7 minute read
To Grow Or Not To Grow
By Alex Robles
Part Three/Four-Part Series: Flowering, Harvesting, Drying, and Curing
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Do you feel that? The seasons are changing, the nights are getting longer and cooler. The days are getting shorter and your cannabis plant senses the end is near. This change in the photoperiod/light cycle is what’s going to trigger our cannabis plants’ flowering cycle outdoors. In this next section of “To Grow or Not to Grow” we’re going to talk about the cannabis flowering stage. We’re also going to cover the harvesting time, drying and curing of our buds.
Sexing Our Plant — A well trained eye can spot signs of pre-flower on a cannabis plant about 3 to 4 weeks into the vegetative stage. An untrained eye must wait until the flowering cycle starts. Before we get too far into when flowering starts, let’s talk about sexing our plants.
“Sexing” our cannabis plant simply means to figure out if a plant is female or a male before the flowering stage begins. The earlier we know the sex, the more time and money it’s going to save on soil, nutrients, and water during its lifecycle.
The fastest way I’ve sexed a plant is to send a small genetic/ tissue/smear sample from a seedling to a testing lab specializing in this type of plant test. These labs can test a sample and tell me if it’s a boy or a girl. There is a small cost for this type of lab work. Typically, results are returned a few days after receiving the sample.
The Beginning of Flowering — The first 2 weeks of flowering is known as a transitional period. Since the plant thinks that winter is on its way, it will start to hormonally change deep inside. A lot of cannabis varieties will go through what’s known as a “pre-flower stretch” and have a sudden growth spurt. This “stretch” is natural and as long as the plant looks healthy, without any signs of stress or deficiency, she’s doing exactly what she should be doing. You’re not going to need to change anything until you see actual signs of flowering.
Weeks 3 to 4 - After that transition period, you’ll start to see the first signs of sex organs. The female cannabis will start to push out thin, whispy white hairs called “Stigmas” (mislabeled as pistils). These hairs are there to capture male cannabis pollen so they can start to make a seed. The Stigmas grow in the spot where the leafstalk meets the stock, stem, or branch and this is where the buds (flower) will begin to build. Buds are made up of a cluster of small flowers called “Raceme.”
Nutrients — As the seasons change and cooler temperatures move in, you may need to water less. Check your soil before you water. If your cannabis plant looks wilted and is drooping, it may need water. If the plant just looks droopy, you might be over watering.
If you're using bottled nutrients, check the manufacturer's recommendation for the flowering cycle.
If you’re top dressing soil amendments look for one that has a 2-8-8 NPK. Whichever way you feed your plant, keep a close eye on her for deficiencies. Some varieties of cannabis get hungrier when flowering starts and are known as” heavy feeders.” On the flip side, keep an eye out for “nutrient burn” (too many nutrients) as some varieties won’t need as much.
The Trichomes — The trichomes are the oil filled glands that grow on the surface of the buds/flower and lower smaller leaves (sugar leaves). These trichomes are where cannabinoids like THC and CBD are made and housed. This is also where the terpenes are made, which give cannabis its aroma and flavor. The burning of the trichomes is what is giving us the euphoric effects of cannabis, NOT the bud/flower.
Warning Signs — It’s normal to see a few yellowing or dead leaves at the bottom of our plants siince those leaves aren’t producing a lot of energy because they get too much shade. The plant senses them as dead weight and will let them die. Once again, this is NORMAL. On the other side, if you notice discolored leaves throughout your plant or a rapid loss of leaves, something else is going on.
You could be overfeeding, the PH could be off, or there could be a pest or disease. For more information about common cannabis disease and pests, please visit inmygrow. com
Pest Control During the Flowering Stage — Our plants are under constant attack by pests but as they move into flowering, the techniques that we can use to help protect them change. We’re going to have to pivot a little bit when we’re planning our IPM (integrated pest management) for our flowering cannabis. During this stage I rely less on foliar sprays and more on biological predators to spearhead my IPM.
Week 5 to 6 — By the time your cannabis plant is in week 5 of flower, it will start to look fuller, with a lot of white hairs popping up everywhere indicating new bud growth. When the plant gets thick or full looking, air circulation through the plant is important. It helps the plant to breath and it helps moisture evaporate.
When your plant gets into week 6, there’s no denying it, she is in full flower mode. The buds will look bigger and she’s going to start giving off a beautiful aroma. You’ll notice a few of the older stigmas that used to be white, have turned an orange or brown color and may have shrunk a little.
Week 7 — If everything is going as planned, week 7 and 8 are the home stretch. The cannabis plant looks green and healthy. It’s been using almost all of its energy to build flowers and synthesize cannabinoids and terpenes. She more than likely has taken on that classic “Christmas Tree” shape with buds looking like beautiful ornaments. Plus the aroma of all those buds is bliss to a grower.
Week 8, The Flush — Week 8 is always an active time because we’re 2 weeks away from harvest and we need to start to “flush” our plants. We’re going to stop feeding them any nutrients and just give them water. This “flush” helps break up the nutrients and salts that may have built up in the soil or on the roots. This will help your bud have a more honest, pure cannabis taste. Otherwise, that flower could have a bit of a harsh, chemical taste when smoked.
Trichome Ripeness...It’s All About the Timing — Some growers will judge the ripeness of a cannabis plant by the amount of stigmas that have turned from white to an orange or brown color. I don’t. I use a jeweler’s loupe or a magnifying glass to take a closer look at them. As the trichomes ripen and mature, they change color from clear/transparent (unripe), to milky/cloudy (ripe) to amber (over-ripe). The tricky part is knowing the right time to harvest a plant. If you want a more energetic high, harvest a little early, when the buds have more milky trichomes. If you’re a fan of that classic couchlock feeling, you want to harvest a little later, when you have more amber trichomes.
Week 9 to 10 — By week 9 that female is fattening up the buds, the trichomes are ripening, and she’s smelling up the yard. She knows the end is near and you’ll start to notice more yellowing, dying leaves. Don’t panic, this is natural. You’re doing great, she looks awesome, just keep her hydrated and pest free. You may need to help support the branches that start to sag or buckle under the weight, I like to use bamboo stakes for this.
Week 10...Harvest Day — You did it, that 10-week variety has just the right amount of amber trichomes for your liking. Take some pictures and cut her down. But ahhh, you still need to dry and cure that bud.
In case no one told you, that beautiful looking, smellie cannabis bud that you just harvested won’t be ready to smoke for at least 3 more weeks. A proper drying and curing of your flower will help lock in those aromas and flavors that we love about this beautiful plant. Drying and curing have a similar effect on cannabis, but are not the same and shouldn’t be rushed.
For the full story on drying and curing, visit Inmygrow.com and listen to Alex’s podcast. “In My Grow Show” (https://inmygrowshow. libsyn.com/).
Always remember to check local laws and regulations about growing cannabis at home. You need to know your rights and limitations. Always.
Alex Robles has been using cannabis to celebrate and medicate with for the past 30 years. In 2016 he began sharing what he’s learned when he started Inmygrow.com. After California legalized cannabis sales and possession for adults 21 and older, he launched a weekly podcast, In My Grow Show. This year, he helped produce segments for Tiempo de Cannabis, a Spanish language TV show in Mexico City. CS
