In regards to flushing...are you using soil? If so I have never even once grown with soil/soilless mix so flushing could be a whole nother story. In hydro, flushing really seems to improve taste but that's just my opinion.
Oh boy,,,,lets use some science here.
I never flush either one!!!
If in soil, and you even bother to "water it out" for the last week. You still have available nutrition
in that soil for the plant to continue to feed from....
If in hydro, and you take away all nutrition for the last 2 weeks (I say 2 weeks because that's what most nutrient makers list as "the flush") and only run pH'ed water. You have removed
all nutrition from the plant in it's most important time of the bulking phase!
The last 2 weeks is when your plant
will ad most of it's
bulk or get bigger and more dense as opposed to being lighter and more airy.
Taking away all nutrition to the plant during this is good? Why? You have NOT gained anything. In fact, I'll bet your bud is not as solid or as big as those fed to the end....
By drying and curing properly - like this;
Drying area temp at 70F and as close to 50% RH as possible. (mine is steady)
Dry by trays or by hanging - does not matter witch and makes no difference in quality - until stems "crack" and not bend (around 2 weeks)
Place into your Mason jars and seal finger tight - don't use "muscle" to tighten.
Open jars once a day by cracking open and removing lid for 3-5 min. Do this every day for
at least 2 weeks. (I like mine better at 3 weeks before I test it)
At the end of this "2 weeks" roll one or smoke a bowl. Did it burn evenly and taste smooth, not harsh? Was the ash light gray or white? If yes, your done! if not, continue another week and try again. Continue this method until it's done.
You will not taste anything that you should not. It will burn even and have a nice light gray to white ash!
Now that you know,,,,,,go forth and cure like a pro!
grow/smoke happy
Doc