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Flushing and dark period before harvest!

StoneyChef

New member
I grow in DWC. So I been reading around on different forums and what not and can’t seem to find the information I am looking for regarding flushing and keeping your plant in complete darkness before harvest. So people say to flush with PH’ed water a week before harvest for taste and smooth burn. The reason they give is that it makes the plant use up what ever is left. However, if I keep my plant in the dark for a long periods of time, won’t that do the same? Basic plant biology say that if a plant is kept in the dark for a long period of time it will start eating it self to sustain its life as long as possible until it can find a source of light to begin making food for itself again. Am I right to think that or did I completely miss the point?
 
StoneyChef, from what I know, flushing with pH'd water is the ONLY way to "flush". There for the plant leeches the excess nutrients and usually the yellowing of fan leaves occurs during this process. Also, doing it in DWC, most growers would say 1-3 days for a flush. The only thing i know leaving a plant in the dark would do is start to make it die. Which is what would happen eventually. But like a 24h dark period or so is SUPPOSEDLY said to increase trichrome production due to the plant thinking its about to die or something. Idk for sure. I think that's a myth. But again, none of this is coming straight from me its just what ive read here and there. Hope it helps.
 
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StoneyChef ,I grow in soil, so I don't know about DWC, but when the nutrients start running out in my soil, the plant, most Definitely starts feeding from stored nutrients from the plant, turning yellow as a result, which helps with the mellow smooth taste, come harvest time.
Been keeping my plants in the dark, the last 50years, I think it helps, not a myth,in my mind at all!!
You have to grow more than a few plants to be able to tell though.
New growers want be able to tell that though. Not grown enough plants yet to tell the difference,
GoodLuck with whatever you do though!!
 
Is there any reason you are referencing things that i said in my post? Also, would you mind maybe providing some sort of substantial proof that "keeping your plants in the dark for 50 years" helps the growth process of a cannabis plant in any way? Please and tia.
 
Don't understand what you mean ,referencing your posts.
Been growing at least 50years, I use my eyes ,not books.
Wouldn't be putting them in the dark, if we didn't think it works,
 
Well......what does it do?? And as far as books go, they're quite beneficial when it comes time to cross reference something that your little naked eye has yet to see or has met a discrepancy the like. But if im the newb and your the Vet then show some of what these 50 so called years can produce! ☺
 
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Never claimed to be no pro, just been growing for that long.
I don't have to put up pictures, to prove anything, But trust me I got plenty of pictures, lol.
Nothin wrong with reading a book for your First few grows, But your gonna learn more from experience, imo.
 
I agree. Hands down. Hands on is the way to learn. But you now seem to be avoiding the question all together now........................

What does leaving your plant in the dark do??
 
Book smarts only goes so far,I’ve met people who know it all but can’t grow s#it, a road scholar on the other hand grows better thru experience or is that expertise? Not sure why keeping the plants in the dark works maybe it stresses the plant into making more or better tries Ok big guy u got what u want......... now chill.
 
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Haha... I have said I had read more books in the last several months then 4 yrs in school... when I walk in to the room and they are right in front of me...just like a beautiful , well forget that.... the book smarts fly out the window and I stand there an mumble.
 
When I started growing I thought it was 70% science/books and 30% art/grower talent.
Today, I think it's 70% art/grower talent and 30% science/books!
Most likely it's somewhere in between.

I will not speak on topics for conditions I have not grown in- so the(DWC) flush conversation: I will yield to others.

I do however, take a plant that is dying and keep it in the dark for very long periods of time- to use up the nutrients and improved the perceived quality (subjective).
And since "curing" takes a couple of months...

I really didn't see any difference a couple of dark days would make either way and my experience doing or not - supports that notion.

I do not see any harm and in fact, put a plant in the dark for 24 hrs yesterday- as I was harvesting this weekend and needed the room.
 
Pretty sure that you have read the benefits of keep in plants in the dark, a day or two before harvest, several seedbanks even say the same,
Stress, like Potted said, is one thing, same with what weedpharma says.
No scientist here, but they even amber up quicker.
HappyGrowing
 
This is one of my last grows, she only got 15-16inches tall, but got 4ozs, dry from her.
Not trying to brag by no means, but she was fun to grow, surely not trying to avoid anything, just trying to help,.
photo61619.jpg

Juicyj89
 
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first of all water does not need to be phed for flushing, now flushing for several days before harvest is a way to induce senescence so the plant uses whats inside the leaves and knows its gotta get ripe cause it means winter is here. extended periods of darkness cannot induce senescence because this process needs light in order to use chlorophyll inside the leaves. hope this helps (:
 
I wouldn't think it needs to be phed since that is mainly for uptake of nutrients. You want to get rid of any remaining nutes etc.

se·nes·cence
/səˈnesəns/
nounBiology
noun: senescence

the condition or process of deterioration with age.
loss of a cell's power of division and growth.

I had to look this one up thinking it was a botanical term I was unaware of. I must be getting "senile".
 
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9fingerleafs, I don't flush anymore, But I wouldn't think it needs to be phed, either.
Right,The plant knows it's life is about over, and she's putting all she's got into it, a little stress, ain't gonna hurt nothin.
Even though Advanced Nutrients advises you to ph, your water, when flushing, But they are also, wanting you to purchase, Flawless Finish,one of their products, lol
 
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potted, if you flush with ro or soft water it doesnt need ph adjustment, if you are "flushing" with hard or nutrient water then it does. ph is only important to intake nutrients and by flushing you are trying the opposite. never the less you dont wanna flush with hard 8ph water cause you fuckup the soil

starramus, senescence is a natural process with age but it can be induced by lack of nutrients and the plants need to keep processing sunlight, this is why we have all those beautiful autumn color.

daas, i dont flush either, i kinda stop giving nutes the last 2 or 3 weeks because my plant is very well fed and there is no real need for them, in soil nutrients can take a while to be absorbed and left over nutrients are made available again by plain water, thats just how my soil behaves with my hydroponic nutrients
 
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