Milky White Vs Amber Trichomes: When is The Right Time to Harvest
Cannabis plants produce a variety of trichomes, which are tiny hairs that form on the surface of the plant, and each type of trichome has a different purpose. Depending on the strain of cannabis, you may notice the trichomes appear milky-white or amber in colour. The colour of the trichomes is an indication of the plant’s maturity.
Milky white trichomes are found when the plant is still young and immature. The trichomes appear almost transparent, meaning that only a small amount of resin has accumulated. At this stage, it’s likely that the plant’s cannabinoids and terpenes are not fully developed, meaning the aroma and taste of the cannabis plant will not be present.
Once the trichomes start to change colour from white to amber, this indicates that the plant has started to mature and enter its flowering stage. During this stage, the trichomes become packed with cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids which gives the cannabis its distinctive aroma and taste. It also contains a higher THC content, making the plant powerful and strong. Amber trichomes are an indication that the plant is ready to harvest.
When deciding when to harvest the plant, it is important to observe the trichomes’ colour variation. If you want the plant to produce the calming, relaxing effects, then the trichomes should be slightly amber in colour. However, if you are looking for a more powerful and euphoric effect, then the trichomes should be a darker shade of amber. It is important to ensure that the trichomes don’t become so dark that they are almost black, as this means the plant has gone past its optimum harvesting point and can be harmful to consume.
In conclusion, the trichome colour of a cannabis plant can provide us with a lot of information about its scent, taste, potency and maturity. Milky white trichomes indicate that the plant is still immature and not ready to harvest, while amber trichomes let us know when the plant is reaching its peak ripeness and time to harvest.