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.

yung a Reviewed by yung a on 01-08-2007. Almost Done Need Help 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. Rating: 5

[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/foru...ING-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