First Grow - Royal Gorilla Automatic

hey there, you're right about identifying problems. I see you're doing everything right but the plant is a bit on the "sad looking" side. Sorry to say this, and i know you dont want to hear it but your light schedule is too intense, you need to reduce it a bit. You can tell that the light schedule is sending the plants into overdrive and they need more magnesium you can see slight yellowing between the veins of the leafs. Try spraying it twice a week with 1mL/L calmag to help the plant recover quicker. The downward pointing tips are basically a sign of root problems , but the roots look fantastic, so the only thing i can think of is that the plant is asking you for some help to push out even more roots. In nature a variety of processes assure that roots are constantly being damaged and rejuvenating... in hydro not so much, that's why i suggest you literrally just cut the tips of the roots off with a scizzor (you can cut up to slightly less than 20% of the roots, so dont be scared just cut the very tips off) . this promotes new root growth. Another less scary thing to do is to reduce the Kelp and switch it out for a different and better chelation agent like enzymes or humic acid. These three actually break down the roots as well so it should fix the problem roots causing the downward pointing curl. Hope this helps ! 🚀

It really depends on the tricomes on the buds themselves, if your at 20-30% amber you will want to take that site regardless of how big it is. If it's coloring isn't quite there yet you can for sure leave it on a little longer to ripen up! Cheers and happy growing!

Find a good jeweler's lighted loop. These really help with seeing what your looking at! Happy growing!

First: wow, what a beasts! Great first grow! There isn't an optimal moment for harvest. It's more like a period in which you can harvest. When exactly, depends a bit on your needs and your preferences. If you prefer a more fast paced high, harvest early during the harvest window, if you prefer a more body stoned, than set harvest at the end of the window. Looking at your pictures, I say the harvest window is open. You could harvest today and have a perfectly fine product. Like half the trichomes appear cloudy, the other half is still glassy. I noticed some ambers on the sugar leaves, but not yet on the calyxes. I think for better taste and a more balanced effect, wait one more week. Either way: this is a great result for a first grow, congratulations!