How to check trichomes with magnifying glass?

[Jonnysact]

Hey all,

I'm a little concerned with the "technique" I'm using to check trichomes with this 60-100x magnifying glass I got from the local THC store. I'm conflicted as to the best practice in checking.

It seems as though sticking the flower into the little hole with the LED light is the only real way of getting a still image to observe, but doing this sometimes tears pistils, or at the very least, causes them to shrink and turn orange the next day.

Is there a better way to check? Should i be cutting a piece of sugar leaf? I really don't understand the best way of going about it. Wish there was some video tutorial online somewhere but haven't found anything. I'm surprised I don't read more about this but every google search just brings up people asking if they should or should not use a magnifying glass and which one, and not so much on the practice of HOW to...

This is what the pistils everywhere look like, white long pistils:

After I've tried viewing them under the scope, a day later, they look like this (excuse the cat fur):

Many thanks!

 

[GlandualFever]

Use a jewellers loupe, the magnifier you have is almost useless. You definitely cannot use it on the plant, only on what you cut off, and even then it has to be on a flat surface.

Buy a good jewellers loupe, the magnification is less, but you dont need crazy magnification, just enough to examine the trichrome heads.

 

[SmokinErb22]

I had the same magnifying glass....it barely works on a standing plant and requires a steady hand. A loupe (15-20x) is a much better option. A 30x is ideal IMO but these days I check with a naked eye

 

[SmokinErb22]

Also for your sanity, you're checking way too early. I don't start looking until the pistils have receded into the bud.

 

[Crusader Rabbit]

In your title and introductory sentence, you mention trichomes, but after that you only talk about pistils on female flowers. The female stigmas start to turn brown before harvest, but I thought this was about checking trichomes? Yes, a hand lens (loupe) is a more practical tool. Yes, you can examine the edge of a sugar leaf. Look at various portions of the plant to make your judgement. Some trichome heads on upper surfaces can turn amber early if they get intense light exposure. Those plants in your photos have a long way to go still.

 

[Pinball Wizard]

snip a very, very small bud leaf sample and put it on a white plate for viewing with scope

 

[HarvestMoon303]

Pretty much anything that touches the pistils will turn them brown, so that's no big deal.

That plant looks like it's in about week 4 of flower, so you're not going to see what you're looking for. Well, not for about another 4 weeks, anyway.

I have a hard time seeing them well at 60x, but it depends on what you're looking for. Ambers are a lot easier to differentiate than clear vs cloudy.

 

[Snook]

I been screwing with that ype of scope for years.. bought this for my girl and now its what I use.. much easier to deal with and cheap too.

http://www.sears.com/search=mini%2060x%20led%20pocket%20microscope%20jeweler%20magnifier%20adjustable%20loupe

when you move this to the right it goes to the right, move it up it goes up, not like those 60x-100x radioshack mind blowers..
and the light is WHITE.... not dim yellow.

I didn't get mine at sears but samey same.. i've also just ordered,
http://www.amazon.com/High-Expansiv...id=1425666867&sr=8-1&keywords=100x+slim+scope

also from another source.. when it comes, I'll be back.

 

[Jonnysact]

Pretty much anything that touches the pistils will turn them brown, so that's no big deal.

That plant looks like it's in about week 4 of flower, so you're not going to see what you're looking for. Well, not for about another 4 weeks, anyway.

I have a hard time seeing them well at 60x, but it depends on what you're looking for. Ambers are a lot easier to differentiate than clear vs cloudy.

Absolutely right. It's mid week 4! I am aware that it's not yet time to check, but in the interest of figuring out how to use the tools I have, I wanted to give it a go and found it very difficult getting a stable shot/view. So I thought I may as well figure this out well ahead of time so that should something need to be ordered, I have a good buffer.

The loup sounds interesting. 30X enough?

I guess the first sign of Amber is my 2 week mark? - stop nutes and only water?

 

[Snook]

Absolutely right. It's mid week 4! I am aware that it's not yet time to check, but in the interest of figuring out how to use the tools I have, I wanted to give it a go and found it very difficult getting a stable shot/view. So I thought I may as well figure this out well ahead of time so that should something need to be ordered, I have a good buffer.

The loup sounds interesting. 30X enough? no.

I guess the first sign of Amber is my 2 week mark? - stop nutes and only water?

with 60x and that LED light, you can see many more at once and you do not have to focus while the scope is touching the leaf/bud.. there is good definition of the leaf/tricomes but amber to red is a little harder to perceive because they are still, although perfectly defined, very small at 60x. if you have a little bit of a rest for stability, be able to check tric colors while still on the plant.
you are looking for clear, what you have now (probably) to cloudy. then when most are cloudy, some of the cloudy ones will start a red 'ribbon' in the center of the tric that will mushroom into the head and more and more will get amber/red.
there might be a red tric here or there when still mostly clear and some cloudy... you could take a bud, nuke it in a paper towel (go slow until you know how your microwave woks) not too long or it will ignite... 20, 30 second blasts till dry buy still pliable..
my point is, don't get too excited and cut her 2 weeks before it is necessary, because you see 20 or 30 amber trics.... you'll loose alot of weight. I usually take the breeders lonest suggestion (eg. 55-65 days) for harvest time and see what they look like then.. and usually a week more for extra yield..

I've ordered the 100x model, when it comes, I'll start a thread..

don't want to get into the flush, don't flush debate.

GL

 

[Jonnysact]

Thanks Snook. Sending you a pm.

 

[SmokinErb22]

Wow. You think 30x is not enough but recommend a more difficult to use 100x.... have you even used a 30x before? Why would you only want to look at 5-10 trichomes under 100x when you can look at hundreds at once to get a better grasp of maturity.

Again, I check trichomes with my naked eye and use a 10-15x loupe for sativa with tiny heads. I can clearly see the difference in clear, cloudy, and amber without any magnification

You'll keep getting brown pistils as long as you keep bumping your plants with a microscope.

 

[Snook]

you should have posted that PM here, its your thread, sky.

I would answer and if i'm fulla shit, someone else will let you know that my answer, or anyone elses answer, is good or bullshit.. and you will get other opinions too.

 

[SmokinErb22]

Not really a BS opinion. powerful microscopes work well but require bumping buds to get it in focus and are generally more difficult to use than lower magnification methods. With a loupe I can hold it sever inches from the plant that's swayijg in the breeze and get an accurate reading in just a couple seconds.

You just won't be able to see details of each individual trichrome but will still be able to see things like partially amber heads which is all you need.

 

[Crusader Rabbit]

Higher magnification brings its own problems. It isn't always better.

 

[Snook]

Wow. You think 30x is not enough but recommend a more difficult to use 100x.... have you even used a 30x before? Why would you only want to look at 5-10 trichomes under 100x when you can look at hundreds at once to get a better grasp of maturity.

Again, I check trichomes with my naked eye and use a 10-15x loupe for sativa with tiny heads. I can clearly see the difference in clear, cloudy, and amber without any magnification

You'll keep getting brown pistils as long as you keep bumping your plants with a microscope.

I'm old and like to see things clearly.
and no, I did not recommend a 100x scope, I said I use a 60x and had ordered one and would report back when I get it. yes, you can see them with ones naked eye but you cant see color transition (although you say you can, I cant). I do have a 30x jewlers loupe and yes I/one can see them better than with the naked eye but doubt you can see colors to any useful extent because with the 60x its not real easy to see. again, maybe its just me and my old eyes..

 

[Snook]

Higher magnification brings its own problems. It isn't always better.

10 4 on that, the little 60x w the led is good enough generally.
for $6, i'll try most stuff that might make it easier.. and this does.
I do wish I could see them definitively with my naked eye.