Giving Nitrogen during flower: do it or not

[memnoch]

My friend said I should stop feeding my plant nitrogen since it is flowering. He is more experienced with this than I am, but I'm still not sure. What do you gues think, should I stop feeding it nitrogen and just give it the big bloom I have that has no nitrogen in it. My plants are all autos as well, not sure if that makes a difference.

 

[ArtfulCodger]

The plants use nitrogen throughout their lives. That use ramps up through veg and into the stretch, and then flattens out. So the answer really depends on how much N you have on board at whatever growth stage you're in. I know that's not super helpful. I guess I'd say two more things. The first is that successful growers have been feeding some version of a flat nute profile (Lucas, Jack's 321, etc) for the whole lifecycle for decades. The second is that if you do want to cut N entirely, I wouldn't do it until the stretch is over.

 

[GoodListener]

I think your friend is right at some point in flowering to cut nitrogen. I also don't recommend using Lucas, jacks at all etc at all. The timing of cutting nitrogen can start exactly at flowering if you have amended your soil in such a way that will allow you to go that far. which is easy to do. With cannabis we try to run out of nutrients just when the plant is supposed to die. Excessive nitrogen or any nutrient can make weed taste worse than it could have if it were allowed to use it all up. Excessive nutrients in finished bud can end up being bitter tasting.

 

[Paleosoul]

Your friend is daft. You should reduce N application, but your yield will suffer if you cut it to zero when you flip.

 

[Jmaes Mabley]

Dont cut nitrogen.

The ke is balance. All Nitrogen is to a plant is Proten. Protein is necessary for all metabolic processes. And strenghtens the immune system.

Strive for a 1-1-2 NPK ratio.

In an 8 weeks flowering strain, cut back on all fertilizer in week 7 by about 25%. The in week 8 cut back another 25%. Up until week 6 all nutrients should be going up in small increments weekly. Its also possibly benefical to give a Monopotassium Phosphate Boost in weeks 3-4, and an Epsom Salts Boost in weeks 5-6.

Its myth to cut out nitrogen. Its all about balance, and timing. Cut back all fertilizer in weeks 7-8 in an 8 weeks flowering strain.

If its organic, just strive for good rich soil, and the plant will take what it needs.

Also dont Flush. Flushing is also a MYTH.

 

[Deaner]

Dont cut nitrogen.

The ke is balance. All Nitrogen is to a plant is Proten. Protein is necessary for all metabolic processes. And strenghtens the immune system.

Strive for a 1-1-2 NPK ratio.

In an 8 weeks flowering strain, cut back on all fertilizer in week 7 by about 25%. The in week 8 cut back another 25%. Up until week 6 all nutrients should be going up in small increments weekly. Its also possibly benefical to give a Monopotassium Phosphate Boost in weeks 3-4, and an Epsom Salts Boost in weeks 5-6.

Its myth to cut out nitrogen. Its all about balance, and timing. Cut back all fertilizer in weeks 7-8 in an 8 weeks flowering strain.

If its organic, just strive for good rich soil, and the plant will take what it needs.

Also dont Flush. Flushing is also a MYTH.

Hi just jumping in. Can you explain what flushing really means, and why I'm not supposed to do it. Everything I read was that flushing is the absence of fertilizer in your watering, and watering through about 10%. Am I off base here, I'm always willing to learn can you explain why it's a mess and if I'm doing that correctly

 

[Deadstill]

I too am a huge proponent of NOT cutting nitrogen immediately in flower. In fact, I tend to keep feeding Veg nutrients to my plants up to about week 3 or 4 of flower, and THEN I switch to bloom. That extra nitrogen in the beginning of flower, particularly the "stretch" period, is essential, in my opinion.

As far as flushing goes - in my experience it's something larger commercial growers tend to do for the sole purpose of saving money on ferts. It has been proven time and again that flushing is not necessary and I can personally vouch for this as I have harvested plants that have been fed a heavy dose of bloom nutrients literally 2 days before chop and it did not effect flavor or make the smoke "harsh" in any way.