When to harvest my autos?

Hey guys,
this will be my first harvest and not to sure when they will be ready. I've heard with autos not to go by the trichomes as a lot of the times auto trichs do not change from clear.
They are in the 10th week from breaking ground.
Any opinions on when to harvest are greatly appreciated

I was thinking maybe another 2 weeks?

No opinions or expertise on this question?

Are u flushing?

Wattzzup said:

Are u flushing?

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Not flushing. Just giving 1/4 strength AN every second watering.
I know a lot of leaves are showing deficiency but that's just because I don't really know what I'm doing

My opinion they are close enough to start flushing. I think you’re within two weeks.

Again just my opinion and depend on type of smoke you want

Wattzzup said:

My opinion they are close enough to start flushing. I think you’re within two weeks.

Again just my opinion and depend on type of smoke you want

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I'm going for a combination of energetic with a decent body buzz. Is there truth about not going by trichomes with autos?

EliteCultivation said:

I'm going for a combination of energetic with a decent body buzz. Is there truth about not going by trichomes with autos?

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That's just another auto myth.

Just Be said:

That's just another auto myth.

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Thanks man

If you're going to continue growing autos, you should really consider joining the Autoflower Network. Lots of good people and lots of knowledge about autos with none of the mythical auto broscience and none of the pissing matches.

ICMag, as well for good autoflower forum.
Trichomes can change due to heat/light intensity.
Having grown cannabis for 45 years and the last 14.75 yrs growing & breeding autos, trichome changes are a good indication of when plants are ready. We still use the loupe method to check, esp. since it's largely for MMJ patients. And genetics play an important role in heady/body sensations.

First clue: Have the stigmas changed?
Look at the white fuzzy hair-like stigmas protruding out of the seed bract on buds. White stigmas are healthy and turn a reddish-brown when they die back, or senesce. When half to three-quarters of the stigmas have turned reddish-brown flower buds should be ready to harvest. But, you need to take a second look, a closer look.

Second clue: Examine the resin glands closely
Use a 30-50X handheld microscope to inspect the resin glands, a.k.a. trichomes, found on flower buds and adjacent foliage. I like to use a microscope that illuminates foliage to get an unshaded view of the translucent resin glands. The microscope will allow you to distinguish several resin glands. The important ones are the capitate-stalked resin glands. They consist of a stalk with a small, spherical globe on top. Be careful when viewing resin glands, they are quite fragile.

The majority of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is located at the base of the globe where it joins the stalk. Fragile capitate-stalked resin glands start to senesce as the plant nears the end of life. The globe starts to degrade first and cannabinoids leak out. Exposure to air, heat and light can speed degradation. Oh yes, fondling flowers can also wreck a lot of capitate-stalked resin glands!

Cannabis is ready to harvest when a small percentage to more than half of the capitate-stalked resin glands have started to degrade. They turn amber and darker colors when they degrade. Some growers prefer to harvest earlier than later; others, later than earlier. It is all a matter of preference, which leads to the third point, consumption.

Third clue: Sample the bud
Dry a few flowers in the oven, 150 degrees F for 10-15 minutes. Smoke or vape it and see what you think!

Flower buds do not all mature at the same time. Often, flowers that receive more light and are on top of plants come ripe a few days to more than a week before lower buds. The difference in cannabinoid content, including potency, can be notable. Flowers from short plants grown indoors have less deviation in cannabinoid content than large plants grown outdoors.

There are countless varieties of cannabis. Indica-dominant varieties tend to be ready to harvest in 6-8 weeks after an indoor light regimen is turned to 12 hours dark and 12 hours light. Sativa-dominant varieties tend to be ready to harvest from 9-12 weeks after light regimen is changed to 12/12.

Outdoor crops that cannot be protected should be harvested if there is chance of a freeze or violent rainstorm.

Indoors or out, harvest in the morning whenever possible. Flowers near the tops of indoor and greenhouse plants may be a few days more mature than flowers that receive less light; in this case staggering the harvest is a good idea. Lower flower buds on outdoor plants that receive less light mature more slowly, up to two weeks after flowers near plant tops. Once flower buds are completely mature and ripe, the harvest window lasts from 3-5 days.

This is exactly the information I was looking for. Great post! Thank you for clearing some things up for me

COtransplant said:

First clue: Have the stigmas changed?
Look at the white fuzzy hair-like stigmas protruding out of the seed bract on buds. White stigmas are healthy and turn a reddish-brown when they die back, or senesce. When half to three-quarters of the stigmas have turned reddish-brown flower buds should be ready to harvest. But, you need to take a second look, a closer look.

Second clue: Examine the resin glands closely
Use a 30-50X handheld microscope to inspect the resin glands, a.k.a. trichomes, found on flower buds and adjacent foliage. I like to use a microscope that illuminates foliage to get an unshaded view of the translucent resin glands. The microscope will allow you to distinguish several resin glands. The important ones are the capitate-stalked resin glands. They consist of a stalk with a small, spherical globe on top. Be careful when viewing resin glands, they are quite fragile.

The majority of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is located at the base of the globe where it joins the stalk. Fragile capitate-stalked resin glands start to senesce as the plant nears the end of life. The globe starts to degrade first and cannabinoids leak out. Exposure to air, heat and light can speed degradation. Oh yes, fondling flowers can also wreck a lot of capitate-stalked resin glands!

Cannabis is ready to harvest when a small percentage to more than half of the capitate-stalked resin glands have started to degrade. They turn amber and darker colors when they degrade. Some growers prefer to harvest earlier than later; others, later than earlier. It is all a matter of preference, which leads to the third point, consumption.

Third clue: Sample the bud
Dry a few flowers in the oven, 150 degrees F for 10-15 minutes. Smoke or vape it and see what you think!

Flower buds do not all mature at the same time. Often, flowers that receive more light and are on top of plants come ripe a few days to more than a week before lower buds. The difference in cannabinoid content, including potency, can be notable. Flowers from short plants grown indoors have less deviation in cannabinoid content than large plants grown outdoors.

There are countless varieties of cannabis. Indica-dominant varieties tend to be ready to harvest in 6-8 weeks after an indoor light regimen is turned to 12 hours dark and 12 hours light. Sativa-dominant varieties tend to be ready to harvest from 9-12 weeks after light regimen is changed to 12/12.

Outdoor crops that cannot be protected should be harvested if there is chance of a freeze or violent rainstorm.

Indoors or out, harvest in the morning whenever possible. Flowers near the tops of indoor and greenhouse plants may be a few days more mature than flowers that receive less light; in this case staggering the harvest is a good idea. Lower flower buds on outdoor plants that receive less light mature more slowly, up to two weeks after flowers near plant tops. Once flower buds are completely mature and ripe, the harvest window lasts from 3-5 days.

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Just Be said:

That's just another auto myth.

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Please cite your source on trichome production and when to harvest being a "myth".
Trichomes are actually responsible for storing the highest concentrations of cannabinoids and terpenes that give cannabis its unique aromas, flavors, and effects, so it is important to gauge when to harvest.

Googled for my own quandary....Jorge Cervantes, Kyle Kushman (whom I'm in sporadic contact with say it is NOT a "myth"). I cannot find any source on the 'net saying it's a "myth"

Please provide proof, indulge us....I'm interested..

COtransplant said:

Please cite your source on trichome production and when to harvest being a "myth".
Trichomes are actually responsible for storing the highest concentrations of cannabinoids and terpenes that give cannabis its unique aromas, flavors, and effects, so it is important to gauge when to harvest.

Googled for my own quandary....Jorge Cervantes, Kyle Kushman (whom I'm in sporadic contact with say it is NOT a "myth"). I cannot find any source on the 'net saying it's a "myth"

Please provide proof, indulge us....I'm interested..

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Lighten up, Francis. Maybe you misread the part of the OP where he said.. "I've heard with autos not to go by the trichomes as a lot of the times auto trichs do not change from clear."

Just Be said:

Lighten up, Francis. Maybe you misread the part of the OP where he said.. "I've heard with autos not to go by the trichomes as a lot of the times auto trichs do not change from clear."

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All mine do if they dont, crap breeder

Grow em great, one & all.

I say run it another two weeks , get that final bulking in ( feed at 1/2 strength one more time ) ... it’s pulling what it can from leaf ( heavy fade ) and looks like it wants more to eat.

Pistil recede is only one of many indicators for harvest , allow a higher percentage of pistils to color off as these are also indicators that calyx/bract are mature. Triches sometimes amber AFTER harvest as plant dies off and dries. Check only the calyx areas . However if you allow full leaf die off , you will have to cut it down , ready or not , hence the last supplemental feed. I can see them adding more weight.

It is very hard to cut “ too late “ since autos have a fixed life and you can run them until fully mature.

EliteCultivation said:

I'm going for a combination of energetic with a decent body buzz. Is there truth about not going by trichomes with autos?

Click to expand...

Ive only grown autos and have seen the triches amber up on every grow so dont know who said that was a myth but they do turn amber and you should harvest on milky trichomes if you are looking for that mind racing high/energetic if you want couch lock wait till they are over 50% amber to harvest at least thats what Ive read.