Dark period before harvest

shawnery

Well-Known Member
First let me say I have read all over the Fing interent for the last two days and as usual the information is as readily available as it is contradictory.

My plants were considered done or close to it yesterday so I figured I just try 48hrs of dark for the hell of it. I've read it produces more resin and trichomes, I've read that's bullshit and I've read that it breaks down the the plant tissue for netter smoking experience even though I don't smoke.

Has anyone who reads this either done a side by side or have any actual verifiable data to back up a theory or break a theory down?

I don't mind putting the extra time in because what's a few days compared to the nearly 90 days I've been growing.

Like I said, I have searched, researched and as usual have come out of the experience with more contradictory information then clear ideas.

Thanks for taking the time and yes I'm aware I post a lot. It's a side effecr of having no life, being disabled and honestly enjoying the experience of conversating about something in order to learn instead of just reading it.
 

Ohwolfie

Well-Known Member
First let me say I have read all over the Fing interent for the last two days and as usual the information is as readily available as it is contradictory.

My plants were considered done or close to it yesterday so I figured I just try 48hrs of dark for the hell of it. I've read it produces more resin and trichomes, I've read that's bullshit and I've read that it breaks down the the plant tissue for netter smoking experience even though I don't smoke.

Has anyone who reads this either done a side by side or have any actual verifiable data to back up a theory or break a theory down?

I don't mind putting the extra time in because what's a few days compared to the nearly 90 days I've been growing.

Like I said, I have searched, researched and as usual have come out of the experience with more contradictory information then clear ideas.

Thanks for taking the time and yes I'm aware I post a lot. It's a side effecr of having no life, being disabled and honestly enjoying the experience of conversating about something in order to learn instead of just reading it.
I've tried it, but have not noticed anything to convince me either way. What I do like to do is try to harvest plants right before, or right after the lights turn on. I have heard that a plant has it's highest levels of oils in the early morning, or late evening. So I try to harvest with that in mind.
 

promedz

Well-Known Member
my input! by the time im ready to harvest my plant has way more than enough trichomes! the 2-3 days of darkness dont do anything for me

mine get 7-8 days of darkness when they are hanging to dry! too me them are the dark days that you start to see more trichomes because of the plant shrinking in size and the trichomes staying the same size! so they look bigger or more! it also brakes down the plant tissue for better smoking experience!

so in my eyes the dark period is 7 days of hang drying/./ the 3 days ppl leave plants in darkness maybe to help them ripe?> but again if you cut it down when its ripe you dont need extra days of darkness! my 2 cents
 

promedz

Well-Known Member
I've tried it, but have not noticed anything to convince me either way. What I do like to do is try to harvest plants right before, or right after the lights turn on. I have heard that a plant has it's highest levels of oils in the early morning, or late evening. So I try to harvest with that in mind.
best advice i got was to cut the plant down when it has the highest levels of oils and that can be morning late evening or before feeds or after feeds but when the plant stinks at its most potent you chop and smell stays!
 

shawnery

Well-Known Member
The one thing Ive read consistently through all my research is that the plants smelled more after a dark period. Pretty much every opinion and experience I've gone through has stated a stronger smell. Perhaps this is because of the oils you two are speaking of?

Thanks again and not arguing but thinking openly. It's just the annoying way I learn. More often then not people think I'm arguing but I'm not.
 

promedz

Well-Known Member
The one thing Ive read consistently through all my research is that the plants smelled more after a dark period. Pretty much every opinion and experience I've gone through has stated a stronger smell. Perhaps this is because of the oils you two are speaking of?

Thanks again and not arguing but thinking openly. It's just the annoying way I learn. More often then not people think I'm arguing but I'm not.
Yes your right but I was saying if it’s ripe and stinks then the 3 nights is not needed! If she don’t smell two much then the 3 might not hurt to try? But could be strain related? Mine all stink bad. Soon as I open the jar the whole house smells for a while
 

CannaBruh

Well-Known Member
Random anecdote;

Harvested over New Years Eve and New Years Day. Cut at the stalk all but 1.
The 1 was left in medium, coco, for about 2 weeks. In this 2 weeks it saw no additional water.
The plant did NOT droop. Ever, the entire time. (end of life stasis survival mode?)
Had it been in bloom and missed a day of water it would have been droop city.
Conditions were mild 60f 24hrs of low low light. It saw distant light from some table lamps, not direct light. I'd consider this a somewhat dark period.

Short of the long it was a neat observation
 

OldMedUser

Well-Known Member
I never harvest the whole plant nor do I hang to dry. I take the ripest colas off but only enough that it will take an hour to break it down and do a final trim then into doubled paper bags for a 3 to 5 week slow dry in my cool basement. Dumping them out every day to air dry for 15 min the the first week or so then every 2nd day for another week them once in a while until they go, still moist, into jars for a month's worth of burping. The main curing is in the early drying and once any has gone dry it no longer cures even if remoistened.

So no dark period at all and smooth smoking bud all around.

OG18BudzWellCured.jpg
 

Snowchaser

Active Member
I never harvest the whole plant nor do I hang to dry. I take the ripest colas off
What happens with the rest of the plant? Do you eventually trim the popcorn buds off or do you discard all but the main colas?
Thanks for the advice on paper bag technique too! I'm gonna try that
 
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