Which is really more important???

...The color of the trichomes or the overall appearance of the bud?

I'm asking because I am unsure about one of my plants. I'm approaching harvest time (8 weeks in flowering so far under a 600 watt HPS. In 3 gallon pots of FF ocean forest) on a 3-plant closet grow. I grew a Barney's Farm LSD, a Ceres Orange Bud, and a Dinafem Power Kush. The OB and LSD are progressing in an impressive fashion and will be ready to chop in about another week. The Power Kush has me baffled though. This is my first time growing this particular strain, so maybe this is normal, but I doubt it, being a skunk x Afghani cross.

My dilemma is that the PK is currently at 50%+ amber trichomes with the rest cloudy, but only 15 to 20% of the pistils have turned -- the rest are still bright white. The buds are nice and dense and the calyxes are swelling nicely, but she just doesn't look "finished" yet. But I've already got more amber trich's than I really desired.

So, chop her this weekend or give her 1 more week??? I can't decide. Any thoughts?

nobody will tell you to go by the appearance of the bud. that said ...go with your heart and do wwhat you want to do. are you sure your hps isnt making the trichs look amber?
does your scope have a bluish light on it?

i have one right now that looks ready but trichs are not ...

rzza said:

nobody will tell you to go by the appearance of the bud. that said ...go with your heart and do wwhat you want to do. are you sure your hps isnt making the trichs look amber?
does your scope have a bluish light on it?

Click to expand...

Nah, I'm looking at the trich's in my kitchen and also under the 600 watt MH light in the veg room (I trim a piece of a frosty bud leaf and look at it through both a 30x and a 50x mic.

I've never let the trich's get this amber, but I've always gone by the overall look more than just the trich's. Are pistils receding/calyxes swollen/etc, etc. I'm checking the trich's daily, hoping they don't suddenly go even further amber. I'm starting to think I should chop her Saturday morning.

have you flushed yet!? did it change the color of the trichs?? trichs never lie!! they are the main determinin factor but sum of times when you flush they will retract on the color a bit!!

rzza said:

nobody will tell you to go by the appearance of the bud.

Click to expand...

I will tell you to go by the appearance of the bud. That, the aroma and the overall health of your plant will tell you when you're ok to harvest, or when you've waited too long.

That being said, a lot of times your pistols will change before your trics so the fact that your situation is the opposite is quite contrary to my nine years of experience.

homebrewer said:

I will tell you to go by the appearance of the bud. That, the aroma and the overall health of your plant will tell you when you're ok to harvest, or when you've waited too long.

That being said, a lot of times your pistols will change before your trics so the fact that your situation is the opposite is quite contrary to my nine years of experience.

Click to expand...

lol, it's contrary to all of my previous experience too. My girls have always looked ready before the trichomes said they were, but I have the exact opposite case here. Maybe it's a strain-specific thing, but I doubt it.
This morning I could tell a few more of the pistils are receding and none of them are standing up any more, so I guess I'll just play it day by day.

oh, and someone asked if i am flushing. Yes, I started a couple of waterings ago (i water them every other day at this point in their life cycle), but it hasn't had any visible effect.

I would go by the trichs. Some plants will put out a lot of new pistils, all the way to the end, last ditch effort to get pollinated and all. Once you chop, within a day, those hairs will turn colors.

if more than 50% started to turn then i would chop it man and not risk it. i'm sure the rest will mature in the drying and curing process don't count that out. happy harvesting!

ive also heard of just chopping what you think is ripe and leaving the so so one's on their for a lil bit longer if possible. if anything just to see what happens! let us know!