Zeus's Take on Harvesting

[pinkus]

That's worth a +Rep i think

 

[jeepboi]

what if your pistils are pink? and look receding with most cloudy or amber trichs? no special strain? not much info on weird pistil colors.

ive mostly guaged via trichs and a loop but am unsure of thess pink pistils

+ rep too

 

[jeepboi]

just call me the thread killer

 

[TheDutchMaster420]

I actually LEARNED a lot. Now I want you to step by step show me how you harvest. lol. You were easy to understand, a rarity on here sometimes.

 

[SpruceZeus]

what if your pistils are pink? and look receding with most cloudy or amber trichs? no special strain? not much info on weird pistil colors.

ive mostly guaged via trichs and a loop but am unsure of thess pink pistils

+ rep too

Having never grown a strain with pink pistils, I can't really offer too much specific help. But I will tell you that rather than just going by one specific indicator, you should really be looking at the whole package.
No sense in chopping because the hairs have turned red if the calyxes have yet to swell etc.

Best of luck.

 

[SpruceZeus]

Some more visuals for you.

Not ready:

Almost ready:

This girl is on my ebb and flow table right now. She has been flushing for 8 days (a subject I'll delve into in another thread.)

As you can see, the bud seems to have filled considerably.

You'll also notice that the pistils have shriveled and sort of become one with the bud.

I'l probably chop this girl in a few days, allow me to explain why;

I have found that trichomes swell and shrink in cycles. I'm of the belief that you want to harvest when the trichs are at their fullest.

I'm a little confused by the lack of documentation of this in all my favorite grow guides, but this is something that I've observed for quite some time, so I may as well be the one to write about it.

These cycles last anywhere between 3 days to 2 weeks, the first time I took note of this happening I was scared that I had done something to harm my plants. A couple days before the trichomes were standing on end and looking very happy, then all of a sudden they were so small you could barely see them. Imagine my relief when over the next week the trichomes regained their former glory (and then some).

Pay attention to your plants, they can tell you so much if you only listen.

 

[jeepboi]

cool thanks im somewhat patient so... yay more waiting ha

 

[RickWhite]

OK, so my friend's plants are reaching the stage where the seed calyx are swolen and the pistols are turning red and receeding but the trichomes are still on the clear side. Also the leaves are dying and falling off like a tree in the fall. Should I advise my friend to wait until the trichomes turn milky or amber?

 

[SpruceZeus]

OK, so my friend's plants are reaching the stage where the seed calyx are swolen and the pistols are turning red and receeding but the trichomes are still on the clear side. Also the leaves are dying and falling off like a tree in the fall. Should I advise my friend to wait until the trichomes turn milky or amber?

In my personal opinion, it almost never hurts to let your plants go a little longer.
To me, for a plant to be "overripe" the trichomes need to have turned brown, and generally it will take a month or more from to beginning of the harvest window to get even close to that.
I say wait.

 

[grow space]

great post man. props

 

[itsgrowinglikeaweed]

Yes, great post. I realized very quickly that determining harvest time was more of an art than a science. Especially considering that all strains are quite unique. Thank you for sharing.
I'd love to hear your take on flushing. IMO people are way too flush happy around here.

 

[Chase1126]

Just checking in to say thank you for the fantastic post. Well written and well thought out.

 

[Mr. Cali]

I have been growing for five years now and have never read anything about harvest until this year. Waiting until I just FEEL it is the right time is what I have always done and I agree 100% with your post. My buds have always turned out hard and tasty. Great info! Patience is key.

 

[SpruceZeus]

Yes, great post.

Thank you!

I realized very quickly that determining harvest time was more of an art than a science. Especially considering that all strains are quite unique. Thank you for sharing.

I agree, theres so much more to it than trichome colour, I have strains that start to amber off at 5 weeks and other that dont start until about 8, and they're usually finished around the same time.

It is somewhat of an art. Although there is one factor that is a non-variable, that I can't stress enough, PATIENCE!!!

All you do is wait, and then when you're fucking sick of waiting, wait a little bit longer.

Eventually, when your hair and teeth have all fallen out, and you're on your death bed, it will be harvest time.

I'd love to hear your take on flushing. IMO people are way too flush happy around here.

I assume you're specifically talking about pre-harvest flushing.
I've done side-by-sides in both soil and hydro, and after a decent cure, you would be hard pressed to tell the difference between the plant that got a 2-3 week flush and the plant that was fed until the day of harvest.
Having said that, I always flush. Saves me a buttload of expensive nutrients without sacrificing plant quality/final weight. Plus, people like to hear that they're smoking the 'cleanest' dope they can. Since you're not going to find me growing organics (at least in my basement) this is the best I can do on that front.

As for mid-growth flushing, I think it is very important to keep your root system free of salt buildup. However, in my hydro system, I find that is as easy as waiting a day before adding nutes to my reservoir after doing a water change. In mud, I probably only feed my plants every 4th watering or so. Always underfeed rather than overfeed, and always pay attention to your plants.

White Rhino as of 10 minutes ago. Upon closer inspection, it appears I need to add some mag suppliment to the mix.

 

[itsgrowinglikeaweed]

Yes, I was talking about pre-harvest flushing. Thank you for the response. There's a big difference between soil and hydro when it comes to flushing. There's also a difference between growing in soil with chemical ferts, and growing in soil with organically. But it seems like someone has thrown a flushing blanket over every method and everyone is flushing whether it benefits them or not. They're just doing what they were told. I dont flush (pre harvest). I grow in soil as organically as i can.
On more than one occasion someone has said "damn this shit tastes awesome!" And they did not know I grew it.
Its good to hear about your " side by side" test. Pretty much what i figured.
Thanks again.

 

[califarmer85]

you just gave me a whole new look on harvesting. i always went by trichromes and the plant itself dying. but the pistil thing i am going to have to try out. you just cleared up alot of peoples heads. rep+

 

[JackHerer]

thanks a lot for this post+rep

 

[w1ckedchowda]

Wow Zeus my man, I can't believe I missed this thread the whole time! I know we've discussed this a few times on other threads, thought you had a good idea on the handle of things, but this just proved my point

Amazing work Zeus, really, you cut through most bs we see and hear about these days on RIU and just bring sensible facts.

+rep for you mate, your buds always look the cream of the crop

edit: iou +rep! Apparently I kiss your ass TOO much lol

 

[rasclot]

Wow Zeus my man, I can't believe I missed this thread the whole time! I know we've discussed this a few times on other threads, thought you had a good idea on the handle of things, but this just proved my point

Amazing work Zeus, really, you cut through most bs we see and hear about these days on RIU and just bring sensible facts.

+rep for you mate, your buds always look the cream of the crop

edit: iou +rep! Apparently I kiss your ass TOO much lol

great thread zeus im goin for ur method so this aint ready yet

its nycd at 10 weeks n 5 days in 12/12 wot do ya think +rep ras

 

[meofcurse]

what a great thread!really helped.