How far can "ripeness" be pushed?

mandocat

Well-Known Member
Okay, okay...But I still really need some comments about just how far a plant can be ripened before it starts to degrade to the point of not being any good. The reason I am curious is because I've never seen a thread about plants that are "over"-ripe. And most of the pics, (as awesome as many of them are) are mostly clear, milky with a few amber thrown in, bright green...beautiful!....But what about buds that have all-amber trichs? -never seen any pics of those. I'm wondering how the flavors and smells change as the trichomes become more and more amber and the sugar leaves exhaust their chlorophyll. I plan on doing some more experiments in future grows, but at the moment, I only have two plants and I don't want to risk it this time.

What would be really interesting to know is if anyone has had the same strain and harvested some of the buds early and then let some go to the extreme amber end to see how the smell and taste changes. That's what I'm hoping to find out by asking this time. Eventually, I will find out by doing. :)
I did this last year with a large plant outdoors. I harvested parts of it 3 times over a 3 week period. The middle batch was the one I preferred. I didn't compare trichomes between each batch, but I know I looked at them. I also left a few small buds on harvested plants just to experience their potential. While I agree that commercial cannabis is under ripe generally, over ripe cannabis that I grew was even less desirable. That is one of the reasons why you have to grow a strain several times to more fully realize it's potential. I have another large plant this year, so I will try to document the trichomes at each successive harvest.
 

NanoGadget

Well-Known Member
I try to push all my plants (I only grow indica and indica leaning hybrids) to 10 or 11 weeks. I have run my Orkle (Urkle x Tahoe OG) out to 12 weeks before and did not like the difference. It lost a lot of the taste and smell I love so much and it was not as potent.
 

Hiddengems

Well-Known Member
Okay, okay...But I still really need some comments about just how far a plant can be ripened before it starts to degrade to the point of not being any good. The reason I am curious is because I've never seen a thread about plants that are "over"-ripe. And most of the pics, (as awesome as many of them are) are mostly clear, milky with a few amber thrown in, bright green...beautiful!....But what about buds that have all-amber trichs? -never seen any pics of those. I'm wondering how the flavors and smells change as the trichomes become more and more amber and the sugar leaves exhaust their chlorophyll. I plan on doing some more experiments in future grows, but at the moment, I only have two plants and I don't want to risk it this time.

What would be really interesting to know is if anyone has had the same strain and harvested some of the buds early and then let some go to the extreme amber end to see how the smell and taste changes. That's what I'm hoping to find out by asking this time. Eventually, I will find out by doing. :)
I've run a cut for around 3 years. I've grown it in soil, flood tables, dwc, and high pressure aero. I've pulled buds from 6 weeks to 11. After 8 weeks she gains no more weight and starts to get less gassy, but no other smells come out, just less overall smell. Potency seems to be identical from week 7 on. She does get even more sleepy around an hour after smoking the longer she goes.

The only real issue I see with going longer tha 8-9 weeks (beside wasting space and electric) is the possibility of mold or other issues.

Ill also say that after week 7ish she stops eating. The fluid levels will go down but as the water drops the ec goes up because they're just drinking now.

I have never grown any other strains to this extent. But I've really done everything with this cut.

True 8 week cuts are hard to find. Most are 9-10 weekers that "can" be chopped at 8.

Ive seen strains rock hard buds covered in trichs, stinking to high heaven at 49 days. Done.

I will say that with true early strains the high ususlly sucks, no matter how potent.
 

bam0813

Well-Known Member
I have some bought weed from when we legalized. I looked at it with my microscope out of curiosity and saw, the trichomes were missing. One of the reasons I still have it is because I haven't really got ripped on it. It is a Diesel, should do something to a, haven't smoked anything for 15-20 years guy. I really should grow a strain to do that though (mainly medical). Maybe in the summer.
The product gets handled so many times by the end sale I’m not surprised
 

Kindbud421

Well-Known Member
I have some bought weed from when we legalized. I looked at it with my microscope out of curiosity and saw, the trichomes were missing. One of the reasons I still have it is because I haven't really got ripped on it. It is a Diesel, should do something to a, haven't smoked anything for 15-20 years guy. I really should grow a strain to do that though (mainly medical). Maybe in the summer.
Also I believe that most dispensary weed is tumbled which will remove trichs
 

bam0813

Well-Known Member
I somewhat agree with the beginning so I’m curious where can we get yours or at least see it. It must be amazing. I mean green cherry vids are cool and all but
 

HighThere

Well-Known Member
The goal of a business is to turn profit not create decent product. It’s that’s simple. Look at food. Cars. Anything.
Then perhaps it's time for a new classification of commerce vessel that aims to keep quality as high as possible and not always race to the bottom? I'd be happy with a different combination of pick 2. I want the quality, would be willing to wait, and pay the extra cost. That's a far cry from the combo we have now; quick, cheap and shitty.
 

Lockedin

Well-Known Member
Absolutely nothing wrong with dispo weed. It's legal, accessible and gets the job done.
90% of dispensary products are Budweiser IMHO. Good, pretty stony stuff! bongsmilie
--- BUT ---
When is the last time a jar of dispo weed reached up and grabbed you by the nose?
My Wife knew when I was choosing a new jar this morning - from the living room. --- I prefer Single Malt to Budweiser...

I'm with Budz --- bring on the 16 week sativas! :weed:

edit - never addressed teh original question - "How far can ripeness be pushed?"
1. Try it. We've all sample early buds - why not run a plant till the buds look obviously over-ripe and see what YOU think?
You might start growing 20 week indicas! :lol:
2. If you're looking at the back of a seed pack while asking that - get a marker and cross off the flowering time.
My 8 week OG Kush ran 9 weeks before it looked "right", so not too bad....
 
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Kindbud421

Well-Known Member
Absolutely nothing wrong with dispo weed. It's legal, accessible and gets the job done.
90% of dispensary products are Budweiser IMHO. Good, pretty stony stuff! bongsmilie
--- BUT ---
When is the last time a jar of dispo weed reached up and grabbed you by the nose?
My Wife knew when I was choosing a new jar this morning - from the living room. --- I prefer Single Malt to Budweiser...

I'm with Budz --- bring on the 16 week sativas! :weed:

edit - never addressed teh original question - "How far can ripeness be pushed?"
1. Try it. We've all sample early buds - why not run a plant till the buds look obviously over-ripe and see what YOU think?
You might start growing 20 week indicas! :lol:
2. If you're looking at the back of a seed pack while asking that - get a marker and cross off the flowering time.
My 8 week OG Kush ran 9 weeks before it looked "right", so not too bad....
Same here! I’d rather have a high test IPA or Scotch ale over Budweiser any day!
 

Kindbud421

Well-Known Member
Here in Arizona, if you look at the nugs from the dispensary with a loupe you'll see no trich heads on the best strains. I believe they use a trimmer that removes them all for the purpose of concentrate production. They're double dipping.
Was told by a source in the business that all pre-rolls are just the trim… no bud material at all. And that’s after shaking it for keif
 

Hiddengems

Well-Known Member
Good analogy.

You'll always have the hipsters forcing down ipa's telling a regular guy the Budweiser he loves really tastes bad, he just can't tell.
 

HighThere

Well-Known Member
Was told by a source in the business that all pre-rolls are just the trim… no bud material at all. And that’s after shaking it for keif
They sure taste like it. I find it amazing that these businesses were basically given a money printing machine and they still can't help fuck people with their greed. It's impressive in the wrong kind of way.
 
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