[RoyalQueenSeeds]

The idea behind flushing is to cut back the nutrients available to the plant before harvest, usually by switching to plain water or tapering the feed over the last couple of weeks. Some growers swear it makes a difference to the finished flower; others reckon it's a leftover habit that doesn't hold up. It's one of those debates that never really settles, so I'd rather hear what people have actually seen in their own tents.

Do you flush, when do you start, and what medium are you running?

And if you've tried it both ways, did you notice anything in the flavour, the aroma, the yield, or just the overall quality of the smoke?

We're curious whether the medium changes the answer, since coco, soil, and hydro don't behave the same way at all.

 

[EternalSun]

When I was a new grower, I didn’t flush until about two weeks from harvest, now i stop feeding nutes about 3-1/2 to 4 weeks before harvest.
Although some storms break some nice branches early (and not flushed), but still worthy of hanging anyway, I don’t taste much difference. Either way I do stop nutes with adequate time remaining before harvest. If nothing else, It saves money on buying more nutrients.

 

[OldBoy25pnw]

Same, I don't do any fertilizer adds the last few weeks the soil is optimal and they just don't need or use much additional fert at this point or really at all, I do water lightly and just before I harvest so the leaves are not so lank (bowl trimmer) Since I grow in the same beds each season I'm going to get a soil test done this year so I know what I'm dealing with.
I guess this question about flushing drives another question which is why & how would I flush since they are in soil? I think Eternals comment is spot on, not much difference in our soil grown situations...

 

[EternalSun]

Same, I don't do any fertilizer adds the last few weeks the soil is optimal and they just don't need or use much additional fert at this point or really at all, I do water lightly and just before I harvest so the leaves are not so lank (bowl trimmer) Since I grow in the same beds each season I'm going to get a soil test done this year so I know what I'm dealing with.
I guess this question about flushing drives another question which is why & how would I flush since they are in soil? I think Eternals comment is spot on, not much difference in our soil grown situations...

Right on. Just to add, I grow in soil, which I believe holds nutrients of it’s own anyway, and I’m growing outdoor!

 

[Galgrows]

I don't add nudes the last few wks prior to harvest. I may add unsulferated molasses to the water but that's it. I like to watch the leaves drain to yellow.

 

[GNick55]

i feed right up until harvest, hell i’ve fed on the day i started cutting fan leaves off, though it’ll take me 3 days give or take to harvest most plants haha,..

 

[EternalSun]

I don't add nudes the last few wks prior to harvest. I may add unsulferated molasses to the water but that's it. I like to watch the leaves drain to yellow.

Nudes, heh

 

[RoyalQueenSeeds]

When I was a new grower, I didn’t flush until about two weeks from harvest, now i stop feeding nutes about 3-1/2 to 4 weeks before harvest.
Although some storms break some nice branches early (and not flushed), but still worthy of hanging anyway, I don’t taste much difference. Either way I do stop nutes with adequate time remaining before harvest. If nothing else, It saves money on buying more nutrients.

Thanks for sharing mate!! Interesting that you've moved in the opposite direction over the years, stopping earlier rather than later.

 

[RoyalQueenSeeds]

Same, I don't do any fertilizer adds the last few weeks the soil is optimal and they just don't need or use much additional fert at this point or really at all, I do water lightly and just before I harvest so the leaves are not so lank (bowl trimmer) Since I grow in the same beds each season I'm going to get a soil test done this year so I know what I'm dealing with.
I guess this question about flushing drives another question which is why & how would I flush since they are in soil? I think Eternals comment is spot on, not much difference in our soil grown situations...

Good point about beds :) the question barely applies there since there's no container to run water through in the first place. That's probably why the flush debate is so much louder among indoor and container growers. Thank you for sharing!!!

 

[RoyalQueenSeeds]

i feed right up until harvest, hell i’ve fed on the day i started cutting fan leaves off, though it’ll take me 3 days give or take to harvest most plants haha,..

Good point!! Feeding on the day you start cutting is about as far from flushing as it gets hahah. And three days per plant says a lot about the size of them. Thanks for sharing mate! :)

 

[EternalSun]

Thanks for sharing mate!! Interesting that you've moved in the opposite direction over the years, stopping earlier rather than later.

I believe that my soil is very fertile all on its own. I add nutrients as a practice, only because I am not sure how fertile it is.

 

[Leste]

I add a handful of organic fertilizer at planting and feed with kelp and fish hydrolysate .outdoors can’t figure out what flushing is. I thought that was bro science?

 

[Galgrows]

Nudes, heh

OMG i just came back and reread LOL and yes i don't show nor give any nudes.

 

[grayoldnproud]

I thought that was bro science?

Toss up either way.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0926669024011348

"Highlights
•
Flushing induced only minor effects on plant development and yield quantity.
•
Flushing had only minimal effects on the physiological function of the plant.
•
Flushing had only minimal effects on cannabinoids and terpenoids concentrations."

And

Cannabis Flushing Myth: What Our Trial Found | Rx Green

A controlled trial of 14, 10, 7 and 0-day pre-harvest flushes on Cherry Diesel found no difference in yield, potency or terpenes. Tasters preferred 0 days.

www.rxgreentechnologies.com

 

[OldBoy25pnw]

I Thought the rise in iron & zinc from extended flushing was interesting but the little difference generally shown in flushed vs non flushed was pretty telling, I think that if you take care of plants throughout the life cycle you won't be adding huge amounts of fertilizers at the end.
It's a less is more thing in my experience.
Nick what are you adding towards the end? light nitrogen or?

 

[ohionw]

last 2 weeks ro water only and let the plants go after the leaves for the nutes, I'm in 20 gallon pots and don't water all the way through ever. About to take this Augusta Gloop. I figure in nature all the nutes would be used up for the season naturally and the temps decrease and the plant does what it should do naturally.

 

[ohionw]

last 2 weeks ro water only and let the plants go after the leaves for the nutes, I'm in 20 gallon pots and don't water all the way through ever. About to take this Augusta Gloop.

Toss up either way.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0926669024011348

"Highlights
•
Flushing induced only minor effects on plant development and yield quantity.
•
Flushing had only minimal effects on the physiological function of the plant.
•
Flushing had only minimal effects on cannabinoids and terpenoids concentrations."

And

Cannabis Flushing Myth: What Our Trial Found | Rx Green

A controlled trial of 14, 10, 7 and 0-day pre-harvest flushes on Cherry Diesel found no difference in yield, potency or terpenes. Tasters preferred 0 days.

www.rxgreentechnologies.com

good info there, thanks, no need to flush

 

[grayoldnproud]

good info there, thanks, no need to flush

And no apparent harm in doing so.

 

[GNick55]

I Thought the rise in iron & zinc from extended flushing was interesting but the little difference generally shown in flushed vs non flushed was pretty telling, I think that if you take care of plants throughout the life cycle you won't be adding huge amounts of fertilizers at the end.
It's a less is more thing in my experience.
Nick what are you adding towards the end? light nitrogen or?

if i know im harvesting indoors within 2 weeks than i give like 5ml of bloom per gallon which is 1-4-5 and 2 ml calmag 2-0-0 (3-4-5)
up until harvest,. i normally give 2 gallons during the grow but the last couple of waterings i’ll give a gallon or gallon and half and let stay dry an extra day,,

 

[RoyalQueenSeeds]

I believe that my soil is very fertile all on its own. I add nutrients as a practice, only because I am not sure how fertile it is.

Hey mate!! Fair enough, and that's probably the honest position most soil growers are in!