First time growing and would love some feedback around whether I’m doing the right things and if I need to do anything differently. Thanks in advance!
Looks good (alive, in flower, and healthy).
All good indications.
Have you a plan for “topping” ?
Great looking plant Growmie, keep doing what you’re doing 
Fantastic! Since it’s my first time, I had not planned on doing any topping or, really anything, the plant because I don’t want to risk harming it for being stupid. How far along am I? Should I be checking every day for these flowers to get really big and compact?
That works too.
Topping will slow upward growth and release side growth (bush out, shorter).
Checking daily? I do.
Have you a plan for the CUT, wash, hang, dry, cure routine?
Welcome aboard!!! Nice looking plant with pretty buttons!!
You probably have 4-5wks before she’ll be ready to harvest. Keep up what you’re doing and she’ll swell up for sure.
Good luck and happy growing!!!
I had planned to wait for the leaves to start to yellow, put it in a dark cooler dry room for a couple of days, and just cut it at ground level, trim the leaves and hang dry it in that same dark room and trim and jar the buds as they dry out. From what I read in the growers bible, it sounds like I should wait about 3 weeks before I start snipping and another 3-4 in the jars. Does that sound right?
Since there are buds on the top layer, have I already passed the point where I can top it?
Looking good!
Yep, she’s in flower…approximately 3 weeks
Definitely. Do NOT top that lady. When topping autos, it’s best to do it early, well before flower. Since they need time to recover, but flower on their own time, it is, in my opinion (which always stinks!), best to do it about 2-3wks in, when they start getting a good bit of actual growth at the stem.
I do what I want to see in results.
Mine are photos.
If I had a dozen, then yes, I would experiment.
Not with one, injury or shock at this time could be real bad.
First time, let her grow and show.
I am a proponent of washing harvest before hang.
I would not do the dark routine before cutting, mainly because I usually “take-some, leave some” and hit trices for different stages (experimenting).
I smoke alone, share/give only with two others (who still talk to me).
I also Kief mine and decarb.
All new processes to me (70’s started smoking, 60’s was beer).
Both now.
Doing great if she busted the seed, I figure.
I know 99 ways to kill plants (at least).
My timing as well on autos 
Fantastic! I plan to use for me and only me. I’m not sharing. This is my secret passion project.
I had planned to cut the sugar leaves after it’s totally dry and make a butter or something. So you’re saying you cut them right before you hang it?
Is the yield higher? Or is just a shape preference?
This young lady would be pretty tough to see unless you were standing next to it
Preciate you!
From a distance, it looks like Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree close it looks really cool
You should definitely get rid of some of that canopy. I don’t know how others feel about stripping the lower the bottom half but or or or third I should say worry about it getting pollinated. I do mine in a greenhouse 20 foot.
Good luck it looks good
My Harvesting includes washing.
Then I cut the fan leaves (not sugar leaves) and hang for 3-10 days
after dry and months of cure (bag or jar).
I use a weed trim bin and collect kief or grade out the buds.
Doing good, I like pruning lowers indoors imo but I wouldnt remove anything at all. It didn’t limb out real good so I’d want every bud. Outdoor light is all around w good airflow. Maybe if in-ground, low hanging parts sick or attacked but not there