Trichomes

[johnb1963]

Hello my friends, I have been doing some reading on heavy indica strain trichomes. Make it short their says indica trichomes may never turn amber, and if they did you waited too long to harvest. Trichomes should be 80% milky for optimum harvest. Any thoughts. Here is my current grow.

[crucialbunny]

I've come across a couple of strains that wouldn't go amber. FreakShow comes to mind. I primarily go with my gut on harvest nowadays and pull the trigger when I feel they have reached full bulk or begin to foxtail.

[Bluey]

We know of three different trichomes that exist on cannabis buds. We have little to no idea what two types do to us or the functions they serve.
The third type we think we know a little bit about. That's the one we watch.

I try and harvest sativa when mostly milky. Others prefer mostly amber. I've harvested pure sativa and found predominantly indica effects. Lots of research is going on regarding medicinal use so watch this space.

I've harvested grows that have gone wrong before hardly any milky trikes and it can still fuck me up. What I've read about trikes and colours and strains and effects is not consistent with my user experience at all, lots of randomness.

[johnb1963]

I agree with you guys, it's not an exact science. I tent to go with my gut, which is telling me that I'll be trimming on superbowl Sunday! GO 9ers!

[SoOrbudgal]

I am also rooting for 49s and i agree with your assements on the trichs. I still hope to see amber but i also judge by the leaf and stigmas on the age of the plant. Can i come over and help trim those buds and watch the game LOL?

[johnb1963]

Ya, trimming is the "fun" chore. A love / hate thing! I personally enjoy it.

[johnb1963]

Pics

[dirtymike]

Thats some nice color. I would have that in the third pic in my pipe. Puff Puff

[Rootsruler]

Nice fade!

[DW2]

johnb1963, I don't know much about a lot of the strains, but those are some of the best trichomes photos that I've seen!

[Radeon]

60%-70% cloudy and I harvest. They'll still age after you cut them.

[Gingerbeard]

Clear, cloudy, amber. The litmus colors.
What about magenta, pink, and other colors? I'm seeing similar colors in your pinks to the colors I had in my last Scarlet grows. I had clear, clear/pink, and cloudy for the trichs closer to the bud. I could not tell from amber in those areas. It was the close fan fingers (on the bud but probable fodder for tight trimmers when comes trim time) that started showing amber. They were autos so I don't know from time if I harvested late or early.
I harvested a couple days after seeing my first amber.

[johnb1963]

Yea it's a never ending debate. I was so tempted to cut them down this morning, took another look at the trichomes, but remembered patience is a virtue!
FYI DW2, I use a Skybasic microscope. Got it on Amazon about 3 years ago. It was like $25.

[Gingerbeard]

I'd cut them. Picture 3, especially, is pretty well loaded for amber.

[johnb1963]

Unfortunately I can't. I have to follow my protocol. 3 days prior a heavy purr water flush, then no water. Then 24 hours of darkness, then I can cut. The result are golden!!!

[dirtymike]

That's the protocol i follow too johnb1963 . Old habits.

[SoOrbudgal]

Love it good plan

[Bluey]

Don't just rely on trichome colour for harvest. Look at the whole plant, mainly bud size and shape, pistol shape and colour, health of the plant, etc..

Flowers can produce amber trichomes on buds long before even getting into the harvest window.

Are the flowers still filling out? Look close to the main stem/stalk deep inside the bud. Often you will find the pistol sacs or I think they may be called calyx on the females from memory, have they opened and bloomed yet? If I'm seeing a lot of unopened ones I know that with time most will open and increase the density of the buds substantially given more time. Opening the buds and inspecting will also pick up any mold in the earliest stages too.

Edit. If growing in a controlled environment you can see a substantial reduction in their water take up...the end is nigh at that point.

[johnb1963]

Bluey, you're absolutely right. The water intake is a sure tell sign when the end is near.