Soil grow-when to switch to bloom nutes

[rosscopico0]

Hi there everyone,

I am 1 week into flowering under 180w of cfs(250w hps arrives in 4 days) and Im wondering when to switch to bloom nutes?

 

I am growing in a 50/50 mix of potting mix & perlite.

 

I have been supplementing with a hydroponic veg nute, since a while ago the lower older leaves started yellowing & dying(sounded like nitrogen defiency). Since I have added the hydro nutes the problem has pretty much stopped.

 

Ive got a bit of stretch on my hands, but as the 3 girls are growing horizontally, with plenty of secondary growth shooting up, I doubt Ill have any probs with light penetration as all the growth is pretty much level.

 

So, should I wait til the stretch is over before switching to bloom nutes, or should I make a mixture of veg/bloom to provide the nitrogen needed for the stretch while providing the phosphorus needed for the buds, or just switch to bloom nutes???

 

Any advice would be hugely appreciated.

[Luke Skywalker]

Some growers will keep the nutrients going at vegetative formulation for the first week or so of flowering, as you've said, to support the vegetative growth of the "stretch".

 

But many growers simply change their nutrients over to bloom formulas as soon as the photoperiod is changed to 12:12 for flowering. The plants themselves can draw on old leaves for extra N should they really need it, and most nutrient formulations have adequate amounts to cover the requirements of a stretching, flowering plant.

 

Bottom line, change when you feel comfortable really, but recognise that if you leave it too long you'll be affecting the yeild and quality, as the bloom formulas are there to provide all the necessary nutrients for flowering plants, using vegetative nutes for too long could stunt the flowering response, or make the internode length too long... etc...

 

Good luck with the grow mate.