Spike69
2nd Place Plant, and 3rd Place Member of the Month
Looking good buddy and I have that same grin.lol
X Marks the Spot - XLR8's Big Bang Auto Hydro Grow 2011
- Thread starter Xlr8
- Start date
No need to defoliate this time, just putting in my 2 cents for future reference. She should finish out just fine without it. I like to give all my autos a 24-48 hr dark before harvest, keeping in mind the length of the nights towards the winter solstice closer to the poles, which is the trigger to the ruderalis mutation, an evolution, so to speak. Whoa, I am stoned...
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- #503
Man this is ridiculous X Those are getting HUGE, FAST!!
I would leave them be brother. You can always try one later, and compare the results. There's supposedly a science to the whole defoliation thing, and you've missed the window for the first pruning (21/45 days of flower)
You and I have always been "non-defoliators"!
Although I think I'll try 2 of the clones that way, I'm not completely sold on it though, and not prepaired to try it on my main supply this run, the moms.
I'm sure you'll do the right thing either way brother
Cool Quix, thanks for weighing in and your kind words.
I think I'll just let 'em go at this point the way they are.
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- #504
- Thread starter
- #505
No need to defoliate this time, just putting in my 2 cents for future reference. She should finish out just fine without it. I like to give all my autos a 24-48 hr dark before harvest, keeping in mind the length of the nights towards the winter solstice closer to the poles, which is the trigger to the ruderalis mutation, an evolution, so to speak. Whoa, I am stoned...
Cool, thanks for the tips GT - I appreciate it greatly. I am right there with you as far as being stoned.
- Thread starter
- #506
Checked trichomes tonight. I was surprised. One sample was mostly milky with about 7-8 ambering already. Two other samples: mostly milky on one with a little clear and no amber. The other mostly clear with about 25% milky. A little bit of a range with the samples, but they're closer than I thought based on trichome color only. I'm still feeling like there should be some swell and some more browning/oranging of the pistils, but I'm feeling like it's closer than I'd originally thought. 2 weeks?
naphtali5725
Well-Known Member
Hey XL, awesome plant man 
No problem, Bro! I'm the same way - I don't like taking samples, either, cuz' regardless of how good it is, I always feel like I'm taking a bud too early!
I actually found that video where Cervantes judges the top 3 Indicas in the Cannibis Medical Cup. The whole video is worth watching, but starting right around 5:20 in the video he talks about the trich color not being the best indicator:
YouTube - Jorge Cervantes: High Times Medical Cup - Indica‏
Hi Mr. Krip Well that blew me out of the water! Looks like I may have to change my way of thinking. I will sure have to start testing more. I don't if I can bring myself to cutting a plant when the tricks are clear. Just does not in compute in my head.
Hi Mr. Krip Well that blew me out of the water! Looks like I may have to change my way of thinking. I will sure have to start testing more. I don't if I can bring myself to cutting a plant when the tricks are clear. Just does not in compute in my head.
LOL! I sure didn't mean to blow you out of the water, OMM, but I do understand and it changed my way of thinking also.
Waiting for the trichs to start to turn amber before harvesting has been pretty much the "conventional" knowledge and even Cervantes admits that it was his recommendation previously, too, so we're in good company.
It does present a good argument for taking samples, though! As I mentioned in my post to XLR8, when I take a sample, I feel like I'm "cheating" and taking the bud too early. But, if you think about it, it makes sense since the real objective is quality - not trich color. And, there's only one way to test the quality, especially since quality is subjective and the desired effect may vary from person to person. So, if the quality is where one wants it to be, does it really matter what the trichs look like?
Sampling has been my tried and true method of discovering which strains are best at certain ages, I do this with almost EVERY plant I grow, and have since I begun. I gotta agree with ol george, sampling during all stages of trich development will pay off in so many ways. You would be very surprised at how many grows you have messed up without even knowing. I am a conneauseour(ummmm??) and would rather have 2 zips of 25% content, that 3 zips @ 20% thc. But we all have our own preferences.....
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- #511
Nap! - Thread starter
- #512
For fun, I thought I'd share a few other thoughts on when to harvest:
Historically, I have harvested most of my plants at about 10-20% or so amber, and mostly milky. That seems to be the sweet spot for me so far, and I usually do sample buds the last week or two before I anticipate harvest. Just not used to how quick this auto is! Seems like it should have a lot longer...
- "Buds are at their peak potency about one week after flower formation slows...Harvest the plants when about half the stigmas in the buds have withered... When the plants are left in the ground, the resinous qualities of the plant may become more apparent. The bracts and tiny leaves may swell in size...The resin content of these buds may be higher, [but] the grass will smoke more harshly than if the buds were younger when picked." Frank and Rosenthal Marijuana Growers Guide pg 289, pg 295.
- "In the primordial calyxes the pistils have turned brown; however, all but the oldest of the flowers are fertile and the floral clusters are white...Many cultivators prefer to pick some of their strains during this stage in order to produce marijuana with a clear cerebral, psychoactive effect." Robert Connell Clarke Marijuana Botany, pg 140.
- "Eventually the pistils start to turn color from pale white to red or brown...When the glands have swelled and the pistil has receded into the false pod, the bud is ready to pick." Ed Rosenthal, The Closet Cultivator, pg 100.
- "At the peak of florescence, all but the oldest of flowers have white pistil development...Another indicator is bouquet. When a plant is at the peak of florescence, it has a sweet and musky fragrance. Later, it loses the sweetness." Kayo, The Sinsemilla Technique, pg 125.
Historically, I have harvested most of my plants at about 10-20% or so amber, and mostly milky. That seems to be the sweet spot for me so far, and I usually do sample buds the last week or two before I anticipate harvest. Just not used to how quick this auto is! Seems like it should have a lot longer...
Aaron Quix
Well-Known Member
For fun, I thought I'd share a few other thoughts on when to harvest:
- "Buds are at their peak potency about one week after flower formation slows...Harvest the plants when about half the stigmas in the buds have withered... When the plants are left in the ground, the resinous qualities of the plant may become more apparent. The bracts and tiny leaves may swell in size...The resin content of these buds may be higher, [but] the grass will smoke more harshly than if the buds were younger when picked." Frank and Rosenthal Marijuana Growers Guide pg 289, pg 295.
- "In the primordial calyxes the pistils have turned brown; however, all but the oldest of the flowers are fertile and the floral clusters are white...Many cultivators prefer to pick some of their strains during this stage in order to produce marijuana with a clear cerebral, psychoactive effect." Robert Connell Clarke Marijuana Botany, pg 140.
- "Eventually the pistils start to turn color from pale white to red or brown...When the glands have swelled and the pistil has receded into the false pod, the bud is ready to pick." Ed Rosenthal, The Closet Cultivator, pg 100.
- "At the peak of florescence, all but the oldest of flowers have white pistil development...Another indicator is bouquet. When a plant is at the peak of florescence, it has a sweet and musky fragrance. Later, it loses the sweetness." Kayo, The Sinsemilla Technique, pg 125.
Historically, I have harvested most of my plants at about 10-20% or so amber, and mostly milky. That seems to be the sweet spot for me so far, and I usually do sample buds the last week or two before I anticipate harvest. Just not used to how quick this auto is! Seems like it should have a lot longer...
Yep, you could say it's an XLR8ed process
lol sorry bud I had to do it. I finally used up the last of my budder from last harvest, and made these brownie/cookie thingies from betty crocker. At any rate I'm quite medicated.I'm really excited to see you bring down this big bang. I'll be interested to see when she's ready, although, I dont see it in the next week. You're really going to have to use your spidey senses as to when she's ready. Still no sign of leaves "eating themselves" yet huh? Do autos even do that? Does that even happen in hydro? Whooooo I'm baked!!
- Thread starter
- #514
Yep, you could say it's an XLR8ed process
I'm really excited to see you bring down this big bang. I'll be interested to see when she's ready, although, I dont see it in the next week. You're really going to have to use your spidey senses as to when she's ready. Still no sign of leaves "eating themselves" yet huh? Do autos even do that? Does that even happen in hydro? Whooooo I'm baked!!
"xlr8ed process".
Leaves not eating themselves much yet. I think maybe it's the DM nutes, but I don't always get a lot of that. I'm still dosing a bit heavy on the nutrients, but I'll drop it down in a couple of days or so and let the leaves feed the buds a bit at the end - at least in theory!
What's up Bud smokers.. I'm late but I'm all subscribered up now..
- Thread starter
- #516
Seeeeeesco! Pull up a beanbag, brotha.
Oh yeah - I have to add, it's nice seeing you around more again lately.
It's not that easy staying away from all you EXCELLENT people.
- Thread starter
- #518
Well, a couple of notes 'cuz I just have a minute...
Stealth test going on - relatives staying here for a few days. Yikes
Other than that, the end is rapidly approaching getting more and more yellowing leaves, buds are getting close to peak plumpness - and finally they are starting to look "done". Yeah!
Except... Attention to plants will be fleeting next few days due to relatives visiting. Doh!
Hope to get more pics up when I can - might have to wait til Wednesday.
I have a feeling I'll be rushing to flush at the first available moment, which will probably not be until Wednesday evening. Dang. it. I am now starting to think that this coming weekend could be chop time. For what it's worth, I did start tapering down the nutrients a few days ago. So, we're running pretty low PPM's at the moment anyway. I'm thinking straight flush after Wednesday - sooner if I can (somehow).
I feel good about the stealth - I feel like things are up to it (crossing fingers). Nothing like having unknowing relatives over the final week or so of flower, though - and without me here at the same time for a lot of it. Just them alone in my house with a full flowering bush discretely hidden in another room (locked). Pretty much THE test, huh?!?
If I don't get to peoples journals much the next few days - or my own - you know why... I'll be busy chewing my nails, and sweating just a little.
Stealth test going on - relatives staying here for a few days. Yikes
Other than that, the end is rapidly approaching getting more and more yellowing leaves, buds are getting close to peak plumpness - and finally they are starting to look "done". Yeah!
Except... Attention to plants will be fleeting next few days due to relatives visiting. Doh!
Hope to get more pics up when I can - might have to wait til Wednesday.
I have a feeling I'll be rushing to flush at the first available moment, which will probably not be until Wednesday evening. Dang. it. I am now starting to think that this coming weekend could be chop time. For what it's worth, I did start tapering down the nutrients a few days ago. So, we're running pretty low PPM's at the moment anyway. I'm thinking straight flush after Wednesday - sooner if I can (somehow).
I feel good about the stealth - I feel like things are up to it (crossing fingers). Nothing like having unknowing relatives over the final week or so of flower, though - and without me here at the same time for a lot of it. Just them alone in my house with a full flowering bush discretely hidden in another room (locked). Pretty much THE test, huh?!?
If I don't get to peoples journals much the next few days - or my own - you know why... I'll be busy chewing my nails, and sweating just a little.
Well, a couple of notes 'cuz I just have a minute...
Stealth test going on - relatives staying here for a few days. Yikes
Other than that, the end is rapidly approaching getting more and more yellowing leaves, buds are getting close to peak plumpness - and finally they are starting to look "done". Yeah!
Except... Attention to plants will be fleeting next few days due to relatives visiting. Doh!
Hope to get more pics up when I can - might have to wait til Wednesday.
I have a feeling I'll be rushing to flush at the first available moment, which will probably not be until Wednesday evening. Dang. it. I am now starting to think that this coming weekend could be chop time. For what it's worth, I did start tapering down the nutrients a few days ago. So, we're running pretty low PPM's at the moment anyway. I'm thinking straight flush after Wednesday - sooner if I can (somehow).
I feel good about the stealth - I feel like things are up to it (crossing fingers). Nothing like having unknowing relatives over the final week or so of flower, though - and without me here at the same time for a lot of it. Just them alone in my house with a full flowering bush discretely hidden in another room (locked). Pretty much THE test, huh?!?
If I don't get to peoples journals much the next few days - or my own - you know why... I'll be busy chewing my nails, and sweating just a little.
xlr8 and relatives I see old Murphy is at your place now!
He shows up with relatives at times. I hope you have some time to take care of your girl. She sounds almost
ready.
If some one shows up here, they are in for a big surprise
