THC at peak when trichomes are clear?

[kagecog]

Here's a segment from a high times article I recently discovered

"Dr. Paul G. Mahlberg who found that THC in the resin head is at it's peak when it's still clear - not opaque and certainly not amber. Dr. Mahlberg stuck a tiny syringe into the bulbous head of the trichome and extracted it's contents, then analyzed it for THC. The result: Without a doubt, THC is at it's highest before the trichome turns opaque."

I've always harvested when the majority of my trichs were cloudy and about 10-20% were amber. Does anyone have any experience with buds that were harvested when the majority of trichs were still clear? Other than the fact that the bud was probably a lot fluffier, how was the high like?

 

[puffdatchronic]

That might be, but the high is not dependent on just thc. There is more than 60 cannabinoids and thc is just one. That is why if you actually harvest at all clear, it will be early and the high will suck.

I have experience of harvesting too early also. I took a lemon skunk at 56 days one time and it should have went to about 70 days . The high was just a tease if you know what I mean. There was hints of a killer body high that *could * have been there to go with the head high, but I only got it in a few of the buds. I was left thinking... damn if i had waited 2 weeks I would be getting this high every time. Tolerance was also quick to build.

 

[racerboy71]

That might be, but the high is not dependent on just thc. There is more than 60 cannabinoids and thc is just one. That is why if you actually harvest at all clear, it will be early and the high will suck.

I have experience of harvesting too early also. I took a lemon skunk at 56 days one time and it should have went to about 70 days . The high was just a tease if you know what I mean. There was hints of a killer body high that *could * have been there to go with the head high, but I only got it in a few of the buds. I was left thinking... damn if i had waited 2 weeks I would be getting this high every time. Tolerance was also quick to build.

well said puff, and i completely agree. some people look at strain descriptions and see, oh, 26% thc, this most be the most potent weed ever, when imvho, the thc % number is only one small aspect of what affects the high or stone from cannabis..
there is something about old school strains that were tested at only say 5% thc, compared to today's strains that test in the mid 20's regularly.. you can't tell me that old school strains are 5 x's weaker then new school strains just because the thc % says so..

 

[puffdatchronic]

Yeah my thoughts exactly.

 

[Po boy]

Yeah my thoughts exactly.

ditto............................

 

[OGEvilgenius]

I've harvested sativas while trichromes were still clear and the results were fucking stellar. I pretty much always hate cannabis that has a lot of yellow trichromes. I tend to like it more when the majority are still on the clear side.

I think some folks like the buzz from CBN a lot. And yes, the terpenes definitely play their part - and some plants the terpene profile changes as they mature. I'd say it's really going to depend on the plant and the effects you're looking for. There's no one size fits all here IMO.

Also, something that needs to be considered is these trichromes exude resins that coat the plant. If you leave a plant longer, presumably there will be more resin - but of course whether that resin is still within the profile you're looking for is the real question. No easy answer.

 

[kagecog]

Hmm, interesting. I guess I might harvest part of a plant at 50% clear 50% cloudy and see for myself the results! Anyone else have any personal experience with this?

 

[racerboy71]

Hmm, interesting. I guess I might harvest part of a plant at 50% clear 50% cloudy and see for myself the results! Anyone else have any personal experience with this?

i made the mistake of harvesting early... once.. that's all it took for me to never make that mistake again.. nothing worse than premy bud imvho.. i hate sitting there and thinking how good it could have been if i had only waited another two weeks or w/e..
i also don't believe when people say if you want more of a sativa high, harvest early, and if you want more of an indica high, harvest later.. no, imvho, if you want more of a sativa high, grow a sativa, if you want an indica high, grow an indica, and grow them till they're mature..
my $.02

 

[OGEvilgenius]

Some sativas you'll be waiting for like a year before you see a yellow head. Or at least it seems that way.

 

[OGEvilgenius]

i made the mistake of harvesting early... once.. that's all it took for me to never make that mistake again.. nothing worse than premy bud imvho.. i hate sitting there and thinking how good it could have been if i had only waited another two weeks or w/e..
i also don't believe when people say if you want more of a sativa high, harvest early, and if you want more of an indica high, harvest later.. no, imvho, if you want more of a sativa high, grow a sativa, if you want an indica high, grow an indica, and grow them till they're mature..
my $.02

I think this probably has to do with resin production from the heads.

I actually haven't grown an indica indoors in a long time so my opinion on them is not all that valuable.

 

[fatboyOGOF]

That might be, but the high is not dependent on just thc. There is more than 60 cannabinoids and thc is just one. That is why if you actually harvest at all clear, it will be early and the high will suck.

I have experience of harvesting too early also. I took a lemon skunk at 56 days one time and it should have went to about 70 days . The high was just a tease if you know what I mean. There was hints of a killer body high that *could * have been there to go with the head high, but I only got it in a few of the buds. I was left thinking... damn if i had waited 2 weeks I would be getting this high every time. Tolerance was also quick to build.

this!


thc is only part of the buzz.

i cut when the trichs are mostly cloudy. i've tried cutting earlier and later and for me, this is the best.

 

[GroErr]

30+ years, countless strains, early and late picking, cloudy trichs, amber if you want more of a punch/less of a head stone. Has never failed me, early/clear sucks. My neighbour took his outdoor plants early last year, against my recommendation, a buzz but barely. A few outdoor plants I had to leave alone last year went late, potent stuff but not the nice head stone I was used to with that strain, and definitely couch lock material.

 

[MightyMike530]

I think there is a difference between buds that were harvested early (prematurely) and buds that were harvested early within the window to harvest.

Buds harvested prematurely are going to suck, period. Buds harvested early in the window still kick a lot of ass. Im still a noob but I pulled an Indica early my first grow and the high was still amazing, total head high that finished in the body, versus the typical full-on couchlock body high if they wouldve been harvested later in the window.

Essentially, if you grow good buds, harvest within the proper window, and treat them right prior to smoking you're going to get a good high.

 

[Blindnslow]

Every time I've harvested early either due to my own stupidity or thought the plant was dead and might as well cut it, I've always been disappointed and kicked my self in the ass...Always sub par.. I like what I read the other day on RIU..."When you think it's done, Let it go another week.". I've never been disappointed in one that went a little too long...

 

[DemonTrich]

I had to harvest this last one a bit early. by my estimate, I was at 5% amber, 80% cloudy, 15% clear. I normally wait a couple weeks longer, but ran into some issues (flipping timing was wayyyyyyyyy off this cycle). all 3 strains are very nice. all my patients love the quality. all said it was more of a head high. this next harvest will be harvested on their normal schedule (80/10/10 cloudy/clear/amber)

 

[Tricksfouru2]

i made the mistake of harvesting early... once.. that's all it took for me to never make that mistake again.. nothing worse than premy bud imvho.. i hate sitting there and thinking how good it could have been if i had only waited another two weeks or w/e..
i also don't believe when people say if you want more of a sativa high, harvest early, and if you want more of an indica high, harvest later.. no, imvho, if you want more of a sativa high, grow a sativa, if you want an indica high, grow an indica, and grow them till they're mature..
my $.02

 

[Tricksfouru2]

Bump! Exactly!

 

[MrGreen23]

I think there is a difference between buds that were harvested early (prematurely) and buds that were harvested early within the window to harvest.

Buds harvested prematurely are going to suck, period. Buds harvested early in the window still kick a lot of ass. Im still a noob but I pulled an Indica early my first grow and the high was still amazing, total head high that finished in the body, versus the typical full-on couchlock body high if they wouldve been harvested later in the window.

Essentially, if you grow good buds, harvest within the proper window, and treat them right prior to smoking you're going to get a good high.

It's the same with anything cannabis plants should be treated like grapes to produce a fine wine, .....not on topic but I saw a weed wedding the other day.....dudes and dudettes...that shit made this cracker cry!

 

[GrowJay]

Here's a segment from a high times article I recently discovered

"Dr. Paul G. Mahlberg who found that THC in the resin head is at it's peak when it's still clear - not opaque and certainly not amber. Dr. Mahlberg stuck a tiny syringe into the bulbous head of the trichome and extracted it's contents, then analyzed it for THC. The result: Without a doubt, THC is at it's highest before the trichome turns opaque."

I've always harvested when the majority of my trichs were cloudy and about 10-20% were amber. Does anyone have any experience with buds that were harvested when the majority of trichs were still clear? Other than the fact that the bud was probably a lot fluffier, how was the high like?

Hey man....I recently had to harvest my buds while 10% were milky and the rest clear. The high is very different.....very busy. Still good though. Next harvest Im going milky though....no amber.

 

[Bigdog1980]

OK guys its close to harvest but i'm not sure how close. I have a 60x jewelers scope and there looks to be more cloudy than clear but I don't want to wait for amber as I have been told that is to late. What should I do........ I want to harvest but don't want to mess up. This is a first grow and the seeds came out of a bag of bud......HELP ME