Week 9: Flower - The First Harvest & Final Countdown! ✂️🌿 THE BIG CHOP IS DONE! Gorilla Z #1 has been harvested, and we're officially in the drying phase. Meanwhile, the remaining ladies are marching toward their own finish lines. Gorilla Z #1 - HARVESTED! 🎉 She's down! After weeks of growth, recovery from overwatering, and pushing through to the end, this girl finally got the chop. Trichome Check: Mostly cloudy/milky (peak THC production ✓) A few amber trichomes starting to show Minimal clear trichomes Harvest Timing: Honestly? I was in a rush—ran out of flower to smoke! 😅 But the trichomes were in a good window, so it worked out. Sometimes necessity makes the decision for you. Could've waited for more amber for a heavier effect, but she was ready enough. What's Next: Drying phase begins now Aiming for slow dry (60°F, 60% humidity if possible) Then comes the cure—patience will be tested again! The Relief: Finally got some homegrown coming down the pipeline. The timing couldn't be better! Gorilla Z #2 - End of Month Finish She's still chugging along in mid-to-late flower. Based on her current progression, she should be ready by the end of the month. Current Status: Buds filling out nicely Still getting full-strength bloom nutrients Recovery from overwatering is complete—she's back to full health Feeding Schedule: Full strength General Hydroponics Bloom Trio Cal-Mag Liquid Kool Bloom She'll stay on this program for another week or two, then transition to water-only flush before harvest. Heisenberg - Two Weeks Out & Starting the Flush! 💧 She's in the final stretch! About 2 weeks away from harvest, which means it's time to transition to the flush. The Flush Begins TODAY: Water only from here on out No more nutrients Flushing helps the plant use up stored nutrients in the leaves and buds Results in smoother smoke and cleaner taste Why flush? Removes excess salts and nutrients from the medium Forces plant to metabolize stored nutrients Improves final product quality (smoothness, taste, ash color) The leaves will fade and yellow—this is GOOD and expected during flush Current Status: Buds are dense and frosty Loving the Spider Farmer tent environment Healthy and vigorous despite approaching finish Key Observations & Real Talk Harvest #1 in the books! There's something incredibly satisfying about chopping your first plant of the cycle. All the work, the stress, the learning—it all comes together in that moment with scissors in hand. The staggered timeline is actually perfect: Gorilla Z #1: Harvested (drying now) Heisenberg: 2 weeks out (flush started) Gorilla Z #2: End of month (~3 weeks out) This spread means I won't be overwhelmed with trimming and drying all at once. Plus, continuous harvests = continuous supply! Running out of smoke as motivation: Look, we've all been there. Sometimes the best harvest window is "I'm out and I need flower NOW." 😂 The trichomes were good enough, and that's what matters. The Home Stretch Strategy For Heisenberg (flush phase): Plain water only, pH'd to 6.5 Monitor trichomes closely Watch for fade (yellowing leaves = plant eating itself = good!) Start thinking about chop day in 10-14 days For Gorilla Z #2: Continue full bloom nutrients for 1-2 more weeks Then begin her flush Harvest late February For Gorilla Z #1 (drying): Hang dry in dark, controlled environment Check daily—don't rush it! Stems should snap, not bend, when ready for cure Then into jars for the cure (the hardest wait of all) Next Week's Plan Monitor Gorilla Z #1 drying progress (resist the urge to sample too early!) Continue water-only flush on Heisenberg Keep feeding Gorilla Z #2 full strength Daily trichome checks on Heisenberg as harvest approaches Prep trimming station and cure jars for upcoming harvests Start planning the NEXT grow! 🌱 We're in the final stretch! One down, two to go. The finish line is in sight, and the reward is almost here. 🏁🔥 First harvest complete. Drying tent smells AMAZING. The wait for cure is going to be brutal but worth it! 💚✂️