@The3rdman with all due respect, it sounds like you're too text book bound. While there is truth to what you've been saying, cannabis is much more nuanced than 100% cut and dried. The text book learning is a must, but it doesn't replace experience. Instead, they go hand in hand. I would suggest following some of the guidance you've been given above. I've read through the suggestions, and everyone who has chimed in has given you good advise. It makes sense to listen as you've got some highly experienced growers trying to help you out.
At the end of your grow, if you raise/dim the lights a bit your plants should get the hint that its time to finish. When September rolls around outside, the angle of the sun has changed and its not quite as intense as it was back in June/July/August. The raising or dimming of your lights mimics that change. Give it a try instead of dismissing it because its not what you want to hear.
No one here can tell you much without seeing pictures. Brown pistils alone don't tell you anything at all. Yellowing leaves alone are not a signal the plant is done either. They can fade too soon if nitrogen is cut too soon. You should be looking at the actual trichomes on the flowers under magnification. If they have not mushroomed and are not cloudy with a few specks of amber ... they aren't done. It really doesn't get any more straight forward than that.
I think people reading my threads immediately forgot what I said after reading them. I said the pistils were 90% brown at week 9 and leaves went completely yellow by week 12. This is textbook senescence and obviously at this point, the cannabis has gone as far as it can with the ripening process.
Photosynthesis needs
Green Leaves to work. No difference in potency from week 9 to week 12 because trichomes are not maturing to a cloudy state. Saying that I am harvesting too early does not make sense - I don't think I'm disregarding anyone's advice, just using a little common sense here.
Someone suggested going to LED lighting. Check. I tried that suggestion and I believe it shows I am listening and willing to try something different that makes some kind of sense.
Someone suggested using TPS Signal. Maybe worth a look. Anybody agree, and why? Can I use with an organic grow?
Someone said be careful having LED lights too close to the plants. Check. LED light distance okay.
And there was a suggestion to use ethylene to help the ripening process. This idea seems a bit farfetched to me, but I am grateful for the information. If anyone can make a stronger case for ethylene, please do.
So Migrandpausa, you say I should follow some of the advice I have been given. Which advice in this thread would you suggest that I follow?
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