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The Trichomes are Whispering, But What Are They Saying?

So I discussed this once with a friend, he said it changes the high and causes a cbd effect. I still say it is oxidation of the trichomes, in other words, the trichomes are degrading. I still get an argument over this, just my two cents on the subject, as I always harvest by the pistils and trichs, red pistils, white not clear, trichs, anyways, I think it is relevant to the high you get from it.
 
So I discussed this once with a friend, he said it changes the high and causes a cbd effect. I still say it is oxidation of the trichomes, in other words, the trichomes are degrading. I still get an argument over this, just my two cents on the subject, as I always harvest by the pistils and trichs, red pistils, white not clear, trichs, anyways, I think it is relevant to the high you get from it.

I tend to agree Ace1973 , my plant was clearly just DONE, and it did look, to me anyways, that pretty much every trich went yellow-ish all at once; the ones that were pure white looked like pissed-on snow, those already yellow went bourbon brown, the ones that were already brown went dark amber. Whether that was oxidation, degradation or whatever, it was quick and recognizable (at least with a 10x or higher loupe).

Going all the way back to the Frenchie Cannoli article, what bboyfromwayback and I saw sounded a lot like what he described as the peak THC production, BEFORE it started degrading. If that is true, BBBoy and I are gonna have some *interesting* smoke if it's properly dried and cured.

I could use some advice on slowing down a dry in very low humidity. Anybody use Tubs for a slow dry? I should prolly just cave and buy a humidifier...
 
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I only remove the big fan leaves when it’s dry like this. My basement is currently under 40% rh. Once the sugar leaves are good and crispy, hopefully 4-5 days, I’ll finish trimming. It’s more difficult but slows the process down a bit. I also use a CannaBrush, it helps a lot
 
Its definitely oxidation, we say thc degrades into CBN changing The effect but neither The bud nor the trichomes are actually degrading
 
@9Fingerleafs: Oxidation, meaning O2 bonding of some sort, Degradation, meaning compositional distancing from the predecessor compound or molecule. So, probably both of those. Right?

I'm interested in the color of the trichomes as our only visible or at least quantifiable indication of peak THC production. Does Peak THC lay amongst the Snowy White mushrooms or Amber Waves of grain? Or is it the day those Trichs all turn Snow-Piss Yellow?

Let's disconnect "Harvest Day", which is really a personal preference,unlike THC peak production which is a Biochemical data point. The question seems to boil down to, when does my plant hit peak THC. Beyond that as a grower we can decide whether we desire an early harvest buzz or a late harvest snooze.

Isn't it a bit odd that this most basic parameter is still controversial? Even the commercial growers seem to be arguing about this.

Whatever, pardon the rant, I sometimes wax rhapsodic.

Saludos y Pesetas, y tiempo para gustarlos!

-Grouchy
 
Well. Molecules inside the trichomes are not breaking apart, only the outer layer letting oxygen in. I think the biggest mistake in all of this is treating thousands of subspecies as one single plant. As you can see two strains can grow very different trichomes. I guess you’d need to do some experimenting to know each Individual plant highest thc point. Take a bunch of clones and harvest with one day apart and then send to a lab to test thc. But would only work for that one strain. A lot of practice is needed to know each strain and the best time to harvest. Then cross analyze with trichomes and come to some conclusions about that one strain.

Commercial growers have other things to consider more critical to their bottom line. Logistics rule commercial operations
 
I have access to a fellow who has a suitcase testing kit for THC only. I plan on cutting a top at 10-15% amber and the rest at 50% amber plus. Once both are tested the results will be posted.
 
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Bravo JohnEmad, a chance to make GWE History!

I went sleuthing yesterday and found a $132 Cannabis test kit good for up to eight samples.

It runs 0.1gram of weed through a thin film chromatography process and detects:
Cannabidiol (CBD)
Cannabinol (CBN)
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV)
Cannabigerol (CBG)
Cannabichromene (CBC)

It claims to provide an indication of strength and potency:
Chemotype / cannabinoid profile which categorizes the strain
Chemotype-effect chart indicating the pharmacological effect to be expected

https://testkitplus.com/product/cannabis-marijuana-test-kit?ap_id=drugtesting&wmc-currency=USD

Tempting, but I'm saving up my pesos for a Magical Butter Machine!
 
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Hey @grouchyoldman,
I saw the same test kits and wondered if they are accurate.and if they are using chromatography it appears they are.
Let us know if you if you go that way.

My testing is going to be late January or early Feb by the look of things.
 
That’s awesome! I use the high grade app and I doubt it’s accuracy at measuring thc %. The smoke test is accurate as far as comparing a bud it measures at 15% thc to one it measured at say 20% thc
 
One of my local hydro stores does free testing...well, free other than you have to give them 2 grams to test. I’m pretty sure .5 gram gets tested in the machine, the other 1.5 gets tested by the dude operating the machine 😂😂😂
 
I had looked into buying a fairly decent testing device and offering on-site testing services for $10/test. Then I realized that not many home growers would want a stranger coming to their grow op. If they ever got robbed, I’d be one of the first people they accuse of doing it, or being an accomplice to it, and I don’t need that headache affecting my professional life.
 
Hi @YYC, In my personal experience, loose bud means more terpenes but less potency. Tasty but not as strong?

Mayhaps loose bud is better for Cannoli-hash production? More surface area to shake potential hashish from?
 
Hey there bboyfromwayback, turns out we both managed to hold out for a late harvest. Dunno bout you but I had a hard time with that! Staring at beautiful ripening buds day after interminable day! Looking at that B/W pic I took of the Widow in the dark reminds me that those buds were literally dripping with frosting.

Perhaps, in the end, "oozing with bud juice," is the ultimate Harvest Signal?

Let's wrap up this thread with a "Taste Test" in late Jan to report the subjective results of our experiment? My little Late Harvest Widow is drying slowly in the grow room right now. I intend to do a proper cure after that before adding the jars to my library. After that maybe put a taste test on on the schedule. I bet we can get JohnEmad to participate as well.

-Grouchy
PS, an Estimable & Magnanimous Friend just gifted me a Magical Butter machine for Christmas, so some Late Harvest Widow bud will go into edibles & Tincture!
 
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