Should I harvest based on trichomes or pistils

ooof-da

Well-Known Member
The vast majority of pistils will have changed color and retracted near harvest. The seed bracts will all swell up thick and there will be an overall change in color, sort of a rusty tinge to the bud. You'll also notice your buds all start to sag much more near the end. Under a scope, there will be plenty of amber when the buds are ripe-don't look for 5% or 20% or whatever, just combine what you see in the scope, with the other signs of ripeness. You'll have plenty of time in the harvest window, it's almost impossible to chop too late. Keep an eye on the trichomes throughout the grow, and watch how they stand up and swell up just like the bud itself does. Don't be scared lots of amber trichomes. Also, keep smelling your buds regularly, and you'll notice a final burst of terpenes in the last week or two and the bud will smell much more potent. You want to wait for all these signs so that your buds won't get that grassy smell when they dry, and it will also mean the difference between nice dense buds when dry and little airy puffballs.
Good advice, thank you. This is what I am learning to understand as well and what I have done wrong in the past.
 

Northwood

Well-Known Member
I never look at trichome color, ever.
I do, but mostly for artistic purposes. An experience grower with years of experience can look at a whole plant and say, "that thing needs to come down". However Sativa strains can be harder. Some can grow another 5 months foxtailing and flowering if you let them.
 

cherrybobeddie

Well-Known Member
The vast majority of pistils will have changed color and retracted near harvest. The seed bracts will all swell up thick and there will be an overall change in color, sort of a rusty tinge to the bud. You'll also notice your buds all start to sag much more near the end. Under a scope, there will be plenty of amber when the buds are ripe-don't look for 5% or 20% or whatever, just combine what you see in the scope, with the other signs of ripeness. You'll have plenty of time in the harvest window, it's almost impossible to chop too late. Keep an eye on the trichomes throughout the grow, and watch how they stand up and swell up just like the bud itself does. Don't be scared lots of amber trichomes. Also, keep smelling your buds regularly, and you'll notice a final burst of terpenes in the last week or two and the bud will smell much more potent. You want to wait for all these signs so that your buds won't get that grassy smell when they dry, and it will also mean the difference between nice dense buds when dry and little airy puffballs.
"You'll have plenty of time in the harvest window, it's almost impossible to chop too late"
If I had a typical hybrid what should I expect if I let a strain the breeder has deemed a 63 day strain go until say 77 days. I can understand bigger buds and more poundage. Would the flavor or potency be greater? Some say the more amber trichs you have the greater the indicia expression. Is that necessarily so?
 

ooof-da

Well-Known Member
The vast majority of pistils will have changed color and retracted near harvest. The seed bracts will all swell up thick and there will be an overall change in color, sort of a rusty tinge to the bud. You'll also notice your buds all start to sag much more near the end. Under a scope, there will be plenty of amber when the buds are ripe-don't look for 5% or 20% or whatever, just combine what you see in the scope, with the other signs of ripeness. You'll have plenty of time in the harvest window, it's almost impossible to chop too late. Keep an eye on the trichomes throughout the grow, and watch how they stand up and swell up just like the bud itself does. Don't be scared lots of amber trichomes. Also, keep smelling your buds regularly, and you'll notice a final burst of terpenes in the last week or two and the bud will smell much more potent. You want to wait for all these signs so that your buds won't get that grassy smell when they dry, and it will also mean the difference between nice dense buds when dry and little airy puffballs.
I’m outdoor and honestly mine this year smelled amazing for most of the flower and then slowly lost smell as I let it go for the last 2-3 weeks. have no idea if thats abnormal, good, bad, or in my head but nothing I could do about it. Now it’s in day 5 of dry and the hey smell is there but a little squeeze brings out that aroma I had before the late-late flower smell loss. ever seen that loss of aroma happen late flower?
 

Growerguy143

Active Member
Leave it alone. It's not even close to finished.

P.S. If you cut it down now it's going to die too.
based on what people say here it seems much closer now here’s more recent pics lots of cloudy trichs some amber. Many pistils shriveling up and turning orange.
 

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