Use Clearex or similar at least once prior to chopping.

There are several factors/indicators that help determine ripeness. One is trichomes, and all I see there are clear--bad juju if that's a heavy Sativa/Sativa dominant line. Another would be pistils, is it still popping a bunch of new white ones with hardly any "old" red hairs? Buds fattening, are they still or do they seem to have stopped?

In my opinion the result is a better product when one uses the plant's signals instead of a calendar to determine readiness. Others may have different experiences or opinions, so I'm qualifying this as mine.

So, in list form, ways to determine when it's time to chop:

* Trichomes, the natural progression is: clear --> cloudy --> amber -- Mostly clear tells me that most girls aren't ready.
* Pistils, again strain dependent: Popping lots of new, fat, silky white ones? Or are just a few showing up here and there, otherwise mostly red (i.e. spent) hairs?
* Buds themselves! Are they continuing to fatten up? If so, ride that train! If over several days they don't appear to be fattening or growing much, that's another indicator.

If feeding chemical salt-based nutrients I like to give just water + molasses (alternate feedings of plain water) after tapering down over two weeks, for at least one week to ten days, and to use a salt-clearing solution such as Clearex, rather than passing gallons and gallons of water through the pots.

You are in hydro you need to flush for sure... Good advice from Seamaiden...

thanks guys good advice really helpful i'm gona load the rest of the pics to see what you think of them they do seem to have slowed down abit but i cant tell because some of the buds look finished but the trichs some still look clear i'm gona wait till half way through the seven'th week and start choppin then i'll take some fresh ones tomorrow trichs and buds see what you think thanks again fella's

I would wait till I start seeing amber trichs before I started chopping. I don't think you will be happy with the AK before 65 days but thats just my opinion.

Big V said:

I would wait till I start seeing amber trichs before I started chopping. I don't think you will be happy with the AK before 65 days but thats just my opinion.

Click to expand...

Depends on the stone you want to achieve.
I go milky = max THC. Although some trichomes maybe going amber and thats because we have 3 types of trichomes on one bud.

LUDA.
:)

I concur...very important to give the plant time to flush out excess nutrients...often times "hacking/coughing" can be and indicator of excess phosphorous in your material. Medicine should be flushed well...your girls will be happier and their medicine tastier.

To lower that ppm
flush with new water, empty water, refill water, flush again. water running thru your medium is the hot ticket. Add clearex like seamaiden said. had great results with that
h