I’m wondering if I could get an opinion. I’ve read a bunch of instructions on when to harvest, but I think reading the images is an art. The microscope I got on Amazon has a limited focus range, so I took a video. I don’t think I can attach that but I can attach a link to google drive, which is here:
It’s unprotected. I pointed the microscope at a bud I cut off this morning and moved the slide and focus around a bit. If there is a better trick to using this with good enough magnification for an old guy (me), I’d appreciate that information too. Much of the video is blurry as I searched for correct position and focus, but it was the best I can think of. If I take a still picture much will be out of focus. The bud isn’t flat!
FYI, this is from a fairly cheap microscope (about $30). If I’m being too cheap on this tool that would be good information too.
My guess is I’m a few days early. I still see some clear pistuls and most of the amber I see is from some of the white hairs turning brown. There are still white hairs though, and I think all or nearly all of them should turn brown.
I could use the judgement of someone with more experience. This looks like a good grow for me and I’m having trouble keeping my anxiousness in check .
The Amazon microscope works fine, most of us use one of them, one bit of advice, if your going to take pics of buds still on plant, get a microphone stand or camera stand to steady the scope, much easier to get a good focus and crisp pic with one. Even helps hold phone steady. These were taken with stand and IPhone 14 Pro Max.
You only need a tiny sample: clip a few spots and place on a sheet of white paper. Using a stand in good lighting will allow you to get some good images.
I quit using a scope years ago and instead go by the overall look of the mature plant and flower. @Growdoc posted mature flower.
You’re doing great and based on the clip, you’re right there. Get a pic of the overall plant. That’s informative as well to see the bracts and pistils.
Thanks! There are a couple of interesting aspects to this, for me. First, I was trying for much more magnification. To my eye I can’t tell what color the heads are at this magnification. Maybe it’s enough to look at the density of brown hairs to white ones and don’t try for enough magnification for the tiny heads.
The upper left one looks almost exactly where I am now. There are still some white hairs left but a lot of brown ones too. The other pictures have very few white hairs.
Here is a still picture of the same bud at a lower magnification closer to yours.
At lower magnification I get a wider focus range, but can’t clearly see the heads.
The impression I’m getting is that I’m about at the beginning of the acceptable time to harvest. I can wait longer if I want a more soporific effect but any time now would be OK.
It looks to me like you have some time, heads still look clear to me, a scope would really help to view the trichs up close. You could snip a small bud and force dry it to see if it is racy or ok.
The stand is a must have… And just the other day I realized how to zoom in and capture the trichs… I also like it cause you can also pull it back some and get a good full bud pic…like this one. But still playing an learning..
You hit a bit of new terminology for me. Are you saying, put it in the oven for a bit to dry very quickly, then smoke it and see if the effect is good or if I get jumpy?
TBH, I doubt if I could tell that. To be VERY honest, I’ve never smoked. I make gummies at home. I think I have to stick to visual cues. Thanks for the information, though.
I’m going to play around later to see if I can get a better still picture. When I look at guides I think they have cameras with a broader focus range than mine, but maybe I can flatten the sample enough to do a better job of it. This could just be a matter of practice. Something to work on!
There is a technique of putting a bud in the microwave and drying it for testing, I’ve never done it, I make oil and I let the trichs tell me when she’s ready but, all trichs don’t always turn, some sativas especially stay clear to slightly milky. And don’t worry, if you got some racy stuff that was chopped early, you would know! Anxiety, headaches, palpitations, symptoms are very easily recognized!
I assume that’s what racy means? At any rate it tells me to err on the side of too late. AFIK too late makes it soporific. If too early causes heart palpitations, I’m going to err on the side of too late!
Wow!!! Learn something new everyday. I’ve never smoked homegrown other than my cousin’s. I was just telling sis today how when I get high I get headaches.
I think the video is better than this. I’m still thinking very close, but waiting a bit won’t hurt. Especially in the light of what I just learned about ‘racy’.
It looks like I still have too many white pistuls. The leaves, which were a beautiful green are starting to turn yellow. Other info, if it matters. The strain is Bruce Banner Auto, which is 60% sativa, 40% indica. My climate is tropical. It’s currently about 85F during the day here. I usually don’t get much color change near harvest, I suspect it just doesn’t get cold enough.
.
And don’t worry, if you got some racy stuff that was chopped early, you would know! Anxiety, headaches, palpitations, symptoms are very easily recognized!
