Trichome and Pistil Confusion... Explain to me

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roncruiser

roncruiser

37
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Closing in on my very first harvest.
Acapulco Gold from Barney's.

Today will be 7 full weeks and 1 day after the first pistils appeared.

1/30: is 7 full weeks or 49 days.
2/6: is 8 full weeks or 56 days.
2/10: is 60 days
2/20: is 70 days

Barney's Site indicates 60-70 days of flower. For whatever that's worth.

I see amber trichomes but most of the amber trichomes are occurring on the lowest sections of the buds. I also see a lot of mostly clear and some milky on the top half of the buds. Which is confusing as to exactly where along the buds I should be inspecting the trichomes.

I have a few questions...

  1. Where should I be inspecting the trichomes? The top half of the cola or bottom half? On the lower part of single bud there are a lot of amber, on the upper part of the same bud there are no amber trichomes most of them clear.
  2. Should I be taking an average of the overall ripeness of the trichomes of all the buds on the entire plant?
  3. Also, the pistils on the smaller buds further from the light have turned brown. While the larger taller buds closer to the light are still growing pushing out fresh pistils. Can someone provide insight.
  4. The confusing part is that the plant is still 11 days away from Barney's recommended minimum 60 days. Which I know is a round about average flowering time. Should I be taking an overall average of the trichome color of the entire plant?
Are they close to being done? I know the pistils are also a key indicator.

The plan is to harvest the whole plant at one time.
Please chime in with some insight and advice. Thanks!

Overall view of the buds
Overall view2


Circled Red: Main Cola. Lots of fresh pistils still pushing out. This is the one where the bottom half has amber trichomes and the top half is clear/milky.
PXL 20210131 173130912


Circled Blue: One of the larger buds.
PXL 20210130 180716910


Circled Yellow: Smaller Bud lower and further from the light. Tucked in the middle of the bunch. Most of the pistils are all brown.
PXL 20210131 172632739


Circled White: Smaller bud on the outside further from the light. Gets a lot of air from the fan. Will that air brown the pistils faster?
PXL 20210131 172910899
 
GREENSOURCE

GREENSOURCE

85
18
Closing in on my very first harvest.
Acapulco Gold from Barney's.

Today will be 7 full weeks and 1 day after the first pistils appeared.

1/30: is 7 full weeks or 49 days.
2/6: is 8 full weeks or 56 days.
2/10: is 60 days
2/20: is 70 days

Barney's Site indicates 60-70 days of flower. For whatever that's worth.

I see amber trichomes but most of the amber trichomes are occurring on the lowest sections of the buds. I also see a lot of mostly clear and some milky on the top half of the buds. Which is confusing as to exactly where along the buds I should be inspecting the trichomes.

I have a few questions...

  1. Where should I be inspecting the trichomes? The top half of the cola or bottom half? On the lower part of single bud there are a lot of amber, on the upper part of the same bud there are no amber trichomes most of them clear.
  2. Should I be taking an average of the overall ripeness of the trichomes of all the buds on the entire plant?
  3. Also, the pistils on the smaller buds further from the light have turned brown. While the larger taller buds closer to the light are still growing pushing out fresh pistils. Can someone provide insight.
  4. The confusing part is that the plant is still 11 days away from Barney's recommended minimum 60 days. Which I know is a round about average flowering time. Should I be taking an overall average of the trichome color of the entire plant?
Are they close to being done? I know the pistils are also a key indicator.

The plan is to harvest the whole plant at one time.
Please chime in with some insight and advice. Thanks!

Overall view of the buds
View attachment 1086773

Circled Red: Main Cola. Lots of fresh pistils still pushing out. This is the one where the bottom half has amber trichomes and the top half is clear/milky.
View attachment 1086777

Circled Blue: One of the larger buds.
View attachment 1086764

Circled Yellow: Smaller Bud lower and further from the light. Tucked in the middle of the bunch. Most of the pistils are all brown.
View attachment 1086774

Circled White: Smaller bud on the outside further from the light. Gets a lot of air from the fan. Will that air brown the pistils faster?
View attachment 1086775
Nitro
 
Edinburgh

Edinburgh

2,692
263
You chop by your trichome not pistols, you can chop when all your trichome is milky, me i like to wait till i have 25% amber, get a jewlers loupe or a good glass, a week to 10 days before you chop flush out plant with cold water and if it needs another drink use cold water this will turn your pistols.
 
roncruiser

roncruiser

37
18
Only check the calyx trichomes .thats the seed pod with a hair or 2 coming out of it..keep feeding her shes looking good.

Thanks I'll focus on the calyx trichomes. I have two jewelers loupes. I just didnt know where to look.

I know you gauge doneness by trichomes mainly, and to some extent stigma color can tell you you're entering a window to start closely checking the trichomes.


You chop by your trichome not pistols, you can chop when all your trichome is milky, me i like to wait till i have 25% amber, get a jewlers loupe or a good glass, a week to 10 days before you chop flush out plant with cold water and if it needs another drink use cold water this will turn your pistols.

Yup, got the jewelers loupes.
I figure I'm maybe 10-15 days. I'm using organic soil. Adding minimal nutrients as I see the plant needs.

I understand stigmas can help gauge if you're closing in on or are in a harvest window. With the trichomes having the finally say.

I was wondering why stigmas on the smaller buds browned before the larger buds.
 
Madmax

Madmax

4,733
313
Thanks I'll focus on the calyx trichomes. I have two jewelers loupes. I just didnt know where to look.

I know you gauge doneness by trichomes mainly, and to some extent stigma color can tell you you're entering a window to start closely checking the trichomes.




Yup, got the jewelers loupes.
I figure I'm maybe 10-15 days. I'm using organic soil. Adding minimal nutrients as I see the plant needs.

I understand stigmas can help gauge if you're closing in on or are in a harvest window. With the trichomes having the finally say.

I was wondering why stigmas on the smaller buds browned before the larger buds.
Yeah thats right.when i first started growing thats all i use to go by .no internet and growing in an illegal state growers didnt communicate much as that risked getting your crop taken.still pretty much the same today...self discrimination...i was taking them when 3/4s were brown .around 8 weeks for indica.. i would pull them and at that stage were mostly milky what i know today going that extra bit they bulk up a little more and make it more relaxing taking the edge off the high..i only go an extra week or so since..use to just watch the hairs go orange then brown and start receeding then time to chop ha..
 
roncruiser

roncruiser

37
18
You chop by your trichome not pistols, you can chop when all your trichome is milky, me i like to wait till i have 25% amber, get a jewlers loupe or a good glass, a week to 10 days before you chop flush out plant with cold water and if it needs another drink use cold water this will turn your pistols.

Yeah, I'm looking in the right places now.
On the Calyx/Bract right where the stigmas are sticking out. I'll check the trichomes surrounding the stigmas.

Weather the stigmas are brown or still fresh and white the trichomes are consistently the same color from stigma to stigma to stigma. No matter which bud I inspect. So far.

Yeah. Ignore leaf trichomes. You're growing flowers.

Im learning on the fly from you guys.

Yeah thats right.when i first started growing thats all i use to go by .no internet and growing in an illegal state growers didnt communicate much as that risked getting your crop taken.still pretty much the same today...self discrimination...i was taking them when 3/4s were brown .around 8 weeks for indica.. i would pull them and at that stage were mostly milky what i know today going that extra bit they bulk up a little more and make it more relaxing taking the edge off the high..i only go an extra week or so since..use to just watch the hairs go orange then brown and start receeding then time to chop ha..

You make a great point about the high. Relaxing and reducing the edge off the high. Maybe that comes with experience leaving it there to "bulk" up a bit.

How much is a little bit longer?
You're saying if it hits all the doneness markers like receding hairs and milky/amber (80/20), then add a few more days for bulking?

Keep in mind this is a Satva dominant plant seed grown from Barney's. Not the true Landrace Acapulco Gold. Maybe that makes a difference.

Thanks for all the help everyone. I feel like I know what I'm doing now as far as trichome inspection goes.

But I'm not done with you guys yet!
 
roncruiser

roncruiser

37
18
Here are some trichome close-ups taken on Friday, 2/5, which is 7 weeks and 6 days, or 55 full days of flower (since first stigmas appeared).

2/10 will be 60 days.
2/20 is 70 days.

According to Barney's 60-70 days of flower time.

I'm close and and the trichomes and stigmas are telling me it's getting close.

I'm inspecting the trichomes everyday.

The photos are taken of the two main larger colas.

Let me know what you think!
Looking forward to some weekend discussion with you guys.

Lots of clear Trichomes!
PXL 20210206 032243010


Stigmas still look green and fresh.
PXL 20210206 033424746


Do the calyxes look full to you?
PXL 20210206 034527109


How can you tell the Calyx is full and plump?
PXL 20210206 033310198


Anyone have any before and after Calyx photos. Pre Plump and Plump?
PXL 20210206 033025953
 
GREENSOURCE

GREENSOURCE

85
18
Here are some trichome close-ups taken on Friday, 2/5, which is 7 weeks and 6 days, or 55 full days of flower (since first stigmas appeared).

2/10 will be 60 days.
2/20 is 70 days.

According to Barney's 60-70 days of flower time.

I'm close and and the trichomes and stigmas are telling me it's getting close.

I'm inspecting the trichomes everyday.

The photos are taken of the two main larger colas.

Let me know what you think!
Looking forward to some weekend discussion with you guys.

Lots of clear Trichomes!
View attachment 1089015

Stigmas still look green and fresh.
View attachment 1089016

Do the calyxes look full to you?
View attachment 1089018

How can you tell the Calyx is full and plump?
View attachment 1089020

Anyone have any before and after Calyx photos. Pre Plump and Plump?
View attachment 1089021
Whenever you're ready, now.
 
roncruiser

roncruiser

37
18
Get a jewlers loupe or a good glass, when all your trichome is milky you can chop, me i like at least 25% amber trichome, when you flush out 10 days before chop use cold water this will turn your pistols.

I have the jewlers loupe. I'm checking everyday now because I know I'm close. I'm only checking the calyxes.

-Are those photos you posted here a Sativa dominant plant?
-Why are you waiting until 25% amber as opposed to say 10% amber?
-Have you grown this strain before?

I don't know exactly when to harvest. Barney's gives absolutely no details what to look for in the Trichomes when it's time to harvest. Publishing only a range of days is not good enough. Which is the only detail they provide for harvest. Which by the way 60 days is tomorrow. 60-70 days is the range Barney's published.

So how did you decide on 25% amber?
 
roncruiser

roncruiser

37
18
You chop by your trichome not pistols, you can chop when all your trichome is milky, me i like to wait till i have 25% amber, get a jewlers loupe or a good glass, a week to 10 days before you chop flush out plant with cold water and if it needs another drink use cold water this will turn your pistols.


Get a jewlers loupe or a good glass, when all your trichome is milky you can chop, me i like at least 25% amber trichome, when you flush out 10 days before chop use cold water this will turn your pistols.

I just realized the context of your content in both of your post are nearly identical. Are you forgetting your post content? 😕

I posted a few questions for you.
 
bellumromanum

bellumromanum

768
143
FWIW most of the people who's growing knowledge I respect say not even to start worrying about it while you've still got any white pistils
 
roncruiser

roncruiser

37
18
FWIW most of the people who's growing knowledge I respect say not even to start worrying about it while you've still got any white pistils

Thanks, I'm keeping an eye on them. The pistils are definitely turning. No new ones are getting pushed out.

The leaves are starting to turn yellow.
 
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