Harvesting buds is not as simple as chopping branches, drying them out, and hanging them in your closet when you’re having a party. You need to wait for the right moment to pick your flowers in order to get the best possible effect.
Auto Harvesting
Harvest time. It sounds so simple, right? Of course, it is simple, but timing is all-important. When to harvest, and whether to harvest auto-flowering or feminized strains, depends on their maturity level. Auto-flowering strains flower significantly more quickly than feminized strains; if you act too soon or too late, you risk harvesting them before they reach peak cannabinoid and terpene levels.
When Is the Autoflower Ready for Harvest?
With a full canopy of buds, the flowers are ready to be harvested. There are signs which can be relied on down the line so you can time actions well. The trichomes and pistil colour will help you decide. How your leaves look will help, too. Plants should be left in the ground for about 6 to 8 weeks before you harvest them.
Life Cycle On Average
A grow planner is a great way to keep track of plants in general. Recording important observations is vital, but it also helps dates to stay straight, tidy and neat. Having a clear picture of when germination/sowing happened will go a long way in figuring out how old a plant is over time. This is key for the first major indication of when autoflower harvesting should happen.
Watermelon Automatic seeds can be expected to reach maturity in approximately 8–9 weeks of growth following germination. Meanwhile, other data sheets for the same strain might indicate a different harvest time, so it is helpful to keep this general timeline in mind.
Trichomes
Trichome color is arguably the most accurate way to determine whether a cannabis plant is mature enough to harvest. Using trichomes is an easy and reliable way to determine when a plant should be harvested. Cannabinoids and terpenes are the molecules that give marijuana its effects, smells, and tastes. Terpenes are produced in the tiny glistening mushroom-shaped glands on cannabis flowers.
During the flowering stage, trichomes appear translucent, but become cloudy and then amber as the plant matures. The chemical composition changes within the bulbous glands, and by examining them with a microscope or jeweler’s loupe, you can make an informed judgment about when to harvest.
Keep an eye out for:
- Amber trichomes – Reduced THC levels, towards the end of the harvest window.
- Clear trichomes – These are a symbol of immature flowers that have cannabinoid profiles that are suboptimal. Avoid pulling the trigger at this point!
- Cloudy trichomes – Opaque, milky trichomes are a clear sign that the glands are chock-full of THC. Trying to get a potent, cerebral high? This is the best time to start cutting!
Conclusion
Many people have a misconception that harvesting buds is easy. In truth, it’s all about timing in order to get the best “hit.” Having a grow planner will go a long way in keeping track of the timing.
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