Colorado High - Soilless - LED/CFL - Dutch Dope - 2014

[David Bowman]

So far, throughout flowering, it has had that musky, sweet, pungent aroma that I so love about cannabis. I've yet to taste it as this is the first time I've grown it and my first taste test won't be until two weeks after the start of curing.

 

[HappyInside]

Looking good! I have a plant at a similar stage of flower. Will be watching!

 

[David Bowman]

Thanks and welcome HappyInside!

 

[Stage]

So far, throughout flowering, it has had that musky, sweet, pungent aroma that I so love about cannabis. I've yet to taste it as this is the first time I've grown it and my first taste test won't be until two weeks after the start of curing.

Thanks Colorado for the "terp menu".

Please peek in my grow.

 

[David Bowman]

Day 63 of flowering and today I did a quick trichome check of one of the small sugar leaves near the top of the B/R lady. She is the furthest along of the three ladies and should give me an indication of the leading edge of their growth and development.

Topside of a sugar leaf from the B/R lady @ ~200X on day 63 of flowering -

Topside of a sugar leaf from the B/R lady @ ~400X on day 63 of flowering -

Underside of a sugar leaf from the B/R lady @ ~200X on day 63 of flowering -

Underside of a sugar leaf from the B/R lady @ ~400X on day 63 of flowering -

While some of the trichomes seem to be starting to cloud up, the vast majority of them appear to still be clear. So it looks like the ladies need some more time before they are fully mature. That should give them plenty of time to fatten up before harvest. I'll be performing regular trichomes checks over the next few weeks until harvest to ensure that the ladies have reached their peak before I cut them down.

 

[addonexus]

Very nice pictures would you consider them clear or milky?

 

[David Bowman]

Mostly clear, but some trichomes are just starting to turn milky. Not only are the trichomes mostly clear, the pistils are also mostly white with more being created every day still.

 

[David Bowman]

Day 73 of flowering and the ladies keep chugging along. The main colas are really starting to swell and thicken and the side shoot colas are getting pretty respectable in size and heft as well. They are still throwing new pistils and only the B/R lady has a noticeable amount of colored/dried pistils. I probably should have done this sooner but immediately after the first set of photos, I removed nearly all of the large fan leaves attached to the main stalk of each lady to open them up a bit and get more light to the developing buds. I think the overall shape of the plants is improved by the removal of these fan leaves and as you can see, there are plenty of smaller leaves, closer to the actual bud sites ready to take over. Hopefully this will help the ladies to finish well over the next few weeks or so.

Pre-Defoliation

Group shot of the ladies on day 73 of flowering -

Profile shot of the ladies on day 73 of flowering -

Close-up shots of the top cola of the B/L lady on day 73 of flowering -

Close-up shots of the top cola of the B/R lady on day 73 of flowering -

Close-up shots of the top cola of the F/C lady on day 73 of flowering -

Post-Defoliation

Group shot of the ladies on day 73 of flowering -

Profile shot of the ladies on day 73 of flowering -

Close-up shot of the top of the B/L lady on day 73 of flowering -

Close-up shot of the top of the B/R lady on day 73 of flowering -

Close-up shot of the top of the F/C lady on day 73 of flowering -

The ladies are getting fed a total of one-half gallon of the standard nutrient solution every other day now. I expect to begin flushing in the next week or two for two weeks prior to harvest. I will be checking the trichomes on a more frequent basis now that the ladies are approaching maturity. When the vast majority of trichomes are cloudy, and there are a few that are turning amber, then I will begin the flush. Until then, I wish everyone well and hope that their gardens stay green and lush.

 

[closetorganic]

Plants are looking great Colorado High,That defoliation looks good and should help out with the final weeks swelling up

 

[PeytonManning]

Girls are looking great CH, but that's nothing new for you. Keep up the awesome work man

 

[David Bowman]

closetorganic!

 

[David Bowman]

Peyton!

 

[David Bowman]

Day 82 of flowering and today I've performed a more in-depth trichome check of all three ladies. I have sampled a small sugar leaf from near the top of each one of the ladies. In all three samples, one can see clear, cloudy and amber trichomes and all ladies appear to be reaching full maturity at around the same time. Based on my observations, and averaging all three samples, I would have to say that the trichome ratio is as follows:

15%-20% - Clear
70%-75% - Cloudy
05%-10% - Amber

Topside of a sugar leaf from the B/L lady @ ~200X on day 82 of flowering -

Topside of a sugar leaf from the B/L lady @ ~400X on day 82 of flowering -

Topside of a sugar leaf from the B/R lady @ ~200X on day 82 of flowering -

Topside of a sugar leaf from the B/R lady @ ~400X on day 82 of flowering -

Topside of a sugar leaf from the F/C lady @ ~200X on day 82 of flowering -

Topside of a sugar leaf from the F/C lady @ ~400X on day 82 of flowering -

Given this latest observation, and the fact that I just fed the ladies earlier today, I am beginning the ~2 week pre-harvest flush today. From this day forward, all the ladies will only get plain de-chlorinated tap water. I expect to harvest sometime during the first week or two of March. If the ladies start maturiting too quickly, I will move up the harvest with the goal of harvesting when the trichome ratio reaches 80%-85% cloudy and no more than 15%-20% amber.

 

[Tead]

I've recently learned that the trichs on the sugar leaves can be quite a bit more mature than the trichs closer in on the inner bud. You may want to do a bit more checking. I try to get some different samples from various places.

 

[David Bowman]

Tead. My next trichome check will be further down on each lady in the middle of the main cola somewhere.

 

[Tead]

Super photos... how did you do it?

 

[David Bowman]

Tead! I have a 100X-400X USB Microscope that I use on trichomes. I wish it had a greater Depth of Field but for $40 I ain't complaining!!

 

[Tead]

I've been waiting for one of those to float my way. I'm very Zen about these things. Why spend money? One will float past me as flotsam in the tide of life... somehow... somewhere. I look forward to trying one.

 

[KingJohnC]

Super photos... how did you do it?

I own a Hydrofarm Active Eye 30X jewelers Loupe, Carson Optical MicroMax LED Microscope 60x-100x and a 25X-200X Magnifier USB Digital Microscope Video Camera that I use to take trichome photographs.

Active Eye Loupe, 30X

Here is a Gro1 1.3MP USB LED Digital Microscope 10x & 300x

Gro1 1.3MP USB LED Digital Microscope 10x & 300x - Perfect Gardens

 

[David Bowman]

Day 91 of flowering, the end of week 13, and the ladies still have a little more time before they are ready. While more and more trichomes are starting to become cloudy, there still are not that many amber trichomes yet. I'm hoping to harvest just when almost all of the trichomes are cloudy and the change to amber is just beginning in full force.

Small calyx from B/L lady @ ~200X

Small calyx from B/L lady @ ~400X

Small calyx from B/R lady @ ~200X

Small calyx from B/R lady @ ~400X

Small calyx from F/C lady @ ~200X

Small calyx from F/C lady @ ~400X

The ladies are a little over one week into their flush with de-chlorinated tap water. I'm still hoping to harvest within one to two weeks time.