northe lights and california kush auto, harvest time?

joseshot1 said:

I would love some help guys, i have no ideia what im looking at

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Your closeups are hard to see. Check my thread for week 7+. I was able to get a clearer shot using a 30x loop over the phone camera at 3-4x. Not easy with shaky hands.

My Kush is showing some amber trichomes at least on the top main buds. Going to clip some of the top buds and let the others keep going.

The Nortern Light and others are not from what I see. Another week or two but will have to keep a close eye every day.

There are others who know more that could guide you, and it is a little hard to get a good handle on trichomes maturity with those pics (it's not how much maginfication you can get, 40x may be overkill, but how clear the close-up quality/color is, and how much overall space you can get pics of), but I'm gonna go with waiting another week for jose, but another 2 weeks for budclark. Roughly. Bud, yours seems like it's still in active blooming.....

Harpua88 said:

There are others who know more that could guide you, and it is a little hard to get a good handle on trichomes maturity with those pics (it's not how much maginfication you can get, 40x may be overkill, but how clear the close-up quality/color is, and how much overall space you can get pics of), but I'm gonna go with waiting another week for jose, but another 2 weeks for budclark. Roughly. Bud, yours seems like it's still in active blooming.....

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Thank you so much!! I will try to update with some more pics today!!

joseshot1 said:

I will buy one of those ASAP

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sorry, I'm a bit late to this conversation. This magnifyer is much better than a loupe becuase of photos.


I can't see your laslt magnified photo too clearly. but what you're looking for is this amber color on the right. with the correct light+angle, you should be able to see with your loupe fairly clearly. for your 1st grow, I suggest you wait and wait and wait until you CLEARLY and DISTINCTINLY a lot of the amber. this *will* be a bit too much (think of a slightly overripe banana, still edible and good but not the best). then in your 2nd grow, you will have a better idea of what to look for, and also if you prefer slightly overipe bananas or not (I prefer slightly overripe).




another way that I decide on my plants (BRO-Science warning! i.e. not tested and verified by anybody but me and my bros):
one day you walk up to your plants and you can smell the powerful unique smell of the strain. then a few weeks later the smell starts to decline. I try to harvest just before the smell starts to decline...this is really very subjective and inacurate. but the harvest-timing does seem to match the theory of amber trichomes...the smell starts to decline when too many trichomes turn amber. This also requires your nose to know your strains after many grows.

Xhale said:

sorry, I'm a bit late to this conversation. This magnifyer is much better than a loupe becuase of photos.
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I can't see your laslt magnified photo too clearly. but what you're looking for is this amber color on the right. with the correct light+angle, you should be able to see with your loupe fairly clearly. for your 1st grow, I suggest you wait and wait and wait until you CLEARLY and DISTINCTINLY a lot of the amber. this *will* be a bit too much (think of a slightly overripe banana, still edible and good but not the best). then in your 2nd grow, you will have a better idea of what to look for, and also if you prefer slightly overipe bananas or not (I prefer slightly overripe).


View attachment 1981490

another way that I decide on my plants (BRO-Science warning! i.e. not tested and verified by anybody but me and my bros):
one day you walk up to your plants and you can smell the powerful unique smell of the strain. then a few weeks later the smell starts to decline. I try to harvest just before the smell starts to decline...this is really very subjective and inacurate. but it does seem to match the theory of amber trichomes...the smell starts to decline when too many trichomes turn amber. This also requires your nose to know your strains after many grows.

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You arrived just in time!! I havent harvested yet and i will not harvest all at once. 2 plants look really close, i think there are no more clear trichomes on those 2 but the others will have to go 1 or 2 more weeks. When i get home from work i will try to take some better pics (its hard with my shaking hands) i would love to know how much time i have to whait

joseshot1 said:

i would love to know how much time i have to whait

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:) sorry, I got a horrible answer for this:

rule 1: If you think the bud is ready for harvest, then wait a week
rule 2: one week later, refer to rule 1

joseshot1 said:

Hi!! They are in the 6th week of lowering. Its soil and i water them only when the soil is dry, it usually takes 48 to 72 hours. I water them with nuts one time then the next i use only water then nuts again... i use half the nuts it says on the bottle cause they are autos and people told me to be careful to not overfeed them. Once im home i will post a pic of the nuts bottle

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Maybe they have a nut allergy.

Sunasun said:

Maybe they have a nut allergy.

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Gotta be wet nuts. That's the way to go..... ;)

Jose, what Xhale is saying is a good guide. The point is, there's really no calendar date or # of days that anyone can give you for "the answer". There's a range, there's some guidance based on the strain, the % of hairs that have turned color, a certain amount of calyx swelling, a time when blooming has stopped and the focus is on maturity/ripening......and then there's that resin glands guide. "Early" would be when most of the trichomes have only turned milky/cloudy. Late would be when almost all the trichomes have turned amber⁸. Then there's a whole middle range in between, and anywhere in that range from early to late and in between would be "ready", if that's what you llike. And it's your call based on what you like. Yes, a lot of growers tend to pick a little too early, and the whole "wait another week or so" rule can be very helpful because it helps overcome the tendency to want to pick too early.......

Put that all together, harvesting in stages over time can help you zone in on what you like, but after that, it's your personal taste. And in that.......there really is no wrong answer.

Harpua88 said:

Yes, a lot of growers tend to pick a little too early

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my experience is that commercial growers harvest a bit early because they cha$e revenue and quick turnover. I have not bought any cannabis since 2016 but have constantly monitored the stuff that my friends buy. While their indoor professional stuff is really high quality and properly grown, it is clear that they harvested a bit early.

Let them go 75 days minimum...most of my Autos go 11+ weeks - Check Trichomes on the Calyx's(buds) not on the leaves. Fully ripened Buds should harden up at the end (not feel squishy/airy). Ive had good Sativa Autos go 14 weeks(Rocbud Inc Blueberry Slushy).

I agree, I would never harvest blindly based on the time the seed bank told you. I dont know if they harvest early or just want you to buy it from them so they consider harvest time early harvest but most of the times in my experience they take longer than they advertise, even if you dont like it very mature (plenty of amber). Always check tricomes. Clear trichomes have thc precursors and little thc, milky have the most thc, amber has little thc because most of it converted to CBN, similar to CBD. I like 10-20% amber, less is too much of a head high (gets me anxious) and more is too much of a couch high for my taste, but of course as mentioned here everyone has their own taste (and might get different effects too) and some strains might need more amber to be at their maxium thc capacity.

Eledin said:

I agree, I would never harvest blindly based on the time the seed bank told you. I dont know if they harvest early or just want you to buy it from them so they consider harvest time early harvest but most of the times in my experience they take longer than they advertise, even if you dont like it very mature (plenty of amber). Always check tricomes. Clear trichomes have thc precursors and little thc, milky have the most thc, amber has little thc because most of it converted to CBN, similar to CBD. I like 10-20% amber, less is too much of a head high (gets me anxious) and more is too much of a couch high for my taste, but of course as mentioned here everyone has their own taste (and might get different effects too) and some strains might need more amber to be at their maxium thc capacity.

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Words stolen. Good post.

Xhale said:

my experience is that commercial growers harvest a bit early because they cha$e revenue and quick turnover. I have not bought any cannabis since 2016 but have constantly monitored the stuff that my friends buy. While their indoor professional stuff is really high quality and properly grown, it is clear that they harvested a bit early.

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Harvesting too early, and not properly curing are in my opinion the 2 biggest mistakes that growers make. Like any fruit/vegetable cannabis is at its best when it is "vine ripened". Not just "ready", but that extra 1, 2 weeks.or more that makes the difference between a 9 and a 10. Then, a proper cure, for maybe a month. That also can make a 9 into a 10.

Eledin said:

I agree, I would never harvest blindly based on the time the seed bank told you. I dont know if they harvest early or just want you to buy it from them so they consider harvest time early harvest but most of the times in my experience they take longer than they advertise, even if you dont like it very mature (plenty of amber). Always check tricomes. Clear trichomes have thc precursors and little thc, milky have the most thc, amber has little thc because most of it converted to CBN, similar to CBD. I like 10-20% amber, less is too much of a head high (gets me anxious) and more is too much of a couch high for my taste, but of course as mentioned here everyone has their own taste (and might get different effects too) and some strains might need more amber to be at their maxium thc capacity.

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My plants are 12 weeks and 4 days old. I dont see any amber thricomes just yet... actually i cant even tell if the thricomes are milky or clear and i have a 40x loupe.
Can you check the link i posted with the pics? And maybe tell me how much time i have left?
Also i tried to take more pics but is so difficult to take pictures at the loupe that are not just blur

Harpua88 said:

There are others who know more that could guide you, and it is a little hard to get a good handle on trichomes maturity with those pics (it's not how much maginfication you can get, 40x may be overkill, but how clear the close-up quality/color is, and how much overall space you can get pics of), but I'm gonna go with waiting another week for jose, but another 2 weeks for budclark. Roughly. Bud, yours seems like it's still in active blooming.....

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Your saying this Kush bud is still too early?
From my other thread…a few now showing amber.

https://www.thcfarmer.com/threads/getting-close-don’t-let-me-screw-it-up.148988/#post-2958528

joseshot1 said:

My plants are 12 weeks and 4 days old. I dont see any amber thricomes just yet... actually i cant even tell if the thricomes are milky or clear and i have a 40x loupe.
Can you check the link i posted with the pics? And maybe tell me how much time i have left?
Also i tried to take more pics but is so difficult to take pictures at the loupe that are not just blur

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I cant tell you how long it will take, the only way to know for sure is checking the trichomes as there are several factors that can make it last longer than it should (strain, phenotype, stress, training, nutes, soil, light intensity, light spectrum, humidity, hours of darkness, etc). I see a little bit of amber in at least 1 of them and a lot of cloudy (quite a few clear too) so youre definetely close but not quite there yet, you can either keep updating us with pictures every couple of days or if thats too much of a pain in the ass try to wait til you see more amber, around 20%-30% Id say is a safe bet. You can tell by the picture that Xhale posted that many of your trichomes are white, clear trichomes look like they have a small water droplet as head, while cloudy just looks white.

Eledin said:

I cant tell you how long it will take, the only way to know for sure is checking the trichomes as there are several factors that can make it last longer than it should (strain, phenotype, stress, training, nutes, soil, light intensity, light spectrum, humidity, hours of darkness, etc). I see a little bit of amber in at least 1 of them and a lot of cloudy (quite a few clear too) so youre definetely close but not quite there yet, you can either keep updating us with pictures every couple of days or if thats too much of a pain in the ass try to wait til you see more amber, around 20%-30% Id say is a safe bet. You can tell by the picture that Xhale posted that many of your trichomes are white, clear trichomes look like they have a small water droplet as head, while cloudy just looks white.

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Thnk you so much!! I will update today worh more pics of the plants i think are almost ready!!

SSgrower said:

Thank's RootsRuler, I agree, but my mentor keeps sayin 60x to see them, I never bought a bigger 60x loupe so I didn't know? SS

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Your mentor must be old like me. I require more magnification than the younger crowd with better eyesight. I would suggest at least 60x magnification or more myself. However, if you are young and have good eyes, you could probably get away with less.

I have a few jeweler's loupes and they have their place, don't get me wrong. However, I tend to use my digital microscope that goes up to 1000x magnification. I can take pictures using the smart phone software and transfer them to my computer where I can enlarge them to full screen size. This will help in seeing details. (It's over-kill really, but it works very well.) I believe you can still pick up a wireless digital microscope between $30 and $40 USD. If money is a real issue, then consider the USB digital microscope. It's connection to your smart phone is through a usb cord as opposed to wireless. Those can be found usually between $20 and $30.

Budclarkson said:

Your saying this Kush bud is still too early?
From my other thread…a few now showing amber.

https://www.thcfarmer.com/threads/getting-close-don’t-let-me-screw-it-up.148988/#post-2958528

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I'll let others guide you on the trichs/jewelers loup thing, I tend to go by other observational factors.....but what I can tell, yes, still too early. The pictures of the buds look like they're actually still blooming.......lots of white hairs, new flowers......I know it was over a week ago but my guess is you could still wait at least another week..do you have new pictures of the whole plant/buds? As far as the trichs go, it's up to your personal taste but I would look for about half turning amber/half cloudy/milky white, then even add a few more days. Maybe.......it's your plants so it's when you think they're truly ready. You can also harvest in stages, maybe over the course of 5 days or so, and then keep track to see what stages you like better.

Harpua88 said:

I'll let others guide you on the trichs/jewelers loup thing, I tend to go by other observational factors.....but what I can tell, yes, still too early. The pictures of the buds look like they're actually still blooming.......lots of white hairs, new flowers......I know it was over a week ago but my guess is you could still wait at least another week..do you have new pictures of the whole plant/buds? As far as the trichs go, it's up to your personal taste but I would look for about half turning amber/half cloudy/milky white, then even add a few more days. Maybe.......it's your plants so it's when you think they're truly ready. You can also harvest in stages, maybe over the course of 5 days or so, and then keep track to see what stages you like better.

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Thanks!!! I will update in a few hours with recent pics (when i get home). I was think8ng of doing that! It is my first grow so trying it out may be the way to go! I will harvest the first 2 this weekend i think. But anyaways i apreciate all of your help!!