Jimster
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I personally can't see how a few days of darkness can increase the potency, since plants grow so slowly and react as slowly to changes. The only effect I have seen from extended darkness is some stretching. At the rate buds/flowers grow, how much extra weight does a plant add in a few days?I to was taught to leave my plants in darkness for 48 to 72 hours before chopping, the idea behind this is that dark period will frost up your plants, does it work? I dont know, but i do it.
I also could not see the benefit. But I believe it was @MIMedGrower that pointed out the differing process of day and night that I always knew. During night cycle the plants release starches etc into the soil that feed the bacteria In a kind of symbiotic relationship. He made a good point about starches when burned have a poor taste. I can't remember exactly but it makes absolute sense to me now that to an extent a dark period can affect the taste... due to transportation of various compounds from the bud to the roots. To what extent I can't say for certain.I personally can't see how a few days of darkness can increase the potency, since plants grow so slowly and react as slowly to changes. The only effect I have seen from extended darkness is some stretching. At the rate buds/flowers grow, how much extra weight does a plant add in a few days?
I don't truthfully know the answer, but I sort of classify it with a lot of other "urban canni-legends" or "Bro-science". I would love to see research that would examine it, but I haven't seen anything other than stories from a friend of a friend. I was skeptical about 10K finishing bulbs frosting stuff up, but I'm still on the fence about that one although it is a 2 week process, not 3 days.
I can see how the extended darkness can make a difference although 3 days is a pretty short period for plants to react. I HAVE seen stretching in plants that have been in darkness for a few days, so I can't discount the claim about flavor changes. I don't see how a bud can grow a shitload more trichomes after a day or two of darkness, however. Sugars and nutrients get moved around in the plant depending on if its light or dark, so flavors and sugars, etc could be affected by the photoperiod. It was always my impression, and this is purely conjecture on my part, that sugars are what often gives buds the unique sweet flavor. I thought that sugars are mainly produced during photosynthesis and used primarily at night. This would equate to more sugar flavor during daylight and less at night. On the other side of my theory however, is my experience with white flies, which leave sugar residue on the plants from the damage they cause. This typically burns with a black ash and lousy burning from the sugar's carbonization upon burning.I also could not see the benefit. But I believe it was @MIMedGrower that pointed out the differing process of day and night that I always knew. During night cycle the plants release starches etc into the soil that feed the bacteria In a kind of symbiotic relationship. He made a good point about starches when burned have a poor taste. I can't remember exactly but it makes absolute sense to me now that to an extent a dark period can affect the taste... due to transportation of various compounds from the bud to the roots. To what extent I can't say for certain.
I mean I definitely can't discount this as very possible. However I haven't yet done my own testing.
UV light will bleach out the chlorophyll, which is one of several ways to dry and cure your buds. Without light, the plant uses up it's stored sugars and nutrients. Curing the buds in UV will further decrease the chlorophyll...at the expense of slightly lower THC levels. I have dried buds in the same room they are flowering in and get a blond bud that tastes like hash... much like the old Colombian used to taste like. It's a nice change from the regular green buds.Probably takes the effect of light on thc to the next level. After much research i have been drying in sunlight this year at the risk of .5% loss over two weeks, after hanging just a day or two of ultraviolet sunlight for mold prevention, they finish in shade and a couple days with a 50% rh dehum before curing in darkness. Long term effect of light on thc is well established. Perfect results so far.
Edit: also the girls lighten up in color suggesting less clorophyll?
I agree not convinced on the trich production increase. I can see the preservation as they do undergo some reduction of fluid during the day period from heat and light and are somewhat replenished during the Calvin cycle. But an increase in overall triches I just don't see yet.I can see how the extended darkness can make a difference although 3 days is a pretty short period for plants to react. I HAVE seen stretching in plants that have been in darkness for a few days, so I can't discount the claim about flavor changes. I don't see how a bud can grow a shitload more trichomes after a day or two of darkness, however. Sugars and nutrients get moved around in the plant depending on if its light or dark, so flavors and sugars, etc could be affected by the photoperiod. It was always my impression, and this is purely conjecture on my part, that sugars are what often gives buds the unique sweet flavor. I thought that sugars are mainly produced during photosynthesis and used primarily at night. This would equate to more sugar flavor during daylight and less at night. On the other side of my theory however, is my experience with white flies, which leave sugar residue on the plants from the damage they cause. This typically burns with a black ash and lousy burning from the sugar's carbonization upon burning.
In summary, I really don't know as I can see a case for both sides of the question, at least regarding sugars. Trichome production in a few days, I am not convinced.
stress = terpene and essential oil productionI to was taught to leave my plants in darkness for 48 to 72 hours before chopping, the idea behind this is that dark period will frost up your plants, does it work? I dont know, but i do it.
If we all agree that light degrades thc then it all comes full circle, chopping at night or after three nights allows the thc to recover. But the percentage seems minimal, even after longterm light exposure. Perhaps the trichs cloudiness protects the thc.I agree not convinced on the trich production increase. I can see the preservation as they do undergo some reduction of fluid during the day period from heat and light and are somewhat replenished during the Calvin cycle. But an increase in overall triches I just don't see yet.
If we all agree that light degrades thc then it all comes full circle, chopping at night or after three nights allows the thc to recover. But the percentage seems minimal, even after longterm light exposure. Perhaps the trichs cloudiness protects the thc.
PLEASE!!Will somebody please slip a bag over a branch three days before chop to compare and end this Madness?!
I’ll do a small one! Gotta get a brown paper bag I think that will do the best job . I’ll post pics when I tie it up and when they are picked.Will somebody please slip a bag over a branch three days before chop to compare and end this Madness?!
PLEASE!!
I can't see a plant having any difference in THC or Terpene profiles after only3 days. This is just my opinion, but other than stretching and possible water content variations, I can't see any hard data to support this. Claiming stress is a semi canni-legend, and 3 days isn't much of a stress to a plant. Plants don't "think" they are going to die and suddenly send a rush of everything they have to ward off the inevitable. They live to make seeds and have been selectively bred to keep trying despite not getting pollinated.
Does a 3 day absence of light affect the plant... Absolutely.
Does the 3 day absence of light increase the THC or Trichomes... Personally, I don't think so. That isn't to say I could be mistaken, but I can't see a scientific basis for this to happen in the time period mentioned. Sugars and other metabolic processes would be more affected than the more complex processes needed to make the stuff we like, IMO. I know we have some guys who are pretty spot on about the actual processes that lead to the triggers for increased Trichome and other parts of the plant... maybe someone will chime in that knows a lot more than my conjecture.
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