Pistils vs. Trichomes

ganga gurl420

Well-Known Member
I would like to hear the experienced growers thoughts on when to take a plant.
I see so many posts asking if its chop time and everyone always says look at the trichomes and if they are all cloudy then it's time, even tho the buds dont look done to me (still lots of white pistils)

I dont even start checking trichs until the pistils start dying off and receding. It just has "a look to them" and if I check the calyx they are always perfect.

No matter if I grow indoors or out it's always the same...
So why do so many growers insist on taking early (or what I think is early) when 25% of finally bud weight comes with the swell in the last 2 weeks.
 
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ganga gurl420

Well-Known Member
A friend told me a long time ago when I started, when you think it's done..give it 2 more weeks. I never go by what a breeder say's how many days to finish flowering and always check trichs.
I'm not talking about the breeders times...too many phenos in a pack to go off of that.
I am talking about the receding pistils vs just looking at trichs.
Everyone says not to go by the pistils but I do...and when I do and check the trichs they are always perfect.
 

Gaza420

Member
I'm not talking about the breeders times...too many phenos in a pack to go off of that.
I am talking about the receding pistils vs just looking at trichs.
Everyone says not to go by the pistils but I do...and when I do and check the trichs they are always perfect.
If I understand what your saying correctly I agree.. if I see white pistils still coming and a lot..I leave it let it do it's thing
 

Gaza420

Member
4 years and each year I've gotten more and more patient waiting to harvest. The 2 more weeks after you think it's done seems like a good idea to me.a few years ago I would've been so eager to chop this,but now I know much better than that. Patience is key.
Same with me man.. I remember doing that same shit..lol patience is truly a virtue especially for someone like myself that must get everything right now!
 
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ganga gurl420

Well-Known Member
Right... but if you guys would have shown that pic of your plant and said that you seen 100% cloudy trichs, you would have gotten an overwhelming amount of people that said chop it. To me yes that's another two weeks from being done.
 

ganga gurl420

Well-Known Member
4 years and each year I've gotten more and more patient waiting to harvest. The 2 more weeks after you think it's done seems like a good idea to me.a few years ago I would've been so eager to chop this,but now I know much better than that. Patience is key.
Beautiful bud btw
 

omgBoNg

Well-Known Member
Right it goes by plant, not strain necessarily that is 1 of 4 holy grail and "a few others". It is the only one that far along, all of the others are at least 3 weeks behind that one. I hope weather is fair enough till mid Oct.
 

ganga gurl420

Well-Known Member
Right it goes by plant, not strain necessarily that is 1 of 4 holy grail and "a few others". It is the only one that far along, all of the others are at least 3 weeks behind that one. I hope weather is fair enough till mid Oct.
Yeah I really like the holy grail. Great producer and potency
 

ganga gurl420

Well-Known Member
@ganga gurl420 , everything you say makes sense but here is a question: what about foxtailing buds that keep adding calyxes with new white hairs? Seems like I need to go by the trichomes in this case.
As for sativa's.....A good sign of "done" can be Foxtailing when they are just beyond the "given norm" for strain finish..
So yes trichomes are a must to go off of. I just dont believe that is the only thing a grower should look for
 

The Gram Reaper

Well-Known Member
I would like to hear the experiences growers thoughts on when to take a plant.
I see so many posts asking if its chop time and everyone always says look at the trichomes and if they are all cloudy then it's time, even tho the buds dont look done to me (still lots of white pistils)

I dont even start checking trichs until the pistils start dying off and receding. It just has "a look to them" and if I check the calyx they are always perfect.

No matter if I grow indoors or out it's always the same...
So why do so many growers insist on taking early (or what I think is early) when 25% of finally bud weight comes with the swell in the last 2 weeks.
The bud will swell its calxyes and foxtails, the hairs will curl in, the trichomes will bend over, and the bud will turn rock solid. Once I get all those factors, I wait I week.

If you have to investigate if your bud is done, its not done. It should be obvious to the naked eye under normal lighting. That "popped" look.

Why do people harvest early? They want a faster return and don't realize the production and quality they are losing.
 

ganga gurl420

Well-Known Member
The bud will swell its calxyes and foxtails, the hairs will curl in, the trichomes will bend over, and the bud will turn rock solid. Once I get all those factors, I wait I week.

If you have to investigate if your bud is done, its not done. It should be obvious to the naked eye under normal lighting. That "popped" look.

Why do people harvest early? They want a faster return and don't realize the production and quality they are losing.
So well put! :clap:
 

The Gram Reaper

Well-Known Member
When I see the plants pop, I take a side bud off the plant. When that bud dries 5-7 days later, the rest of the bud should be ready to harvest. Gives you a bud with an energizing high to smoke while you harvest, and lets you test the strain before the crop is done.
 

Kingrow1

Well-Known Member
@ganga gurl420 , everything you say makes sense but here is a question: what about foxtailing buds that keep adding calyxes with new white hairs? Seems like I need to go by the trichomes in this case.
Not really just dont foxtail buds, at this point grower error and its more cutting your losses than picking peak primo.

:-)
 
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