Heavy trichome production is not necessarily an indicator for a potent plant. Indicas have more trichomes than Sativas, but we all like the "mental high" from the Sativas, and the psychoactiveness. THC levels will be different, depending on the conditions that the plants are grown in. The genetics of the plant accounts for about 50% of the plants potency. The other 50% is comprised of all of the environmental factors that it is grown is, i.e. light, heat, amounts of fertilizer, humidity, drainage of the soil, PH, etc.. Since you are growing organically, you should stop feeding your plants around the last three or 4 weeks of your flowering stage. The last week you should leach the soil several times to remove all of the nutrients in the soil. As an organic grower, you don't have to worry about calcium deficiencies, as you do aero or hydroponically.. soil is usually limed, and has other sources of calcium. High potassium and nitrogen levels can have an adverse effect on THC production. (Which is why we leach the soil). Try to get as much UV light into the room as possible. Plants produce trichs to protect the seed pods so that they can live to reproduce. When too much UV light hits the plant, the female plant will produce mounds of trichs to protect the plant from getting a "sunburn". The plants highest in THC levels grown outdoors are usually found on the equator, or in high altitude areas where there is more UV light to be found. So, to sum it all up, don't add anything to your fertilizer, even if they aren't getting fertilizer burn, you might still be giving it too much. I usually use Miracle Grow for tomatoes for the vegetative stage, and Schultz Super Bloom, or Miracle Grow for flowers for the flowering stage (as it is lower in Nitrogen levels, which affects how the weed tastes). Organically, I stop feeding about the last two or three weeks, and then leach the soil the last week. (I know I typed a longer period earlier, but that is for you to have the most trichs..I stop feeding a little closer to harvest time so that I can have just a little more yield in the end.) Hydroponically, I use nutrient solution (the same fertilizers I mentioned earlier as they are also high in micronutrients), but I cut the amount of fertilizer by 50% the last two weeks.. then I cut to straight water the last two or three days (after it has set for 24 hours to reach room temp. and to let all of the additives evaporate. If I don't have enough water that has done this available in my grow room, and must use tap water, I use Wardley watercare Chlor Out..which neutralizes Chlorine and Chloramine in tap water.). I try to water indoor organic plants with water that has been treated as well, but maybe I'm just too picky. I haven't read or even heard of any studies on the effect of Chlorine on THC production, but if anyone else has, please let me know. Well, I'm gonna start rambling, and my beautiful plants are getting jealous because I've been on here so long. Peace Out.
High DW! If you have a happy healthy plant, you have done all you can. The rest is up to the genetics. Goodluck eg
I harvested half of a plant when trics were clear with some cloudy then I was going to harvest the other half when trics got cloudy to amber to compare stone. The first half was very good but lacked potantcy. The second half the buds are all showing new growth.Two inches of new growth on each bud. I am going to let them grow out. Should I fert or flush?
Curing your buds will increase flavour and I've heard it also increases potency. I always cure my buds so I don't know for sure if that last one is true, but for some reason I think it is. On top of that, you grow organic, which is bomb for flavour, curing your buds will make them even better. Enjoy the smoke
An elaboration on the phytochemical process that makes marijuana THC http://greenmanspage.com/guides/thc.html
