Inducing Flowering

Okay, so I've read and researched and read and researched. I'm hoping that I'll be able to feel out when I need to induce my flowering...here's some background. They are currently 8-8.5 inches tall...grown from seed under a 400W MH right now. Everything is nice and healthy, have had no issues so far. I have a total of 9. Not a hint of preflowers near the stipules...of course they're only 5.5 weeks old. The one think I'm worried about is head room for these babys. I don't want them to get too tall so the light can penetrate where it needs to. I'm sure someone will say upgrade to 600w, and I've considered that, but not really practical at this point and time in my life. So...what does everyone think? Give it some time? Get them a little beefier? I have an infinite well of patience when it comes to the plants. I'm just looking for some good advice on the issue. Thanks everyone! Let's blaze...

what are you growing, i give nearly all my plants about 4 weeks after they are out of the soil because depending on the strain they can get very big if left too long in veg. they can easily double to triple in size. for example, my skunk was 10 inches when light switched to 12/12, its now nearly 5 feet tall. they really start growing when the lights switched, but its also dependant on feeding, growth stumps and so on.
let us know what your growing and good luck with it.
lu

I'm not positive on every strain. I know I have an Annunake, an AK 48, and a couple others. All from CO dispensaries. I started feeding about a week and a half ago, about every 3 days. I've got them in three gallon grow bags and they are growing FAST. they've doubled in size over the last week or two. I'm up to full strength feed tomorrow. Again, they are all 8 inches or taller, doing outstanding, and smell delicious already after 5 weeks. Here's one more question...can I start the flowering with an MH and then switch out to an HPS? Or should I wait 3 days to get paid, get my HPS, then flower? Thanks again for the help. If they get over 5 feet tall, I'm going to need some different specs.

the ak can get big and with regards to your question about the light, i would just wait the three days then put them into flower. good luck with the grow
lu

top them now vege another ten days then start 12/12.

Thought of another question...not seeing any preflowers on these bad girls yet. Should I go ahead with the plan or wait until I see them for sure?

Go ahead and flower. (MH will work fine to flower for 3 days but if you want to wait.. wait.) In a week or two after 12/12 switch look for males and destroy them. I like to throw a garbage bag over them carefully and then pull them out and kill them.

frmrboi said:

top them now vege another ten days then start 12/12.

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Listen to this man if you are in the slightest worried about harvest height. You don't want to be pruning during flowering or doing what I'm doing and LSTing to bend my tops down to reduce my canopy height.

Yeah, I bent the really big bitches down and that seems to be helping. I'm starting the 12/12 cycle tomorrow. Very excited. I'll be reaping the wonderful fruits of my first grow soon! WOO! Sorry I have no pictures up. The wife said that was a no no. The one person I have to listen to...oh well, they are all still doing very very well. Thank you all again for the help!

good luck! just stumbled upon your journal, i switched my lights about 11 days ago and there are still no signs of sex on mine.

Just give it time dude. It won't be long until you wake up and say "holy crap! There are buds on my plants! I didn't think there was so many sites for them...but they are everywhere. Probably have at least 25 a plant, minus the tops. Awesome feeling. I'm about 3 weeks away from the chop! Can't wait to taste the first crop I grew. Thanks for the help guys!