The flush "myth"

[Budley Doright]

No one ever said double the yield.

It was said that they put on up to 25% of their weight the last couple weeks.

I just don't see it. For two reasons already mentioned. Immobile can't move and mobile moves to new growth (buds).

Flushing does not remove those things. They either stay put or move to another part if the plant.

But do they not get used up? And if timed precisely would that not be a good thing?

 

[MichiganMedGrower]

Sorry if this is off topic, buuttt since the conversation is basically about finishing plants, here goes. Has anyone gradually raised their lights during flower to mimic lower light that mother nature provides. Overly intense light might cause the plant to uptake water and nutes that is undesirable before harvest. Just throwing this out there for knowledge.

I lower the plants away from the lights a few inches during ripening. I find it helps increase frost and flavor/smell. And density sometimes too.

The plants are weaker toward the end and can't take the same intense light in my opinion.

 

[whitebb2727]

But do they not get used up? And if timed precisely would that not be a good thing?

What happens when they are used? Do they not become what you are smoking.

In not saying over feed. A proper feed to the end is fine.

The popping and black ash is from moisture and improper drying.

The popping someone described by someone from miracle grow could very well be from heavy metals. Mg doesn't remove them.

All I know is that I chop green buds. I dry them and cure them properly and get smooth smoke and white ash.

 

[Chip Green]

If you don't flush already, start now. If you are flushing now, stop.
Its that simple.

 

[BabyLobsterito]

I lower the plants away from the lights a few inches during ripening. I find it helps increase frost and flavor/smell. And density sometimes too.

The plants are weaker toward the end and can't take the same intense light in my opinion.

I've been curious about that myself, but most of the people in my area aren't open minded enough to converse about it, it usually just goes to bashing/"My method is the only way"/Pissing contest... I'll have to give it a shot. When you say lower the plants, do you have them on a raised platform of some sort, or do you physically raise the light fixture?

 

[Chunky Stool]

Go look it up on ytub, theirs guys that actually know the science behind the plant. Get a PPM meter and test your runoff that tells you how much nutrient is present in the medium and that will give you an idea of the nutrients present in your plant that your getting ready to smoke. It don't matter if I'm new to Rollitup, I guess I'm not as cool as you but I do know you don't know anything about canabis if your smoking nutrient and carbon filled bud. Good day!

Being able to actually spell cannabis might help your credibility.
Please tell me English is your second language...

 

[J710]

FLUSH

 

[Chunky Stool]

FLUSH

 

[MichiganMedGrower]

If you don't flush already, start now. If you are flushing now, stop.
Its that simple.

Wait! I'm confused.........

 

[MichiganMedGrower]

I've been curious about that myself, but most of the people in my area aren't open minded enough to converse about it, it usually just goes to bashing/"My method is the only way"/Pissing contest... I'll have to give it a shot. When you say lower the plants, do you have them on a raised platform of some sort, or do you physically raise the light fixture?

I grow my plants staggered a week or two apart and use stands in veg and flower to adjust height.

That way I harvest regularly and try to stay in plant count and meds on hand amounts.

Here you can see some different size stands.

The smaller adjustments are made with 1" styrofoam rigid insulation board cut up into squares.

Those plants are 18"-20" below the 600w hps reflectors.

Plenty of silliness here but look around a bit. We have really interesting discussions too.

 

[BabyLobsterito]

I grow my plants staggered a week or two apart and use stands in veg and flower to adjust height.

That way I harvest regularly and try to stay in plant count and meds on hand amounts.

Here you can see some different size stands.
View attachment 4008531
The smaller adjustments are made with 1" styrofoam rigid insulation board cut up into squares.

Those plants are 18"-20" below the 600w hps reflectors.

Plenty of silliness here but look around a bit. We have really interesting discussions too.

I like it, simple but effective method of keeping track. I've been researching older strain/timeline cataloging and open to as many methods as I can take in. I'll definitely incorporate this into my upcoming projects as it works with my current space/height limitations.

 

[MichiganMedGrower]

I like it, simple but effective method of keeping track. I've been researching older strain/timeline cataloging and open to as many methods as I can take in. I'll definitely incorporate this into my upcoming projects as it works with my current space/height limitations.

I have a low ceiling and in those 3 gallon pots I can grow a 30" plant before it is too close to the light.

So I usually bend and tie down the main stem to shorten them and promote branching before the end of week 2.

 

[BabyLobsterito]

I have a low ceiling and in those 3 gallon pots I can grow a 30" plant before it is too close to the light.

So I usually bend and tie down the main stem to shorten them and promote branching before the end of week 2.

Thank you for the info, the picture definitely shows it works. I like tying down myself so this works great. Are these from seed or from cutting?

 

[XipXipXoom]

Yes MichiganMedGrower is spot on. When you're ripening you lower the nutes, lower the light intensity (more distance), lower the temps, and lower the CO2. The opposite of what a vegging plant wants.

Very nice looking leaves Mich.

 

[Lucky Luke]

I grow my plants staggered a week or two apart and use stands in veg and flower to adjust height.

That way I harvest regularly and try to stay in plant count and meds on hand amounts.

Here you can see some different size stands.
View attachment 4008531
The smaller adjustments are made with 1" styrofoam rigid insulation board cut up into squares.

Those plants are 18"-20" below the 600w hps reflectors.

Plenty of silliness here but look around a bit. We have really interesting discussions too.

Do you normally run the HPS that high (18 inches) even in the beginning of flower or is it a canopy heat issue?

 

[MichiganMedGrower]

Thank you for the info, the picture definitely shows it works. I like tying down myself so this works great. Are these from seed or from cutting?

Those are all seed plants but I run clones of some sometimes.

 

[MichiganMedGrower]

Yes MichiganMedGrower is spot on. When you're ripening you lower the nutes, lower the light intensity (more distance), lower the temps, and lower the CO2. The opposite of what a vegging plant wants.

Very nice looking leaves Mich.

Thanks for the compliment

I really like your user name. I read it while quite high at first and had to say it out loud to hear it. Lol.

 

[MichiganMedGrower]

Do you normally run the HPS that high (18 inches) even in the beginning of flower or is it a canopy heat issue?

Well 16" is about the intensity of sunlight. 18" is a pretty standard recomended height. With my 2 blockbusters and Hortilux super hps 600's the leaves tend to show stress closer than 18".

I like nice flat Happy leaves. Heat is the enemy of good pot. In my room that is the sweet spot for most plants.

It's pretty intense I only have a foot in between them. The area is 3.5'- 4' x 7' max footprint.

 

[Budley Doright]

What happens when they are used? Do they not become what you are smoking.

In not saying over feed. A proper feed to the end is fine.

The popping and black ash is from moisture and improper drying.

The popping someone described by someone from miracle grow could very well be from heavy metals. Mg doesn't remove them.

All I know is that I chop green buds. I dry them and cure them properly and get smooth smoke and white ash.

I'm not sure what happens lol, and I don't even know what "used" means, your right in asking what are they after being utilized. I'm more just throwing this all out. I'm all for doing what ever the individual grower wants to do. The ideal of calling one stupid for doing that is IMO stupid lol. It seems that it's hard for anyone to actually say definitively what happens on a atomic level, seems more of observation re taste and yield. Also I feed till the end, not for taste, but I actually IMO think they do lose something in the potency profile, they seem to just kind of stop finishing properly. It's hard for me to do any testing as I grow in trays/totes with multiple plants.

 

[Budley Doright]

I love rollitup forum...been part of most all of them, and RIU has a classy pack of weedhounds...ANYWAYS, wait for hurricane Irma to come more north in the state where I am and medicating my nerves with some Incredible Bulk (wonderful indica meds), and surfing my fav topic...I Had to comment on flushing..IMO, there are a lot of facts that arent recognized....it seem historically, many ppl feed heavy nutes to assure there plants have all they need...They ARE CAPABLE of high doses but not constantly...So, ppl get in feed, feed, flush, or similar nutrient regime...I the 25th of this month marks 38 yrs since my 1st hydroponic garden...THE BIGGEST mistake I see newer growers, and even mid level growers, do, is overfeeding.....I dont remember the last time I had the need to feed my plants more than 600ppm MAX, and typically about 500ppm...DWC can even be done a little LESS THAN THAT....A plant PROPERLY grown in a hydroponic system WILL BE growing at 90-100% of what that partucular strain, phenotype, and even a specific cutting, is genetically predispositioned to do...Sorry soil growers, but hydroponics offers a precise menu of nutrients, with a perfect ratio of elements, already in their salt form, and immediately available to the plants...Soil, depends on a lot of variables, like microbial activity, to assit in breaking down organics INTO their salt form...this will NEVER HAPPEN as precisely as a balanced hydroponic nutrient, AND when you in the thick of flowering, and your in moderate size containers indoors, you soil is getting somewhat depeted and u have to suppliment anyways, with a quality hydroponic nutrient.....
Now for why I started this response about a flushing question....Once you learn how to read you plants, hydroponics requires a very moderate feeding program...I NEVER increase my nute when the plants look good and are growing nicely...IF THEY show the 1st sign of needing more, feed them a little more....Once you know YOUR plants, providing you have been paying attention, you Already know the amts that keep them pretty and at what stage of growth....Now, if you have not been overfeeding them, they have no buildup and basically none in reserve (they dont need reserve if your doing your job)....NO NEED FOR FLUSHING...when I get down to 2 weeks prior to harvest, I cut my nutes in half...Since I have not been overfeeding them, they almost IMMEDIATELY show signs of deficiencies...I want that then....for the last week, I completely withhold nutirents...by then they have yellowed and by harvest, there is only light green remaining in the buds inner leaves...Sweet as candy...If I completely withheld nute 2 weeks out, it would be too early and TOO MUCH yellowing occurs...Small inner leaves (covered with trichs) would yellow, die and break off..the ultimate, is when the yellowing is just occuring in the main tops...all the other leaf will already have yellowing cometely and or dropped off...flushing is for plants grown TOO RICH for too long.....Learn to read YOUR plants and how to feed WITHOUT a TDS meter...feeding charts are generic, dependent on much..and IMO, too high....when u can consistently grow quality buds WITHOUT a TDS meter, YOU HAVE ARRIVED...regards, Y.T...cpl pics for credibility..current full crop (mostly THC bomb)...previous crop of White widow and Cheese candy...these are in a slightly modified Hempy bucket...went back to that after years of water culture...View attachment 4008455 View attachment 4008456 View attachment 4008457 View attachment 4008458 View attachment 4008459 View attachment 4008460

I am planning on switching to pails and was hoping you could shed some light on your setup. Perhaps a PM as to not take away from this thread, thanks.