Have you been noticing a trend toward more and more amber trichomes lately? Noticing on forums lately many seem to be leaning toward zero white pistols and more and more amber trichomes for the time to harvest. My old school mind just cant seem to get my head around this. Am I wrong? I still porefer mostly milky with about 80% red hairs. So whats the verdict?
The trend for more amber?
by Flyingpig | Mar 18, 2023 | Grower Questions | 5 comments
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CBN is the C in THC, good for pain and sleep. Cannabinoid profiles can be somewhat manipulated based on maturity. Clear trichomes will be high in CBG, the precursor to all cannabinoids. Milky will be high in cannabinoids like THC and/or CBD at peak maturity. Once terpenes start to interact with cannabinoids like THC, breakdown to CBN begins, turning the color amber.
I know the concept. More talking about the trend of harvesting more and more toward the amber phase.
The trend still seems the same to me….some arbitrary percentage that never takes into consideration changes post harvest. I suppose the forums are the best place to find the new science of growing cannabis…ehh, doubtful. Maybe they all caught on that you get a little more flavor with maturation. I don’t know man, this question isn’t interesting, I just wanted to say arbitrary.
I should have said this topic, not “question.” I’m a nice person.
Also pistils have zero to do with ripening. Age, if anythng, but physical damage or polination will change the color too.
Trichomes can turn amber for a number of reasons. Harsh sun or heat, extreme winds, touch by a human, touch by an animal, touched by itself 😳😳😳😳😳😳!!!!!
If you want to be sure of peak maturity you need to use magnification. Fortunately most trichomes are of the “Capitate Stalk” type that looks like a stick pin. These types allow us to see two things under enough magnification.
1: the actual amount resin present inside the cuticle (top half of trichome head).
2: the condition of the basal cell. When a trichome reaches it’s peak maturity the basal cell will shrink or constrict. This will look like a bobble head on top of a tapered shaft. You will a microscope or high powered loupe too see this.
Try not to touch them or they will turn amber!