Some growers use a special method known as the “12-12 From Seed” technique that completely skips the traditional vegetative phase. But what is it exactly and how does it work?
Indoor cannabis growers are always on the lookout for new, faster ways to grow high-quality bud indoors despite the obvious space restrictions. Some growers use a special method known as the “12-12 From Seed” technique that completely skips the traditional vegetative phase.
THE “12/12 FROM SEED” LIGHTING METHOD
Photoperiod cannabis strains flower based on their light cycle. In order to replicate these conditions, indoor growers use different light cycles to keep plants in their vegetative phases and later force them into flowering.
Hence, they’ll usually use a 18/6 light cycle to keep their plants in a vegetative phase for roughly 2-4 weeks and then switch to a 12/12 cycle for the flowering phase.
This has been the standard for indoor growing for centuries. However some growers use a grow technique known as the “12-12 From Seed” method.
As the name suggests, it involves skipping the original vegetative phase and immediately pushing plants into flowering once the germinated seed starts to protrude the soil.
This method is particularly appealing for growers who are working with serious space restrictions. Because these plants are robbed of their vegetative phases, they grow much smaller and are much more manageable than a regular plant that’s been in a vegetative phase for a number of weeks.
Plants grown using this method also have considerably fewer branches and tend to be noticeably less “bushy” than regular plants.
Another major benefit to this technique is that it allows you to produce 1-2 more harvests per year In fact, some growers are able to produce up to 7 annual harvests using this technique.
This makes the 12-12 method extremely attractive for growers that are pressed for time. Instead of having to wait out a full vegetative cycle plus a full flowering cycle, these growers can skip the vegetative phase all together and harvest their buds much sooner.
THE FINAL VERDICT:
Like many other cannabis grow techniques, the 12/12 method isn’t without its critics.
The main criticism of this technique is that by robbing plants of their vegetative phase they are unable to produce budding sites and consequently produce smaller harvests. Others also claim that the bud from these plants has lower concentrations of THC.
However, some growers swear by the 12/12 technique, claiming to produce enviable harvests of sticky, stinky and, most importantly, potent weed. Some growers on forums even claim to be able to produce 1 gram of weed for every watt of lighting the plants receives, producing over 8 ounces on a single 250 watt HPS light.
Whether these rumors are true is hard to verify. Either way, the only way to test them is to try this technique out for yourself. We know we will.
FAQs
Plants grown using this method also have considerably fewer branches and tend to be noticeably less “bushy” than regular plants. Another major benefit to this technique is that it allows you to produce 1-2 more harvests per year In fact, some growers are able to produce up to 7 annual harvests using this technique.
Can you get multiple harvests from a weed plant? ›
A grower can manipulate a plant and force it to revert from the flowering stage back to the vegetative stage again. This process is known as re-vegging, or regeneration, and it allows you to harvest buds from a plant, then grow the same plant again for a second harvest of buds.
How long after switching to 12 12 will I see buds? ›
So in summary, you will not see buds for the first three weeks.
How much weed does one plant yield per year? ›
The specific weight of yield is quite different between one plant from another. While on average, a single plant can produce approximately 907.2 grams (32 ounces) of wet weed, which translates to around 181.4 grams (6.4 ounces) of dried buds.
What are the results of 12 12 from seed? ›
12/12 from seed often causes stunted growth and small yields. This results in yields that are often less than 1 ounce per plant, even under strong grow lights. This seedling took nearly 4 months from seed to harvest under about 150W of fluorescent lights and yielded only 1/2 of an ounce.
How to do perpetual harvest? ›
What is needed for a perpetual harvest?
- Plenty of space.
- Perpetual harvests with a multi chamber grow tent.
- Plenty of time to dedicate to your grow.
- Extra growing equipment and supplies.
- Start with your seeds or clones.
- Move your plants into the veg chamber.
- Move veg plants into the flower chamber.
- Harvest your first crop.
Whether it's your first plant or your fiftieth, there are plenty of reasons to re-veg your weed. One of the most convincing is how much time you'll save in comparison to growing another plant from scratch.
Do buds grow more at night or day? ›
Your cannabis plants need a period of darkness to use carbohydrate energy stores that were tucked away during the day. At night, cannabis plants convert these stores into sugars, which continue to drive plant growth.
Do buds grow at night or during the day? ›
5. Flowering. The flowering stage occurs naturally when plants receive less than 12 hours of light a day. For cannabis to completely enter the flowering stage it requires periods of 10 to 12 hours of complete darkness.
What week do buds get the biggest? ›
During Weeks 3 through 6, your buds will grow the most. You will see buds really develop in size between Week 4 and Week 5. By Week 6, your buds will look totally different in size from just two weeks prior. The room will also be very fragrant.
yes more root space will allow for more bud.
Do seeds yield more than clones? ›
Problems can also arise with fighting off environmental stresses, diseases and insects, as the genetics weaken season after season. A plant grown from seed is capable of yielding more than a cloned offspring.
Can I harvest one bud at a time? ›
Yes, you can harvest one bud at a time, especially if you have a staggered harvest due to different maturation rates among your plants. Just be sure to use clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears to avoid damaging the surrounding plant material.
Does flowering start at 12-12? ›
Many growers just start counting flowering from the day they switch the lights over to a 12/12 schedule. After all, this is the point at which the plant gets the cue to start flowering, so it's a simple point of departure.
Can you grow 12 12 from seed? ›
With 12 12 from seed, you effectively skip the veg period and get right into flowering. Contrary to the name, you rarely will actually put your plants right into a flower photoperiod, though. It's commonplace to start seeds and let them develop a few sets of true leaves before initiating flower.
How long after switching to flower do buds appear? ›
As a rule-of-thumb, in the first 2-3 weeks of flowering the plant will continue to grow in height (termed “flowering-stretch”) and buds will begin to form. Following this, floral growth will dominate and veg growth will slow then stop.
How long do buds take to develop? ›
To know how long it takes for buds to mature, it is important to understand the phases they go through and regularly monitor the trichomes. The ripening time will depend on the type of seed, although it usually ranges between 7 and 9 weeks.
How long until buds show in flowers? ›
Mid-Flowering Stage: Bud Bulking Up (Week 4-8)
Allow the plant to focus on enlarging its flowers rather than dealing with stress. As the mid-flowering stage progresses, you may notice that sites previously covered by hairs are now transforming into actual buds.
Do buds get bigger last 2 weeks? ›
In the last two weeks, the buds will mainly mature and grow no more in size. The white trichomes (small resin-secreting stalks/hairs) on the buds will now slowly turn brown.
