green or yellow fan leaves at harvest

[Boatguy]

Production wise it probably doesnt make sense, but for personal stash, small time grower?

 

[growingforfun]

This was exactly my thinking. But one area I need to check out more is how do some of these dudes cure.

I have read that slow drying actually allows the plant to continue metabolizing essentially using up stored nutrients.

But my thinking is that with proper finish (using up stored nutrients)...then you have a head start on drying and curing. With an even smoother product at the end. That is a goal...correct?
JD

You should be doing the best cure and the best lead up to harvest possible. I wouldnt say its a good idea to cut corners anywhere.

I agree the plant still has a little life left at chop for a few days, i like to turn off the lights and after about 2 days hang as much of the plant upside down to dry as i can. Pretty hard to do at this point because i scrog. Then dry trim. For me, it give the best smoke. But lots of people have diff opinions on that.

 

[Miyagismokes]

Wet trimming is just not economical, imo.

 

[JohnDee]

You should be doing the best cure and the best lead up to harvest possible. I wouldnt say its a good idea to cut corners anywhere.

I agree the plant still has a little life left at chop for a few days, i like to turn off the lights and after about 2 days hang as much of the plant upside down to dry as i can. Pretty hard to do at this point because i scrog. Then dry trim. For me, it give the best smoke. But lots of people have diff opinions on that.

Gathering info from which to make/change my advice to noobs as well as my personal growing strategy. You've been helpful.

I like the dry trim idea since it allows for slightly slower drying.
JD

 

[JohnDee]

Wet trimming is just not economical, imo.

Why is that? Just want to understand your reasoning...
JD

 

[Miyagismokes]

Why is that? Just want to understand your reasoning...
JD

Because I have to spend a bunch of effort setting up trays instead of just hanging sticks. Trays also make weed get flat spots if you don't pay attention to them.

 

[JohnDee]

Because I have to spend a bunch of effort setting up trays instead of just hanging sticks. Trays also make weed get flat spots if you don't pay attention to them.

Ah, marketability. I don't sell so never think about that. I agree with you for different reasons.
Namaste,
JD

 

[growingforfun]

Why is that? Just want to understand your reasoning...
JD

Generally people who harvest small amounts wet trim. It makes it dry faster obviously, and that lets them smoke or sell it faster. Some claim that a dry trim knocks off more trichs, but i dont think it does at all, provided your not rough on your stuff. I can scrape up as much fallen kief off my table on a wet trim as on a dry trim.

 

[charface]

I use to trim wet and hang because I thought it would look better due to the ease of cutting out stems while the leaf is still perky.

However once I tried dry trimming to slow down the dry I discovered my dry trim looked just as pretty in its own way. The leaf secondary? Leaf cradles the bud and if you are careful you don't
Lose enough thrichs to worry about.

If you trim over a screen/trim bin its easy to recover what falls

I will never trim wet again.

 

[Miyagismokes]

Generally people who harvest small amounts wet trim. It makes it dry faster obviously, and that lets them smoke or sell it faster. Some claim that a dry trim knocks off more trichs, but i dont think it does at all, provided your not rough on your stuff. I can scrape up as much fallen kief off my table on a wet trim as on a dry trim.

I have less...kief and more "original formula" finger hash

 

[growingforfun]

I have less...kief and more "original formula" finger hash

I never touch the buds with my hands so my fingers generally stay pretty clean. Ill take each branch and clip it into the budlets with a little stem on each as a spot for my fingers, even if its a 1/4 inch of stem its enough to hold. Started doing it this was after watching a old timer trim. For me its the fastest way and keeps my hands from getting sore from holding more weight than nessisary.

 

[JohnDee]

Charface and growingforfun...thanks so much on the trimming info. I'm a big ganja butter guy so anything that I don't know what to do with...goes into the ganja pot for extraction.
JD

 

[JohnDee]

I never touch the buds with my hands so my fingers generally stay pretty clean. Ill take each branch and clip it into the budlets with a little stem on each as a spot for my fingers, even if its a 1/4 inch of stem its enough to hold. Started doing it this was after watching a old timer trim. For me its the fastest way and keeps my hands from getting sore from holding more weight than nessisary.

Trying to visualize this. So bud is essentially in your palm pinching stem with thumb and forefinger.

I'm wishing I just harvested...so I could try it out.

All this talk...I gotta make a dispensary run and score some bud.
JD

 

[growingforfun]

Trying to visualize this. So bud is essentially in your palm pinching stem with thumb and forefinger.

I'm wishing I just harvested...so I could try it out.

All this talk...I gotta make a dispensary run and score some bud.
JD

No not in my palm, facing out. If i were to trim a bud, my right hand would hold itan palm would be facing down and to the left. Pinching the stem with pointer and thumb, and rotating the bud by slight twisting the branch by spinning it. Lets me work quickly and with minimal effort. I always sit in a firm backed chair at a table. If i sit on a couch or fabric camping chair i trim much slower and end with back pain and shoulder pain.

 

[JohnDee]

No not in my palm, facing out. If i were to trim a bud, my right hand would hold itan palm would be facing down and to the left. Pinching the stem with pointer and thumb, and rotating the bud by slight twisting the branch by spinning it. Lets me work quickly and with minimal effort. I always sit in a firm backed chair at a table. If i sit on a couch or fabric camping chair i trim much slower and end with back pain and shoulder pain.

OK I got it now. I know some people worry about mortgage payment or kid's school...but me I just want to perfect my skills.
JD

 

[Somatek]

If you're hungry, and eat your own finger, I'm pretty sure you'd know where the meat came from, and at no point does an ordinary meal require removal of a finger.

Plants aren't dumb. They're highly advanced biochemical engines.

The human body does cannibalise itself as we approach death, loss of appetite often & weight loss is very common before people die.

It's not a great comparison because our biology is very different. Look at maples, they communicate through ethylene gas to let one another know the season is ending is over (very rough analogy) and to cannibalise their leaves. Any strain that shows dramatic colour outdoors before harvest is doing the same thing, which tells me they've evolved to grow that way.

I remember in the 90's growers talked about "optimal burn" & they pushed their plants right up to harvest. It was in the late 90' early 2000's that I remember the shift being to push the plant up to the last 2 weeks to maximise weight, then flush heavily for the last 2 so the leaves would be yellowing instead of dark green by harvest. When I got out of growing a decade ago I was seeing people flushing earlier, fading leaves earlier, etc. That seems detrimental to me as creating a dificiency during the peak of flowering just feels wrong.

 

[JohnDee]

Hi Somatek,
Thanks for your post...I liked the historical perspectives. Indeed growing has evolved a lot. I've been at it for many decades.

And while I admit to an affinity toward old school thought...if keeping plants green till the end can be a benefit, I'm all ears.

That seems detrimental to me as creating a dificiency during the peak of flowering just feels wrong.

But Soma, it really isn't a "deficiency" at that point. More an end of life issue.
JD

 

[Somatek]

But Soma, it really isn't a "deficiency" at that point. More an end of life issue.
JD

If we're talking about yellowing in the last 2 weeks I'd agree. That comment was specifically referencing seeing plants yellowing at 3-4 weeks our from harvest, which on a typical 8 week strain is when I'm use to seeing the most growth.

In my experience a 2 week flush won't effect yields but will increase quality as plants should have enough stored nutrients to keep growing. Anything longer I imagine would increase the chances of decreasing yields by pushing the "reserves" (for lack of a better analogy) too far, creating a deficiency.

 

[JohnDee]

Soma,
Got 'ya I've seen lots of guys do a three week flush and depending on strain and growth medium...I may go along with that. But a month...half the entire flower cycle would definitely cost you in bud weight. I personally only do a week in hydro but am considering implementing a longer flush...hence the thread.
JD

 

[Beachwalker]

Gathering info from which to make/change my advice to noobs as well as my personal growing strategy. You've been helpful.

I like the dry trim idea since it allows for slightly slower drying.
JD

It also increases the possibility of mold or mildew in the drying room ? And the more plants the higher the risk. Not slamming it I trim both ways, depending