I noticed the flowers grew new white thicker hairs this week when most white hairs were gone. What is this all about?
Do you have a wireless digital microscope to look at the trichromes? I like this one:
Normally the top bud sites mature faster than the lower bud sites. Where are the new pistils forming? This might help give an idea on why new pistils are forming: Why Some Buds Keep Making New Pistils | Grow Weed Easy.
It is pretty normal for plants to shoot out new hairs, especially towards the end of flowering.
Sometimes this is a sign of ripeness, sometimes it is genetic, sometimes it is stress related, but I think this is a sign of nearing ripeness for your particular instance in my own opinion.
The Grobo is strange; the flowers may never get the density that higher powered lights provide so the trichome method is the most surefire way to tell… Also, observing the orange hairs too, which it looks like most of yours are looking pretty close from the last pics.
I used something similar, with a little patience, and it helped me with my grow.
I do have one yes. But with the lighting in the grobo and having a hard time of steadying the microscope it’s nearly impossible to get a passable look. I’ve tried dozens of times on two grows now. Can’t get a good look with the loop that came in the kit, the microscope or the phone attachment. Too hard to tell. Not sure how everyone else is doing it.
Mostly the top buds started the new thick white hairs but really it looks like it’s happened all over. Just more predominant on the top buds.
Here are some pics from today. The lightest green background is from a much lower bud site. The rest are all on top. I guess I was wondering if some of the trichomes that look cloudy really are or is that the light making them look that way. I always wait until I see several Amber because I don’t want to harvest too soon although sometimes I’d like to grow more of the energetic high but no clue when to flush to get that stage.
You took some good pics of the trichromes! I have shaky hands too and it would take me 20 tries to take one good picture. I sometimes ask my wife to take the pic of the trichromes for me lol.
In my opinion, I would extend flower to let her continue to ripe. Just remember that the plant will continue to ripe during flush and you can flush her for however long you want.
Thanks for the feedback. Just curious. Why do you suggest extending when there are several Amber trichomes? I’m trying to understand this better. I started flush today. Should I have not?
Trichs all depend on the high you’re looking for. Mostly cloudy some amber=strongest psychoactive high. Mostly amber=more couch lock from my understanding.
I just read a bunch on trichomes and learned something. Pure sativa strains may never turn amber. I did not know this and also learned that some hybrids that are saliva heavy will also have trichomes that never turn amber.
You can flush if you want since you mentioned that you like a more energetic high (as do I!). Based on the pictures, I saw some that didn’t have any amber in them so I don’t think those bud sites have reached its full potential yet. On my first grow, the lower bud sites did not mature as fast as the bud on top, and those lower bud sites did not smoke as well compared to the more matured bud.
To add to what @FireGuy said, here’s a guide on when to harvest:
So it says that mostly cloudy and no amber is the most psychoactive high. Why are so many always judging the ripeness off of Amber then? Should I not be flushing right now then?
Many like the “couch lock” feeling which is only achieved with the amber.
I don’t like this amber couchlock feeling much for daytime smoke. This strain is great. You’re doing the right thing flushing in my opinion for the psychoactive high and you could extend flush if needed but you’ve probably got 2-3weeks max for your window of harvest @Tebori I think @Aang might agree with that but some people don’t wanna see all their flowers dying back for 2+ weeks.
That’s why it’s your call here. The flush means no nutes, in theory, cleaner smoke. But the science is still shaky on that. Some people pull the plant with nutes still in the reservoir. It’s really based on preference.
If you want, you can try one method now, and the other way next time with the same strain to test!
Ok. Great. I appreciate your feedback. It’s always hard for me to know when to harvest. It’s weird since it was mostly looking ready then the thick white hairs came out of nowhere and the buds got thicker. So if I stay in flush then the trichomes still ripen at their regular rate correct?
That’s correct.
And yeah there are usually 3 rounds of bud thickening but most people think 2 are good and then harvest. 3 is the sign of a mature plant and that’s gonna be some terpy psychoactive smoke. In my opinion, a good healthy flush for a few days and I think you’re ready to pull her outta there and start your next go!
ok great, thank you for your help, I greatly appreciate it. Should i do the full ten days of flush?
@pyromancy had a similar issue with his first grow where new pistils were forming on the top bud sites and he just harvested. He decided to harvest based on how the older buds looked like in the lower bud sites.
By the way, during flush nute bottles #3-5 should be not dispensing but you can unplug them to be safe.
Pull her when the trichomes look their ripest during flush. It’s up to you based on the trichs. Good job working with the microscope btw!!
Thank you all, I appreciate all of your feedback and help for my noob ass!