Photo periods in bloom! Share your pics and advice.

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FloridaMike

FloridaMike

Cap'n Chronic
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Nah, I respectfully disagree. How long you been growing anyway? The start of 12/12 is called "pre flower" for a reason; just as it suggests, there are no flowers yet. I started growing as a teen in the late 70's, early 80's and professionally in the 2000's, before my hiatus in 2012. But that's neither here nor there. I'm by no means alone in when I count the start of flowering.

Time alone though doesn't determine whether one is right or wrong, just because a belief is long held doesn't mean it's right.

Here's from the web in support of my position:


When Does the Flowering Stage Actually Begin in Cannabis?​

The start of the flowering stage can be a bit subjective, depending on how you define it. There are two common ways growers mark the beginning of flowering:


1. Transition Period (Pre-Flowering) – Week 1 of 12/12 (Not Official Flowering Yet)

  • When you switch to 12/12 lighting (for photoperiod plants), the plant does not immediately start flowering. Instead, it undergoes a transition phase, often lasting 7-14 days, where it stretches significantly and prepares to bloom.
  • Some growers call this period "Week 1 of Flowering", but the plant is not yet forming real buds—just showing early signs.

2. The True Start of Flowering (Bud-Set) – Usually After 10-14 Days of 12/12

  • Many experienced growers consider flowering to officially begin when bud sites form, usually around Day 10-14 after the 12/12 flip.
  • This is when:
    • White pistils (hairs) appear in clusters at the nodes.
    • The plant stops stretching as much.
    • The first signs of trichome development begin.
This means that if a strain has an 8-week flowering time, you should start counting from the first sign of actual flower formation, not from the first day of 12/12.


For Autoflowers

  • Autos begin flowering on their own, usually between weeks 3-5 from germination.
  • The start of flowering is marked not by time but by visible pistils forming at the nodes.


Someone smarter than me should start a poll to see what others say, we obviously are going to have to agree to disagree.
 
C

Coconutz

33
18
Seeds started Dec 1st vegged in 12-12 + clones
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Clone ^^^
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Clone ^^^
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Clone ^^^
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Re potted after sexing ± 1st January.
 
O

OldOneEye

647
143
Nah, I respectfully disagree. How long you been growing anyway? The start of 12/12 is called "pre flower" for a reason; just as it suggests, there are no flowers yet. I started growing as a teen in the late 70's, early 80's and professionally in the 2000's, before my hiatus in 2012. But that's neither here nor there. I'm by no means alone in when I count the start of flowering.

Time alone though doesn't determine whether one is right or wrong, just because a belief is long held doesn't mean it's right.

Here's from the web in support of my position:


When Does the Flowering Stage Actually Begin in Cannabis?​

The start of the flowering stage can be a bit subjective, depending on how you define it. There are two common ways growers mark the beginning of flowering:


1. Transition Period (Pre-Flowering) – Week 1 of 12/12 (Not Official Flowering Yet)

  • When you switch to 12/12 lighting (for photoperiod plants), the plant does not immediately start flowering. Instead, it undergoes a transition phase, often lasting 7-14 days, where it stretches significantly and prepares to bloom.
  • Some growers call this period "Week 1 of Flowering", but the plant is not yet forming real buds—just showing early signs.

2. The True Start of Flowering (Bud-Set) – Usually After 10-14 Days of 12/12

  • Many experienced growers consider flowering to officially begin when bud sites form, usually around Day 10-14 after the 12/12 flip.
  • This is when:
    • White pistils (hairs) appear in clusters at the nodes.
    • The plant stops stretching as much.
    • The first signs of trichome development begin.
This means that if a strain has an 8-week flowering time, you should start counting from the first sign of actual flower formation, not from the first day of 12/12.


For Autoflowers

  • Autos begin flowering on their own, usually between weeks 3-5 from germination.
  • The start of flowering is marked not by time but by visible pistils forming at the nodes.


Someone smarter than me should start a poll to see what others say, we obviously are going to have to agree to disagree.
Aaah I see...you grow autos....that explains the weirdness to me....don't really get why someone would pay 5 to $10 a seed and be 1 and done. When with a photo you can grow for as long as you want and get real bang for your buck.
I grew my first plant in 1984
 
FloridaMike

FloridaMike

Cap'n Chronic
Supporter
1,532
263
Aaah I see...you grow autos....that explains the weirdness to me....don't really get why someone would pay 5 to $10 a seed and be 1 and done. When with a photo you can grow for as long as you want and get real bang for your buck.
I grew my first plant in 1984
I grow photos only. Clones off my big King Louis XIII x Scott OG cross (that was gifted to me as a sickly little runt), and NL & Hash Plant reg from seed. I have 2 female & 1 male NL, & 1 female HP. I'm hoping at least 1 HP is male. I grew my 1st plants in 76, I distinctly remember bc it was the bicentennial. Next run will be KLxScott OG clones, Skunk #1 reg & Cali Blues.

There is nothing weird about counting the start of flowering when flowers are present, not before , which is pre-flower. What's weird is calling pre-flowering, flowering when there aren't even any pistols present yet. Apparently you didn't read what I posted above. Here is the important part again:

2. The True Start of Flowering (Bud-Set) – Usually After 10-14 Days of 12/12

  • Many experienced growers consider flowering to officially begin when bud sites form, usually around Day 10-14 after the 12/12 flip.
  • This is when:
    • White pistils (hairs) appear in clusters at the nodes.
    • The plant stops stretching as much.
    • The first signs of trichome development begin.
This means that if a strain has an 8-week flowering time, you should start counting from the first sign of actual flower formation, not from the first day of 12/12.


me again:
Here is my male NL beginning to flower. Stem rub is very sticky and smells like a pine forest already. He is going to make a fine stud. I have other land race strains I'm going to throw into the mix eventually as well. Like a lot of people, I'm in search of the skunkity skunk. 💪 👊👍
 
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Natep

Natep

1,868
263
What's weird or subjective about it? Bud-set is bud set, it's when there are little pea size clusters of pistils that are easily identifiable as buds vs just a few pistols here and there (pre-flower). In my experience, bud-set is usually around 14 days after flip. Are you saying counting should begin at the flip to 12/12? That's not flowering, that's pre-flowering, otherwise it wouldn't be called "pre-flowering" it would be called "flowerng". If not at the flip, then when? During pre flower, the plants still get veg feed formula (in hydro anyway, I'm not sure about dirt(y) farming). The veg formula continues 7-14 days into the 12/12 flip, depending on how much stretch you want.

Please enlighten us "guys" as to when counting should begin and the reasoning behind it o' wise one, i'm curious. 👉 😆💨
I count mine from the day I change the light schedule to 12/12. However it is not really important to me. I grow with living organic soil. So I’m not following a feeding schedule. Some strains take longer than others but they are pretty much never ready in 8 weeks.
 
DanielWesterfield

DanielWesterfield

516
143
Yea, I see your pictures bud.
I'm asking if you have pictures of the trichomes up close
 
C

Coconutz

33
18
Does anyone th8nk this is finished its white widow going on 13 weeks of flower in a couple days.
No it's still got a few weeks to go imo, those brown pistils will recede into the calyxes swelling them and new white pistils stop being produced, nutrient/water uptake slows to a fraction of what it was.
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It's the only pics I've handy but even those have a bit to go.
Imo the colour of trichs don't mean much without those standard indicators 1st.
 

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