LATE-BLOOM

1

Check the Trichomes

Check the trichomes to determine when the plant is ready for harvest. The trichomes should be cloudy or amber in color, not clear. Use a magnifying glass or microscope to inspect the trichomes

2

Flush if Necessary

If using Fox Farm or Adv.Nutrition they recommend flushing.

Flush the plants with plain water 1-2 weeks before harvest to remove any excess nutrients.
Use three times the volume of water as the volume of the container, and adjust the pH of the water to 6.0-6.5

3

What You Gonna do With All Them Buds?

Set up your Trimming and drying areas in advance
Get a LEVO for Edibles

Check the Trichomes

Clear = Not Yet, Milky = Ampy Buzz, Amber = Couch Lock

01

What You Will Need

A cheap jeweler’s loupe (30–60x) or small handheld microscope.
Steady hands and a bright light.

You’re looking at the resin heads on the buds, not the leaves.

02

How To

Turn off the grow light or use side lighting so glare doesn’t blind you.
Gently bend a bud toward you and look at the tiny mushroom‑shaped trichomes on the calyxes.
Ignore sugar leaves; they often mature faster and can mislead you.

Check several buds on different parts of the plant, not just one tip.

03

What to Look For

Clear = Not Yet. Mostly clear trichomes mean the plant isn’t fully potent; the buzz will be weaker and shorter.
Milky/Cloudy = Ampy Buzz. Mostly cloudy with a few clear gives you a more energetic, “up” high.
Amber = Couch Lock. More amber mixed in means more body‑heavy, sedative effect; lots of amber can feel very sleepy.

Pick the mix that matches how you want your buds to feel.

Flush if Necessary

If you did it right there's nothing to flush

01

What You Will Need

Access to plenty of clean, pH‑balanced water.
Time—1–2 weeks before harvest if you choose to flush.

This step depends a lot on how and what you fed during the grow.

02

When Is It Necessary

In living, well‑balanced organic soil with moderate feeding, many growers reduce or stop nutrients near the end and do not heavy‑flush.
Some bottled nutrient lines (like specific salt‑heavy formulas) recommend a flush period to help remove excess salts from the root zone.

If you used a nutrient system that calls explicitly for flushing, follow their schedule; if you used a gentle organic program and didn’t overdo it, a light taper is often enough.

03

How To

If you choose to flush:

Begin about 1–2 weeks before your planned harvest date.
Water with plain, pH‑balanced water—enough to get good runoff and wash extra salts out of the medium.
Let pots dry out as usual between flush waterings; don’t keep them constantly soaked.

You’re just rinsing, not drowning.

04

How Long to Wait Before Harvesting

After the flush period, keep checking trichomes and overall plant health.

When trichomes hit your target mix of cloudy/amber, and the plant has started to fade naturally (yellowing leaves), you’re ready to cut.

Don’t rush just because you started a flush; harvest by trichomes, not by calendar.

What Are You Gonna Do With All Them Buds?

Stored, cannabis is good for 6-12 mo. Then loses 15% THC annually

Before you cut anything, clear and clean a table for trimming and set up your drying area with hanging lines or racks.
Make sure your dry space can sit around 60–70°F and 50–60% humidity with gentle airflow and darkness.
Have trays, scissors, gloves, and jars ready so you aren’t scrambling with arms full of wet buds.

Getting organized now makes harvest day way less chaotic.