Opinions, about 2(3) more weeks?

[Thebeginning1989]

I feel like I am getting better at distinguishing between milky and clear trichomes. There are two different plants here, but they seem to be similar progress-wise. It looks like the majority of trichomes are milky, with about 5-15% clear (depending on the picture). Obviously I'd want that 5-15% (or 10-20%) amber, so for auto hybrids, how quickly can that happen? Two weeks sound likely, or closer to three? Thursday will be around six weeks in flower (NOT when pistols started showing, but after buds started forming).

0-5 is Zkittles Auto
6-10 is Wedding Cake Auto

[Bootsy]

My opinion is that you are very close and likely within a week. already got a little amber it seems from the photos, especially the first few photos.

[Blowdout2269]

I would be checking daily. I've had autos showing just a small spec of amber or none at at all, then 20% almost overnight.

[OldManGrower]

I agree with Blowdout2269. You are very close but in terms of time, who knows. It can shift somewhat rapidly. My current rule of thumb (I have very stubby thumbs) is; harvest when you have more amber than clear.

[Thebeginning1989]

I'll keep an eye out definitely, thanks you three! I am glad I checked actually, lol. Initially I was like, barely the sixth week this Thursday, I'll start checking in two more weeks, completely going off photoperiod schedules.

[Bluey]

Very nice photos.

Getting close for sure...lots of white pistols still though...but those trichomes look like they are coming along very nicely....

Maybe not long.....no way of knowing for sure how long though

I'd be taking photos regularly and comparing for future reference if you have those seeds for your next grow

[Going2fast]

My old eyes see mostly cloudy. Your in the window. But seeing the white still as long as it's not foxtailing I'd give it another week at least. Nothing wrong with a little taste test.

[Thebeginning1989]

Finally getting a little more amber on the buds, maybe 3%, so I'll keep checking every day. Unfortunately the Zkittles fox tailed since day one, but yeah. I would call this auto run a success compared to my first auto attempt (two plants, 3-5 inches short with a single stem and a single tiny bud, lol). The Zkittles and Wedding Cake are still pretty short and stubby though. The next two are pretty much shaping up to be the same size (Do Si Dos and White Widow Auto). I figure it may be genetics since they are not from the quality auto genetic banks. I plan to try Sweet Seeds soon, which I've read are good genetics, F3+

I am growing photos as well and I am on my what I consider to be first run (first grow was bag seeds mainly as a test to see if I could do it). I am actually flipping two soon (trying for a perpetual grow). I was even able to manage clones off those two photos. Research is king? Seeds are expensive! Easy savings lol, and even if I don't like them they can be tossed, but if I do like them it would sure be a waste. I figure since I have a vegging area, I can alternate autos perpetually, e.g. two enter flower, pop 2 more seeds, those enter flower, pop 2 more, etc.

This website has definitely been a godsend. Even though growing has been legal for quite a while, there is still quite the stigma among quite a few people so I prefer privacy. It's nice to have people to converse with!

[Thebeginning1989]

Update: Does light amber count as amber? Definitely difficult to determine. A part of me is saying there is more amber than clear, and the other part of me is saying... "Is there really though?" lol, I'm sure others have been in relatable situations. You are anxious to harvest, but you don't want to risk too early of a harvest after so many weeks with your girls. Here are updated pictures. I actually had to water again since I decided I'd wait another week. I don't know if they will make it to another water (down to every 5-6 days in soil).

On a side note, is that a seed forming, or a swollen calyx (pic 2 and 4)?

Wedding Cake 1-9
Zkittles 10-16

[SoOrbudgal]

Not ready for my standards of harvest. Nearly most of the red hairs disappear in the plants i grow they get engulfed in the calaxyis as they swell. You may need a better light, stronger leds. Although i don't know your true watts nor how the grow enviornment area is either. She needs more time even autos can take longer if the light an enviornment not to their liking.

[ChubbNugg]

Look deeper at the trichs. The majority of them are clear and just starting to turn milky. very very little amber. I speculate at least 2 weeks. The second set of photos the trichs look under developed to me. I speculate an added one more week for them. I love to guesstimate.

[Blowdout2269]

Make sure that you are looking deep in the flowers.
On the side note - Squeeze it and find out!

[Thebeginning1989]

I did pinch it actually, intending to pinch it off to check the inside, and got sprayed in the eye. First time wondering about the effects of THC applied through the eyes, lol

[SoOrbudgal]

No way did that happen

[Rwise]

Maybe a phat ass bug/worm, if so you need to dig it out! or cut the whole bud off!

[Thebeginning1989]

It wasn't a bug, more a bulb than anything. There wasn't a seed, and getting squirted in the eye really did happen lol. I was waiting for some kind of burn but nothing. I checked the whole plant, and the other, and didn't notice anything unusual. I decided to chalk it up to a swollen calyx for now.

As far as light and environment, temps are around 73, humidity around 50-55 (dehumidifier keeps it under 55), and while the led is 500w, I have it dimmed a little as I have the light lower. The ppfd ranges from 800-950ish (no higher as I have no c02 supplement). I do have air entering from a lung room and exiting outside. I feel like I have environment for my situation on point, for now.

Definitely haven't noticed any bugs (moved from a place where fungus nats were an issue, but really the only issue -- that didn't carry over to the new place as I picked up my pest management).

Thanks for the responses btw!

[Puglover1]

Patience. It'll be worth the wait.

[Thebeginning1989]

Thanks Pug! I just learned something today from my grow. I unfortunately think I have been underwatering. I was going by visual signs, any kind of drooping, but it seems pot weight might be more of a tell. Normally I have been watering every 5-7 days in soil (7 days is when drooping starts), but by then the top soil starts getting harder for water to penetrate and starts pulling away from the edge of the clothe pots which isn't a good thing as I understand it. Today I did a test by lifting every 3 gallon pot, and you could tell which needed water and which still had water. It's barely going on the fourth day, and that is because they probably needed it yesterday, the third day. Think I've been so scared of overwatering I kind of psyched myself out.

[SoOrbudgal]

It's about the only way i judge if they need water is by lifting the pot. It's better to have underwatered than drown them, they will easily recover healthier. Once you learn to feel the difference of dry/wet pots you'll be golden.

[Puglover1]

Cool. Lifting is great. If you use fabric bags sticking your finger inside on the side also tells you how dry they are so far down. You've got a lot of frost going on there.

[Thebeginning1989]

Another update, week eight this Thursday. They are still progressing. Some buds look ready, while others don't have very much amber yet. So difficult not to pull them! lol.

0-9 Wedding Cake
10-18 Zkittles

[ChubbNugg]

I think the trichs still look somewhat under developed. I do see some light amber. I look at the trich. Most of them are clear and just beginning to look slightly milky.. The amber trichs that I can see are very light and subtle, but it could be the strain, or the lighting. I'd look again in a week.