Was wondering at what point do you stop fertilizing budding plant and just flush out with water & molasses?? My plants are budding quite nice with tons of white hairs and reds but mostly whites. When should I stop feeding them and start flushing them for harvest?? How much of the plant needs to be with red hairs?? I think they have at least a 3-4 weeks to go before they are done. Any suggestions??

Get a microscope from radioshack and check out the tric's. Stop ferting about 10-14 days before harvest. Enjoy your buds.

Sun

When I started out, I went by the percentage of red/ dead hairs and then start the look out for a final swell of calyxes. Looks like a final push for maturity. Experience helps, but you can handle it.

The method mentioned above is to inspect trichs for the change of color under magnification. When the trich heads turn from a milky white, to a few amber (about 10% amber) most people feel harvest time is upon you and passing by, so don't miss the window. That's why I think for a first timer the hairs are an easy gauge without going too long. A day or two early is better than a day or two late, IMO.

Flushing is different for every gardener, but the advice given above is sound enough for general knowledge. Some gardens require more than 2 weeks, some require less. 2 weeks is a safe bet, though.

Good luck.

opie

Thanks all for your help but I don't want to go out an buy a magnifying glass. Isn't there an easier way to determine the time to pull my plants? My bro said that he waits till most of the hairs turn red, about 80 percent then he starts flushing. I have 70-80 percent white hairs and maybe 20 percent red they still kind of young right now. How long does it usually take the plant to go from white hairs to being done, 1 month, 2 months?? Just curious because I want to yank them soon but I don't want to do it too early!! As far a using molasses how much and how often when using it for flushing nitrates out??? Thanks

if you're lucky, the strain will mature at approx. the same time throughout. however, sometimes the plant keeps pushing out flowers and fresh pistils.
as opie mentioned, looking at the trichomes is by far the best method, and you need to look at 4-5 different budsites on the plant. you can sometimes notice a huge difference btwn the top/bottom or left and right if you don't rotate the plants under the light.
if ya wanna forget about the trichomes, and use the red hairs, wait until the calyxes swell. you can't miss this as they look like they have been overinflated. once you see this happening, flush with ~3 times the container volume every ~4 days for about 12 days.

Echo the others.

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How long does it usually take the plant to go from white hairs to being done, 1 month, 2 months?? Just curious because I want to yank them soon but I don't want to do it too early!!

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Fast indicas will take 6-7 weeks, a large portion of indicas and hybrids will go 8-10 weeks, some indicas and hybrids will go 9-11 weeks, many full sats go 16-20 weeks indoors. What are you growing?

I agree with opie that a little too early is better than too late. Starting the flush when there are ~ 75-80% colored hairs is a bit late IMO. That's about the time I harvest if not using a mic. I'd say start when there are ~ 50% red hairs. If they need a N meal before harvest you can always make it a lite one like 1/2 strength fish emulsion (~ 2.5-0.5-0.5).

A good rule of thumb is 8 weeks. At 6 weeks if you are satisfied with your Bud size, and color, then start flushing. If not, wait another week, and then judge again. Just start looking at your plants for harvest at 6 weeks in the 12/12.

Patience would serve you well.

Some of my plants are about 10-20 percent red hairs, but mostly white. Should I stop fertilizing? My brother has been growing for 30 years and told me to wait till most of the plant has all red hairs and just a few white hairs. He told me to start flushing right now and wait to the pots dry out. Then flush, flush, flush!! He told me to do this for the remainder of the grow. So should I stop with the fertlizers? Thanks again for all of the help!!

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My brother has been growing for 30 years and told me to wait till most of the plant has all red hairs and just a few white hairs. He told me to start flushing right now and wait to the pots dry out. Then flush, flush, flush!! He told me to do this for the remainder of the grow.

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Your bro told you to wait AND to start now??? It's too early now IMO.

As everyone here has said, flushing is a matter of choice or preference for every Gardener. Your Brother has his preference. We have ours, and I'm sure you will have yours.

Patience grasshopper! That's what gardening is, Patience, and consistancy

Have a look at those buds, happy with them? Then start flushing. Wait a week, look again, Any more red hairs? 40 - 60% red hairs bud.

Your brother sounds like a great guy. When your done, come back and tell us his curing method. He does sound like he knows what he's doing, and he gets to see your plants in person, unlike us.