Is any of this ready to cut and cure? Newb
- Thread starter Yosshing
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Spend $10 to $25 on some kind of inexpensive magnification device - jeweler's loupe, handheld microscope of some sort, et cetera. I suggest something in the 30x-50x range. Greater makes the trichome heads easier to see, but "magnifies" the perception of any tiny hand/device/object movement. Use your magnification device on the heads of the trichomes (on the flowers/buds, not the leaves).
Trichome heads:
Clear - Immature and lacking potency.
Cloudy - Mature and at peak potency.
Amber - Degraded, past peak potency, "on the downhill slide."
They do not all mature at the same time because they were created at different times. Therefore, it's nearly impossible (and would be pretty coincidental) to end up with 100% cloudy trichome heads. So you shoot for as high a percentage of them as is possible, and will most likely have a relative few amber ones.
Trichome heads:
Clear - Immature and lacking potency.
Cloudy - Mature and at peak potency.
Amber - Degraded, past peak potency, "on the downhill slide."
They do not all mature at the same time because they were created at different times. Therefore, it's nearly impossible (and would be pretty coincidental) to end up with 100% cloudy trichome heads. So you shoot for as high a percentage of them as is possible, and will most likely have a relative few amber ones.
Yep it goes back to the age old question.
Have you looked at the trichomes?
Have you looked at the trichomes?
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I looked with a 4k cam but i see amber tips. Do you? Im a bad grower and a dr gangrene thumb is why im curious and last plant made me tired when i burn. The others are barely getting flower but strains from Mexico all flowered early. I fed last nutes today realizing the shroom head on tricombs were amber. Most is sativa so couchlock is fine but so cut when milky not completely amber. Got that but just did last feed of nutes. Can I cut it or better to flush a week? Being the tricombs are amber. Which is best when in this scenario, possibly know? My other females are only flowering now so definitely any ideas help. I will cut the tinted trichomb one but is it too late or can it be flushed safely without ruining the thc?
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Won’t be able to see without at least a 30x jewlers loupe. Preferably 60x loupe.
Grandma Weedstein
Well-Known Member
I’m not experienced enough to comment on whether you’re ready to harvest, but the thread did remind me of a question I was meaning to ask: how does flushing affect trichomes? On its face, i would assume the trichomes are already developing on the calyxes and sugar leaves before most people flush. How does the flushing improve the oil content?
Before I reply at Backflip's request, could you clarify what you mean by flushing? There are different types. Some growers will do a one-time flush to clear old nutes and salts from the soil about three weeks from expected harvest. Others will give their plants nothing but water for the final weeks of the grow.
If you don't mind, can you tell me which one you mean?
Grandma Weedstein
Well-Known Member
I guess both — I haven’t grown before and I’m not familiar with the purpose of flushing. I get the gist of it, as far as improving taste, but I’m not sure why that would be. Like I said, if the oils are already formed on the plant leaves and buds, what effect does it have to zero-out nutrients?
Just to be clear, flushing has nothing to do with the taste of the final product. It's a very popular and wide-spread misconception that if you feed nothing but plain water for the last few weeks of the grow, it will "clear the nutes from the buds" resulting in a better tasting harvest.
That is scientifically impossible; tested and proven to be false. It is the drying and curing process that will make for the best-tasting buds, not trying to flush something from them as they grow.
What is based on fact, is that synthetic nutes can build up in your soil (not your plant) and prevent optimum nutrient uptake by the roots. For that reason, many growers will do a one-time flush of their substrate (2-3x the size of the pot with plain non-pH'd water) and then follow that immediately with a normal watering with the strength of nutes they had been using.
This clears the old nutes from the soil, allowing the plant to have clear access to the new nutes you feed it during the last few weeks of flower.
Does that answer your question?
That is scientifically impossible; tested and proven to be false. It is the drying and curing process that will make for the best-tasting buds, not trying to flush something from them as they grow.
What is based on fact, is that synthetic nutes can build up in your soil (not your plant) and prevent optimum nutrient uptake by the roots. For that reason, many growers will do a one-time flush of their substrate (2-3x the size of the pot with plain non-pH'd water) and then follow that immediately with a normal watering with the strength of nutes they had been using.
This clears the old nutes from the soil, allowing the plant to have clear access to the new nutes you feed it during the last few weeks of flower.
Does that answer your question?
Grandma Weedstein
Well-Known Member
Awesome, it does completely. Just for clarity, tho: you say “synthetic nutes” — I’ve only been using like rotted fish scales and shit. Could be considered synthetic, since it’s a concentrate...
Grandma Weedstein
Well-Known Member
Shit, another thing, actually — what would be considered a “flush” outdoors? My understanding of nitrogen cycles outdoors is that N is constantly being absorbed lower into the root zone until it’s no longer absorbable. Otherwise, why would farmers apply every year? My thinking is I am growing outdoors and will feed at a reduced N rate, with increased P and K, since the plant needs less. I just don’t feel confident in cutting off nutes if I am not sure when I will harvest (weather dependent).
If you're using fish scales and shit then you won't have any buildup of salts and excess ions, so clearing the soil isn't necessary.
When you say outdoors, do you mean in the ground or outdoors in pots? Not that it matters in light of my answer above!
Grandma Weedstein
Well-Known Member
Ok good to know — I’m outdoors in the ground. Less watering that way, I figure, plus unlimited root zone. The main reason I used natural fertilizer is to avoid overfeeding. I’ve found it’s easier to burn plants with synthetic N.
You are growing as nature intended...with additional fish scales and shit 
.
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ITheNorth
Well-Known Member
How long should one wait after the 3x flush to feed again with nutes? Minutes? Hours? A day?
Until the pot is light again, and demanding food.
ITheNorth
Well-Known Member
Thank you. So next watering after flushing, it gets nutes again?
