Period of dark before harvest ?

[Keewee101]

I had never heard of this before, is it something you do? And how many hours 24 or 48?
Does it make a difference?
Also when is the best time to cut plants, end of lights on or just before lights are due to come on?

[Karlee]

Hi Keewee

When you plant the seeds thru vegetation I use the T5 fluorescence 24/7 the light doesn't burn them it's a blue light. After 2 or 3 months in that light you need the red light on for 12 hours- off 12 hours.

You are emulating the spring thru the summer and that makes the plant bloom for you.

So Metal Halide is MH (spring) HPS (Summer) you need MH for veg and the HPS for flower time

http://www.growweedeasy.com/cannabis-plant-training

[insomniaczzz]

Thank you for acknowledging my perfectness Karlee. LOL

[Karlee]

I didn't want to mention your name specifically LOL

[Nartak]

You ladies smoking some sweet shit aint ya?

[Keewee101]

Sorry. I'm meaning directly before harvest, some people do a 24 or 48 hrs period of darkness before cutting their plants down, it's supposed to increase the potency.
Just wondering if anyone on the forum does it or understands the reasoning behind it.

[Karlee]

Sorry, Yes someone did that here 48 hours and it helps with flushing the plant for a smoother smoke

[insomniaczzz]

I did that with our girls. Lights off for the night at 8pm, didn't turn on the next day, following day, did harvest, so I guess our plants had 36 hours of darkness. I gave them a big drink of water the morning of the day lights turned off at 8. So basically last watering was 48 before harvest. I can't honestly says if there was a benefit to it, but it certainly did not hurt them.

[9fingerleafs]

Yes I'll tell you the reasoning behind it. The resin production occurs during night. The plant uses the resin as a sunscreen to stop UV light from hitting the leaves. So people claim leaving the plant in the dark for two or three days will give the plant the opportunity to focus on that. This process will also "stop" the degradation of resin due to light and heat. Meaning tricomes won't get any more amber during those dark days

[Flockshot]

Non-scientific experiment from my last grow.
Six plants placed in 24 hours darkness. One plant harvested each day for six days, so the last plant had six days of darkness.
After dry and cure, I can not tell any difference at all between the plants.
This is not to say there is no difference, just that I can not find one. It was nice to only have to trim one plant a day though. (the only part of growing I do not enjoy)

[Nartak]

How much of those plants had you smoked

[Weasel]

9fingers summed up the concept I think, and that's the extent of info I've ever heard on the practice. Seems like a valid idea, but it also seems like the difference between bud harvested this way and bud harvested 'whenever' must be very small.
Many many people have asked this question and I have never seen any real answers on whether it makes any difference. I had an online friend who planned to do a side by side comparison by lab testing some samples, but he got diverted by other issues and couldn't follow through. If lab testing becomes cheaper or the home-testing devices become more of a practical reality then we will see a few advances in growing, and probably a few myths busted too.

[insomniaczzz]

Weasel makes a very valid point. I do think that as more and more states and countries become legal, the market for home lab testing may become economically available. But the bottom line to me is, if someone thinks it makes there end product smoother or more resinous, then they will do it. I personally liked having that one day break from the routine of unzipping tent, turning on lights, feeling the need to thoroughly inspect all plants, etc. Obviously if you have plants in different stages of ripeness, you can't really do the extended period of darkness.

BTW, i also put our plants in 36 hours of darkness at the very beginning of the 12/12 flip. Another (perhaps myth), but I wanted those girls to know I meant business about starting bud production. Did it help? I don't know, but it had no adverse affect so I say to each his own. It's one of those practices that some do and some don't.

[9fingerleafs]

Yes it helped. It helps a lot with any plant. You are just not giving any room to error. Instead of the hormonal balance going little by little to achieve flowering levels. You force them down and never Come back up under 12/12 (far red pythochrome)

[Nartak]

I have read so many times about inducing flowering with the 36hour break and i have written it down to do so!One question i have since im in hydro is...I dont feed at all at night times anymore due to humidity issues,will i have to feed in those dark hours as i have been all along or feed 15mins/hour veg nutes until flower lights on? Sorry for hijacking

[Weasel]

Terpenes are still in the process of being discovered and isolated. They aren't specific to cannabis. It's just a term for the compounds that give us smells and flavours
There are a couple labs that test for terpene profiles now. So if anyone is feeling rich, and wants to actually break some new ground and test the 'dark period' method/myth, here is your chance to go down in history as a cannabis hero! Or not....

[kingfish]

Stress is the key. Not enough to do harm. Just a little. Like LST, letting her get dry, and keeping her in the dark in my case for 36 hrs. ETC

[Weasel]

A little adversity in life, not too much, helps to bring out the best in plants, and also perhaps in people. But if that's your wife you're talking about, I think you may be crossing the line. Bring a weapon with you when you open that closet door.

[kingfish]

That's funny Weasel. No only the plants
Happy wife, Happy Life....