Anyone a fan of defoliation to increase yeild?

tooteefrootee

Well-Known Member
Yeah I know what you mean, that's why it's important to not just look at trichs. As long as the buds are still going there's no need to look at trichs (well, unless you got one that foxtails too long and you don't want the center bud to degrade). Once the calyxes are fully swollen and no new fresh white pistils are being created it's pretty much done. If at that point most trichs are cloudy (which will pretty much always be the case) I pull it. The result of the research of that professor (outlines in an article by Mel Frank in Hightimes, called A Time to Reap if I remember correctly. Kite_high (rip) posted a scan of the article here somewhere at RIU) wasn't just that amber is too far, when trichs start turning cloudy they are at peak THC ratios, when fully cloudy they are already degrading. The only legal medicinal grower in the netherlands pulls ssh after only 7 weeks.

I imagine some early breeders and gurus told others to wait for x% amber as a rough method and that percentage increased (exaggerated) over the past decades as if it's desirable to have amber. If you had a certain % of amber (on the outer calyxes) you could be fairly sure no new trichs are being added and the majority is cloudy.

Unlike Chuck I do look at trichs, but like Chuck I don't really use them to actually determine the harvest day. I look more at the bud structure and calyx development:

I like this book in my reference library, Jorge Cerventas Growers Bible. read it, learn it, love it :)
 

GreatwhiteNorth

Global Moderator
Staff member
I just can't see walking that thing around the block.
Maybe in Key West, but Alaskan dogs would die laughing I think.
 

JointOperation

Well-Known Member
I pull when it looks done, I don't even look at the trichs. that's all a waste of my time. A grower who has grown long enough knows when the plant is finished.
thats bullshit.. ive had hybrids and sativas look done.. but pulled early because of looks.. get a microscope and check your trichs.. ull have better results... and wen there really ripened u get a much stronger smell n taste
 

chuck estevez

Well-Known Member
thats bullshit.. ive had hybrids and sativas look done.. but pulled early because of looks.. get a microscope and check your trichs.. ull have better results... and wen there really ripened u get a much stronger smell n taste
Nope, NOT bullshit, Been growing long enough, I don't even count days. What's bullshit is people that pull early for the $$$. My buds are always finished and there is always a line for them. So, Sorry, But No microscope needed here.
 

stickybuds*

Active Member
is this still going on lol
what a load of crap, when are you lot going to work out defoliation works and you can top a plant and have more than 4 large colas on a plants
Uncle Ben you info is helpful to new growers but its old and dated and your very wrong about number of colas per plant, no question about that

I have just chopped 6 plants with 6-10 very large colas on each plant, something you say does not work

here a picture of a plant and one of the buds:)

plant.JPG


bud.JPG
 

JointOperation

Well-Known Member
i suggest getting a scope.. because honestly. i grew without one for a while. thought i had all my strains chop dates down perfectly.. had the line of customers just waiting for my harvests every single time.. too.. im not saying your buds arent great. im just stating the truth. 1 strain can go from clear to cloudy to amber in a matter of 2 weeks.. or it can take 4 or 5 weeks.. not every strain is the same.. i can pull my plants down now without using a scope.. but if i use a scope i find even the smallest furthest away fromt he light buds.. are great and nice and potent.

then when i got the scope i found i was pulling before peak ripeness.. and it made a huge difference in smell and potency when taken to full ripe.. honestly ive gotten a few older growers to grab scopes.. and no1 has said anything bad about it . they all are so much happier that they can pull when they know its ready.. then guessing. its a 20$ buy.. to be able to see the full potential of every single strain you grow..

ive never heard someone say.. man i wish i never bought a scope.. ever since i got the scope my bud comes out horrible.. ive only heard people say how its helped them maintain a better product with less guessing.. .. but hey if u feel you dont need one.. then dont get one.. im just saying i really believe if your going to take alot of time to grow a great plant.. why guess on when its done when u can kno for a fact when its done?
 

JointOperation

Well-Known Member
lol i wasnt saying its impossible to learn a strain.. but every new strain.. its much easier with a scope.. then after a few runs. u dont need it anymore. but still finding the sweet spot without guessing is so much easier
 
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