how do i start flowering??

RockstarEnergy

Well-Known Member
I wanna start flowering my plant within the next couple days. its vegging 18/6 right now under 6500k CFLs and i want to switch to 12/12 with 2700k CFLs. my question is what is the best way to go about doing it? i've found some people that switch right away and some people that do a day or two of straight darkness.

Is there any real benefit of leaving it in the dark before switching??? that doesnt happen in nature so what do you guys think i should do?

any input is appreciated!
 

00hotrod34

Active Member
I am doing the same with 18/6 6500k cfl switching to 12/12 2700k cfl. i started flowering two weeks ago and i am having good results. I lowered the light schedule to 14/10 for two days and then 12/12. from what i have read the best thing to do is imitate good old mother nature. My bagseeds showed sex after a week (both female!) and have started developing buds. Good luck
 

DoeEyed

Well-Known Member
It's said that a 24hr period of darkness before switching to 12/12, will reduce the time it takes to begin flower by about a week. I've done it two ways - switched one batch right to 12/12 at the next "on" period, and another batch, gave 24hr's of dark first. Didn't really see a difference - both showed in approx. five days in. (Maybe the dark did help now I think about it, because the batch that got it was only vegged for five weeks, and the other batch for eight). Either way you're fine, no lead-in required.:peace:
 

strain stalker

New Member
...wtf? The only time you'd ever leave a plant in the dark would be to enhance the thc at the very end of the bloom..... the few days before clip'n some leave the plants in total darkness....other then that, someone told you very, very wrong info...and I'd never take advice from that person again! ...good luck.
 

DoeEyed

Well-Known Member
...wtf? The only time you'd ever leave a plant in the dark would be to enhance the thc at the very end of the bloom..... the few days before clip'n some leave the plants in total darkness....other then that, someone told you very, very wrong info...and I'd never take advice from that person again! ...good luck.
Seriously??? That sucks...I've read it time and again on this forum, not just from one person. Wouldn't think 24hrs in the dark once, would hurt any more than the 12 hours of dark they get daily?:?:
 

Green Cross

Well-Known Member
just switch straight over mate it only takes a few days to start seeing results in any case
I agree just switch over, but it's best to keep your dawn (morning) time the same. So, say your plants normally wake up at 5 AM and go to sleep @ 11 PM (18 hrs). Switch the off time to 5 PM for 12 hrs. Not sure where I read that, but it is documented somewhere ;-)
 

xogenic

Well-Known Member
I agree just switch over, but it's best to keep your dawn (morning) time the same. So, say your plants normally wake up at 5 AM and go to sleep @ 11 PM (18 hrs). Switch the off time to 5 PM for 12 hrs. Not sure where I read that, but it is documented somewhere ;-)
spot on mate forgot to mention the morning time thing nice add
 

lopezri

Well-Known Member
I am doing the same with 18/6 6500k cfl switching to 12/12 2700k cfl. i started flowering two weeks ago and i am having good results. I lowered the light schedule to 14/10 for two days and then 12/12. from what i have read the best thing to do is imitate good old mother nature. My bagseeds showed sex after a week (both female!) and have started developing buds. Good luck
This is what I do to. To me it just makes sense. Do what Mother Gaia does and you'll be good with it.

One thing I've found that helps too if you want to force flower your plants is to use some FoxFarm - Open Sesame soluble powder. Helps things move along a bit. I haven't noticed it giving any stress to the plants.
 

lopezri

Well-Known Member
Oh also I snip an hour off the morning and an hour off the evening too. Seems to work for me, but everyone is different. I still think a lot of the whole growing process has a lot to do with amount of time, energy, and love you give to your girls too. Give 'em time and love and they'll give you some loving back!
 

RockstarEnergy

Well-Known Member
Thanks for all the replies guys!

i had them turn off 2 hours early today and tomorrow im gonna do full 12/12. i didnt think having the lights off that long was really the thing to do anyway. i saw it in a couple journals and just wanted to see how people felt about about it. its my first indoor grow so im trying to do it right haha.

thanks again, +rep all around!
 

xogenic

Well-Known Member
easiest way to do things right is to keep it simple follow nute instructions carefully and keep an eye on you light heights and everything should be fine
 
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