soliciting thoughts and "educated" opinions.... I was looking for amber resin heads but that's may be just one indicator of the best time... the pistils color and receding back into the bud is an indicator too... perhaps that is a better way to tell ?.... with a small grow it's possible to do a bud by bud harvest at different times to establish a preference....

TXStorm wrote:soliciting thoughts and "educated" opinions.... I was looking for amber resin heads but that's may be just one indicator of the best time... the pistils color and receding back into the bud is an indicator too... perhaps that is a better way to tell ?.... with a small grow it's possible to do a bud by bud harvest at different times to establish a preference....

Actually the trichomes are the better indicator, some genetics will be fully mature (trichome wise) while the pistils are still mostly white. However, the the trichomes turn cloudy and usually yellow when mature which is caused by THC degradation. The cloudiness is usually easier to see than the yellow in some genetics. Most growers do wait until 25-50% of the trichomes have turned opaque/yellow. Many botanists also suggest harvesting in the morning to get THC at it's daily peak.

I assume that you have a small microscope that you're using to check the trichomes, right?

I do..have a 420 scope which I wasted money on and a nice one that's 1.875dia and easier to use...I haven't been waiting until 25% but just a few amber here and there....so at worst perhaps close to maturity... these next few buds I take will be like you suggest which I had planned to do to sample a difference.... also I did read that harvest in the morning buds will have some less water weight as water begins to uptake into the plant with light.... thanks

TXStorm wrote:I do..have a 420 scope which I wasted money on and a nice one that's 1.875dia and easier to use...I haven't been waiting until 25% but just a few amber here and there....so at worst perhaps close to maturity... these next few buds I take will be like you suggest which I had planned to do to sample a difference.... also I did read that harvest in the morning buds will have some less water weight as water begins to uptake into the plant with light.... thanks

50x magnifier.JPG

Absolutely, try different stages and see what you like best. Some people like mostly clear trichomes, I like 25-ish% but it varies with different genetics.