When To Switch To Flowering
The flowering phase of the cannabis plant is when it begins to develop the famous buds that we all know and love. It’s also a critical time for your crop, as it will determine factors like the size, quality and yield of your harvest. When you switch from vegetative growth to flowering is a crucial step in achieving a successful harvest, so don’t rush it! There are several key factors to consider when deciding on when to switch from vegetative growth to flowering.
There are a few key factors you will want to consider when deciding on when to switch from the vegetative phase of your cannabis plants to flowering.
The cannabis plant goes through two phases: the vegetative phase and the flowering phase (or “flowering” for short). During the vegetative phase, your plants grow new leaves and stems while they make energy using photosynthesis. In this stage, you want to increase their size as much as possible so that they have enough energy stored up in their stems when it’s time to start making buds. Once a cannabis plant has reached its full size during this stage, it will need more light than what is naturally available outside during summer months (when you can grow outdoors), so it’s time to switch from vegetative growth into flowering.
All of these will affect the size, quality and yield of your harvest.
You can control the size, quality and yield of your harvest by adjusting the following parameters:
- Light cycle
- Temperature
- Nutrient availability (e.g., water)
- Humidity levels (can be controlled by adding humidity to your grow room)
The pH should be between 5.8 and 6.2 for best growth; if it is outside this range, you need to adjust your nutrient solution or add nutrients like calcium carbonate or potassium carbonate that are used to raise or lower pH respectively. Also make sure that you keep temperatures around 77°F (25°C) during flowering which will help optimize growth rates while also preventing buds from losing too much moisture prior to harvest time!
You will want to take different things into account if you growing in soil, or hydroponically.
If you are growing in soil, or hydroponically, there are a few things to take into account when switching to flowering.
- If you are growing in soil your plants will need more light (around 18 hours of light) than if they were vegetating. This is because the plant’s hormones are developing to prepare for blooming.
- Both soil and hydroponic plants need higher levels of nutrients when flowering than during vegetative growth. Essential elements such as potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and iron (Fe) will be needed in increased amounts at this stage of growth
- Soil plants require less water than their hydroponic counterparts during the flowering stage as they are not transpiring through leaves like they would during vegging – but enough that their roots stay moist. Hydroponic plants however will require more frequent watering due to their constant exposure to air which leads to rapid transpiration from leaves
You should try to avoid sudden stocking, as this can damage plants and their roots.
It is important to make sure that you have enough space for the new plants before introducing them. If you do not have enough space, or if your plants are too close together and will not allow the new ones to grow properly, you should consider separating some of the existing ones after taking cuttings from them. Even though this may seem counter-intuitive as it will reduce your yield in the short term, it is better than damaging root systems or allowing plants to become overcrowded in an attempt to provide ample space once flowering begins.
Your plants need adequate light exposure during the vegetative cycle, so they grow robust stems and branches.
When you’re growing cannabis indoors, it’s important to understand the differences between the two main growth stages. The first stage is called the vegetative stage and is when your plants grow and develop new stems and branches. The second stage, flowering, happens when your plant switches from making leaves to making buds (flowers). Your plants need adequate light exposure during the vegetative cycle, so they grow robust stems and branches.
If you don’t see much growth after two weeks in the same state no matter what you do, it may be time to try something else.
If you don’t see much growth after two weeks in the same state no matter what you do, it may be time to try something else. The plant could have too little light, be too young, or too old. It could also be stressed by its environment (too dry or too hot) and will need to be relocated.
Plants won’t flower until they receive 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness per day.
In order to flower, plants need 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness per day. The darkness should be in one block and not fragmented throughout the day. If your plant is receiving only 8 hours of light/darkness or less than 12 hours of light/darkness, it will not flower until you give them the right amount of uninterrupted darkness for a full 12-hour period (or more).
Most indoor growers use timers to automatically turn lights on and off during the day.
Timers are a great way to control lighting cycles. They’re cheap, easy to use and available at your local hardware store or online. To use a timer:
- Plug in the timer into an outlet that is always on (like your main power strip).
- Plug the light fixture into the timer’s outlet, then plug in your lights into that fixture. Make sure you have an uninterruptible power supply for this step (UPS), as any interruption will cause damage to your plants if they are left on for too long without water!
- Set the “on” time and “off” time for your lights (with most timers there should be a dial or button combo)
Some strains mature more quickly than others.
Some strains mature more quickly than others.
Some cannabis strains grow and flower faster than others. This is usually due to the genetics of the strain, but it can also vary depending on your growing conditions. For example, if you use a soil-based medium, your plant will grow slower than if you used hydroponics or coco coir. A sativa dominant plant grows more slowly than an indica dominant plant and a strain that originated from colder countries will probably have better frost resistance and take longer to mature than those from warmer climates like Spain or Morocco.
If your goal is to harvest at a certain time then choosing a strain that has been bred for fast growth can be important for many reasons including:
- Resistance To Disease – Certain diseases like powdery mildew affect different types of plants differently so when selecting new varieties these factors should be taken into consideration as some are less susceptible than others which means they may require fewer pesticides during cultivation.*Yields Of The Plant – Some plants produce higher yields of dried buds per square meter while others do not yield as much but do produce flowers with higher THC content.*Taste Of The Flowering Buds – A good tasting bud provides extra value because people want good tasting smoke regardless whether they smoke recreationally or medicinally.*Terpene Profile Of The Flowering Hash – Terpenes are what give cannabis its unique flavour profiles so when sourcing genetics look for high terpene content strains because this can add value by providing additional aroma notes beyond just THC/CBD levels alone (e
Know your specific strain, know your growing environment and watch your plants carefully for signs that they are ready for flowering. Then you’ll know when the time is right for switching them into the flowering state.
Plants grow at different rates, so it’s important to know your strain and how it responds to light, temperature and humidity. Additionally, you should know where you are growing indoors and what kind of equipment you will be using (pH meters, hydrometers).
This information is crucial for determining when your plant is ready for flowering. The best way to do this is by closely observing your plants’ growth patterns over time. If they start stretching and growing taller instead of wider in their vegetative state then they are likely ready for flowering; however if they appear limp or have dark spots then they may still require some time before entering into the flowering stage of life cycle.
Once you have a grasp on these basic concepts, you should be able to adjust your lighting schedule accordingly and get your plants ready for flowering. Your plants will thank you!