Flowering, how long for best quality

[The Poacher]

Hi,

I grow a few pots with rather large plants, about one inch stems and about 110-130 cm high.
I grow for personal use and the fun of it. Yield is not of great interest as I allways have more than I can use.
At the moment I have White Widow x Thai and a NiagaraxSuperSkunk. I think... I actually do not remember which strains I planted and absolutely not which is which. Unproffessional I know but I forgot to make notes and I have about 10-15 strains in my stash...
So to my question. How long to you think i should let'em flower?
I am only interested in quality, a nice up and not so much "go to sleep in the sofa" effect.
From my active growing days I seam to recall something about chopping them earlier to get a more up high???

A strange thing about the girls: I went 12/12 on Aug 3rd. One girl is flowering greately the other three are not showin many flowers at all (yes they are all girls, I'm not stupid :) )
I suppose the different strains could be the reason but still two weeks with 12/12 should have kicked started the flowering for both the above strains.

You two cents are appriciated,
BR
T P

[Microbeman]

In my opinion, harvest when only a few of the trichomes (little sticky white/clear sparkles) are turning red/brown OR even try none of trichomes turning red for a more cerebral effect. You may also experiment with harvesting flowers which still have white pistils; just be sure that trichomes are well established. Try several different timings with several branches and see what you prefer.

[The Poacher]

Yep, taking them after 7,8 and nine weeks and (this time) mark it carefully so I know which is what.

Next year I'm thinking about buying some pure sativa seeds to test.

Anyone have any suggestions for what to buy and from where. I grow in large (maybe 8 liter) pots that go outdoors on the balcony. For flowering they come inside for 12/12. I up north in the Nordics so there is plenty of light during the summer.

[smokinbasser]

I use a radio shack 30X to 100X microscope and harvest by trichs, clear for an up more mental, cloudy to amber for the more butt glue effect you want.

[The Poacher]

... and as I happen to have a microscope since years and years back, this is what I'll do. Thanks for the suggestion my friend.
/TP

[c-ray]

microscopes are fun!!
I use a led flashlight to light the tops of the buds when I am checking them under a microscope

[noob]

i read in high times that you do 12/12 for 45 days and then you got buds but there are some strains that are done in 38 days. the buds they had pics of where dank as hell