Growing cannabis can be a rewarding experience for both novice and experienced growers alike. From the basic therapeutic aspects of gardening, to the enjoyment of something you created and grew yourself. One important aspect of cannabis cultivation is flipping from the vegetative stage to the flowering stage. This process can have a significant impact on the final yield and quality of the harvest. It will definitely affect the yield size, so it's important to understand the timing and considerations involved.
When to stop vegging and start flowering.
The vegetative stage is when the cannabis plants are bigger than seedlings and have developed a few sets of growing leaves and stems, but not yet producing buds. During this stage, the plants will require a high amount of bright light, usually 18-24 hours per day. Think summertime intensity. The ideal light spectrum for vegetative growth is typically a mix of blue and red wavelengths, which can be provided by high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps or LED grow lights.
When the plants have reached the desired size, it's time to flip them to the flowering stage. How to tell when to do that is really a matter of reflecting on your space and taking into consideration that hybrid cannabis plants will typically double to triple their height during the flowering stage (if you are promoting a natural grow). A plant that is about 1.5 feet tall at the flip will end up being 3-4 ft tall at harvest. Indicas tend to remain short and get bushy, whereas Sativas can reach 15 feet or more during flower (when grown under optimal conditions outdoors).
How easy is flowering a photoperiod strain?
Flipping to flower is done by reducing the light period from 18 to 12 hours per day, simulating the onset of autumn and the shortening days that signal the plants to start producing buds. The ideal light spectrum for flowering is typically more red-heavy than the vegetative stage, as this wavelength promotes bud development. As the plants grow more mature, more light and nutrients are required.
During the flowering stage, the plants will also require a different nutrient regimen, as they will need more phosphorous and potassium to support bud development. It's important to be aware that some nutrient solutions may be formulated specifically for the vegetative or flowering stage, and using the wrong one can negatively impact the plants. It's also important to monitor the humidity, temperature, and CO2 levels during the flowering stage as they can affect the growth and development of the buds.
Special considerations: if you are using a strain that has a longer flowering period, it's important to give the plants extra time to mature before harvesting. Having a meter and keeping your PAR levels high during flowering is essential. Additionally, a scheduled daily inspection will help to pay attention to the overall health of the plants, as pests, stress, or disease can negatively impact the final yield. Be sure to take action as soon as problems arise. You can also check your gear, pumps, and fans—are they still running ok? If you need help, reach out, we're a phone call or Facebook/Discord chat away!
Lastly, it's also crucial to keep an eye on the nutrient levels and pH of the soil and water. Cannabis plants are sensitive to pH imbalances, and it's essential to keep the pH between 5.6 and 7 for optimal growth. A pH level that is too high or too low can cause nutrient deficiencies and affect the overall health of the plants. Moreover, it's also advisable to use a fertilizer that contains Calcium, Magnesium, and Sulfur during the flowering stage, as these elements are essential for the development of the buds. If you're using coco, more CalMag is needed during the veg stage as well. We find that a good cheap source of this can be found in Epsom salts.
Flipping from veg to flower is a crucial step in the cultivation of photoperiod cannabis, and it's important to pay attention to the timing and considerations involved. By providing the right amount of light, an appropriate nutrient regimen, and monitoring the environment, growers can ensure that their plants will produce a high-quality yield.
Frequently Asked Questions:
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Q: How much light do cannabis plants require during the vegetative stage?
A: During the vegetative stage, cannabis plants typically require 18-24 hours of light per day.
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Q: What is the ideal light spectrum for the flowering stage of cannabis cultivation?
A: The ideal light spectrum for the flowering stage is typically more red-heavy than the vegetative stage, as this wavelength promotes bud development.
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Q: What changes in the nutrient regimen are required for cannabis plants during the flowering stage?
A: During the flowering stage, the plants will require more phosphorous and potassium to support bud development.
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Q: What are some special considerations to keep in mind during the flipping process?
A: Special considerations include monitoring the health of the plants, ensuring the strain has enough time to mature before harvesting, monitoring humidity, temperature and CO2 levels, and keeping an eye on the nutrient levels and pH of the soil and water.
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Q: Why is it important to use a fertilizer that contains Calcium, Magnesium and Sulfur during the flowering stage?
A: These elements are essential for the development of the buds, and a deficiency in any of them can negatively impact the growth and development of the plants.
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This grower is clearly capable. However, its my opinion the grower is leaving too much on the table here. Maybe we approach pheno hunting differently but there is simply no way here for me to accomplish what I would want in a pheno hunt. Crops require a lot of effort obviously and this grower is putting in the time. We all do this for different reasons but I tend to favor maximizing yields and achieving results efficiently. I feel like this grower could accomplish the same canopy and maximize yields while using much less medium, nutrients and water. The canopy is consistent and clearly achieving results. Certainly the grower has their own reasons and mention pheno hunting. For me though I dont learn enough about the pheno with this type of application. I find it impossible to properly train, manicure or even properly inspect plants under these conditions. I think this grower is 5 capable but I dont think this is the growers best work. 3.5
This grower seems to have good knowledge. I see some things on point and some things I dont quite support. The canopy is consistent. It seems the nutrients are fairly on point. I dont like the number of plants. Too much medium being used to accomplish a task I think this grower could do with less plants and since the grower mentions pheno hunting, this is probably not the method that best serves that. While I think the grower has fantastic skills, I think there is much being left on the table with this direction. With the amount of contribution required to produce a crop, I think this grower could accomplish pheno hunt while still maximizing yield. There is simply no possible way to maximize plant yield with this method of growing. When I pheno hunt I look for many characteristics and its my opinion that this technique leaves too many things on the table that are really necessary. The grower is clearly capable of achieving quality results. I feel like this is a 3.5