This is the time to really keep a close eye on your plants. Soon, 50 to 70 percent of the trichomes will turn cloudy or amber. At that point, it's time to harvest for strong, highly euphoric buds.
For most cannabis harvests, growers look for a certain ratio of cloudy trichomes to amber trichomes. Many expert growers believe that the best time to harvest a plant is when the trichomes are 70 percent cloudy and 30 percent amber.
When trichomes are cloudy and ready for harvest, you'll likely notice that 50-70% of the white “hairs” on your buds have turned amber. Keep in mind that if you wait too long and trichomes turn amber you will lose THC potency. The key thing to look for is milky, cloudy trichomes, as they contain the highest THC levels.
How fast do trichomes change color? This variable largely depends on the strain. Some transitions occur within 5 days of flowering, while others take up to 2 weeks. Make sure to check your trichomes every day.
For a more energetic high, initiate the flushing when you see that a majority of trichomes have turned cloudy. This will allow the buds to finish before you see any amber during the final days.
In fact, you'll see some of the best bud development in the flushing period, as your plant uses up the rest of the nutrients within it. It thinks it's starving, and senses the end of its life is near. The buds will fatten up the most in the final few weeks of flower, and you'll also notice more trichome production.
Your plants should be almost ready to harvest but can still stay on the plant for a bit longer. This will result in the highest quality bud. Your plant should have clear trichomes with a few that have turned milky. This signals it is ready to be flushed.
This milky or amber is color is what shows you the cannabinoids have reached full maturity and have begun to degrade. When about 20% of the trichomes on a bud begin to turn amber or milky, this is the time to harvest.
Harvest your cannabis when approximately 90% of the trichomes have turned milky white while around 10% have transitioned to an amber color. This sweet spot represents the optimal point for harvesting. For a true-to-strain effect, don't harvest when the trichomes are still transparent or when they have all turned amber.
As your plant readies itself for harvest, they will turn darker red, brown, and orange hues. Never harvest your buds when most of the pistils are still white. This indicates your plants should be left to mature for a little longer.
When the plant approaches maturity, the pistils change color and take on a brown or orange hue. This is a sign that the biological functions of the plant have slowed and it is no longer seeking pollen for seed production. Guideline #2: Harvest marijuana when 70% of the pistils have turned brown or orange.
Plants given a little too much bloom time may have a general appearance of overripeness. Trichomes may be all amber, the terpene profile may be past it's best (possibly with a light aroma of fermentation) and the buds/leaves may take on a browner, less inviting, appearance.
You can also harness temperature to boost trichome production. Too hot, and you'll start to degrade the valuable yet volatile terpenes produced by the trichomes. Too cold, and you'll impact the metabolism of your plants. Aim for a temperature window of 21–26°C.
The cloudy trichomes produce more uplifting and stimulating clear-headed cerebral effects while amber trichomes tend to result in heavier, more intense effects. If you are growing Indica-dominant strains, it is ideal to wait until at least 60% of the trichomes have turned amber.
The ripening process of a trichome
The length of this stage of growth can last from two to five weeks, depending on the variety. Varieties that ripen in seven weeks usually spend about three weeks in this period of heavy flower growth.
Clear trichomes are still psychoactive they just don't have the same high they would if they finished maturing.
Trichomes change color as they ripen. They start clear, then turn translucent (or milky white) and finally they turn an amber color. You'll have best results when roughly 50 percent of the trichomes on your plant have turned a milky-white, translucent color.
An interference with trichome maturation could also be the lack of defoliation in the pre-flowering phase. If the CBD flowers plants are full of unnecessary leaves at the bottom of the plant, these will eventually suck the energy that the flowers need to develop at their best.
Often the layer of sugar-like substance is so thick, that the flower looks as if it has a layer of frosting. After a sugar application, the resulting sugar-like crystals are the flower's trichomes, which are believed to double in production after the plant is treated with sugar.
Generally, flushing cannabis normally takes place two weeks before it is harvested. If the plant has an 8-week flowering period, flushing should start 6-weeks after the beginning of the flowering stage when trichomes begin to form a cloudy white color.
Many people think that having more trichomes means that cannabis flowers will always be better or have more THC, but this is a misconception. Cannabis trichomes contain the plant's cannabinoids and terpenes, so you certainly do want a healthy amount of trichomes on your flower.
Timing Is Key: When To Flush Your Plants
If you're growing in soil, begin flushing between one and two weeks before harvest. If you're growing in coco, flush your plants for up to one week prior to harvest. If you're growing in hydro, your plants only need to be flushed for one to two days.
As a matter of fact—no. Those crystals—known as trichomes—are extremely sticky after harvest, so even a drench with water isn't going to dislodge them from the bud itself. That said, anything else holding on for the ride, such as unwanted critters and dirt/dust, will get washed off with no trouble.
It is best to take a close look at the trichomes on your plant to assess when your cannabis is likely to be ready for harvest. If the tiny trichomes are just beginning to turn from clear, to a cloudy and milky colour, this could be a good indication that the plant can begin flushing.