DISCLAIMER-I am no way saying this is the right or wrong way. I myself have grown to believe that "flowering" starts at the first signs of flowers. (Which in my case, always start in Vegging, due to pre-flowers) But I actually have started counting from the "Real Signs" of flowering(normally 7-14 days after the flip to 12/12) I STRONGLY believe in checking the Trichs, is a major factor in harvest. I also think of the flowering times provided by the breeders are just guidelines. I am also in NO WAY trying to start arguments. I have posted 1 of these emails in another thread, where some A-hole had to be put in his place, for trying to say I was "lying" about the emails, because the breeder wouldn't say something that stupid. When I posted a pic taken DIRECTLY from the breeders website, and provided him with a link to the breeder's website and the breeder's email address..... Needless to say the A-hole never commented back. I'm not doing this for any reason but bringing knowledge to the rest of my bro's and sis. I am not saying I agree with the breeders. I just emailed them and watever they emailed me back, I have posted. All I did is google "When do you start counting flowering", and watever cannabis community I was registered to, I posted this in the threads best suited. NO MATTER HOW OLD THEY WERE!
So please, I hope u guys can appreciate the time I took to write these breeders. And out of 12-15 breeders that I wrote, these 2 were the only 2 that responded, IMMEDIATELY! All I have done is copied and pasted from my email to thread. If I get more replies, I plan on startin a thread based on this topic. "When do BREEDERS start counting....."
I know this thread is OLD as hell. BUT!!!!!! After reading a bunch of different websites, I decided to write a breeder myself, and see if they would respond. I decided to go with Greenhouse Seeds, and they replied my email in less than 24 hours. I am only posting this to help any future people wondering when the breeders themselves start counting. I hope this help someone in the future. Now I know that this is only 1 breeder, and I will try to email a few more, but for now....... Here is a copy of my email from Greenhouse Seeds.
Happy Holidays,
Drdodge29
Dear XXXXXXXXXXXXXX(my name doesn't matter),
Thank you for your email.
You start counting from the moment you switch the light to 12/12. The
flowering time depends on which strain you are growing. If you completed the
flowering weeks and the hairs are still quite white you can leave them a bit
longer. When 20-30% of the hairs become brown they are ready.
Kind regards,
GHSC
This next 1 is from Ceres Seeds.