is it better to wait for all the buds?

hey whats up guys. This is my first grow and lucky me i got a hermie, but i dont really care because it is fun to grow and im sure it will get me high. The question is: The buds on the top of the plant look ready to me. i'd say 80% of the hairs are brown, but other brandches are only about 40-50% brown. Is it ok to take different chunks of your plant off at different times or will this stress the shit out of my plant? First time here and feedback would be appreciated! thanks!

id be happy to have a hermi if its just a fun, personal use grow. let it fully mature so you can plant the seeds and grow them again.
its impossible to tell you if its ready to chop or not without pictures, but cutting off some sample buds is okay to do. if you really want to.
but untill the entire plant is done, and ripe you are loosing THC,canabanoids and ALOT of taste. its worth the wait bro.
but either way you choose to go, it will be okay, seeing your plant is already a hermi a little bit of added stress wont affect much.

"staggered harvest" is what its called is u take pieces off at a time.. and it never huirt ANY of my good plants... and if u got a hermie already not muuch more could go wrong anyway ha!

You should look at the trichomes under a microscope, red hairs aren't the best way to determine when the crop is ready

effektz said:

You should look at the trichomes under a microscope, red hairs aren't the best way to determine when the crop is ready

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this is true, some strains will have all hairs calyxing/turning redish and the next morning you will have 100s of new white hairs poping out ready to fatten the buds. watching the hairs is IMHO the worst way to tell if its ready to harvest

Some times it is necessary to harvest buds at different times. Most growers will harvest early resulting in loss of yeild and thc content. Sometimes lower branches dont get enough lumens to finish at the same time. I personally take the tops and leave the rest if the plant needs more time. however many would argue to let it finish. Pistols are not the best way to time your plants.
Some times i just wont let the possibilty of rot or damage take the tops.

thanks for all the info i think i will be waiting a while longer now. here a a couple pics of my shim.

thats a good looking plant bro.
its deffinatly still got some time to fatten and rippen up though. you'll be happy either way tho man =]

ya she has got a little ways to go. If you can't get a loop or microscope (at least 30x magnification) I got my scope at Radio Shack for 10 bucks, and got my 30x loop at my hydro store for 6 bucks. but if you cant get one then wait until the pistls get pulled back into the bud and the trichs 9even with the naked eye) will apear brownish. But let that one go a while.

thanks alot brother. maybe after a few grows more i'll put some money into it and get some good seeds. thanks for the help again!

where are the male flowers ? , doesnt look hermie to me