Harvest time and Potency?

[UncleRico]

Hi there, new to the board, new to Salvia.

This summer I grew Salvia for the first time.  Never tried it before, but it sounded pretty interesting from a spiritual perspective, and I grow a lot of plants so, I got one and let it grow all summer.  Fall came and the leaves on the plant lightened up a bit, lost the darker green and the shimmery bits near the middle by the time I got around to plucking all of the leaves off to dry.  That was mid october (I'm in New England so it was getting colder).

Fast forward a month and I decide to smoke some leaf in my glass bowl.  I had read extensively on Salvia and thought that smoking straight leaf from a bowl wasn't the optimal way to get the effects, but figured I'd try it anyhow.  Two hits and - WHOOSH,  I was gone.  I have to admit it was terrifying (I was alone), did the usual forgetting that I had smoked, and I was being sucked through the floor to that other place, all I could do was struggle to hold on to here.  Anyhow, it was super intense, but thankfully short.  After it was over I was sure I would never try again, but now I am pretty sure I will.

My question is, does anyone think waiting until the leaves got cold enough to lighten up (for the chlorophyll to die off) enhanced the potency?  My experience was definitely in the 'I' category on the SALVIA scale.  I don't see how 5X 10X or anyX would be more potent than what I had, granted it was my first time, but it was so intense.  I had plucked 2 leaves during the summer, dried them for a week and smoked them, nothing happened, then this!

Any insight would be appreciated, as well as suggestions on how not to be terrified when the trip comes on next time.  Although I have a feeling the second and subsequent visits won't be as frightening.

[kemp]

Salvia seems to be different for many people... some, like you seem to be sensitive to it and get full effects from just leaf while others get almost nothing from leaf and that's where the extracts come in. I fall into the second category.

Then there seems to be another aspect to salvia. Some are terrified every time they partake and on the other hand, others find it to be a very natural and friendly experience. Of course, as with anything, there are a percentage who fall in the middle. All this is quite an over-simplification but I think is somewhat accurate.

Something that I have noticed is DMT is very frightening for me most of the time while salvia has never even hinted at being scary. Maybe we each have our friendly guides/plants.... would be interesting to hear others experiences.

Sorry, this didn't quite answer our question regarding potency.

Welcome to the forum though!  :smoke2:

[Anonymous]

Nobody believes me... I always tell them...

Freshly dried leaf is AMAZING!!!

It's POTENT as hell!!!

Use the plant the way it was intended! No need to extract! A quid works wonders as well!

Always harvest leafs which have reach their fully mature size.

I wilt them in a jar, and then place them on a drying rack. After the leafs are dry, they are placed into a bag and kept for up to 77 days.