What part of the buds exactly am I looking at to see if they are ready to be cut? I know I'm looking for the trichomes to go from clear to dark....
you can look anywhere that it looks "sugary". i usually look at the leaves sticking out of the buds. but the buds them selves should have plenty of trichomes on them. what kind of microscope do you have?
I'm not sure. Wife says a good one she bought for kids years ago. What kind of magnification do you recommend or other features?
i would recommend at least a 30x scope. is it a scope you can put right on a bud and look through? if not you may have to cut a small piece of sugar leaf off and look at it like that. I and many others use a jewelers loupe like this. Amazon.com: SE Triplet Jeweler's Loupe - 30X: Jewelry I also see alot of people using these http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2179604
This is a good guide. http://forum.grasscity.com/harvesting-processing-marijuana/666373-guide-when-harvest.html A jewelers loupe is ok, pocket scope with 100x is better. The loupes only go to 30x. Pocket scope be easily had off amazon or like radioshack. Easiest way to do it with the scope is to simply cut off a piece of a leaf near the bud put it on the table and have look. Easy peasy.