Thoughts on my flushing method.

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Fletch12

Member
I am happy with the way I flush at the end of my grow, but it's always good to hear other people's thought and reasoning.

When ready for harvest I do a heavy watering with molasses (unsulfered and 1 tbsp per gal) as my last feeding. I wait 3 days or until dry at the top then pour a gallon in and let it soak into the medium (if it were tea it would be called letting it steep) about 20 min or so. Then come the gallons of water through until runoff is clean. After the flush I turn off the lights (preferably at the normal time they turn off) and keep the plants in total darkness for 36 hours. Then I cut dry cure and smoke.

Let me know what you guys think
 
Mr.Goodtimes

Mr.Goodtimes

Well-Known Member
I've never understood the reasoning in the dark period before harvest. Does it actually do anything? I have harvest coming up next weekend and was thinking of trying.
 
C

churchhaze

Well-Known Member
Mr.Goodtimes said:
I've never understood the reasoning in the dark period before harvest. Does it actually do anything? I have harvest coming up next weekend and was thinking of trying.
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There are some that say it causes the plant to become stressed and put out a lot of resin during that period.. but there has been no proof of that.

I think the main purpose of it is to get a head start on curing by having the plant burn off its sugars and starches. I've done both, and I can't say there's too huge of a difference, but i still like to harvest before the lights come on for this reason. Also it's said the sap stays in the roots during the night and comes up to the buds when the lights come on. That's another good reason.
 
F

Fletch12

Member
I have had really good results with the dark period. Wow that sounds like a bad part of history or well something else too. Most people choose to harvest in the morning outside, or before their lights turn on normally. As I understand in basic ways, the plant does most of its growth like resin, and other thc are produced at nite. When giving the long dark time the plant thinks it's at the end of the season and make one last ditch effort to try to beef up hoping for pollen. This process of beefing up has the plant use all most all of its energy trying to stay ok. That's why your leaves will look more yellow when done because the plant has relocated the stuff into your buds. I'm sorry I can't get more scientific about it, but I know there is reason people harvest before dawn, just not all the terminology to explain it.
 
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harris hawk

Well-Known Member
generally flush 2x's your container size with-in 2 weeks - and then if you want a "dark period" start after flushing - no water in the dark (dark time 24-48hrs) Harvest
 
chuck estevez

chuck estevez

Well-Known Member
Fletch12 said:
I am happy with the way I flush at the end of my grow, but it's always good to hear other people's thought and reasoning.

When ready for harvest I do a heavy watering with molasses (unsulfered and 1 tbsp per gal) as my last feeding. I wait 3 days or until dry at the top then pour a gallon in and let it soak into the medium (if it were tea it would be called letting it steep) about 20 min or so. Then come the gallons of water through until runoff is clean. After the flush I turn off the lights (preferably at the normal time they turn off) and keep the plants in total darkness for 36 hours. Then I cut dry cure and smoke.

Let me know what you guys think
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all of it is a waste of time and anything you think you get from it is in your head, MY 2 cents
 
chuck estevez

chuck estevez

Well-Known Member
just to stop anyone with the ole "flushing removes nutrients from the buds,Bullshit, Just answer this question,

if flushing removes nutrients from the buds, Why don't the buds yellow?
 
taGyo

taGyo

Well-Known Member
I believe people harvest at night because during the night the plant stores sugars and all of that good stuff in the roots so you catch them before they come up.

Also during the day terpenes (The thing that makes the bud taste the way it does) start to slowly burn off after accumulating over night. The best time to harvest, I've read, is morning because all of the sugars are down below and the terpenes are at maximum potential.

With all that said, flushing is for toilets.
Properly harvest, dry and cure your weed.
 
Dr Smith

Dr Smith

Active Member
Correct! Most of the stuff people mention when they argue for flushing is actually curing. White ash, sparks from the bud, smoothness, etc...

Your plant isn't drinking fertilizer. Do some research on how plants absorb the nutrients they need and exactly what they do with them.
 
F

Fletch12

Member
Yeah I have wondered if it was all effective , but I figured if there is a chance on increased potency or yield. Why not take it? I also wonder about harvesting at dawn or before, because I wonder if many people do it to avoid the heat. Just like my gardeners come earlier oh really hot days. Again though I figure why not try. I will be experimenting with more grows in the future and am happy you guys have responded. Thoughts and feedback are exactly why I started it.
I don't smoke my run off racer, you were absolutely unhelpful in all aspects. (Way to go I hope it made you feel great). Do you drink yours?
 
racerboy71

racerboy71

bud bootlegger
Fletch12 said:
Yeah I have wondered if it was all effective , but I figured if there is a chance on increased potency or yield. Why not take it? I also wonder about harvesting at dawn or before, because I wonder if many people do it to avoid the heat. Just like my gardeners come earlier oh really hot days. Again though I figure why not try. I will be experimenting with more grows in the future and am happy you guys have responded. Thoughts and feedback are exactly why I started it.
I don't smoke my run off racer, you were absolutely unhelpful in all aspects. (Way to go I hope it made you feel great). Do you drink yours?
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why yes, yes it did, thanks for asking...
 
F

Fletch12

Member
As I said though I am happy with my results so I don't want to change more than one factor at a time. I will do more research, but I have already come across many opinions on both sides of the topic. I will carefull experiment with control plants to see if I can notice any differences between different methods. It seems that that is the best way to figure out if it is effective or if there is a reasonable better way. (I don't want to get into ice baths or hard stressing and such).
Keep the thoughts coming please.
 
greasemonkeymann

greasemonkeymann

Well-Known Member
Fletch12 said:
I am happy with the way I flush at the end of my grow, but it's always good to hear other people's thought and reasoning.

When ready for harvest I do a heavy watering with molasses (unsulfered and 1 tbsp per gal) as my last feeding. I wait 3 days or until dry at the top then pour a gallon in and let it soak into the medium (if it were tea it would be called letting it steep) about 20 min or so. Then come the gallons of water through until runoff is clean. After the flush I turn off the lights (preferably at the normal time they turn off) and keep the plants in total darkness for 36 hours. Then I cut dry cure and smoke.

Let me know what you guys think
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why the molasses?
 
F

Fletch12

Member
A couple growers I know have told me that they do it. Something about helping the roots take in more h20 while improving taste slightly. Sorry I'm not a botanist and can't be more specific. Again is might be bs but I like to hear if others have had success . I have checked the ingredients of my nutrients that I have purchased and some do have molasses in them, so I figure there probably is some benefit. Thanks for asking the question. Hope someone can give us a more specific answer. Check your nutes and let me know if you have any in yours. I have Technaflora and Aurora nutes stocked up. I'll let you know which specific nutes I have with it when I get a chance to check.
 
greasemonkeymann

greasemonkeymann

Well-Known Member
Fletch12 said:
A couple growers I know have told me that they do it. Something about helping the roots take in more h20 while improving taste slightly. Sorry I'm not a botanist and can't be more specific. Again is might be bs but I like to hear if others have had success . I have checked the ingredients of my nutrients that I have purchased and some do have molasses in them, so I figure there probably is some benefit. Thanks for asking the question. Hope someone can give us a more specific answer. Check your nutes and let me know if you have any in yours. I have Technaflora and Aurora nutes stocked up. I'll let you know which specific nutes I have with it when I get a chance to check.
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i'm sorry that was meant more for a rhetorical type response.
I was just curious as to where you are getting your somewhat unorthodox methods, not hating, just curious.
I recommend not using molasses like that, it sorta defies all the common sense/logic regarding it, not to mention molasses used at the end will make your nugs burn to a black ash.
Don't ask me how i know... I've done it... for the same reasons as you are, I heard it to be a good thing, and didn't do my own due diligence to research it, also molasses easily can lock out other nutrients.
In my humble opinion, molasses is best used for a food source for microbial teas. OR if you have micronutrient issues or need a potassium shot.. but really in a normal amended soil potassium is seldom a deficiency, at least in my experience.
I'd imagine most ANYTHING bottled that has a significant amount of potassium in it, is getting that, from molasses.
Often times it's merely re-bottled and the price is like quintupled or more.
molasses is a must have for organic growers, but in my opinion as a microbial catalyst.
Could be biased though... I was an angry monkey when it ruined my crop... well it wasn't ruined.. just didn't smoke the same. Didn't effect the high, just the taste and cure
 
F

Fletch12

Member
Thanks for the information it's very helpful. I guess this thread was the first part of my due diligence . I'm always looking to improve my grows. I'm happy with my smoke , but I always wonder if I could have done even better. I do know to check up on any advise I get before taking it ( I'm sure you know what you are talking about, but I'm the type that has to double check. If not triple check.) A bad batch or a ruined one, is a terrible price to pay. Thanks again keep the info coming if you have time.
 
Midwest Weedist

Midwest Weedist

Well-Known Member
greasemonkeymann said:
i'm sorry that was meant more for a rhetorical type response.
I was just curious as to where you are getting your somewhat unorthodox methods, not hating, just curious.
I recommend not using molasses like that, it sorta defies all the common sense/logic regarding it, not to mention molasses used at the end will make your nugs burn to a black ash.
Don't ask me how i know... I've done it... for the same reasons as you are, I heard it to be a good thing, and didn't do my own due diligence to research it, also molasses easily can lock out other nutrients.
In my humble opinion, molasses is best used for a food source for microbial teas. OR if you have micronutrient issues or need a potassium shot.. but really in a normal amended soil potassium is seldom a deficiency, at least in my experience.
I'd imagine most ANYTHING bottled that has a significant amount of potassium in it, is getting that, from molasses.
Often times it's merely re-bottled and the price is like quintupled or more.
molasses is a must have for organic growers, but in my opinion as a microbial catalyst.
Could be biased though... I was an angry monkey when it ruined my crop... well it wasn't ruined.. just didn't smoke the same. Didn't effect the high, just the taste and cure
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I've found that when if I let a planter dry out a bit too much that if I water with some molasses it seems to help the beneficial organisms repopulate faster.
I noticed the same thing about molasses causing my stash to burn much darker when I gave it a preharvest watering at 1.5tbls per gallon. Tasted relatively the same imo though.
 
H

harris hawk

Well-Known Member
There is all ways going to be this debate - To Flush or Not to Flush - believe there is sound reasoning behind flushing (to clean the plant's vein's, you know like a "detox" -ing that many people do for health reasons. Comes down to personal choice !!!!!
 
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