Trichomes & Harvesting

[Shaggn]

Not done, from the look of the trichs, they look mostly clear with a few starting to milk up. Just have to keep checking till u get the mostly cloudy. Peace!!

 

[k0ijn]

Hello!

It's been a week since I first posted photos on this thread. Here's how some of the flowers look like now. Are the pistils retracting? Are the calyxes swelling? Any guesses on when she'll reach full bloom? If you want photos of the trichomes, I can post them.

Thank you!

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You're still quite a bit time away from peak potency.
The calyxes don't look swelled, in fact calyx formation doesn't seem very prevalent.
Pistils don't look to be retracting yet either, you can see they haven't changed colour fully yet.

If I have to guess, 3-4 weeks left still, at least.
We'll see how she develops.

 

[aurora stardust]

Thank you good people! Will keep a watchful eye on her... had some mite and caterpillar problems the past week. Heartache!

 

[budzrus]

As a new grower I found this info to be invaluable, thanks a bunch it was very helpful.

 

[k0ijn]

@ mr. green thumb 01

I didn't delete any pages, in fact I didn't delete your latest duplicated threads.
Your threads were deleted by the admin and I suggest you calm down because you're just making this worse for yourself.

 

[aurora stardust]

So, it has been another week. I will post photos of 3 random bud sites, and some trichome shots as well.

2 weeks ago, I had to snip off some buds that had mite infestation and rot. Whatever that could be salvaged, I dried and cured. Tried some last night... it was very nice. Smelt complex and interesting. Everyone asked what was in the joint. One person had a sniff of basil, another said thyme, and another oregano. Its aroma was a mixture of herbs, citrus, sweet and sour. We actually just kept sniffing it for a bit before lighting up! But the aromas were only released after grinding though. It smelt more like tea leaves before that. Tasted lovely and was very smooth. Can't imagine what it'll be like when fully mature!!

 

[k0ijn]

So, it has been another week. I will post photos of 3 random bud sites, and some trichome shots as well.

2 weeks ago, I had to snip off some buds that had mite infestation and rot. Whatever that could be salvaged, I dried and cured. Tried some last night... it was very nice. Smelt complex and interesting. Everyone asked what was in the joint. One person had a sniff of basil, another said thyme, and another oregano. Its aroma was a mixture of herbs, citrus, sweet and sour. We actually just kept sniffing it for a bit before lighting up! But the aromas were only released after grinding though. It smelt more like tea leaves before that. Tasted lovely and was very smooth. Can't imagine what it'll be like when fully mature!!

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Can you take some pictures of entire calyx sections and the entire plant.

Of what I can see the calyxes don't look very swollen but the pistils seem to be receding.
I still see quite a few clear trichomes though.

 

[aurora stardust]

Can you take some pictures of entire calyx sections and the entire plant.

Of what I can see the calyxes don't look very swollen but the pistils seem to be receding.
I still see quite a few clear trichomes though.

Okay, sure thing. I've gone out and taken those photos and will post them up now.

The main cola has been devastated due to the infestation, which also ended up causing rot because of heavy webbing. Two other sections have also been slightly affected.

 

[k0ijn]

Okay, sure thing. I've gone out and taken those photos and will post them up now.

The main cola has been devastated due to the infestation, which also ended up causing rot because of heavy webbing. Two other sections have also been slightly affected.

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Do you think the infestation is spreading?
What I mean is do you think it could get much worse if you let the plant go longer?

I think your plant needs a few more weeks for it to be nearer peak harvest.
But if the infestation & mold might get worse I'm not sure if I would gamble it.

 

[aurora stardust]

Do you think the infestation is spreading?
What I mean is do you think it could get much worse if you let the plant go longer?

I think your plant needs a few more weeks for it to be nearer peak harvest.
But if the infestation & mold might get worse I'm not sure if I would gamble it.

Well, i have been fighting it since mid-November. I have stopped infestations on the other sections, but with the main cola, because I didn't want to cut off too much of it, I ended up letting the infestation there get worse. After taking the photos, I cut off the whole main cola. Didn't have much of a choice. Should've cut off more of it earlier on to save the rest of it. But yeah, it's a good lesson to learn on a first grow.

I will post up photos of trichomes taken today at some point later. It does seem to me that there are quite a lot of amber ones already. But then again, my eye is untrained, and until this girl reaches full maturity, I won't have the experience needed to see it right.

 

[aurora stardust]

Okay, as promised, trichome shots from today. Again, I've taken photos of flowers from all over the plant. The trichome shots are also from a variety of places.

 

[k0ijn]

Well, i have been fighting it since mid-November. I have stopped infestations on the other sections, but with the main cola, because I didn't want to cut off too much of it, I ended up letting the infestation there get worse. After taking the photos, I cut off the whole main cola. Didn't have much of a choice. Should've cut off more of it earlier on to save the rest of it. But yeah, it's a good lesson to learn on a first grow.

I will post up photos of trichomes taken today at some point later. It does seem to me that there are quite a lot of amber ones already. But then again, my eye is untrained, and until this girl reaches full maturity, I won't have the experience needed to see it right.

Alright, well that's sad to hear but that's how it goes with growing.
I've had my fair share of infestations as has other people.

I'll take a look at the trichome shots.

 

[k0ijn]

I still see a fair bit of clear trichomes but it might just be a specific low hanging calyx.
Some calyxes do look to have about 5-10% amber so you're getting close.

If the infestation is getting much worse I'd chop soon, if you feel like it can be kept under control, I'd give a week or two more.
Just to let the calyxes swell up a bit more and let some trichomes mature.

 

[aurora stardust]

Alright, well that's sad to hear but that's how it goes with growing.
I've had my fair share of infestations as has other people.

I'll take a look at the trichome shots.

Thanks for the consoling words. Next round, I will be even more diligent. I actually was, but then i read someone say on a forum that outdoors, he just lets nature take its course. It made sense to me, so I gave it a shot and sat back. I guess I got unlucky. Either that, or i sat back a little too much.

I still see a fair bit of clear trichomes but it might just be a specific low hanging calyx.
Some calyxes do look to have about 5-10% amber so you're getting close.

If the infestation is getting much worse I'd chop soon, if you feel like it can be kept under control, I'd give a week or two more.
Just to let the calyxes swell up a bit more and let some trichomes mature.

I do plan to harvest in stages, and also to re-veg the plant. I feel the flowers still have the potential to mature more and to get bigger, but the amber I am seeing makes me unsure. Should I leave the calyxes with 5-10% amber to grow some more, or should i harvest them already?

Thank you for your advice thus far. I really appreciate you taking the time to do this.

 

[k0ijn]

Thanks for the consoling words. Next round, I will be even more diligent. I actually was, but then i read someone say on a forum that outdoors, he just lets nature take its course. It made sense to me, so I gave it a shot and sat back. I guess I got unlucky. Either that, or i sat back a little too much.

Sometimes you have to take action, especially outside, since there are so many things that can cause infestation.
But it can be very hard to combat it outdoors, perhaps some form of oily bug/infestation spray could be useful but it's hard to say if that would've saved the calyxes.

I do plan to harvest in stages, and also to re-veg the plant. I feel the flowers still have the potential to mature more and to get bigger, but the amber I am seeing makes me unsure. Should I leave the calyxes with 5-10% amber to grow some more, or should i harvest them already?

Thank you for your advice thus far. I really appreciate you taking the time to do this.

Why do you want to reveg the plant?
It's already taken a lot of damage and it would probably be quite hard for it to survive a reveg, let alone produce anything afterwards.

Revegging is quite hard, takes a long time and if the plant is weak and/or disease ridden it's not worth it.

I would harvest soon, it's been a few days since you posted this so I would say the plant is probably near peak harvest, however if you feel the plant can take longer then by all means do it, always go with what the plant tells you.

 

[aurora stardust]

Sometimes you have to take action, especially outside, since there are so many things that can cause infestation.
But it can be very hard to combat it outdoors, perhaps some form of oily bug/infestation spray could be useful but it's hard to say if that would've saved the calyxes.

Why do you want to reveg the plant?
It's already taken a lot of damage and it would probably be quite hard for it to survive a reveg, let alone produce anything afterwards.

Revegging is quite hard, takes a long time and if the plant is weak and/or disease ridden it's not worth it.

I would harvest soon, it's been a few days since you posted this so I would say the plant is probably near peak harvest, however if you feel the plant can take longer then by all means do it, always go with what the plant tells you.

Agreed. The next round, I will take harsher action. I've already cut off the top of the main cola, and some of the sides. But I should've done it sooner instead of hoping to control the infestation and save the colas. It's better now, but the mites are still around.

The reason for wanting to reveg the plant is a sentimental one. She's my first, and I am hoping to keep her around. It won't matter to me if she won't be able to produce much after. I also don't mind if it takes a long time. I am in no rush.

Have a look at the plant... I think she can still continue blooming. Still seems a bit skinny to me. What do you think?



Let's look at the trichomes flower by flower this time...

No.1:



No.2:



No.3:



No.4:



The ambers are growing in number, but there are still a lot of clears. Am I correct? I am trying my best to listen to what my plant is telling me, but this is my first time, so I guess you could say that there could be a bit of a language barrier.

 

[k0ijn]

The reason for wanting to reveg the plant is a sentimental one. She's my first, and I am hoping to keep her around. It won't matter to me if she won't be able to produce much after. I also don't mind if it takes a long time. I am in no rush.

Alright, well just to be clear, it's quite an undertaking, and especially if you're new to growing.
But perhaps it's a good way of learning for you, I wouldn't expect too much though if I were you.

Have a look at the plant... I think she can still continue blooming. Still seems a bit skinny to me. What do you think?

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Let's look at the trichomes flower by flower this time...

No.1:

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No.2:

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No.3:

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No.4:

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The ambers are growing in number, but there are still a lot of clears. Am I correct? I am trying my best to listen to what my plant is telling me, but this is my first time, so I guess you could say that there could be a bit of a language barrier.

I can see more amber than before yes and some clear, but it seems like the cloudy are in a clear majority.
I wouldn't take it much further, you've got to remember that the trichomes will keep maturing even after you harvest.
Perhaps give it a few more days, but I wouldn't compromise the main colas just because of some clear trichomes on lower (less significant) calyxes.
There will also be a continual production and maturing of trichomes, so you should always go with the main calyxes and not with the new growth.

 

[aurora stardust]

Alright, well just to be clear, it's quite an undertaking, and especially if you're new to growing.
But perhaps it's a good way of learning for you, I wouldn't expect too much though if I were you.

I can see more amber than before yes and some clear, but it seems like the cloudy are in a clear majority.
I wouldn't take it much further, you've got to remember that the trichomes will keep maturing even after you harvest.
Perhaps give it a few more days, but I wouldn't compromise the main colas just because of some clear trichomes on lower (less significant) calyxes.
There will also be a continual production and maturing of trichomes, so you should always go with the main calyxes and not with the new growth.

Understood... I will try my best to bring her back, but at the same time I'll be prepared for the possibility that she may not return.

Thanks for your advice. I'll give her a few more days. But I do want to know what you think of her size. Or rather the size of her flowers. I want to train my eye and currently I have nothing to go by, but photos online. In comparison to the photos I see of other plants, her flowers seem skinny. To help you imagine, since you aren't here to look at her in person, she is about 3 1/2 feet tall.

 

[k0ijn]

Understood... I will try my best to bring her back, but at the same time I'll be prepared for the possibility that she may not return.

Thanks for your advice. I'll give her a few more days. But I do want to know what you think of her size. Or rather the size of her flowers. I want to train my eye and currently I have nothing to go by, but photos online. In comparison to the photos I see of other plants, her flowers seem skinny. To help you imagine, since you aren't here to look at her in person, she is about 3 1/2 feet tall.

I think the size is rather good for a first grower and for a plant which has had infestation problems.
It's not big calyxes really but it probably because of the conditions, the infestation and possibly the strain as well.

Huge calyxes comes with experience and perfection of variables.

I wouldn't say it's bad though since I've seen much much worse, plants with literally just leaves for calyxes which would yield only a few grams (if even that).

At least you'll get something out of your grow and with time you'll learn how to perfect nutrient solutions and the other variables and that will add a lot to the size of your harvest.

 

[aurora stardust]

I think the size is rather good for a first grower and for a plant which has had infestation problems.
It's not big calyxes really but it probably because of the conditions, the infestation and possibly the strain as well.

Huge calyxes comes with experience and perfection of variables.

I wouldn't say it's bad though since I've seen much much worse, plants with literally just leaves for calyxes which would yield only a few grams (if even that).

At least you'll get something out of your grow and with time you'll learn how to perfect nutrient solutions and the other variables and that will add a lot to the size of your harvest.

Thank you for your comforting words. I have definitely learnt a lot with all the trial and error in this first grow. I stopped vegging because it was already getting too tall. Any taller and she might have been too obvious for the neighbours to see. Next round, I may fim and train, then veg even longer. Maybe that may help. Now I've fine tuned my feeding and spraying routine. Let's see how it works out for the next grow. Thank you again for all your advice so far. I will update you about my plant over the next few days.