Get a microscope of 50x to 100x. Check the trichomes (frosty looking stuff
) You want the heads of the trichomes to be cloudy/milky. The trichromes have a few stages of maturity. Clear is the first stage, and the cannaboids (what gets us high) aren't mature so you won't get as high. Cloudy/milky gland heads are when they are at max THC content. An amber hue can mean the cannaboids have peaked, and are now degrading, the darker they gland heads the further into this stage they have gone. For peak ripness you want to see a 50% mixture of milky/cloudy and light amber gland heads for a cerebral high/stoney buzz. Indica's should be harvested when most gland heads are a light amber hue, this will give a great body stone. Don't forget to flush your medium atleast a week prior to harvesting so all the sugars, and starches are removed from the plant. To know the flush is going properly the leaves will turn from dark green to light green, then to a yellow color due to lack of nitrogen. Trust me the smoke will be so much better.
This guy really know his stuff, +rep.
