When is the best time to harvest cannabis?

They say that patience is a virtue, though we have no idea who “they” actually are!

However, waiting for the day when your cannabis plants are ready for harvesting requires tremendous self-discipline and a whole load of patience.

So, the perennial answer to when you can harvest cannabis is “not soon enough!”
Of course there will come a time when you can begin to get excited, and that is when trichomes begin to appear.

These glittery protrusions start out looking very clear and glossy, which is a bit of a tease as at this stage the buds aren’t very potent.

Once the buds start to mature, the trichome heads will turn a milky white colour and will begin to look almost like plastic, indicating a high THC count.

At this point the cannabis you harvest can provide quite an aggressive high and is not ideal for those who suffer from anxiety or stress.

Because the trichomes are so small it can be difficult to spot subtle changes, so a good idea is to invest in a strong magnifying glass.

As buds continue to mature, the white trichomes will once again change colour, this time taking on an amber hue. This usually occurs between one and two weeks after the trichomes have reached their THC peak.

This is a good time for harvesting if you are wanting your cannabis to provide a more relaxing high.
Another way to check if your cannabis is ready for harvesting is called the “pistil method”.

While most of the white pistils, which look like hairs, are white and stick out straight, the cannabis is not yet ready for harvesting.

Once some of the pistils start to darken in colour, now is the time to watch closely, as you are only a few weeks away from harvest time.

When between 70% and 90% of the hairs, or pistils, have darkened, this is a perfect time to harvest if you want a seriously high THC content.

If you wait until between 90% and a100% of the hairs have darkened, then you will end up harvesting cannabis that has lower THC and higher CBD levels to provide a more relaxing high.

So, while you’re waiting for your cannabis plants to mature, make sure to like this video and subscribe to our channel, so you too can become a cannabis expert!