Looking for advice on flipping to flower re: timing.

[Brother_Antioch]

Hi, folks.

So, I'm ready to flip to flowering mode and have been looking for advice on how to do so. It seems there's a lot of opposite opinions on whether to flip it at once (go from 18/6 to 12/12), flip it by slowly decreasing the light period by an hour each night for 6 days (18/6, 17/7, 16/8, etc) and even some suggesting 24 hours of darkness followed by going straight to 12/12. I've followed all the advice of people here so far, and it's worked out very well to date. So, I thought I'd reach out for some advice for this next stage of my grow experience. This weekend they'll be 6 weeks old, topped once and scrogged nicely.

Sorry if there's already a thread about this, I couldn't seem to find one answering this particular question. Any and all advice is welcome!

 

[Bobcat.Branch]

Nobody has ever gone wrong just flipping straight to 12/12. Other methods may be fine, but better? Caveat Emptor

 

[Brother_Antioch]

Nobody has ever gone wrong just flipping straight to 12/12. Other methods may be fine, but better? Caveat Emptor

Thanks, Bobcat.Branch. I was getting the general impression that going immediately to 12/12 is fine, but as I mentioned, there were also a ton of references to "mimicking the natural light cycle" to avoid stress to the plant. Appreciate the input!

Cheers,

BA.

 

[LoveGrowingIt]

I've been changing the light gradually for several crops. I've tried different schedules. My observation is there's less stretching. So, it's a way to keep the plants from growing too tall. What's worked well for me is to reduce the light by an hour at both the start and end of the "day" and then wait a few days before doing it again. So, I do a 2-hour reduction, wait 3 days, and then do it again. Doing it more gradually didn't seem to make a difference.

I'm in the process of gradually reducing the light right now with some Zkittles.

 

[LoveGrowingIt]

I was getting the general impression that going immediately to 12/12 is fine, but as I mentioned, there were also a ton of references to "mimicking the natural light cycle" to avoid stress to the plant.

I don't think it's as much about stress as it is about allowing the plant time to adjust to the reduced light.

 

[Brother_Antioch]

I've been changing the light gradually for several crops. I've tried different schedules. My observation is there's less stretching. So, it's a way to keep the plants from growing too tall. What's worked well for me is to reduce the light by an hour at both the start and end of the "day" and then wait a few days before doing it again. So, I do a 2-hour reduction, wait 3 days, and then do it again. Doing it more gradually didn't seem to make a difference.

I'm in the process of gradually reducing the light right now with some Zkittles.

Thanks for the input, LoveGrowingIt. As you can see, this is my dilemma. 2 replies, 2 opposite answers. I'm not too concerned with stretch as my plant is quite short to begin with. I have probably 32" of height to the lights (at maximum height).

Appreciate your input, thanks, and a good explanation of why.

Cheers,

BA

 

[tall boys]

I'm a 12 on 12 off
From everybody's post I read the only thing I do different isn't with the light it's with prefeeding for flowering which I start 3 weeks before I flip the lights to the 12-hour cycle

 

[Bobcat.Branch]

Thanks for the input, LoveGrowingIt. As you can see, this is my dilemma. 2 replies, 2 opposite answers. I'm not too concerned with stretch as my plant is quite short to begin with. I have probably 32" of height to the lights (at maximum height).

Appreciate your input, thanks, and a good explanation of why.

Cheers,

BA

I think you'll be fine either way. Don't overthink it.

 

[LoveGrowingIt]

Thanks for the input, LoveGrowingIt.

You're welcome.

As you can see, this is my dilemma. 2 replies, 2 opposite answers.

It happens all the time. There are many ways to grow these plants, and I suspect all of them have pros and cons.

I'm not too concerned with stretch as my plant is quite short to begin with. I have probably 32" of height to the lights (at maximum height).

The amount of stretching is the only difference I've observed, and I've been experimenting with this for a few years now. Smaller increments of reduction are tedious to do, so I didn't like it. Doing three adjustments over a week's time is easier for the grower.

Less stretching would result in less need for nutrients, which is likely to be helpful in some situations.

We like Amnesia Haze here and have grown that strain many times. Those plants love to stretch. Gradual light reduction has kept them from growing into the lights. So, it really helps with that strain. I'm sure it matters less when there's plenty of room to grow or the strain doesn't stretch a lot.

As for stressing the plant, I suspect a one-time light reduction is more stressful. How much that might affect the plant is an interesting topic all by itself.

 

[OldOneEye]

I go from 24/7 to 12/12 often, especially during the winter. When I do the switch to full on stretch is much faster than going from 18/6, no guess work for the plant I'm guessing.
If your plant stresses for simply going to flower, which the plant wants to do, something else is wrong with the plant or environment.

 

[cannafarmer420]

You are over thinking it just flip to 12/12

 

[Natep]

I let my plants get up to the middle of the poles if the tent. Right where they split. Then flip.

 

[OldOneEye]

As long as it is healthy and preferably, in my opinion, mature.....flip that switch!!!

 

[Brother_Antioch]

I let my plants get up to the middle of the poles if the tent. Right where they split. Then flip.

I'm a little shy of the midpoint, but it's a short plant to begin with. I've just switched it over starting tonight to a 12/12 cycle.

Cheers.

 

[Brother_Antioch]

As long as it is healthy and preferably, in my opinion, mature.....flip that switch!!!

It's definitely healthy and 6 weeks of veg mode now. Lots and lots of bud sites, that's for sure. I switched it over starting tonight at 8pm. She'll get 12 hours of dark from 8-8 so I can check it just before leaving for work, and again when I get home. Seems the majority say go straight to 12/12 so that's the game plan this grow.

Cheers.