How tall should you be before switching to flower?
This method relies on flowering plants early so that they only produce one large bud. This method is usually employed with indica strains that are packed tightly together in the grow space. When using this method, plants should be flowered when they reach a height of between 15–30cm.
A good rule of thumb is to take note of the length of your main colas after the switch to 12/12 (from a previous grow), then try to initiate flowering with your new plants when they're about that height. So, if your main colas end up around 12″ long, initiate flowering when the plant is 12″ tall, etc.
Clones can take from 7 to 21 days to root depending on environmental conditions and genetics/cultivar. Ideally, you want the plants to finish at approximately 24 to 36 inches tall, so you will induce flowering when plants are approximately 12 to 18 inches tall.
The flowering stage in Cannabis plants usually goes from 8 to 11 weeks, depending on the strain. It's usually divided into weeks or three stages. The flowering period for Indica strains is typically around 8 weeks, but it may take up to 10 weeks. Sativa strains may take up to 10-12 weeks.
When you're ready for plants to start the flowering stage, change your lights to a 12/12 cycle (12 hours with the light on and 12 hours with it off ). You will see signs of flowering in 1-3 weeks. On average plants will be ready to harvest after 8-11 weeks of flowering.
It is recommended that you wait until your plants have at least four nodes before topping them, and most growers recommend topping the plant above the sixth node. Nodes are the part of a plant that connects new stem offshoots with older growth, which can form a branch, a leaf, or in the case of cannabis plants, a bud.
Switching from Veg to Bloom
Plants need at least 13 hours of light each day to stay in veg – a few 'long' nights may be enough to trigger budding. Plants begin budding when they get at least 12 hours of 'uninterrupted' darkness each night (12/12). This must continue until harvest.
The longer you keep your plants in the vegetative stage, the bigger your plant will be, resulting in bigger yields from plants that were vegetated longer.
It's best to take your clones at about 2–3 weeks into flowering. Once you have taken your flowering clones, it will take an average of one week until they root. The re-vegging of your clones will then take (at least) another 2–3 weeks.
Healthy plants usually take 2-3 days to recover from topping. After topping, do not remove the leaves from that node as these are needed to power growth of the branches from that node. Never top during flowering as it causes too much stress – which slows growth and inhibits yield.
What does pre flower look like?
The female pre-flower will look like a fuzzy female flower, but with only two white or pink fuzzy pistils growing from the node of the plant. It is best to wait to induce flowering to your plants before the pre-flowers appear and this will help eliminate the male plants from your crop before flowering.
Cannabis plants need short days (or more specifically long nights) in order to start flowering and make buds. Most indoor growers give their plants 12 hours of darkness and 12 hours of light each day to initiate budding and continue with that 12/12 light schedule until it's time to harvest.
Transition and stretch (weeks 1-3) Budlets form (weeks 3-4) Buds get bigger (weeks 4-6) Buds ripen (weeks 6-8)
Yes, you should remove fan leaves during the flowering stage using the correct technique. Removing fan leaves will open up light and produce a better air exchange to the lower canopy. It will also ensure that more energy can go to your plant's valuable parts and make for a bigger harvest.
Does lollipopping increase yield? Many growers have increased yields by lollipopping. We know enough about plant science to support the logic behind this type of pruning. What's even cooler is that you can combine lollipopping with topping or fimming.
| Plant stage | Water every # of days |
|---|---|
| Germination | 4-7 |
| Seedling | 3-7 |
| Vegetative | 2-4 |
| Flowering | 2-3 |
Taller plants will get a lot of light at the canopy, but very little near the base. This means that the lower buds will hardly develop, reducing your yield potential.
Healthy plants usually take 2-3 days to recover from topping. After topping, do not remove the leaves from that node as these are needed to power growth of the branches from that node. Never top during flowering as it causes too much stress – which slows growth and inhibits yield.
Serious and dedicated growers know that it will take up most of your room in your grow area so prepare for it. This is 4x8ft in area and 6.5ft in height. For this monster sized grow tent it's optimal for you to fit 8 full sized plants (4-5ft tall) comfortably. This will provide room to work in and around them.
