# Flushing and harvesting, when and how **URL:** \ **Category:** Autoflowers\ **Created:** [December 23, 2020, 5:28pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/flushing-and-harvesting-when-and-how/60144 "2020-12-23T17:28:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kontaktytan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/kontaktytan/32/216256_2.png) [@Kontaktytan](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Kontaktytan)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2020, 5:28pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/flushing-and-harvesting-when-and-how/60144/1 "2020-12-23T17:28:19Z")
Hi guys! _Seed: RQS Quick One_ _Substrate: Gold Label Special Mix_ _Nutrients: Gold Label A, B, Roots, MG, PK & Enzyme_ _Age: 7 weeks and 3 days_ _Height: 27” or 70cm_ _Light: Mars Hydro TS 600 LED_ _Schedule: 18/6_ According to the RQS schedule I should start flushing next week but I wanted to ask you guys about that. **-How do I tell when to start flushing?** I have read and been advised to harvest auto flowers in two session with one week apart. Looking at the buds I can see that the top ones are larger than the lower ones, so I’m going to try out that advise. **-What’s the best way to do this without stressing or hurting the plants?** **-What should be cut down and how much in the first session?** Regards Kontaktytan ---
**Author:** ![Bubblehead](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/bubblehead/32/264361_2.png) [@Bubblehead](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Bubblehead)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2020, 5:41pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/flushing-and-harvesting-when-and-how/60144/2 "2020-12-23T17:41:57Z")
7-weeks sounds early. Do you have any pictures? Flush timing is done by looking at the trichomes and bud structure. The buds will gain a lot of weight toward the end of their life. I have never harvested mine in stages. I have always taken the entire plant. The theory, as I understand it, is to take the largest buds, say the top third. Then leave the bottom to mature for a length of time. Removing that kind of plant material will stress the plant no way around it. Actually, that is what you are hoping to have happen. Think about the plant in the wild. Wind or an animal takes the top of the plant off the plant will send energy to the remaining buds, after all its goal is to survive to propagate the species. ---
**Author:** ![MidwestGuy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/midwestguy/32/914277_2.png) [@MidwestGuy](https://ilgmforum.com/u/MidwestGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2020, 5:48pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/flushing-and-harvesting-when-and-how/60144/3 "2020-12-23T17:48:01Z")
I usually take my plants down in 2 stages since the lower flowers don’t seem to mature as quickly as those that are on top and getting plenty of light. Staged harvests are usually a week apart. ---
**Author:** ![Bubblehead](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/bubblehead/32/264361_2.png) [@Bubblehead](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Bubblehead)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2020, 5:50pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/flushing-and-harvesting-when-and-how/60144/4 "2020-12-23T17:50:04Z")
Thanks @MidwestGuy. Do you do that with fems also? ---
**Author:** ![MidwestGuy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/midwestguy/32/914277_2.png) [@MidwestGuy](https://ilgmforum.com/u/MidwestGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2020, 5:52pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/flushing-and-harvesting-when-and-how/60144/5 "2020-12-23T17:52:36Z")
Correct. ---
**Author:** ![Bubblehead](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/bubblehead/32/264361_2.png) [@Bubblehead](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Bubblehead)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2020, 5:53pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/flushing-and-harvesting-when-and-how/60144/6 "2020-12-23T17:53:13Z")
Hmmm…may have to look into that this time around. ---
**Author:** ![Kontaktytan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/kontaktytan/32/216256_2.png) [@Kontaktytan](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Kontaktytan)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2020, 6:06pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/flushing-and-harvesting-when-and-how/60144/7 "2020-12-23T18:06:18Z")
Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated. I am pretty sure that Santa will give me a new loupe this Christmas. And hopefully I will be able to provide some photos of the trichomes with Santa’s present. I will also add some photos of the bud structure. Merry Christmas… Regards Kontaktytan ---
**Author:** ![Bubblehead](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/bubblehead/32/264361_2.png) [@Bubblehead](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Bubblehead)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2020, 6:07pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/flushing-and-harvesting-when-and-how/60144/8 "2020-12-23T18:07:46Z")
The whole plant in natural light will help too. Go Santa go! Merry Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![Kontaktytan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/kontaktytan/32/216256_2.png) [@Kontaktytan](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Kontaktytan)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2020, 7:03pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/flushing-and-harvesting-when-and-how/60144/9 "2020-12-26T19:03:52Z")
Hi! I must have been good this year, Santa gave me a loupe. Will need a bit more practice taking photos with it, hard to get a steady shoot. But a few came out OK I think, hopefully they will show you what you need. **First a couple pictures of a whole plant, length from edge of pot to the top is about 20” or 50cm.** ![Angle 1](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/0/8/9/089e3feeaf225b3c68994eb00f3f768535e78539.jpeg) ![Angle 2](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/e/0/c/e0cd8b610403eeabee970cb62b2649123afec927.jpeg) ![Angle 3](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/c/3/8/c38329c84159e8a0900c67564465495bc4001db8.jpeg) ![Angle 4](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/8/d/6/8d60cffeeddc2bdba5206a67dd001f1d9071877a.jpeg) **Next some pictures of the buds, from top to bottom.** ![Top Bud](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/2/c/f/2cf35a9a90516716098b60d170208c765f58c191.jpeg) ![Mid Bud](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/7/6/9/769056333b658f70ba930c006d544f43564a64f0.jpeg) ![Low Bud](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/5/2/0/5209a388e1ced4c69dd72aba2dffbc0e8f53a08f.jpeg) **And finally, a couple of trichome pictures from the top bud.** ![Trichome 1](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/5/a/1/5a160b304d025e7cb0f54f70ac53112d55c21539.jpeg) ![Trichome 2](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/6/a/7/6a7f9a5e4cda2b49f9a63a735a0b81eed868a9bf.jpeg) ![Trichome 3](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/4/c/8/4c882c481e842912e1af6efe1568edc90ab73e41.jpeg) ![Trichome 4](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/0/1/c/01cab6f91bfbc8c9308a58a74b91be0886605bf4.jpeg) I hope that the pictures work for you, let me know if it does not and I will give it another try. Regards Kontaktytan ---
**Author:** ![Jake3](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/jake3/32/425022_2.png) [@Jake3](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Jake3)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2020, 1:46am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/flushing-and-harvesting-when-and-how/60144/10 "2020-12-27T01:46:17Z")
Pictures were great! Trichome development is coming along nicely. Let’s see if my very untrained eye gets the approximate Age correct. I’m gonna guess that you’re in week 6-7 of flower. By the looks of it, I’d wait about 2 more weeks before harvest. Trichs are still clear with mostly cloudy. That’s my opinion tho, I like 15-20% amber for a more full body sedation type high. You’re just about at peak potency now. ---
**Author:** ![Kontaktytan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/kontaktytan/32/216256_2.png) [@Kontaktytan](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Kontaktytan)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 2:50pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/flushing-and-harvesting-when-and-how/60144/11 "2020-12-31T14:50:50Z")
I just wanted to say thanks to all the people that has helped and supported me so far, especially @Bubblehead, @MidwestGuy and @Jake3 with some pictures. ![IMG_20201231_145128](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/e/0/d/e0d9f855355f9f03d17b360fe33ae5d02e7a7a17.jpeg) Sofia - 8 weeks 4 days ![IMG_20201231_144321](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/3/5/2/35210ff4f7f43cfafdd1fe39416ade5bb9c59c2e.jpeg) Zid - 8 weeks 4 days ![IMG_20201231_144659](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/0/a/7/0a76e755c7aff9b2a8035c2e651f9ce54a5a6229.jpeg) Thore - 8 weeks 4 days Me and the little ones wish you a Happy New Year and a splendid 2021. ---
**Author:** ![Bubblehead](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/bubblehead/32/264361_2.png) [@Bubblehead](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Bubblehead)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 2:52pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/flushing-and-harvesting-when-and-how/60144/12 "2020-12-31T14:52:07Z")
Anytime. We are all here to succeed and I would not be able to grow like I do without the help of this community. ---
**Author:** ![Kontaktytan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/kontaktytan/32/216256_2.png) [@Kontaktytan](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Kontaktytan)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 6:06pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/flushing-and-harvesting-when-and-how/60144/13 "2021-01-01T18:06:03Z")
Hello everybody I hope you had a great new years eve. Today I took some close up photos of the top bud for each of the three plants. Would really appreciate if @Bubblehead, @MidwestGuy, @Jake3 or anybody else could have a look. Are they getting close to harvest or what do you think? ![IMG_20210101_183328](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/6/5/a/65a677ccbc22a8d744f4f6a40cf5fa01f91e8924.jpeg) Zid ![IMG_20210101_183623](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/a/c/6/ac6064b31afc8505abcb4817c5b6f26cf5c37fe8.jpeg) Sofia ![IMG_20210101_183827](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/5/3/9/539a554226555866eac1d3bb1715bfed8016f8d5.jpeg) Thore Regards Kontaktytan ---
**Author:** ![MidwestGuy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/midwestguy/32/914277_2.png) [@MidwestGuy](https://ilgmforum.com/u/MidwestGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 6:13pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/flushing-and-harvesting-when-and-how/60144/14 "2021-01-01T18:13:00Z")
Lots of white pistils and it’s not foxtailing. You have a few weeks to go yet. What week of flower are they in? ---
**Author:** ![Kontaktytan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/kontaktytan/32/216256_2.png) [@Kontaktytan](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Kontaktytan)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 6:36pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/flushing-and-harvesting-when-and-how/60144/15 "2021-01-01T18:36:27Z")
All three are 8 weeks and 5 days, but all differ in height, number and size of buds. What do you think about flushing, should I consider starting it soon? Regards Kontaktytan ---
**Author:** ![Bubblehead](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/bubblehead/32/264361_2.png) [@Bubblehead](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Bubblehead)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 7:44pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/flushing-and-harvesting-when-and-how/60144/16 "2021-01-01T19:44:36Z")
I agree with @MidwestGuy 2-3 weeks before harvest. This can be the hardest part…the waiting. ---
**Author:** ![Jake3](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/jake3/32/425022_2.png) [@Jake3](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Jake3)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 2:25pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/flushing-and-harvesting-when-and-how/60144/17 "2021-01-02T14:25:26Z")
I think that at this point you should invest in a jewelers loupe or microscope if you don’t already have one of them. You’re getting closer but without being able to see the color of the trichome heads, it’s honestly Hard for me to say. Just by the white pistils I would agree that you probably have at least a week left for my preferred harvest time. As for flushing, I still think you’d need to really check the trichomes. I start my flush at the first sign of amber heads. ---
**Author:** ![Kontaktytan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/kontaktytan/32/216256_2.png) [@Kontaktytan](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Kontaktytan)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 3:33pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/flushing-and-harvesting-when-and-how/60144/18 "2021-01-02T15:33:54Z")
Hi @Jake3 I have a loupe but not my regular mobile today and the loupe does not fit properly. But I managed to find an old iPhone, hard to get a good shoot with this setup though. I hope you can read something out of the photo. ![Thore - Trichome.PNG](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/0/2/f/02f8b20f57026526871ad5b94beb47b3ddb89547.jpeg) Thore Thanks for helping me out. Regards Kontaktytan ---
**Author:** ![Jake3](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/jake3/32/425022_2.png) [@Jake3](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Jake3)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 5:20pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/flushing-and-harvesting-when-and-how/60144/19 "2021-01-02T17:20:38Z")
To me, the only clearly visible trichomes in that picture are on a small sugar leaf. If I’m wrong and that is a calyx, I’d say you’re mostly cloudy with a little bit of clear still. You’re just about at peak thc then and I like to wait till I see a few amber to start my flush then harvest around 15% amber. But that’s me. You could harvest now if that what you wanted to do, I just think that you would end up with a bit of a racy head high at this stage. ---
**Author:** ![Kontaktytan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/kontaktytan/32/216256_2.png) [@Kontaktytan](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Kontaktytan)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 10:31pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/flushing-and-harvesting-when-and-how/60144/20 "2021-01-02T22:31:43Z")
Thanks for the feedback @Jake3 I think I will wait a bit more. [Next page](https://ilgmforum.com/t/flushing-and-harvesting-when-and-how/60144.md?page=2)