Yeah will def get microscope... not sure what I’m looking for ...
Haha! Search only gets you so far. It’s a personal preference like any other. Some folk like their steaks rare, but most prefer it more medium, and some eat well charred, dry meat, and love it. Better yet, it’s like chocolate and vanilla. Sometimes you prefer one over the other, but you’ll enjoy both flavors.
As trichomes mature, so does THCA, other cannabinoids, and terpenes.
We don’t fully understand yet, on a scientific level, how this affects psycoactivity. But it’s generally agreed that clear trichomes are too young to deliver a powerful, long lasting high. But it’s a fun high! Just light and brief. Excellent for accomplishing chores.
Cloudy trichs offer a more substantial stone, but it’s still not the sedative effect many people want when they get high.
Amber indicates mature cannabinoids, and it’s generally agreed that some amber is desired prior to harvest. Just how much is, again, your personal preference, but also partly strain dependent.
Once you have your grow in rotation, you may want to try differing levels of maturity. You can even partially harvest a plant, and let it go several weeks longer.
Amber trichs don’t always mean powerful. I once bought some weed in Mexico that was gorgeous! I mean perfect looking colas, each weighing about 1/2 ounce. The moisture content was perfect also. I could pry the bud apart and reveal a mountain of delicious looking amber pistils and trichomes. Sadly, it wasn’t very good. (I’m not disparaging all Mexican weed! I’ve had awesome Mex)
It’s great fun to experiment with trichome maturation and the varying effects. Keep at it!