phase_dancer
Bluelight Crew
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2001
- Messages
- 6,179
I'm not saying this applies to indoor growing, where light and other conditions are adjustable, but this book has pretty much stood the test of time when speaking about outdoor growing.
I'm not doubting the taste factor with older plants but I'll state again that THC levels are usually highest before pistils become noticably discoloured. Here's my reference.
From Marijuana Botany by Robert Connell Clarke
pages 139 -140
Peak Floral Stage
Elongation of the main floral stem ceases at this stage, and floral clusters gain most of their size through the addition of more calyxes along the secondary stems until they cover the primary stem tips in an overlapping spiral. Small reduced mono-leaflet and tri-leaflet leaves subtend each pair of calyxes emerging from secondary stems within the floral clusters. These subtending leaves are correctly referred to as bracts. Outer leaves begin to wilt and turn yellow as the pistillate plant reaches its reproductive peak.
In the primordial calyxes the pistils have turned brown; however, all but the oldest of the flowers are fertile and the floral clusters are white with many pairs of ripe pistils. Resin secretion is quite advanced in some of the older infertile calyxes, and the young pistillate calyxes are rapidly producing capitate stalked glandular trichromes to protect the precious unfertilized ovule. Under wild conditions the pistillate plant would be starting to form seeds and the cycle would be drawing to a close. When Cannabis is grown for sinsemilla floral production, the cycle is interrupted. Pistillate plants remain unfertilized and begin to produce capitate stalked trichromes and accumulate resin in a last effort to remain viable. Since capitate-stalked trichromes now predominate, resin and THC production increase.
The elevated resin heads appear clear, since fresh resin is still being secreted, often being produced in the cellular head of the trichrome. At this time THC acid production is at a peak and CBD acid levels remain stable as the molecules are rapidly converted into THC acids.
THC acid synthesis has not been active for long enough for a high level of CBN acid to build up from the degradation of THC acid by heat and light. Terpene production is also nearing a peak and the floral clusters are beautifully aromatic. Many cultivators prefer to pick some of their strains during this stage in order to produce marijuana with a clear cerebral, psychoactive effect. It is believed that, in peak floral clusters, the low levels of CBD and CBN allow the high level of THC to act without sedative effects. Also, little polymerization of resins has occurred, [The bulbous dirty resin I earlier spoke of; p_d] so aromas and tastes are often less resinous and tar-like than at later stages. Many strains, if they are harvested in the peak floral stage, lack a completely developed aroma, taste and psychoactive level that appear after curing.
This is the point of optimum harvest for some strains since most additional calyx growth has ceased. However, a subsequent flush of new calyx growth may occur and the plant continue ripening into the late floral stage.
Late Floral Stage
By this stage plants are well past their reproductive phase and their health has begun to decline. Many of the larger leaves have dropped off and some of the small inner leaves begin to change colour. Autumn colours (purple, orange, yellow, etc) begin to appear in the older leaves and calyxes at this time; many of the pistils turn brown and begin to fall off. Only the last terminal pistils are still fertile and swollen calyxes predominate. Heavy layers of protective resin heads cover the calyxes and associated leaves. Production of additional capitate-stalked glandular trichromes is rare, although some existing trichromes may still be elongating and secreting resins. As the previously secreted resins mature, they change color. The polymerization of small terpene molecules (which make up most of the resins) produce long chains and a more viscous and darker coloured resin. The ripening and darkening of resins follows the peak of psychoactive cannabinoid synthesis and the transparent amber colored resin of mature plants is usually indicative of high THC content....
Color added to highlight; p_d
I'm not doubting the taste factor with older plants but I'll state again that THC levels are usually highest before pistils become noticably discoloured. Here's my reference.
From Marijuana Botany by Robert Connell Clarke
pages 139 -140
Peak Floral Stage
Elongation of the main floral stem ceases at this stage, and floral clusters gain most of their size through the addition of more calyxes along the secondary stems until they cover the primary stem tips in an overlapping spiral. Small reduced mono-leaflet and tri-leaflet leaves subtend each pair of calyxes emerging from secondary stems within the floral clusters. These subtending leaves are correctly referred to as bracts. Outer leaves begin to wilt and turn yellow as the pistillate plant reaches its reproductive peak.
In the primordial calyxes the pistils have turned brown; however, all but the oldest of the flowers are fertile and the floral clusters are white with many pairs of ripe pistils. Resin secretion is quite advanced in some of the older infertile calyxes, and the young pistillate calyxes are rapidly producing capitate stalked glandular trichromes to protect the precious unfertilized ovule. Under wild conditions the pistillate plant would be starting to form seeds and the cycle would be drawing to a close. When Cannabis is grown for sinsemilla floral production, the cycle is interrupted. Pistillate plants remain unfertilized and begin to produce capitate stalked trichromes and accumulate resin in a last effort to remain viable. Since capitate-stalked trichromes now predominate, resin and THC production increase.
The elevated resin heads appear clear, since fresh resin is still being secreted, often being produced in the cellular head of the trichrome. At this time THC acid production is at a peak and CBD acid levels remain stable as the molecules are rapidly converted into THC acids.
THC acid synthesis has not been active for long enough for a high level of CBN acid to build up from the degradation of THC acid by heat and light. Terpene production is also nearing a peak and the floral clusters are beautifully aromatic. Many cultivators prefer to pick some of their strains during this stage in order to produce marijuana with a clear cerebral, psychoactive effect. It is believed that, in peak floral clusters, the low levels of CBD and CBN allow the high level of THC to act without sedative effects. Also, little polymerization of resins has occurred, [The bulbous dirty resin I earlier spoke of; p_d] so aromas and tastes are often less resinous and tar-like than at later stages. Many strains, if they are harvested in the peak floral stage, lack a completely developed aroma, taste and psychoactive level that appear after curing.
This is the point of optimum harvest for some strains since most additional calyx growth has ceased. However, a subsequent flush of new calyx growth may occur and the plant continue ripening into the late floral stage.
Late Floral Stage
By this stage plants are well past their reproductive phase and their health has begun to decline. Many of the larger leaves have dropped off and some of the small inner leaves begin to change colour. Autumn colours (purple, orange, yellow, etc) begin to appear in the older leaves and calyxes at this time; many of the pistils turn brown and begin to fall off. Only the last terminal pistils are still fertile and swollen calyxes predominate. Heavy layers of protective resin heads cover the calyxes and associated leaves. Production of additional capitate-stalked glandular trichromes is rare, although some existing trichromes may still be elongating and secreting resins. As the previously secreted resins mature, they change color. The polymerization of small terpene molecules (which make up most of the resins) produce long chains and a more viscous and darker coloured resin. The ripening and darkening of resins follows the peak of psychoactive cannabinoid synthesis and the transparent amber colored resin of mature plants is usually indicative of high THC content....
Color added to highlight; p_d
