Why do people flush?

skunky33

Active Member
I flush but I have no idea why I do it. It just seems like a ritual that I've done but never really questioned until recently. The plant naturally has it's own filtration system, and nutrients are made into glucose and starches. If there were chemicals inside of a plant the plant would die or become very ill. But do plants uptake heavy metals, what things get through the roots and cell walls needing us to flush them out. It seems as though many perfectly knowledgeable people on growing have no idea what the hell is going on inside of a plant and how the thing actually works. I'm including myself in that group, so if anyone could enlighten me it would bee appreciated.
 
Hi,

You can flush for different reasons. If you grow on soil it could be that not all fertilizers are used by the plants and it becomes too acidic. And if you flush a week before harvest you can re-use your substrate. So it's not about flushing your plants but about stop fertilizing. If you keep adding nutrients till the end the buds will be much heavier to smoke and the flavor will suffer.

More on flushing here

Robert
 

chrishydro

Well-Known Member
Here is simple thing to show you why, grow two plants flush one and keep the other going with nutes. The day you harvest take a small bud from each and put in the micorwave at same time. Set for 25 seconds put them side by side and look in there. The one you did not flush will sprark, pop around etc. The one you flushed will just sit there. You will never not flush again, what ever, my guess would be mag is not something you want in your lungs.
 

skunky33

Active Member
Here is simple thing to show you why, grow two plants flush one and keep the other going with nutes. The day you harvest take a small bud from each and put in the micorwave at same time. Set for 25 seconds put them side by side and look in there. The one you did not flush will sprark, pop around etc. The one you flushed will just sit there. You will never not flush again, what ever, my guess would be mag is not something you want in your lungs.
This is exactly what I'm talking about. Magnesium in plants is in the enzymes, inside the chlorophyll molecule and in the cell membrane. Flushing doesn't get rid of Magnesium...
 

blacksun

New Member
Keep in mind there are two distinctly different types of "flushing".



There is "flushing" to solve root issues, such as nutrient buildup and burn.

This involves running three to five times as much pure water through the medium as the size of the pot/container. A three gallon pot would have 9 to 15 gallons of pure water run through it. A five gallon pot would have 15 to 25 gallons of pure water run through it.

This is a one time thing.



And there is "flushing" at the end of a plant's life.

This involves watering the plants with no nutrients for a period of time before you harvest the plants. In soil, I see the people who do flush say they usually use pure water for the last two weeks. In hydro, I see the people who do flush say they run pure water between seven and three days.

This is done, obviously, for multiple days.
 
the third reason to flush is if you need to adjust the ph of your soil if its way off. or is there a better way to do this? sulfur takes to long to bring down the ph doesnt it?
 

Bigby

Well-Known Member
One time I didn't flush the weed didn't seem to burn as well as others of the same variety which I did flush. Joints didn't stay lit as well, the ash in bongs wasn't white. It could possible have been different phenos smoking differently - but I now flush all my girls, just in case it was that. It's no hassle to me, and I'm happier flushing.
 

Cobnobuler

Well-Known Member
....Seems like on this site this question just gets beaten to death over and over and....
It should break out into an argument soon :)
 

bamacheese

Well-Known Member
I used to flush until recently. I thought about it scientifically, and it makes absolutely no sense if you grow organically. Why would you starve the plant of essential nutrients during its late flowering phase, arguably the most important phase of the entire plant's life. I understand people flushing if they use chemical nutrients, but otherwise, it is completely unnecessary. My last grow was the first time I didn't flush, and I got the most beautiful resinous plants I've ever grown. Needless to say, I won't be flushing anymore. Just feeding good organic nutrients (I prefer Fish and Seaweed Emulsion).
 

GreenphoeniX

Well-Known Member
I used to flush until recently. I thought about it scientifically, and it makes absolutely no sense if you grow organically. Why would you starve the plant of essential nutrients during its late flowering phase, arguably the most important phase of the entire plant's life. I understand people flushing if they use chemical nutrients, but otherwise, it is completely unnecessary. My last grow was the first time I didn't flush, and I got the most beautiful resinous plants I've ever grown. Needless to say, I won't be flushing anymore. Just feeding good organic nutrients (I prefer Fish and Seaweed Emulsion).
I have to agree with this, emphasising IF you grow ORGANICALLY.
In my experience, flushing plants grown organically in soil doesn't affect the final product a whole lot. But when growing in any hydro system with synthetic fertilizers, I highly recommend flushing. Definitely affect final product, based on personal experience. If you don't want to risk 'starving' your plants, you can use flush specific products, such as 'Final Rinse,' so that you can flush your plants while still providing them with certain beneficial elements.
 

Grown n Oregon

Active Member
i personally think that flushing makes a huge difference in the final product once its cured and loaded up in the glass. i myself am not a huge fan of the "snap, crackle, and pop" sounds when a lighter hits the bud due to not flushing out at harvest. i cant give any scientific proof of it or nothing...other than my own personal exp. so i will just say that MY ladies turn out better with flushing..lol
 
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