悟る · grow guide
When to harvest cannabis
How to time your cannabis harvest using trichomes and pistils — the difference between an energetic and a sedative finish, and why a magnifier beats guessing by the calendar.
5 min read
Read the trichomes, not the calendar
Trichomes are the tiny resin glands coating the buds. Under a jeweler's loupe or pocket microscope they shift from clear to cloudy/milky to amber as they ripen — and that color is the most reliable harvest signal. Breeder flowering times are a starting estimate, not a deadline.
What the colors mean
The mix of cloudy vs amber trichomes shapes the effect, so harvest to the experience you want:
- Clear: not ready — potency hasn't peaked
- Mostly cloudy/milky: peak THC, a more energetic/heady finish
- Some amber (10–30%): balanced, with more body and calm
- Heavily amber: more sedative, couch-leaning
Pistils are a secondary clue
The hairs (pistils) darkening from white to orange/brown and curling inward is a rough progress sign, but pistils alone are unreliable — always confirm with trichomes before you cut.
Flush and final week
Many growers run plain water for the last week or so to finish clean, and watch humidity closely — dense, ripe buds in humid air are prime territory for bud rot. If rot appears, harvest the affected area immediately rather than waiting for a perfect trichome read.
FAQ
How do I check trichomes?
Use a jeweler's loupe (60–100x) or a cheap USB/phone microscope on the buds and sugar leaves. Look at the glandular heads: clear means wait, cloudy means peak THC, amber means a more sedative finish.
Should I harvest at milky or amber trichomes?
Mostly cloudy with around 10–30% amber is the common sweet spot — peak potency with some body. More amber leans sedative; all-cloudy leans energetic. Harvest to the effect you prefer.
Put it into practice
Satoru turns these fundamentals into a blueprint tuned to your strain and room — and watches it grow over grow.
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