Another little reference blurb to satisfy my curiosity...
Flushing seems to be a lot of the hubbub going on around here as of late (probably always, given its controversial status).
It would seem that, basically:
Yes - flushing can remove salt buildup that can lead to harsher bud.
No - flushing cannot remove some controversial substances such a PGRs (plant growth regulators) that systemically incorporate themselves into the plant’s structure.
…as suspected.
• Growing practices and the use of potentially harmfulchemical additives
(This article is a little less intense, but still seems to be based off of some good citation.)
... we understand that while flushing may be used to correct a nutrient imbalance or remove accumulated salts because most PGRs are systemic, flushing does not remove them from the plant ...
I did cross-reference and there seems to be unanimous agreement with this stance.
Now, my adjacent curiosity was the effect of flushing used to prompt the plant into releasing extra terminal phytochemicals. I.e. - loading up the terpenoids, cannabinoids, etc.
We know that many of these products are due to environmental/stress factors, so, it would only stand to reason that a critical lack of nutrients would also initiate their production.
That curiosity was somewhat satisfied by consumer articles like,
•
This
My crop-boosting feeding-lighting-flushing program is based on the
fact that in the final weeks of bloom cycle (also known as
late bloom phase), cannabis that experiences moderate nitrogen deficit produces more cannabinoids and terpenoids. Research also indicates that a moderate drop in all essential nutrient elements stimulates cannabinoid and terpenoid production.
I'd like to dig into the source of this "fact". Strong statement.
•
This
Flushing your plants can add to their scent and flavour by removing excess nutrients. Nutrients can build up in the flowers and overpower the natural flavours produced by the strain.
•
And This
If you skip [flushing], you may fail to bring out the organoleptic properties of your buds, which could even harm your health when you smoke them. This is because nutrient-rich plant tissue releases a carcinogenic compound known as nitrosamine during combustion.
So, while they didn't all give me much to confirm or deny my working environmental/stress theory, they did give a little more insight into the actual efficacy of flushing. Like...
• Removing nutrient concentrations that interfere with phytochemical expression.
• The harmfulness of nitrosamine
• The term "organoleptic" which is, via
wikipedia
Organoleptic properties are the aspects of food, water or other substances that create an individual experience via the senses—including taste, sight, smell, and touch
And, in favor of my theory, the "fact":
• Nitrogen deficiencies prompt cannabinoid and terpenoid production.
.
Hi kitty!
