When Should I Pick My Pot Plants?

Knowing when to harvest your cannabis plants is critical to ensure that you get a high-quality and potent yield. Picking your pot plants at the right time is essential if you want to enjoy the maximum benefits that this green herb has to offer.

Factors to Consider

When deciding on the best time to pick your pot plants, there are several factors that you should consider. These factors include the strain of weed, the method of growing, and the plant's maturity level.

If you're growing sativa or hybrid cannabis varieties, these plants usually mature more slowly and, therefore, have less dense buds, and so it may need to remain flowering a little longer. Conversely, indicas tend to mature relatively quickly, which may mean you'll need to be more patient when waiting for them to flower fully.

Trichome Development

One of the most reliable ways to determine when to harvest your pot plants is by looking at the trichome development on the buds. Trichomes are the hair-like structures that cover the buds and contain all the important compounds that make cannabis a potent medicinal herb.

In general, the trichomes change color as the plant matures. Early in the flowering stage, the trichomes are normally clear, then turn milky and then cloudy before turning amber. As a rule of thumb, if you want a more euphoric, "heady" effect, then pick your pot plants when the trichomes are cloudy. If you want a more sedative, "body high," wait until the trichomes turn amber.

Checking the Pistils

Another method you can employ is to check the pistils, which are the hair-like structures that protrude from the buds. When you first see the pistils, they are usually white, but they will darken as the plant matures.

As the plant nears maturity, the pistils begin to turn amber or brown. Once about 70% of the pistils on a bud have darkened, it's usually an excellent sign that the pot plant is ready to be harvested.

Conclusion

Knowing when to pick your pot plants is critical to ensure you get the best possible yield from your efforts. When deciding on the best time to harvest, it's essential to consider factors like the strain you are growing, trichome development, pistil color, and maturity level of the plants.

By focusing on these factors and developing an eye for when it's time to harvest your pot plants, you can ensure that you get the maximum benefits and enjoyment from your cannabis crop.