I recently havested my 8th Indoor Hydro Grow, and I wanted to share what I have learned. I hope this information is helpful, and simple to read and understand.
This is a discussion of HARVEST TIME of Indica, Hydroponically grown indoors. Determining Sativa Harvest Time is much different.
From experience of growing the same two Indica strains many times, I know more than 8 weeks and a day less than 9 weeks of Flowering will be a great time to harvest my Indica as well as most other Indicas. I start counting Flowering Time the day I change the Light Cycle to 12/12.
But what if I did not have any experience?
In the old days of growing outdoors, we harvested when the weather man told us the first frost was coming. What we were really doing is harvesting when the plant and buds became FULLY MATURE. But how do you determine that? How do you know the buds are RIPE AND FULLY MATURE? How do you actually determine the right time to harvest?
Some growers say go by the calendar and count the weeks of 12/12. That will work OK, but it is not an exact science. Some growers buy seeds and harvest by the suggested Flowerig Time on the seed packet. That is a good
2nd rule of thumb.
And then there are those that harvest by the color of the so-called hairs, or pistals. For the first 7 or 8 weeks of the Flowerig Cycle, we see white pistals. Then, just overnight it seems, we see a darkening of them, a reddening, or some say a browning of the hairs. They do change from white to red to a very dark near brownish-red color. Many growers harvest by waiting until the majority of the pistals on the upper growth of the plant turn about 75% red, and then they harvest. That will work too, although still not very scientific.
The most scientific logical practical time to harvest is determined by the trichome color.
Trichomes (the trichs) are what we used to call the "crystals" or "diamonds" or "sparkles" that we see on the trim leaves very near the buds. In Europe, they are called the resin glands.
Trichomes are very sticky, almost like fresh model airplane glue. They stand tall, looking like a phallic symbol. Some have large heads like a tall skinny muchroom, and some do not. Some appear like a golf ball sitting on a T.
They are easily viewed with a cheap magnifying glass.
Let me show you a few pics of trichs taken with a microscope.
Here you see some trichs on some swollen calyxes:
You can also see the pistals changing from white to red and reddish-brown.
(trich pics supplied by C5Rftw)
This is a discussion of HARVEST TIME of Indica, Hydroponically grown indoors. Determining Sativa Harvest Time is much different.
From experience of growing the same two Indica strains many times, I know more than 8 weeks and a day less than 9 weeks of Flowering will be a great time to harvest my Indica as well as most other Indicas. I start counting Flowering Time the day I change the Light Cycle to 12/12.
But what if I did not have any experience?
In the old days of growing outdoors, we harvested when the weather man told us the first frost was coming. What we were really doing is harvesting when the plant and buds became FULLY MATURE. But how do you determine that? How do you know the buds are RIPE AND FULLY MATURE? How do you actually determine the right time to harvest?
Some growers say go by the calendar and count the weeks of 12/12. That will work OK, but it is not an exact science. Some growers buy seeds and harvest by the suggested Flowerig Time on the seed packet. That is a good
2nd rule of thumb.
And then there are those that harvest by the color of the so-called hairs, or pistals. For the first 7 or 8 weeks of the Flowerig Cycle, we see white pistals. Then, just overnight it seems, we see a darkening of them, a reddening, or some say a browning of the hairs. They do change from white to red to a very dark near brownish-red color. Many growers harvest by waiting until the majority of the pistals on the upper growth of the plant turn about 75% red, and then they harvest. That will work too, although still not very scientific.
The most scientific logical practical time to harvest is determined by the trichome color.
Trichomes (the trichs) are what we used to call the "crystals" or "diamonds" or "sparkles" that we see on the trim leaves very near the buds. In Europe, they are called the resin glands.
Trichomes are very sticky, almost like fresh model airplane glue. They stand tall, looking like a phallic symbol. Some have large heads like a tall skinny muchroom, and some do not. Some appear like a golf ball sitting on a T.
They are easily viewed with a cheap magnifying glass.
Let me show you a few pics of trichs taken with a microscope.
Here you see some trichs on some swollen calyxes:
You can also see the pistals changing from white to red and reddish-brown.
(trich pics supplied by C5Rftw)
im going to look for one
Anyways, thanks Roseman. I've been at this for almost a year and learn something new all the time. I wish I had a mentor with whom to interface directly, but this forum is very helpful none the less. Cheers.
