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It’s vital to know when to harvest your indoor cannabis plants. Use our easy guidelines and tips to ensure a successful harvest of your Cannabis crop!
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Introduction
Harvesting your indoor cannabis plants is a process that begins long before you actually cut them down. In fact, the decisions you make about when to start flowering your plants can have a significant impact on their eventual yield and quality. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you determine when to harvest your indoor cannabis plants.
The first thing to understand is that cannabis plants have two distinct growth phases – vegetative and flowering. The vegetative phase is characterized by rapid growth and is the ideal time to proper training and pruning techniques. The flowering phase is when the plant begins to produce buds, and is generally much shorter than the vegetative phase.
The length of the vegetative and flowering phases will vary depending on the particular strain of cannabis you are growing. Some strains have a relatively short vegetative phase, while others can remain in this phase for several months. The length of the flowering phase also varies depending on the strain, but is typically shorter than the vegetative phase.
Once you have an understanding of the basics of cannabis plant growth, you can begin to make decisions about when to harvest your indoor plants. In general, it is best to wait until the plant has entered the flowering stage before beginning any type of harvest schedule. This allows the plant time to develop a robust root system and produce healthy leaves that can support heavy bud production.
If you are growing a strain with a relatively short flowering phase, you may be able to begin harvesting around 8-10 weeks after entering into this stage. For strains with longer flowering periods, it is best to wait 12 weeks or more before beginning your harvest schedule. Keep in mind that these are general guidelines – it is always best to consult with an experienced grower before making any final decisions about when to harvest your indoor plants.
The Right Time to Harvest
Although you can technically harvest your cannabis plants anytime after they’ve flowered, most growers will wait until at least 60% of the trichomes have turned from white to milky-white before they start cutting down their crop.
Why? Because the THC (and other cannabinoids) isn’t fully developed until the trichomes have reached this point. If you harvest too early, your buds will have less THC and a weaker overall effect.
How can you tell when your buds are ready? You’ll need a jeweler’s loupe or microscope to take a close look at the trichomes. When they’re ready, they should look like tiny mushrooms with grown caps. If more than 60% of the trichomes have reached this stage, your plants are ready to harvest.
The Right Tools for the Job
You will need the following tools to harvest your indoor cannabis plants:
-A good, sharp pair of scissors or pruning shears
-A magnifying glass
-A plastic bag or container to store your harvested buds
Harvesting your indoor cannabis plants is a delicate process. You will need to be careful not to damage the delicate buds and leaves. It is also important to harvest at the right time. If you harvest too early, the buds will not be fully developed and will not have the high THC content that you are looking for. If you harvest too late, the buds may be damaged by mold or mildew.
The best time to harvest your indoor cannabis plants is when the buds are just beginning to turn brown. At this point, the THC content is at its highest and the buds are less likely to be damaged by mold or mildew. To determine when your plants are ready to harvest, take a close look at the buds with a magnifying glass. You should see brown pistils sticking out from the center of the bud. When 50-75% of the pistils are brown, it is time to harvest.
The Right Conditions for Harvesting
Harvesting your cannabis plants is a delicate process that requires care and attention to detail. The right conditions must be met in order for the harvest to be successful.
The first condition is the right amount of light. Cannabis plants need between 12 and 18 hours of light per day in order to produce buds. If they do not receive enough light, they will produce fewer buds.
The second condition is the right temperature. Cannabis plants prefer a temperature of between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature is too high or too low, the plant will not produce as many buds.
The third condition is the right humidity level. Cannabis plants prefer a humidity level of between 40 and 60 percent. If the humidity level is too high or too low, the plant will not produce as many buds.
The fourth condition is the right soil type. Cannabis plants prefer a soil type that is loose and well-draining. If the soil is too compacted or has poor drainage, the plant will not produce as many buds.
The fifth and final condition is the right nutrients. Cannabis plants need nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in order to grow properly. If they do not receive enough nutrients, they will not produce as many buds
The Right Method for Harvesting
The most important aspect of harvesting your indoor cannabis plants is to do it at the right time. If you harvest too early, the plants will not have fully developed and won’t produce a potent product. If you wait too long, the THC in the plants will start to degrade, and you’ll end up with a weaker product.
There are a few different ways to determine when your indoor cannabis plants are ready to harvest:
1. Trichomes: One way to tell if your plant is ready to harvest is by examining the trichomes, which are the tiny crystals that cover the leaves and buds. You can do this with a magnifying glass or microscope. When the trichomes are clear or milky white, it means that the THC levels are still rising and the plant is not quite ready. When they turn amber or brown, it means that THC levels have peaked and begun to decline, so the plant should be harvested sooner rather than later.
2. Pistils: Another way to tell if your plant is ready to harvest is by examining the pistils, which are the little hairs that stick out from the buds. When they’re still mostly white, it means that THC levels are still rising and the plant is not quite ready. When they turn red or brown, it means that THC levels have peaked and begun to decline, so the plant should be harvested sooner rather than later.
3. Leaf Color: Often, you can also tell if a plant is ready to harvest by looking at its leaves. When they start to turn yellow or brown around the edges, it means that THC levels have peaked and begun to decline, so the plant should be harvested sooner rather than later.
Once you’ve determined that your indoor cannabis plants are ready to harvest, there are a few things you need to do in order to ensure a high-quality product:
1. Cut down the plants: Using a sharp knife or pair of scissors, cut down your cannabis plants at their base. Be sure not to damage any of the buds in the process!
2. Hang them upside down: Once they’re cut down, hang your cannabis plants upside down in a cool, dark place such as a closet or basement for about two weeks. This will allow all of the excess moisture to drain out of them so that they’re less likely to mold during storage.
3.. Dry them completely: After two weeks, your cannabis plants should be dry enough to store safely without molding. However, if you want to ensure that they’re completely dry before storing them long-term (which is recommended), you can put them in an oven on its lowest setting for about an hour..
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a few different ways to determine when to harvest your indoor cannabis plants. The most important thing is to be patient and wait until the trichomes have turned from clear to cloudy before harvesting. Keep in mind that the longer you wait, the more potent your cannabis will be. One way to test potency is to use a jeweler’s loupe and look at the trichomes up close. If they’re mostly cloudy with just a few clear ones, it’s time to harvest!
