Chump's First

[dfw-guy]

They look great! Awesome job

 

[Ms. chump stain]

It's raining right now, but when I get a chance I'll snap a few more pics. I was talking to my dad last night and he was telling me about how to trim them up, so the flowers get more of the energy. Like triming off the big fanned leaves around the bottom, and stuff. I'm just not experienced, and don't want to wreck it. If anyone has suggestions, please throw 'em my way! He said he pinches them off with his fingers just off the stem.

 

[Keith Lake]

There's a lot of debate about removing fan leaves.

Most of the experienced growers I know do not agree with this practice. Until/unless the fan leave reaches the point of dying naturally where it's close to falling off on it's on; removing it (by pinching) will prevent disease or decay from infecting the plant.

Removing a healthy plants fan leave hurts production; the plant is using all its healthy leaves for transpiration.

Now if you want to tie them out of the way with string etc., to better expose the bud site; that's conventional.

There's a lot of discussion about this on the site if you search around.

 

[Ms. chump stain]

I've been spending most of the day searching around this site, and can't find anything. I don't know what the technique is called, so it's making it hard to find out any information. Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I pick off the yellowed leaves. I'm just wanting my blooms to get bigger faster! Maybe I'm just impatent. I see everyone else's pics and wonder if mine are behind where they're supposed to be.

 

[Ms. chump stain]

Can anyone help me identify the strain? Or at least what species it looks like? If I remember right, when smoked for the first time, it makes you feel kind of light headed, like you're going to pass out, about 10 minutes after smoking. Then you feel super baked.

 

[Keith Lake]

These don't all express the same opinion, but some master growers weigh in - in the links that follow. The first one is an important one to read in my opinion.

Growing Synposis Paper - Trimming Fan Leaves

Fan leaves

Trimming fan leaves

Trimming your plants

3 Wks into Flowering / Should I Trim My Fan Leaves

 

[Ms. chump stain]

Thanks for the links, I'll check 'em out for sure. Probably just going to leave it alone for now.

A couple more, just because I can't resist!!!

You can start to see the frosting on the leaves, if you look close. So do you think this plant is on schedule for a northern climate?

 

[dfw-guy]

The plant is looking great, gotta love LST. I'd say she's on schedule, probably harvest in 4-6 weeks. All I can say about the strain is that it's sativa dominate, so the head high will be there.

 

[Ms. chump stain]

Here's some new bud pics.

9/13/10

The LST plant is sweet! I'm pretty stoked being that this is my first grow. And it was cool to learn about the plant along the way. Thanks guys!!!

My friend told me to wait just untill frost to harvest. He said "let it go for as long as you can, trust me" He also said "once it turns amber, wait 10 days". My dad says "when it's brown, it's done". What do you guys think?

 

[Tunes420]

For me it is when tricomes viewed in 30x microscope are mostly cloudy...clear mean immature... cloudy is head high... amber tricomes are couch lock. So all depends what ya want for high. Other signs of maturity are white hairs turning 50% brown or red...and also you will see some brown hairs retracting into false seed pods. Looking really healthy

 

[Ms. chump stain]

I was just out there a minute ago, and I can see some of the hairs turning brown at the tip.

 

[Ms. chump stain]

It's starting to get really cold at night here. I think I'm going to start flushing. I just read that the average 1st day of frost in my area is 9/28. Unless I bring them in at night to keep them warm, I think I'm running out of growable weather.

 

[Keith Lake]

how do the trichomes look

Can you take a macro photo and see what percentage have started to turn cloudy.

remember the old adage - when you think they're ready, wait a week

 

[Ms. chump stain]

I'm getting behind. These are from a couple days ago. I think the middle pic shows the best view of the color of the hairs.

 

[Setting Sun]

Lookin' tasty chumpster

thanks for the update!

 

[Keith Lake]

Here's a nice write up explaining what's going on inside the trichome - worth a quick read.

trichome and harvest

I would suggest deciding your harvest date based on percentage of trichomes that have turned depending on the type of high you seek.

 

[Keith Lake]

Here's a couple more threads on the matter and a nice photo that illustrates the phases

Pictures on when to harvest: Trichome colours

Trichome development and harvest time: how to get the best high

 

[Ms. chump stain]

Thanks for the Links!

I have no problem being patient and waiting for them to ripe properly. My concern is the frost. BTW things rolling along well.... My wife got her Doctors note, all we have to do is send off for the card now.

9/20/09

This is probably the closest my camera can do.

How about this one small bud that's turning blue?

Another colorful bud!

 

[Setting Sun]

Thanks Soniq420, for explaining about trimming fan leaves, trich timing, and for posting those excellent links!

very helpful!

+rep!

 

[Ms. chump stain]

Thanks Soniq420, for explaining about trimming fan leaves, trich timing, and for posting those excellent links!

very helpful!

+rep!

Yes this forum is awesome, everyone has been very helpful! I've learned a lot during this grow. I haven't even posted updated pics of the 3 little females that my friend brought over. They're late bloomers but they're doing well. I'll get some pics of them soon. The hairs on the big LST are half brown, at least in the taller (more out in the sun) buds.

I have been using tap water for my plants, and they seem to like it. They get a lot of rain water too. But we're going to set up an indoor grow for the winter, do you think the water will be okay for indoor? I mean the PH, if it's fine now, wouldn't it be fine then? Or is indoor growing more sensitive?