You should only look at calyx / bract areas ... not leaf , not sugar leaf . Many strains don’t amber until die off. Some strains show degrade as plant dies after chop. Amber is CBN which is from degrade . You are trying to chop “ at or near “ PEAK , looking at “ all tops “ .... not just the mains. You want a uniform percentage overall of cloudiness or as close to full opaqueness.
This is when THC is at its most mature point. CANNABIS will degrade as soon as you harvest it , cannabinoids and terpenes synthesize into other compounds, subsequently altering their psychoactive properties. Heat and light , temps alters THC . There is still these methods of thinking surrounding “ waiting for amber “ , which is like waiting for an apple to get a brown spot or banana with black spots. Sativas and Haze genetics , for example can run 15-16 weeks without fully showing 100% maturity , many get cut after a good 80% or so of cloudiness even with some white pistils . And don’t really amber.
There are many other indicators of when to chop ....
Examples :
Plant stops drinking
Mass leaf die off or full fade ( photosynthesis has severely dropped off / lack of nitrogen )
Sugar Leaf death
Pistil recede / color off has hit at least 80% of flower
Many growers look at plants and can tell when a flower looks done , by just looking at the stage the pistil / calyx looks ( colored / recede ) over scoping them. It’s very easy to cut too soon over cutting too late.
