36 hrs of darkness before flower!?

[hobby4life]

Hey people, hope you're all well.
I have spoken to a few people about switching to flower and turning off the lights for 36 hours was one thing that came up. The theory is that it will help the plants realise it's flower time especially if they have been in veg for a long period of time.
I tried it in my first grow but don't have a comparison as to if it helps.

 

[Edinburgh]

I never heard of that but at the end of my grow I put my plants in darkness for 48 hours, I was told the plant will frost up a bit more, probably an old wife's tale but I do it.

 

[hobby4life]

I never heard of that but at the end of my grow I put my plants in darkness for 48 hours, I was told the plant will frost up a bit more, probably an old wife's tale but I do it.

We're the same boat, I've never heard of that before...
You're you're probably right about it being an old wives tale but I suppose it's just something I will keep doing

 

[Burned Haze]

72 Hours Of Darkness Before I Harvest?

I’ve seen a couple articles where it says to leave your plant in total darkness for 72 hours before you harvest. Is this a legitimate technique?

www.thcfarmer.com

 

[Old Toby]

I have heard this several times, usually on YouTube. I'm not saying that it doesn't make a difference though as i have never tried it because unless the total number of days to first TRUE white pistils is less than twelve days, I will say it doesn't do anything. This doesn't apply to plants with pre-flower genes though, because if they do have pre-flowers genes, you can see the pre-flowers at around the fourth week or fifth week of veg. There will be a tiny male or female flower at the upper nodes of your fan leaves. Then you already know before you switch to 12/12.
On average, for me, I know by day twelve of flower what sex they are and have already removed the males. Males generally show first and plant height has nothing to do with it. If they seem slow to show in the second week, they are likely female.
I do know for me, if I'm not certain by day 14, it's too slow for me period and it's out.
Hope this helps you decide.

 

[JWM2]

No. Just. No.

This plant went from 24/0 to 11/13 without a 36 hour dark period. I grow perpetual so there’s no way I could even do 36 hours of dark without messing things up. Been growing like this for 15+ years and have had amazing results. Don’t over think your grow. Get good at growing and the plant will do the heavy lifting. No need for extended dark periods. Period.

 

[hobby4life]

No. Just. No.

How so?

 

[JWM2]

Because it’s a waste of time. Period.

 

[hobby4life]

Because it’s a waste of time. Period.

Rather straight to the point but fair call.
The only reason I'm on the fence with this is because growth happens during darkness hours ... If you can see where I'm coming from

 

[hobby4life]

No. Just. No.

This plant went from 24/0 to 11/13 without a 36 hour dark period. I grow perpetual so there’s no way I could even do 36 hours of dark without messing things up. Been growing like this for 15+ years and have had amazing results. Don’t over think your grow. Get good at growing and the plant will do the heavy lifting. No need for extended dark periods. Period.

That's some awesome stuff right there!!
Here's a few pics of my most recent one/first one in 10years/ 3rd one ever
These two had the 36 hrs of dark.

 

[Edinburgh]

I said it many times, and in my humble opinion it is unnatural to run plants 24 7, yes you can do it, but you are unnecessary stressing your plants, and I'll bet my dog and lot at the end of your grow you will not have more weed just a larger electric bill, maybe less as you are unnessasaraley stressing your plants, your plants need at least 6 hours of darkness a day, I don't want to fight this is my opinion alone but it comes up over and over, do your girls a favor and give them a bit of rest.

 

[Mr.Juice]

Just switch them, they don’t need a period of dark to tell the plants to switch. They know trust me.

I think the reason behind this logic is the flowering mechanism in the plant. Light destroys the chemical signal within the plant that tells it to go in flower, during extended periods of light, there is not enough time for this mechanism to build up in the dark to sufficient levels to trigger flower. So from this comes the idea, keep it in dark for a long time and that will ensure enough time for the trigger chemical to build up. But it’s not needed. Plant will sense it immediately without a dark period in between

 

[hobby4life]

Just switch them, they don’t need a period of dark to tell the plants to switch. They know trust me.

I think the reason behind this logic is the flowering mechanism in the plant. Light destroys the chemical signal within the plant that tells it to go in flower, during extended periods of light, there is not enough time for this mechanism to build up in the dark to sufficient levels to trigger flower. So from this comes the idea, keep it in dark for a long time and that will ensure enough time for the trigger chemical to build up. But it’s not needed. Plant will sense it immediately without a dark period in between

Thank you for the fair explanation

 

[Migrower]

Hey people, hope you're all well.
I have spoken to a few people about switching to flower and turning off the lights for 36 hours was one thing that came up. The theory is that it will help the plants realise it's flower time especially if they have been in veg for a long period of time.
I tried it in my first grow but don't have a comparison as to if it helps.

This is no wife’s tail and it works just fine. I do it and have since I began and have had no problems. As to flowers forming faster I’ve not done nor seen a side by side.

 

[oldskol4evr]

the only dark period i have ever gave my medicine is hanging them bitchs,ive heard same thing for years ,dont even care if it does work,buy the time they have dried 65 to 75 % of your plant is gone,they are water,24 hrs light is just ridiculious,try to get rest with lights on for a month see what happens,crazy crazy,if you want more yield,grow more plants,shoild be anyway ,you never know when your methods or thing you cant control like mother nature will wipe you out,im sure there is science out there to prove all wrong on paper,let see the results in real live,things change then haahah

 

[Migrower]

This is only a stress to help the plant hormonally know to begin its flowers. You can use it or don’t its not a big deal just a technique

 

[sambapati]

Kind of fun to do an Opera search for this very topic showing largely anecdotal evidence that the technique works well for some and for others maybe less. I asked several people on the farm independently and they all said yes -- to ahead and do the 36 hours. Lowered the AC and draped the sleeping beauties with some black out gear. The children were banished to the laundry room with their lights still at 18-6.

 

[Edinburgh]

No not an old wives tale, i was taught to leave your plants in full darkness for the last 2 days, supposed to turn ur pistols and frost up your plant a bit, dont know if it really works but i do it.