Harvest & Curing Day 86 of Think Different, small buds but is it time to Harvest?

[afrotoke]

Hi,
This is my first autoflower grow, and about 10 years since my last grow, so my second ever!

I went for Dutch Passion Think Different cause it sounded awesome and I wanted a Sativa dominant strain, a nice head high.

Anyways, DP state that this strain is ready from seed to harvest in 60-70 days.

I had to go for a stealth grow in the back corner of my greenhouse, surrounded by tomatoes and peas. It's very stealth but the downside of this is that because it's tucked away it doesn't get the sunlight it deserves. Planted late October (i'm obviously in the southern hemisphere where it's lovely and summery right now) and I'm at a latitude that has had average of 14.5 hours of daylight for the last couple of months.

My TD plant is only getting a few (maybe 3-4) hours of [sometimes patchy] direct rays from the sun, other times it is quite light/bright in there, even in the corner.

The pistils are almost all amber now and curled right over, just about 10% of white ones at the bottom still, and from what i can tell with my 30x magnifier the trics are now cloudy (but that is hard to tell). I've been hoping from some bud swelling and for the lovely lady to pack on some beef for the last two weeks now, but she's remaining to be a skinny bitc#!

I would really love & appreciate some advice about whether this is normal bud development for a plant that isn't receiving optimal [direct] sunlight. Am I at the end of the harvest window, or whether there is likely to be more bud growth over the next week or two?

The other thing to note is that i went away for a couple of weeks over christmas and when i got back i was saddened to find she'd come down with some nasty mold - bud rot had destroyed a few buds
(there was an irrigation system keeping the plants watered, and it was VERY humid at that time anyway, so the spray and humidity was ideal conditions for mold
I am pretty sure it was Botrytis from what i've seen and read. that is still a bit of an issue with small patches of the plant infected. (my tomato leaves and stalks are also covered in the nasty mold).

So, any suggestions? should i pull and harvest now, or wait. I'm worried that if i wait i'll overcook the small buds i have and they will lose potency and/or become more a CBD & body high?

I have taken a few blurry photos with my phone camera at dusk. will try get some better ones tomorrow in daylight with a proper camera. (forgive me for the poor quality!)

She's only about 2 foot high. much smaller than i was hoping for but maybe that's just what you get in the amount of light she's getting?

Any advice or suggestions appreciated.

Cheers

 

[gearbear2]

she's trying, I've seen this strain and check out the BOM pics for this strain. It has huge potential, but this plant seems to have had a lot of strain. I'm noticing a lot of stretch that would imply that more light would be appreciated or her diet was to N and not enough P, K. Did you monitor PH?

If you gave her great light, steady bubbled/ph water right, and nutrients at adequate levels, got some "wind" on her, she could have really performed.
But! if you didn't have to do much and jsut kinda planted her... at least ya got some right?!

Oh and welcome, be sure to check out the welcome side, introduce yourself, read the rulez, and all that jazz :check: Welcomes to AFN positive vibes

 

[afrotoke]

Thanks for the fast reply gearbear2!
I have another TD seed and also a Dinafem Original Amnesia Auto seed, so just germing them now and may risk an outdoor grow with more sun for my TD. (I just don't want the wife to stumble across it, otherwise i'm off to counselling luckily she keeps out of my greenhouse)
I did prepare the soil really well, i think, although i'm not monitoring PH. Yep, at least I got some.
So do you reckon the window is closing and I should harvest now? Maybe you should wait till i post better photos tomorrow to answer that

Cheers,
I'll go check out the welcome now.

 

[gearbear2]

check the trichs... milky to starting gold is when I like to pull. I never had any problems with sniping some off that I'm ready for and letting the rest go another week. Counseling? You sure you got this under control, I'm not wanting to be an enabler by any means. Does not understand what you use it for and how?
Mine is always somewhat disapproving bc of the safety side, but always enjoys having it when I need it or she does for pain therapy.

 

[dingo]

The fan leaves are still green. Wait till they are yellow before harvest. Why not pick a bud and dry in the shade for a week. Do not dry too quick or the taste is yuck.

 

[milkman]

Welcome to afn mate. Most seed companies post finishing times if grown in optimum conditions. Outside of those you will get all sorts of finishing times. I guess the plant is ready when you are ready. I have picked plants when tricks are clear, milky, amber and all will give you some affect. Your plant has endured many different variables from the optimum so you should not expect the perfectly manicured bud you see posted by some of the experienced growers here or from a seed supplier.
I think your plant looks tops bro, and would happily smoke your buds anytime from now or even if you were to wait another 5-10 days.
With your next effort be sure to tell us what nutes or ferts you use. Ph is the key, you can get a cheap meter from the local hardware, and this will ensure you have right nutrient availability for optimum growth. And more light less stretch tighter buds.
Peace and may the buds be with you

 

[afrotoke]

thanks to you all for your advice!

gearbear2 > all under control this end, I just prefer MJ over alcohol and wifey doesn't quite understand due to the negative propaganda we hear about MJ, although she doesn't mind me smoking it occasionally growing would be a different story! I'd rather grow than buy off gangs.

dingo > yep, i had a bit when i trimmed off the moldy bits (no, didn't smoke the mold tho!), but will cut one of the riper buds tomorrow and dry slowly this time and will also try cure for a week. It was a bit rough last week but still got stoned, i'm sure she'll taste and feel a lot better when dried and cured properly

milkman > yep, i thought as much re quality, and will try harder next time. I think i'll get a decent size pot and then i can move it around to get the best sunlight and still maintain a bit of a stealth factor - hide when necessary. then i'll monitor nutes a bit better! how big a pot do you reckon? 12 lt (3 gal)?

cheers

 

[milkman]

Yeah I have the best success with a light inert soil mix. I make my own with propagating sand,perlite,vermiculite and small portion of basic potting mix (no ferts, water saving crystal or anything added). I have tried growing in 140mm, 200mm, and 300mm size pots (not sure of conversion to gal or volume these hold) but I have found I get better yeild from the 200mm. I direct sow the seed into the final pot, that works for me.
Bear in mind I start feeding with 1/4 strength grow nutes from end of week 2, then progress to half strength on next water, then get to full strength by about week 4. I need to feed as the soil is light, drains freely, and has no nutes added.
Hope this helps.
Check out some of the stickies plenty of good advice from far better and more experienced growers who offer easy to use info
Happy grow bro

 

[afrotoke]

more photos

Right, so i got a few better photos. i probably could use a better macro one to really zoom in on the trichs, but the do look like they are turning amber to me. will try post some better macro shots tomorrow (i might have to use a tripod as my hand wasn't too steady either!)

what do you guys reckon? ready to pull or?? if i harvest will probably go staggered and see if some of the lower ones put on weight over the next 10 days or so.

 

[Guerrilla]

Dude this looks like a hermie! Looks like seed production, could def be why your year isn't there! Good luck man.