Are pistols turning color a good indicator of when to expect harvest?

Legalize Nature

Active Member
LET ME EXPLAIN:

I currently have 2 different strains going at 5 weeks flowering. Both these strains have around 50% red pistols at this point.

So does this mean they'll probably harvest near the same time?

What's confusing me is that one is an indica that states 7-8 weeks harvest, while the other is a taller lanky sativa with an expected 10-11 week harvest time.

Do you think my sativa is an earlier finisher, or is having the same amount of red pistols irrelevant and it will still go another 2-3 weeks longer than my indica?

Thanks.
 

GanjaGod420000

Well-Known Member
Not necessarily... There's huge debate over whether or not one can determine maturity based solely upon the coloration, or discoloration of stigmas, rather than the more "modern" method of using a hand loop, or other means of magnification and looking at the coloration of the trichomes(crystal-looking formations covering well-grown buds, and some leaves), as to whether or not the plant is ready, and at it's peak THC, and other cannabinoid levels, but Idk... I kindof use both means, if u will... I do like to keep up with my trichome coloration, as to if it's still clear, usually indicating it is not yet ready, or if they are more milky, or cloudy, usually indicating it is ready, or amber, usually an indication of THC, and other cannabinoid degredation.... BUT, when most all of your stigmas turn color(amber or reddish orange, commonly), and begin to receed back into the buds, it is also "past-due" on harvest time, even though it is still totally usable, and shouldn't necessarily be looked down at, because some growers grow for this exact stage of maturity, the one where the trich's are amber, and the stigmas have begun recession, which usually produces an incapacitating, couch-lock-type of high, rather than a mind-clearing, soaring, uplifting, energetic high that a clearer trichome level would tend to produce... I personally like to take mine when approx 75% of my stigmas have turned whatever color they r going to turn, sometimes purples, sometimes more transleuscent pinks, but like I sazid, most often a more amber tone, and when my trich's are mostly cloudy, with small touches of amber... I like that particular type of high, for the reasons I use mj... I can't become incapacitated, most days, as an industrial electrician, so just enough to inspire me not to kill some of the jerk off's I have to tolerate from 8-16+ hours a day..... U know... That's the skinny in a nutshell for ya, though... My suggestion, take a lil at the clear stages of trich coloration, dry it, cure it, try it, take most from the cloudy stage, and take the rest from the more amber stages, and see what u like best for what suites YOUR needs... Also, keep track of where your stigmas are in conjunction with where your trichs are at simultaneously...
 

NnthStTrls

Well-Known Member
I wouldn't really say there's a huge debate though as the debate was won years and years ago. The quick answer is no. You can't. As stated above though, it's simple enough to acquire a magnification device and go by the tried and true method of trichome coloration.

View attachment 2088880

It's definitely personal preference as far as when you DO harvest but the standard is going to be in the range of Cloudy/Amber at 70/30, 60/40, and 50/50. Most won't do 70/30 as the plant will still be visually fairly immature at that point but some people like the heady, milder stone offered by this choice.
If you are growing a fairly Indica Dominant strain, you may choose to go 60/40 to help keep the body high in check. On the other hand if you are growing a really Sativa Dominant strain, you may choose to go a bit longer and hit the 50/50 or even the not so commonly done 40/60 to add more body to the headiness of the stone.

It really is up to you. Good luck. Keep growing and keep learning. :peace:
 

dankerous

Active Member
What Nnthsttrls says is 100% correct,we arent growing white or red hairs,we are growing a plant with resin glands on,so by definition are growing resin glands not red hairs
 
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