Plant doesn't seem to be flowering after 12/12 +other problems

Where to start... This is my first grow and it all began with a seed that just showed up after my grinder got stuck one day. I decided that I would attempt to grow the plant not really intending to try to produce the maximum amount of bud, but rather just to use it as an educational experience and learn how the marijuana plant grows while hoping to acquire some added benefits upon the conclusion of my journey a.k.a some fresh bud. I don't remember what kind of weed I was rolling up at the time unfortunately so that doesn't help much although the leaves from the plant do seem to show signs of being an indica. The first 5 weeks of flowering went pretty well, seeing new growth every day. I simply sat the it in a window sil and had a couple desk lamps shining down on it for the first 4 weeks, after the 4th week I moved the plant into my closet and set it up for its upcoming 12/12 cycle. I had heard that I should wait until the plant was showing alternating nodes, but even though it didn't show them I put it into flowering due to size constraints. The plant has been in 12/12 for almost 2 weeks now and not only hasn't shown any signs of flowering, but it seems to have almost completely stopped growing (aside from the fact that the plant does seem to have grown a few inches taller and the stem has thickened a little, but there has been no signs of new leaves). Now this could be due to a lot of things, and I was hoping that someone with more knowledge then me could shed some light on it for me. One of my main concerns is the size of the pot... I am using a very large serving/mixing bowl that I would say is probably 1 1/2 - 2 gallons, no more. Could my plant be root bound? I am afraid to transplant it because I don't want to risk killing the plant. I know my lights are also not ideal but I don't have the money to purchase anything special and don't really want to . The closet is pretty well sealed from outside light (as you can see in the picture) and I even keep my blinds closed in my room while the plant is in its dark phase. I have a small fan in the closet that gives it some circulation during the light hours. The soil I am using is Miracle Grow Moisture Control Potting Mix that also has some fertilizer in it. I have not given the plant any other fertilizer than the one in the potting mix. I am using water that has gone through a BRITA purifier and then left to stand for 24 hours to neutralize it. So there is my story! If you have any suggestions as to why the plant is not flowering or things that I should do in order to help it flower that would be great. Maybe put it into vegetative growth again? Suggestions and helpful comments are all I want. Thanks!

Get rid of that f-ing clear bowl !
How long have you had her under 12/12 without any light leaks?
Takes about 5-7 days to show sex.

be patient and make sure no light is on them when its not supposed to be

I had them in there with just the closet door shut on them for about a week and then I added the towels along the bottom and the sheet over the top. So idk...

You can't flower a seed that fast. It's not mature yet. I shouldn't say can't.. but it's harder. With plants like these if going from seed I've always waited until it showed sex (this can take a while a few months) then it's ready to flower. But, I haven't used seeds in 10 years though so I might be a little off.

2 weeks, I wouldn't be overly concerned that no pistils are up.

It is a rather immature plant to be flowering, and you won't get much...but like you said, you're just giving it a try.

Roots hate light, it kills them, so find a real pot. Or at least wrap a towel around the base of the bowl. It can drain, right?

You need more light. Please don't say that you're using incandescent or halogen lamps...they're useless.

Do you have more seeds, or are you cloning?

BTW, you have no less than, and probably more than, 8 weeks to harvest.

Have fun.

Well let's see...you have the plant in a glass bowl...this is a problem, A glass has no drainage...and B..it is clear..so light can hit the wet soil and cause algae and numerous other fungi to grow which then steal the nutes from your plant...so you have a few issues to fix..as for the plant not flowering, are you totally sure that you have the plant in complete darkness for at least 12 hours at a stretch...total darkness?

eDude said:

You can't flower a seed that fast. It's not mature yet. I shouldn't say can't.. but it's harder. With plants like these if going from seed I've always waited until it showed sex (this can take a while a few months) then it's ready to flower. But, I haven't used seeds in 10 years though so I might be a little off.

Click to expand...

You can start a seed in 12/12 and in a few weeks when the plant is ready to flower it will....no need to wait...I mean we wait so we start flowering with a bigger plant, but if you try to flower a plant that isn't ready it will grow til it is ready and then start flowering...

What kind of lights are you using ? You should have the right spectrum to flower, bare in mind that the sun is low on the horizon in early autumn and more on the red side than blue. What is said above is true, you've made a lot of mistakes but you still can save her. Transplant in larger pot and a dark one, not clear, as you've learned. You won't kill her if you're careful with it. Plants are resilient, you'd be surprise what they can take it will set it back a little but if all goes right it will survive. Be patient some plants take longer to show sex.

Thanks, I got a larger pot with drainage and it is opaque so I got that solved. Already transplanted her and will be paying close attention for new signs of growth. Any suggestions on if I should stick her back into 24hr of light and continue to veg or just continue with 12/12?

you're making a lot of mistakes that usually are avoided with the most preliminary research

a few desk lamps will hardly get you as much as a bud to smoke, if they don't starve the plant for light and kill it off

and clear bowls (or any other clear container)*edit are well documented to have negative effects on the plant's roots

Yeah I definitely do not have the right spectrum to flower... or veg for that matter haha I'm just using simple desk lamps for light. Could anyone point me in the right direction of some good cheap lighting fixtures?

I'd go back to veg for a month or so, but that's just me.

For 1 or 2 plants, there's someting like this.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/250-Watts-Digital-HPS-MH-Grow-Light-Giant-Hood-Sun-Lamp-Reflector-Ballast-250W-/390356584403?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5ae310c7d3

Then there are 23W CFL's.
Get 2 cheap vanity mirror light fixtures (2x$15 = 30)
A piece of lenght of 8in vnet pipe for your reflector ($12.00)
23W CFL's - use a mix of 6500K (daylight) and 2700K (soft/warm) for a fuller growing spectrum. I use a 3:1 ratio. Veg 3, 6500K to 1, 2700K. Flower is the other way around. So, 6 6500K and 6 2700K = apx $45.00)
Plug and wire $10.00. Total around $100.00

I use this setup for veg, and get great results, but I wasn't happy with the results of flower, so I got a HPS.

If you can deal with the heat, I'd recommend HID lighting.

What wattage/type of lights are you using? From the pics, looks like you might be using about 50w if that much, but you might not have your lights in the pic.

My lights are not ideal at all, I am using 2 LEDs that pump out no more than 10W each and one 40W incandescent bulb. Once again, I'm not going for maximum bud production or anything I just want a healthy plant that will go produce some sort of bud so that I get a general idea of the process. I have screwed up too much already on this first trial run haha but I still would like to get something out of my efforts. That being said... I have purchased a larger pot and the plant seems to be healthy after transplanting, so if I continue to keep my plant in 12/12 will it produce anything? Or should I just knock it back into veg? Thank you everyone for your comments and Hugo Phurst I will look into those lights for my next grow, thanks!!

One more bit of advice, get rid of the incandesant, it's only wasting energy and producing heat. Replace it with a 23W Daylight 6500K CFL, it's less than $5, uses less electricity and is cooler than the inandesant, then you can place it about 2in from your plant.

Have fun

putting it back in veg will shock it and you will have a hermaphoradite.

This is old af but im worried anout the same thing ... Is it because my plant isnt matured yet 2nd week of 12/12 flowering ended yeaterday and it was in veg for three and a half weeks. Also it was topped in the 2/3 week of veg and gave back a good growth from that. Any help please ?

plants are to young to bud
use the sun plus the grow light not in the window but below it where you still get sunlight & let mother nature bud them they still 2 months of growing time
& pray it aint a male

some good advise.
tape that bowl with duct tape make sure it has good drainage and doesnt hold water at the bottom, maybe drill a few hole more if needed so it can drain. your plant wont show sex till it matures and you could have another 3-4 weeks till then. patience is huge with growing. if i was you i would get just a little bigger pot fill it with 3 inches of rocks then soil on top till its 2/3rds fill take you pot you have and cut a fw 1 inch holes in the bottom and set that pot on top of the new one. or just transplant to a bigger pot with rocks on the bottom fo r good drainage. roots are the main reason why most fail. over/under watering so the rocks will help you with that.