Flowering in winter

[The Devil]

I am thinking of starting my flowering in 7days time.

 

i have read that the plants will grow significally larger during this period "But i don't know how large,large is"..thats why i am thinking of starting sooner than later.

 

With the 2 pix i have supplied, do people think these guys are ready to flower up?

 

The lights can still be raised another 40 plus cm.

 

Will the plants fill out to this area during the whole process? As i have read that you can start flowering once plants have reached 20cm...Ok some of them aren't but bad luck..Or should i let them grow awhile longer?

 

Also, the room will probably get to as low as 19degrees once the lights are turned off in the middle of the night, due to our cold winter. Should i warm it up? If so, to what temps? & is a heater ok to do this? As i don't think my heat panels will be warm enough with the chill that we are having at the moment.

 

As i am learning, it dosn't really matter if i make too many mistakes as i am not worried how much i get from this 1st crop.

 

Many thanks for your help!

[merl1n]

Hi there Devil,

 

You could turn now, but personally I'd be tipping them first, then leaving for a couple of weeks, then turning.

This will allow more sideways growth spread than hieght growth and you'll find more tips develope, giving more head as a result.

I have found when growing plants of different hieghts, that the bigger ones tend to take over and the little ones can't catch up, often with the bigger ones taking over the light.

My solution was to chop the bigger one back to the hieght of the smaller, now some might say this is sacrilidge but it worked OK for me, when it was all growing more evenly. They may still end up uneven, after the growth splurt (which depending on the plant can be anywhere from 8 inch to 18 inches plus) when you turn, but it will be less than if you turn them now without levelling them off a bit.

As for the cooler temps at present, you could use a thermostatically controlled heater to maintain the temp, but another idea is to have your lights on at night. They throw out a shit load of heat and if your fans are setup right they will assist in maintaining the temp. Where I am, the day temps aren't great but the residual heat from the lights, even in dark periods ain't too bad. I don't use additional heat for the room but I do heat the nute tank

 

Just some advise

Merl1n

[jimbojones5678]

Those plants are very immature and I wouldn't be flowering them for quite some time.

 

Plants 'stretch' during the first two weeks of flowering and they usually gain about 1/3 to 1/2 the size they were when they started flowering.

 

Signs that the plants are ready to start flowering is the presence of 'preflowers' which will help you determine whether they are male (bad) or female (good).

 

Flowering or growing in general during winter can suck. I have temperature issues with my sheds and the low temps can really impact the rate of growth. I have to use a oil heater 24/7 to keep the ambient temps above 20C and you should be aiming at keeping the temp between 20 - 30C at all times, running the lights at night is a good starting point too.

 

Jimbo

Edited August 9, 2010 by jimbojones5678

[The Devil]

Ok cool, Thanks for the info!

 

I will leave them be for awhile longer. I did top the larger plant to stop it from growing, but it seems to be going again & i didn't know what to expect when i start flowering "i don't want them to hit the lights in mid flower" then have to cut the plant whilst it is in bud..

 

What do you guys mean by running the lights at night for heat? Do you mean when i cycle 12/12 that it is better to leave the dark period for our daytime? I am running the lights 24/7 at the moment.

 

Also i was reading that if you top the plants, you lose potency, as potency is directed to 2 or more top parts rather than just the original main one. Or is this just a fallacy?

 

Cheers!

[merl1n]

Hi again Devil,

WARNING!!!! do not chop or tip after going 12/12. Whilst they are still in grow start spreading them out a little. Tie them down with twine, not fishing line(as many use, it cuts the feed off to the buds)

 

"What do you guys mean by running the lights at night for heat? Do you mean when i cycle 12/12 that it is better to leave the dark period for our daytime?"

That is exactly what I mean. Naturally the coldest air is at night, no sun no heat, your lights will give the room the heat and your fans, if set correctly, can maintain the temp.

 

 

"I am running the lights 24/7 at the moment."

Some agree with this method of 24/7. But not me, for young, small plants sure with a flouro, but once they are under HID's they need some rest period, as do all plants, the dark allows this. I am a strong advocate of 18/6. The shock of sudden darkness from 24/7 to 12/12 is not good

 

"Also i was reading that if you top the plants, you lose potency, as potency is directed to 2 or more top parts rather than just the original main one. Or is this just a fallacy?"

This is very debateable, if a plant is grown like a xmas tree, the top bud crown will always be better, but if you spread the branches out and they all get equal light, they are all crowns.

 

Just some Advice

Merl1n

[The Devil]

Thanks very much Merl1n! You have helped heaps!

 

I will try knocking the plants down to 20/4 & when i start to turn them, i will keep the daytime cycle dark "unless it warms up here in the next month then i will put them outside at night"..

 

Looks like i'll go get some rubbber bands & get the scissors out today & try some bushing

[Elmer Bud]

Howdy

growth is reg by hormones collected in the upper buds ,if you bend dwn tops next highest accumulates the hormone an takes over, giving more buds the chance to dominate can lead to bigger yields ,learnt this from Ed Rosenthal many years ago {thanks Ed} More questions? ask away!

Elmer

[The Devil]

Thanks Elmer!

I have tied them down slightly, with 6 branches around the same height. Going by your theory all these upper branches/buds will become the dominant ones. Very cool! can't wait