grow.....i'll figure that out as i get more experience.

third, is it ok to cut a few buds off, fast dry them and get an idea of what i've got or will it stunt the flowering for a week?

finally.......i'm stoned.......so i forgot.

thanks in advance for the help......if i read one more faq i'm gonna die :stoned:

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Originally Posted by djx759

first question, the buds don't look exactly like what i was expecting. each one seems to be about ten or fifteen 1/2" long little buds kinda close together. doesn't look like the hard as a rock, longer buds that i usually buy. is that because of the variety or do you think i might have screwed up.....just not as bad as the first time?

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You might just not have enough light, or you might have a light leak. That sounds not ideal, but fairly normal. You'll get better results with learning and tighter buds with more light. Also much of the mass and density is put on in the last couple weeks of flower. By the time you cut you may have a little improvement.

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Originally Posted by djx759

second question, i have read all about trichromes and such.....but i don't have a good magnifying glass. the pistils on the top of the plant are almost all red (reminds me of the red hair sin i bought in high school 20 years ago) and the bottom ones are all still white. does that sound about right or again....do you think i screwed up? i'm not really worried about the absolute peak harvest time and such on this grow.....i'll figure that out as i get more experience.

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No, you didn't screw up, the plant is just not quite ready yet. If you are working with no magnifying glass, then harvest when 80-90% of the hairs are orange, or when you get to the point where no new white hairs are appearing.

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Originally Posted by djx759

third, is it ok to cut a few buds off, fast dry them and get an idea of what i've got or will it stunt the flowering for a week?

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Go ahead, you won't stunt the flowering. Cut off a crap little pom pom bud.

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Originally Posted by djx759

finally.......i'm stoned.......so i forgot.

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lol


Happy growing. I'm glad you didn't give up after being disappointed the first time! Every grow will be better.

What was the distance? ..between your light and plants? Something is wrong....Radio Shack...pocket miroscope...60X-100X...$10.

Go though the details of your second grow, when you get the time and post it. The the wolves that hang out here can rip apart the details. It only hurts for a little while.

Ok guys.....and ladies

i did this just by the FAQ's and i never asked a question like.....uh.....i planted some seeds.....now what?, so don't abuse me too much please :D

I vegged for 1 month under 2 135 watt cfl's, then moved her under a 400 watt hps for 2 months @ 12/12. its a garage grow in da south, so heat was a problem. i turned the lights on at night, so the temp ranged from 80-95 f.......but usually in the 85 degree range. i bought a $15 bag of the best soil the feed and seed had, which was remarkably like what you guys suggested to make yourself. peters 20-20-20 at 1/2 house plant strength every 3 watering, and some super bloom 18-55- 24 at half houseplant strength every third watering for 1 month, and full houseplant strength every third watering for the second month. it was watered with ph balanced pond water to about 6.5ish with ferts and straight waterings were about 6.8 naturally.

the main cola got too close to the lamp and baked....so i ended up with a little bush at the top.

this grow is 1000% better than my first attempt.....which might tell ya how bad my first attempt was. :( i attached some pics.....please comment on what i can do better........and leave my mother out of it please :D

oh.....dutch, after the cola burnt up i started using the back of the hand deal to make sure the lamp wasn't too close.....never really measured the distance. i have the parts now to build a bake-a-round cool tube now, so i should have that on grow #3

I just started studying the pics and info. As soon as this stone wears off, I might have some helpful advice. Pond water? I used well water. Heat is a big problem, I kept A/C air blowing between light and top of plants. ..and I never went more than 1/4 strenght. Did you transplant?

hey

i sprouted in jiffy cubes, planted in a one gallon, then transplanted to a 4 gallon. basically all the fan leaves are gone and as you can see from the pics the pin leaves are starting to shrivel up as well. i read that was kinda normal towards the end.....but mine still don't look like the pics some other noobs have posted.

It will be a hit or miss thing, that me or any other grower can pin point, where or what when wrong. In my opinion, you should study a COMPLETE grow guide. Study it, until everything is clear in your mind. THEN DO IT! Surely, you can find one on the internet. (If not, I can tell you where I got mine, FREE)

thanks, if you had to use the W.A.G. method (wild ass guess). would you lean towards anything at all? temperature, over fert, under fert? or should i go on and harvest and start again?

any other comments from anyone would be appreciated.....thanks again pimp