When To Count Day 1 of Flowering?

WalterWhite420

Active Member
I recently read that day 1 of flowering shouldn't be counted on the day of transition to 12/12, because plants take about a week to transition from vegging mode to flowering mode.

Rather, day 1 of flowering should be counted when pistils (or "white hairs") begin showing on the plants.

This makes sense based upon my experiences. For example, I'm currently growing Serious Seeds AK47. It's advertised to finish flowering in 7-9 weeks. But at the end of week 9 (this past Friday), there were almost no amber trichomes. It looks like they will be ready at the end of week 10. And the same was true of my last Serious Seeds AK47 grow.

What do you think?
 

Gmz

Well-Known Member
I've always started counting when they first showed their pistils :P, but I suppose some people will say otherwise
 

big bud 56

Active Member
Alot depends on your lighting,feeding schedule,etc.
I always count from when I flip to 12/12.
I run 400w hps and currently have white widow in my flower tent.

I have one in 36 days of flower and another one in eight days of flower.
The one is looking like it's right on schedule for harvest so it really depends on a few factors.
I recently read that day 1 of flowering shouldn't be counted on the day of transition to 12/12, because plants take about a week to transition from vegging mode to flowering mode.

Rather, day 1 of flowering should be counted when pistils (or "white hairs") begin showing on the plants.

This makes sense based upon my experiences. For example, I'm currently growing Serious Seeds AK47. It's advertised to finish flowering in 7-9 weeks. But at the end of week 9 (this past Friday), there were almost no amber trichomes. It looks like they will be ready at the end of week 10. And the same was true of my last Serious Seeds AK47 grow.

What do you think?
 

Moldy

Well-Known Member
I start counting when I can see small flower sites without trying to. Then I subtract a week. Like this grow... I started to see flowering on Oct. 21 - 23. So I count it as Nov. 1 as my flowering date. I'm 4 weeks into flowering for two of the plants. Sorry about the bad pix.
 

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nickelz419

Active Member
Before it shows pistils it has to be in flower....or the pistlil come then the hormones start? Nope.

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nickelz419

Active Member
I start counting when I can see small flower sites without trying to. Then I subtract a week. Like this grow... I started to see flowering on Oct. 21 - 23. So I count it as Nov. 1 as my flowering date. I'm 4 weeks into flowering for two of the plants. Sorry about the bad pix.
This makes no sense

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BWG707

Well-Known Member
I start when I see white pistils coming out the very tops of the bud sites, not when I see pistils at the nodes and up the sides of the branches. This way I know I'm in full flower mode.
 

TonightYou

Well-Known Member
I count first day of 12/12.
The plants tell me when they are finished so listed flowering times are merely an idea. it's less subjective and easier to keep track of timelines
 

Adrosmokin

Well-Known Member
At the flip to 12/12. I don't know why people try to make it confusing. Maybe to make themselves feel better when the breeder said it would take 9 and it took 10.
 

tip top toker

Well-Known Member
from flip. I see no reason to actually count flowering time other than as a vague point of reference. I could wait till i see pistils, i could start on flip, it doesn't really matter in any way. I just do it on flip as it's easier.
 

Gmz

Well-Known Member
I suppose I just count from seeing pistils because I didn't know what else to count by when doing 12/12 from seed :-(, and I've only done small grows so it's no bother to me :-P
 

WalterWhite420

Active Member
At the flip to 12/12. I don't know why people try to make it confusing. Maybe to make themselves feel better when the breeder said it would take 9 and it took 10.
Not true, at least not in my case. I want to know the truth, whether it's what I want to hear or not. But I respect your opinion, and thank you for the reply.

Reputable breeders know infinitely more about MJ growing than I do. And they list flowering times for all their strains. I find it hard to believe that great breeders such as Serious Seeds and Sannie's are just plain wrong when it comes to knowing how long their plants take to flower. Yes, there are variables. But by and large, they should know how long their plants take to flower. And there is NO advantage for them to lie. So when I see my plants (from their seeds) take a week or two longer EVERY GROW to flower than advertised, I wonder why. And there's a good reason, even if it's not what I want to hear.

The "transition time" from veg to flower is the single most reasonable argument I've heard yet to explain this. But what do I know about the intricate details of how MJ plants grow and mature? Not much, I guess.
 

tip top toker

Well-Known Member
Not true, at least not in my case. I want to know the truth, whether it's what I want to hear or not. But I respect your opinion, and thank you for the reply.

Reputable breeders know infinitely more about MJ growing than I do. And they list flowering times for all their strains. I find it hard to believe that great breeders such as Serious Seeds and Sannie's are just plain wrong when it comes to knowing how long their plants take to flower. Yes, there are variables. But by and large, they should know how long their plants take to flower. And there is NO advantage for them to lie. So when I see my plants (from their seeds) take a week or two longer EVERY GROW to flower than advertised, I wonder why. And there's a good reason, even if it's not what I want to hear.

The "transition time" from veg to flower is the single most reasonable argument I've heard yet to explain this. But what do I know about the intricate details of how MJ plants grow and mature? Not much, I guess.
You say there is no advantage to them lying, yet breeders do it left right and centre. From flowering times to what they are even saying.

It could be that they are not lying, in that there might be a pheono that could finish in X weeks, but I've never grown a seed that was ready at the breeders harvest quote. And for reference, I rarely ever put a plant into flowerinf that wasn't already showing sex.

You talk as if reputable firms would never ever consider advertising their product so as to sell lots. Half of the point of advertising seems to be based on trying to get someone to buy a product for a reason aside from what it actually is.
 

tip top toker

Well-Known Member
Breeders gi e low flower times cause its a big selling point
Exactly. How many of you buy the same seeds time and time again, as opposed to i don't know, just cloing your plant. There are so many strains that most folk only buy once or twice. If they want to grow it constantly, they just clone. flowering times is just a method of advertising to get you to buy it in the first place. anyone who knows what they are doing knows it is a vague and rough guidline, and that they harvest thwne it is ready, notwhen the breeder tells them it is ready, and as such, noone complains, growers know to expect a degree of variance in flowering times. Flowering times are used to get that first sale.

In my opinion, and from my experience, if breeders were so straight shooting, then there would be no threads about growing auto's indoors as anyone buying them would know it's all a load of horse shit. Breeders generally want to sell you their beans, that is generally all they care about.
 

Gordo1959

Member
Thank you for this thread. You've answered a question I've had on my mind. All the plants are growing well in vegetation (18/6), with some N fertilizer added to the water. I switch to feeding them P and K when I move them into the flower room. I think,"Too early?" Maybe I should continue to feed with nitrogen that first week or two in the flower room. The fan leaves (water leaves?) are yellow and lots have fallen off. The buds still have clear drops of resin on them. I don't think adding nitogen would help anything and might make it worst. I water every third day. The plants are solid with two inch or three inch buds on top plus the little popcorn ones on the lower nodes.
 
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