SIGNS
HARVEST
3YOUR BUDS ARE READY TO
The most-often asked question for new cannabis growers is “ when is the best time to harvest ?” Chris Bond explains that paying attention to the trichomes , pistils , and leaves will give you your answer . | by Chris Bond
Until you have the experience of a few successful grows under your belt , it can be hard to know when the right moment to harvest your precious plants is . There are , of course , entire webpages , message boards , threads , etc . dedicated to helping new growers navigate this stage of the growing process . It can be tough at times though to sort out what is practical advice from experienced growers to what is conjecture , bad advice , or even a myth . There is not a “ perfect ” time to harvest your buds , but rather a range of time within a narrow window , depending on what aspects and characteristics you want your flowers to have . Some growers may rely on the calendar , timing out the number of weeks from seeding to harvest , relying on information online , and on the seed package or supplier . This will get you in the ballpark of when an ideal time to harvest is . In general , you can expect indica strains to take eight weeks of flowering before harvest , sativa strains up to 10 weeks , and autoflowering strains take about 10 weeks . This is , however , far from an exact science . There are three primary clues that are far more reliable to look for when determining it is time to start harvesting your buds . Paying attention to what the trichomes , pistils , and the leaves are telling you will get you right where you need to be . These are generally agreed upon across the board as the most reliable indicators .
Watch for Trichome Colour and Shape
Trichomes are the single most common bio-indicator in determining when to harvest your buds . Both the colour and the shape of the trichomes can tell you when your plants are ready to harvest . Trichomes are the small , resin glands on the flowers and sugar leaves of your plants . Trichomes contain cannabinoids and terpenes . They start off looking like little droplets but mature into mushroom-shaped projections on your plants . If you have difficulty seeing the trichomes , utilize a jeweler ’ s loupe or a magnifying lens to look closely at your flowers . A digital microscope is even better for looking at these little gems if you can afford one . Clear trichomes tell you that resin production within your plant is not very high , so your plant is not really close to being ready for harvest . Once the trichomes begin to change colour and darken , it is approaching harvest time . The best time to harvest is when the trichome colours are mixed . When about half of the trichomes are a milky-white , and half are amber-coloured , it is time to start plucking those buds .
The cloudy appearance indicates high THC levels . Once they have turned from yellow to amber , they provide more of a narcotic and physical high . If most are amber coloured before you have harvested , then the flowers are overripe , but should still be harvested . At this stage the trichomes can become brittle and fall off in your hands when handling the flower . The shape of the trichome will also tell you that harvest time is nigh . The tops of the trichomes should actually appear slightly deformed when it is time to harvest . If they are perfectly round “ mushroom caps ” then it is still too early but check often . Waiting too long will cause them to degrade and lose some of their psychoactive properties .
Examine the Pistils
For those who slept through the chapter in botany class about plant reproduction , fear not . The pistils are a part of the female reproductive elements of the flower . On cannabis , these will change colour as harvest time approaches . Pistils can be seen without magnification , but it is helpful to use a loupe or lens if there is any doubt about what you are looking at . They are the little hair-like structures that appear as the flower matures .
“ Paying attention to what the trichomes , pistils , and the leaves are telling you will get you right where you need to be .”
Pistils start out mostly white . As the flower matures , they will take on a yellow hue and then change to a red , orange , or brown colour . When you harvest depends on what elements of the cannabis flower you want to emphasize . When the pistils are less brown , the cannabis will have more of a psychoactive effect . When they are more brown , they will have more of a narcotic effect , causing consumers to get more sleepy . Most growers would say the optimal time to harvest those buds is when about 50-60 percent of the pistils have turned brown . One thing to keep in mind while monitoring pistils is that maturity is not the only reason why your pistils may be brown . Stressors can cause the pistils to turn brown even when the buds are not ready to flower . Overwatering and watering at the wrong time of day ( nighttime ) can cause pistils to turn brown too . The changing colour of the pistils is only a good indicator if the flowers and plant are otherwise healthy .
Check the Leaves
The leaves of your cannabis plant can be the third telltale sign your buds are ready to be plucked . This is true for both the colour and curl of the leaves . Once your plants start devoting their resources to producing robust buds , the leaves don ’ t get as much nutrition as during the vegetative phase . The large fan leaves will start to turn yellow once your plant has loaded up flowers as the nutrients are being redirected .
Maximum Yield 25