PROS!!! My trichome coloring hard to tell... Help

[toker1970]

Trichs are definatly the indication of harvest time. Now the problem. Sometimes it's a little hard to tell the color of a trich. Even under a Radio Shack microscope the lighing can create a false indication. It's hard to tell if they are cloudy or clear somtimes because of their size. On top of that these guy are big and full of trichs. It's GOT to be time to harvest. However I see no amber trichs.

They are so small that they reflect and sometimes look cloudy when they are not. The Radio Shack 100X hand held $10.00 scope has a little light that needs to be on in order to see anything. I've found that letting sun shine through the window and onto the table while inspecting small cuttings helps. STILL, I'm not seeing a lot of cloudness (milky trichs).

MY QUESTION:
Has anyone had this issue and what do you use to look at your trichs. I surely don't want to let them grow past the "perfect Window" of harvesting. While I'm sure it will be a cerebral smoke I wold like to have a little mix of cerebral and sunkeon couch feeling as well. On top of that, now wold be a perfect time for harvesting as I think we'll be getting cold weather here in about a week.

Now other than trichs here is the status of the plants.
1. The most if not all the fan leaves have fallen off.
2. The one plant is now totally purple. (turned purple from green in about 5 days).
3. The smell is quite pungent.
4. Hairs (not the best indicator) have turned brown at least 50% - but despite this new ones are still showing up.

See my dilemma, this harvest has to last at least one year if not two and thus must be at it's best. I will definatly be curing.

toker1970 Reviewed by toker1970 on 10-22-2007. PROS!!! My trichome coloring hard to tell... Help Trichs are definatly the indication of harvest time. Now the problem. Sometimes it's a little hard to tell the color of a trich. Even under a Radio Shack microscope the lighing can create a false indication. It's hard to tell if they are cloudy or clear somtimes because of their size. On top of that these guy are big and full of trichs. It's GOT to be time to harvest. However I see no amber trichs. They are so small that they reflect and sometimes look cloudy when they are not. The Rating: 5

[clovisman]

I have the same microscope- I also have found that if I clip a small sample of bud and take it intothe house for examination is best- I have no problem distinquishing clear from cloudy and the amber stand out well- outside in the field is difficult in some light and the tungsten bulb in the scope does warm things up a bit due to color temp of the light bulb- take some clippings , several from same plant and examine closely- take your time and you will see the different color stages of trichs- Good Luck and happy harvest

[el_fantistico]

Also a good (but crude) indicator... snip a bit of bud, dry it out in the over (5 min @ 300 - 315 degrees) and smoke it. It'll taste harsh because of all the chlorophyll and such but if when you're done, you're high, you'll have your answer.

El Fantistico :smokin:

[toker1970]

Yea, I guess a little smoke will exhibit the same reaction. The reason for curing is more for taste and smokability but the high is probably going to be the same.

As for the scope, I think I need to use it more. That's probably my problem. I haven't seen any amber trichs at all, still I think it may be time to cut them. Rather cut early than late.

[palerider7777]

no i had the same problems with that scope it's total junk,and so small and hard to look through im trying to find a bigger 1 my uncle told me to go to a coin/jewlers store they sell the nice ones the 30x big loupes

[MVP]

The guys at Green Coast Hydro recommended to me the 30x since anything more is a real pain in the ass to use. You have to have perfect light, hold everything perfectly still, and it takes a lot of practice. I bought the 30x lighted handheld and it works just fine for me. GreenCoast Hydroponics, Hydroponic Systems - Grow Lights, Advanced Nutrients and Green Air Products if you wanna check them out on the web

[killerweed420]

I can't see shit with my 30X. I use my digital camera set on macro sighting through a 3X projector lens.It still isn't as powerful as I would like.

[clovisman]

Yea, I guess a little smoke will exhibit the same reaction. The reason for curing is more for taste and smokability but the high is probably going to be the same.

As for the scope, I think I need to use it more. That's probably my problem. I haven't seen any amber trichs at all, still I think it may be time to cut them. Rather cut early than late.

curing does increase potency- trichs mature to their full potential - more then taste - cutting early is what most people do during the learning process- wait until she shows amber trichs- I have 5 plants in the ground with little amber but experience tells me to wait- the hardest part of growing pot is the wait

[toker1970]

I thought amber was an indication of the THC degrading to another more couchlock form.

[willycox420]

i like my trichs to be cloudy and you get a nice high you can enjoy while you are beng active, i waited a little too long this year and they started to turn amberish and now when i smoke i have to wait an hour to drive anywhere because i annot function