Some buds losing smell, trichome concerns ect

[Canadiannewbie]

Hi, this is my first time growing and need advice. Been growing a couple of plants in a pot on the back deck, everything seemed to be going good until yesturday I noticed some of the bigger buds on the very top have lost their skunky smell, is this normal? When I look at the trichomes they are milky and some clear on the lower buds with all white pistols that smell skunky and only a couple of the more bigger buds on top have some yellow/ amber trichomes, but only on the top of the bud, while the rest of the bud is still milky. One bud even has dark amber stems and heads on the trichomes on a tiny spot on the tip of the bud. Does this mean they are ready when they lose smell or are they ruined? Would it be possible to only harvest the top bud off a plant while still continuing to grow the smaller all white haired buds at the bottom that's aren't close to being ready, what would u do?

Also it's going to rain for the next week straight and I I moved my plants To the garage. Would they be better off there infront of a window and out of the dampness, or back outside with more light ?

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[2014LML]

Hi, this is my first time growing and need advice. Been growing a couple of plants in a pot on the back deck, everything seemed to be going good until yesturday I noticed some of the bigger buds on the very top have lost their skunky smell, is this normal? When I look at the trichomes they are milky and some clear on the lower buds with all white pistols that smell skunky and only a couple of the more bigger buds on top have some yellow/ amber trichomes, but only on the top of the bud, while the rest of the bud is still milky. One bud even has dark amber stems and heads on the trichomes on a tiny spot on the tip of the bud. Does this mean they are ready when they lose smell or are they ruined? Would it be possible to only harvest the top bud off a plant while still continuing to grow the smaller all white haired buds at the bottom that's aren't close to being ready, what would u do?

Also it's going to rain for the next week straight and I I moved my plants To the garage. Would they be better off there infront of a window and out of the dampness, or back outside with more light ?

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

With a proper dry/cure the aroma will be back & stronger than ever, better taste than it was just dried, and will be more potent. You can chop parts off & let the lower part continue to finish, if that's what you want to do. It's certainly not a bad idea by any means, imo. At this stage in their life you surely don't want to put them under constant rain or a lot of moisture (all according to your humidity/temp levels). Some type of supplemental lighting would perfect.

 

[Canadiannewbie]

So could I cut the whole top stem of the plant just below the top bud, or do you mean peel the bud off with my fingers? I had the plant inside overnight a few nights ago and my whole house reeked, and now today my garage doesn't smell the slightest bit. This is totally normal, not a sign of garbage weed? Will the smell come back when I hang to dry? Thought I would be forced to dry in the pool shed because of smell, but if it's going to stay this until jarred then I can dry inside . No problem. Thanks

 

[2014LML]

So could I cut the whole top stem of the plant just below the top bud, or do you mean peel the bud off with my fingers? I had the plant inside overnight a few nights ago and my whole house reeked, and now today my garage doesn't smell the slightest bit. This is totally normal, not a sign of garbage weed? Will the smell come back when I hang to dry? Thought I would be forced to dry in the pool shed because of smell, but if it's going to stay this until jarred then I can dry inside . No problem. Thanks

Yeah man, just cut it. Well, it might not smell to you, but it surely smells. Take a pic! No, not a sign of garbage weed...I've never had any problems with smell coming back after I jarred them. I'm sure if you "pinch" the bud the full aroma will hit you, instantly. No, don't dry in the pool shed lol bring it inside. It's entirely up to you to trim wet or dry, I've always trimmed wet, but do plan to try doing it dry this harvest just to really see for myself.

 

[Canadiannewbie]

I'm half embarrassed to post pics as my plants have lost a lot of leaves and are looking more like lollipops with buds on top. I threw seeds in a pot for fun and watered with miricle grow and they grew buds. I started flushing about 2 weeks ago not knowing how long they had left to flower. Seems like the bigger buds might be ready or even past ready? The bigger buds are starting to smell a little like hay and cat pee while the smaller ones still smell like skunk. Could some be past due, they seemed a lot more crystally last week. I was touching them with a microscope this past week when trying to view trichomes, could this have damaged the hairs, crystal and smell and made the top of the buds trichomes turn color? Do buds usually grow in different phases on a plant and require multiple drying periods? Or it. Usually cut and dryed all at once. What would u do with these bud cut all now some now or keep them going. Thanks

 

[SSHZ]

Every strain is different how they finish off....some are all done at once, some finish top to bottom and other bottom to top. It appears the plant(s) didn't get a lot of sun, which can impact size, quality, finishing quickness, etc. Too me it does not look like they tops are done, as I'm still seeing white hairs- these should be brown or gone as the calyxes swell. The trichomes should mostly be cloudy with 10-20% amber (redish) when finished properly. Don't worry about smell at smell at this point, it's meaningless. The biggest mistake newbies make is cutting early, thinking things are done. As a famous breeder once stated, when you think they plants are finished, WAIT ANOTHER WEEK!!!!!

 

[Canadiannewbie]

Is there a particular area on a bud that is recommended to check for the trichomes. On the big bud with brown hairs on top for example has milky and clear trichomes all over it except for the very top of the bud which has has milky and yellow and even dark amber ones on the brown hairs. Those areas seem to have a lot less trichomes than the ones with all milky or clear trichomes. That's what confuses me about trichomes, the colors very so much depending on which part of the bud your looking at. So if they don't look ready yet should I keep watering with just water at this point or start using miracle grow again,thanks for your help

 

[SSHZ]

How far along are they in flowering???? That will determain whether to continue fertilizing....it does look like they need some nitrogen but if you are far enough long, you'll be fine.

The trichome method is an approximation, so you should sample various areas of the plant as to trichome coloring. No two strains are alike. The areas that get more light will finish earlier and have more resin.

When the hairs die back, the calyxes swell which is where you want to be. This will add weight to the buds and the calyxes (false seed pods) have loads of resin on the outside so you want to get to that point before harvesting.

Lastly, they do appear to be a bit leafy, which often happens with outside plants but could also be caused by using too much nitrogen in flowering. If nothing else, remember each crop you'll become more knowledgable and thus the crop will be better and better.