Examining THC With a Loupe - Is it possible?

twagner23

Well-Known Member
I am throwing this out there for anyone who wants to give their two cents on this one. I have a "seasoned" member here that is simply arguing that you cannot examine buds with a loupe to examine trichomes in order to get a general determination for potency. Below is my post and the exact response given. I know you can determine potency by smoking it as well, but I always prefer examining with my loupe as well to see what I got. I may be wrong here so I am interested in what anyone thinks?

Me: are you telling me you cannot examine buds with a loupe to make a general determination for potency?
waterproof808: Yes, that is exactly what I and everyone else is telling you.

Is everyone telling me this? I would like to actually know if everyone thinks this.
 
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twagner23

Well-Known Member
https://www.rollitup.org/t/archive-seed-bank.862496/page-85

Lets not leave out key details on how you were a condescending douche bag and not interested in a conversation but rather proving your inaccurate statement correct. You could have allowed others to correct you and learn something, instead here you are... letting everyone know you think THC % can be determined with a scope.
I did not say determine THC %, please read carefully. I said general potency, and yes thank you to others for correcting me. The proper verbiage is trichomes, not THC crystals. My understanding was plenty of people examine their buds for trichomes for both maturity and GENERAL potency. I never said in that post you just gave that I could determine % with a loupe, I would never think that lol. Thanks for calling me a condescending douchebag though, even though someone else was posting memes at me and calling ME a dipshit, but guess that makes me the condescending one. You should look at your own tone before talking lol.
 
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Mr.Head

Well-Known Member
I did not say determine THC %, please read carefully. I said general potency, and yes thank you for correcting me. The proper verbiage is trichomes, not THC crystals. My understanding was plenty of people examine their buds for trichomes for both maturity and GENERAL potency.
For maturity sure, i don't think very many reputable folks are basing their "Potency" judgement on Trichome coverage.

You can see folks first hand accounts with super frosty strains that aren't super potent. The amount of Trichomes does not dictate potency, what's inside the trichome heads, how much, and at what ratios determines the potency.
 

twagner23

Well-Known Member
For maturity sure, i don't think very many reputable folks are basing their "Potency" judgement on Trichome coverage.

You can see folks first hand accounts with super frosty strains that aren't super potent. The amount of Trichomes does not dictate potency, what's inside the trichome heads, how much, and at what rations determines the potency.
I don't mean the effects of the smoke, purely trichome potency. There is no way to examine for the subjective effects the trichomes have on an individual. For example, if you were to examine buds with a 15% testing vs buds with 25% testing you should see more trichomes. Almost always, that 25% will be stronger than the 15%. I never mentioned anything about maturity, I examine all my plants for amber as well but that is not the point here lol. Plenty of long time members here post pictures of their trichs to show the potency of their weed, what are you talking about nobody reputable does that? I see it all over!
 
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Mr.Head

Well-Known Member
I don't mean the effects of the smoke, purely trichome potency. There is no way to examine for the subjective effects the trichomes have on an individual. For example, if you were to examine buds with a 15% testing vs buds with 25% testing you should see more trichomes. Almost always, that 25% will be stronger than the 15%.
I think you're getting caught up on the # of Trichomes controlling THC Percentage rather than the internal chemicals controlling the potency.

No two strains trichomes are created equal, from texture to cannabinoids they are all different. Some strains will produce huge amounts of trichomes and low THC values. Some will produce fewer trichomes and be more potent. Some will have smaller trichomes, some larger. Some greasy, some dry. Trichomes are so complex.

There's strains like ACDC which have very low THC and 16% CBD. It's a nice looking flower.
 
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twagner23

Well-Known Member
I think you're getting caught up on Trichomes controlling THC Percentage rather than the internal chemicals controlling the potency.

No two strains trichomes are created equal, from texture to cannabinoids they are all different. Some strains will produce huge amounts of trichomes and low THC values. Some will produce fewer trichomes and be more potent. Some will have smaller trichomes, some larger. Some greasy, some dry. Trichomes are so complex.

There's strains like ACDC which have very low THC and 16% CBD. It's a nice looking flower.
So you are telling me that when you smoke something that is 25% vs 15% that it doesn't get you higher 95% of the time? It does for most people I know. Why are you even bringing CBD into this, that has nothing to do with this. I would like to hear someone else weigh in on this other than you who carried over from the last thread. Trichomes do determine THC potency for testing, what are you talking about?
 

waterproof808

Well-Known Member
Maybe you can define for everyone what you think "trichome potency" is, since you state it has nothing to do with the actual effects of the smoke.
 

Mr.Head

Well-Known Member
A con

So you are telling me that when you smoke something that is 25% vs 15% that it doesn't get you higher 95% of the time? It does for most people I know. Why are you even bringing CBD into this, that has nothing to do with this.
we're having a completely different conversation.

I brought up CBD because you were arguing a person can tell a buds potency by it's trichome coverage, ACDC has OK trichome coverage and virtually no THC by modern standards therefore it's not a potent bud.

Is a higher THC rating better generally speaking if you're looking for potent weed yes.

That wasn't the discussion in the other thread either. It was whether 36% test results represent total cannabinoids or THC or total THC. There's a difference. Saying that a strain has 36% active THC when experts, like scientists, not dude bro's say that # is going to be extremely hard to hit, is just not based in reality According to experts on the matter.

I took their "Extremely hard threshold to achieve" to mean GMO weed.
 

Budzbuddha

Well-Known Member
More trichomes do not mean more potency .... since the profile of that particular strain varies.
A strain could have heavy trich production based on genetics , environment , etc.


It can have a frosty ass appearance but swing higher in cbd , which does not have psychoactive properties. Your grow environment for example ... runs too hot , that alone will effect the triches.
For me , it’s the genetics and UV ( a / b / c )
 

promedz

Well-Known Member
I think you're getting caught up on the # of Trichomes controlling THC Percentage rather than the internal chemicals controlling the potency.

No two strains trichomes are created equal, from texture to cannabinoids they are all different. Some strains will produce huge amounts of trichomes and low THC values. Some will produce fewer trichomes and be more potent. Some will have smaller trichomes, some larger. Some greasy, some dry. Trichomes are so complex.

There's strains like ACDC which have very low THC and 16% CBD. It's a nice looking flower.
what do you prefer sticky or greasy>? i find the greasy ones always exotics
 

Mr.Head

Well-Known Member
what do you prefer sticky or greasy>? i find the greasy ones always exotics
I don't know that I have a preference :) I just love pot.

The nice sticky trichomes stay on in the jar better than the grittier/sandy trichomes I find. But then again sometimes a little kief treat at the end of a jar is nice too :)
 

Novabudd

Well-Known Member
For maturity sure, i don't think very many reputable folks are basing their "Potency" judgement on Trichome coverage.

You can see folks first hand accounts with super frosty strains that aren't super potent. The amount of Trichomes does not dictate potency, what's inside the trichome heads, how much, and at what ratios determines the potency.
Im having a problem determining if you growers are being asked a legit question or you're being lectured. WTF.:shock:
 

macsnax

Well-Known Member
I am throwing this out there for anyone who wants to give their two cents on this one. I have a "seasoned" member here that is simply arguing that you cannot examine buds with a loupe to examine trichomes in order to get a general determination for potency. Below is my post and the exact response given. I know you can determine potency by smoking it as well, but I always prefer examining with my loupe as well to see what I got. I may be wrong here so I am interested in what anyone thinks?

Me: are you telling me you cannot examine buds with a loupe to make a general determination for potency?
waterproof808: Yes, that is exactly what I and everyone else is telling you.

Is everyone telling me this? I would like to actually know if everyone thinks this.
Yes and no, look at purple punch, it's frosty af with a not so high thc %. The bruce banner I used to grow wasn't particularly frosty, but it was some of the hardest hitting weed I've ever grown and seemed to hold it's resin within the buds..... Lab testing is a joke, maybe ballpark ish, but way too inconsistent. Don't take those numbers to heart. At the most I would argue a high trichome concentration would suggest a higher cannabinoid content.
 
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