Buds generally start to get big and "fatten up" significantly during the mid-flowering stage, typically between week 4 and week 6 of the flowering cycle.
The Final 2 Weeks Of Flowering. If you grow strains with an average flowering time, the majority of bud development will occur by the 6th week of bloom. In the last two weeks, the buds will mostly be ripening and not really growing much more in size.
Still Not Ready. As the marijuana plant buds get closer to harvest, they thicken, and those white pistils start to darken and curl up. You'll notice your buds are slowly getting thicker and denser. However, if you still have a lot of straight white pistils, like this bud, it means you still have a few weeks to go.
Change Nutrients for Each Stage
The bigger the leaf area, the bigger your buds will be. Nitrogen is the nutrient needed most for this green growth. When plants reach their mature size and begin flowering, they need more phosphorus, the nutrient most essential for budding.
Weeks 5 and 6: The Peak Flowering Period
Early to Mid-Flowering Stage: It is generally recommended to start removing fan leaves during the early to mid-flowering stage when the plants have established enough bud sites. At this point, the plant has sufficient resources to support the remaining leaves and direct energy towards bud development.
This timeline varies depending on the strain—indicas and sativas differ significantly—but as a general rule, bud fattening typically occurs between the 4th and the 7th week of the flowering stage. By week 9, the process slows or stops entirely.
Flowering stage
Even though it can receive a certain amount of water from the soil at this stage, this is not enough for proper plant development, especially in regions without frequent rains. At this time, it is recommended to water the bushes at least once every 3-4 days.
Final Weeks of Flowering (Weeks 6–8+): This is when you prepare for harvest. It's crucial to reduce and eventually stop feeding nutrients to allow the plant to flush out excess salts and compounds.
Light intensity
To some degree, more light translates to fatter buds and higher yields (you'll need to pay attention to the distance between your grow light and plants or your plant may suffer from light burn). Increasing light intensity is the most effective way to fatten up buds.
When Is The Right Time To Defoliate & Prune Weed? The BudTrainer Method™ has 3 stages of defoliation, the first one starting during the vegetative stage, the second one 3-4 weeks after flowering, and the last one just before harvest.
Checking the Trichomes
Through a magnifying glass or jeweler's loup, if you begin to notice these trichomes shifting from cloudy to amber colored, it's a sign of them being mature and indicating it's time to harvest.
Those orange hairs on cannabis buds are nature's way of showing the plant is maturing. They start white, turn orange, then brown when ready to pick.
Identifying the Signs of Over Ripe Buds
Color Changes: Over ripe buds often lose their vibrant green color and may turn yellow or brown. Trichome Appearance: Trichomes on overripe buds will appear amber or dark, rather than the clear or milky white seen at peak ripeness.
Light is one of the most crucial elements for healthy plant growth, particularly for developing bigger and denser buds. Plants use light to photosynthesize, converting light energy into chemical energy for growth.
Enter the 3-day dark period.
Essentially, the idea is to “shock” your plant in the days leading up to harvest in hopes of increasing the potency of your buds. The most common tactic is to place your plants in total darkness for 3 days before harvest. Another tactic is to water your plants with ice water.
The fact is this: precise and appropriate ratios of potassium and phosphorus lead to larger flowers. And when you invest in a premium biostimulant with optimal amounts of each . . . You're going to rake in buckets of profit from the huge yields and potent bud you've mastered.
During the early flowering phase (1-3 weeks), you can prune fan leaves that are overshadowing bud sites or impeding airflow. Mid-flowering (weeks 4-6) is typically a no-trim zone – the plant needs its energy for bud production.
Here's What You Can Expect During Those Last 2 Weeks of Flowering
By week 5 of bloom, your cannabis plants should be fairly heavy with flowers. They may also start developing some amber pistils – a sign that they are maturing nicely.
In weeks 6-8, the buds of your plants will begin to harden; the delicate trichome heads of your flowers will cloud and turn amber, and the once milky pistils of your buds will shrink, turn brown and become fragile. Also, as your plants continue to ripen, new aromas, flavors, and pigmentation will develop.
Gradually ramping light intensity to your pre-planned peak value helps prevent light stress on your plants. More light isn't always better. Lower light levels support early growth, while peak intensity in mid-flower drives bud production to its potential.