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- Thread starter LemonBud
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dilvish
New member
the times they post are meant for ideal growing conditions meaning proper PH, watering, nutrients, soil or hydro, lighting, heat/humidity etc. Having said this it is just a guide and not a hard and fast rule. It is more like a weighted average. Ultimately a grower never really puts a time limit on a grow. They grow fast or slow, but the end result should always be fat buds. If you are a new grower it may take several weeks longer unless you had ideal conditions. I've had some indoor plants take 22 weeks from seed to harvest.
SoOrbudgal
New member
I read it as when you flip 12-12 but..............i also read it as when you see the beginning of preflower when you see the pistils begin to emerge which can take 1-2wks post 12-12. Now are you confused LOL. This question always brings different answers.
Thanks I was trying to get in a ball park figure. I thought that was what I have been doing then after going thru forums there were some saying at the seedling stage.Well thats what I have been doing for the past couple of years but my mind is slipping. Thanks again SoOrbudgal
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golfnrl
Well-known member
I have found that trying to grow a plant to look like the breeder's pictures and descriptions is an exercise in futility, at least for me. The pictures are of plants in a 'perfect' environment, of which there is no such thing as each plant is an individual, and the grow rates are simply guidelines, again from plants grown in 'perfect' conditions. I've settled on counting the flower period starting one week after the flip. It's not a perfect system but it works for me. Someone else may have a different opinion but a day or two one way or another can't make that much difference in agriculture. As I have learned from reading over on GWE, reading Nebula's newsletter, and paying attention to SoOrbudgal, Rwise, Mr.furley , JohnEmad , and others on this forum the plants will tell you when they are ready. I know you know this but the trichomes are what you really want to see. What those look like, what individual growers prefer, what CBD/THC affects are that one may prefer, all determine when to harvest. Tell us what you like to do with your plants. I may learn something 
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AGH
New member
The times they give are different based on photoperiod or auto. If they're photos, it's from the flip. If they're autos, it's from germination.
However, they're just general guidelines. As mentioned, the pistils turning amber are a good clue, but the real information is looking at the trichomes. Get a good magnifying glass or jeweler's loupe and take a look at them. Initially they'll be clear like glass and they'll start turning cloudy. They may stay cloudy for a long time...plus, I'm horrible at telling the difference between cloudy and clear when it comes to looking at the trichs. What works for me is once the trichomes start turning amber (about 15% of them for my liking) that's the beginning of my harvest window. Different folks like different levels of amber - more of them being amber means more THC and more of a sedative effect with fewer of them being amber generally gives a more energetic effect. Granted, this is a generality as strain has a big effect obviously. But use the amber trichs as a guide...between 15% and 30% amber is the generally agreed upon harvest window.
It's like harvesting anything...if you grow a tomato, some people love firmer, greener tomatoes and others prefer a deep red that's more fleshy. No wrong way, just different tastes! If you're growing multiple plants at once and have the ability/time/and space, you might try harvesting one plant at one stage and then another after more trichs have turned amber then you can experience the difference and see what you prefer! Just make sure to keep them well labeled so that you remember which is which!
However, they're just general guidelines. As mentioned, the pistils turning amber are a good clue, but the real information is looking at the trichomes. Get a good magnifying glass or jeweler's loupe and take a look at them. Initially they'll be clear like glass and they'll start turning cloudy. They may stay cloudy for a long time...plus, I'm horrible at telling the difference between cloudy and clear when it comes to looking at the trichs. What works for me is once the trichomes start turning amber (about 15% of them for my liking) that's the beginning of my harvest window. Different folks like different levels of amber - more of them being amber means more THC and more of a sedative effect with fewer of them being amber generally gives a more energetic effect. Granted, this is a generality as strain has a big effect obviously. But use the amber trichs as a guide...between 15% and 30% amber is the generally agreed upon harvest window.
It's like harvesting anything...if you grow a tomato, some people love firmer, greener tomatoes and others prefer a deep red that's more fleshy. No wrong way, just different tastes! If you're growing multiple plants at once and have the ability/time/and space, you might try harvesting one plant at one stage and then another after more trichs have turned amber then you can experience the difference and see what you prefer! Just make sure to keep them well labeled so that you remember which is which!
Going2fast
New member
If it says 11 weeks flower it's a photo. If it says 11 weeks to harvest it's an auto. Either way these predictions are just guidelines more than rules. Each plant is different.
Going2fast
New member
And yes I totally stole that line from pirates of the Caribbean.
dilvish
New member
Sigh...again it is based on ideal conditions and if you ask the breeders it's from the time of germination to harvest. The times are not exact because all strains are different under different circumstances.
As an example, if you look at the feeding schedules posted by Nebula, they don't say when the first week is. Most growers don't feed until the seedling has produced 3-4 sets of true leaves and that typically doesn't happen within the first week. Sometimes it can take 2 or 3 weeks so technically that puts week one of feeding at week 3 or 4 of the life of the plant.
Even Nebula has suggested that a typical grow from seed to harvest will take 16 weeks on average.
If your concern is when to flip to 12/12 lighting that is generally based on how big you want the plant to grow. Some growers leave the plant in Vegetative mode longer to make for a bigger plant. Switching to 12/12 just tells the plant its time to start flowering.
As an example, if you look at the feeding schedules posted by Nebula, they don't say when the first week is. Most growers don't feed until the seedling has produced 3-4 sets of true leaves and that typically doesn't happen within the first week. Sometimes it can take 2 or 3 weeks so technically that puts week one of feeding at week 3 or 4 of the life of the plant.
Even Nebula has suggested that a typical grow from seed to harvest will take 16 weeks on average.
If your concern is when to flip to 12/12 lighting that is generally based on how big you want the plant to grow. Some growers leave the plant in Vegetative mode longer to make for a bigger plant. Switching to 12/12 just tells the plant its time to start flowering.