Nitrogen and phosphorus Once your plant enters the flowering phase, decrease the nitrogen levels and increase the phosphorus levels to help the colas to develop and grow denser. Bat guano and worm castings are an excellent source of phosphorous to add to the top layer of the soil.
It is said that by bruising or supercropping the branches of the main buds you promote the sap stream to the main buds, so that more nutrients may reach the buds and make them swell up even larger and heavier.
Weeks 4-6: Buds Fatten Up
They'll still have all the white pistils sticking out, but you'll be able to see the buds getting bigger every day. At this point the “stretch” is about over and you can reduce the amount of training you're doing with your plants.
In the last two weeks, the buds will mostly be ripening and not really growing much more in size. At this point, the previously white pistils on the buds will now slowly turn amber-brown.
Use bloom boosters – When you give your plant a proven, cannabis-specific bloom booster, you're giving it the extra elements that help it grow bigger, denser, heavier and more potent buds. The less the plant has to make these elements itself, the more energy it can direct towards flowering.
One more thing about sugar
It's all about stimulating the cannabis into metabolising and synthesising more sugars. It's through this that they become stronger and more resistant to different diseases. And it doesn't just increase the size and number of buds, but also the flavour and potency.
Cannabis needs more nitrogen (N) when vegging and more phosphorus and potassium (P & K) while flowering. If you give then too much nitrogen during bloom, it'll slow down bud growth and result in lower yields of fluffier buds. That's the exact opposite of what you want!
Because bud formation starts after 7 hours of dark period, it is also wise to always maintain a minimum day length of 17 to 18 hours during the vegetative period. A dark period of 12 hours is used as a standard in cannabis to ensure a smooth flowering process.
In fact, you'll see some of the best bud development in the flushing period, as your plant uses up the rest of the nutrients within it. It thinks it's starving, and senses the end of its life is near. The buds will fatten up the most in the final few weeks of flower, and you'll also notice more trichome production.
Cannabis plants need water and nutrients to grow and develop big, healthy flowers. Drought, overwatering, and over/underfeeding can all affect your plant's ability to develop big, dense, and heavy flowers.
Timing the harvest is Paramount to the final quality. Harvest your precious buds in the dark, just before the lights normally come on. If possible, do not allow the plants to see direct light as long as their roots are attached. Direct light on a plant will draw up stored starches and sugars from the root system.
Late flowering / Ripening stage – week 6 to harvest
In the last few weeks, buds gain the most weight. They are sticky to the touch and can be very smelly.
Lack of light is perhaps the most common reason that cannabis produces fluffy, light buds. You may have noticed the lower, puny 'popcorn' bud sites that form below the main canopy.
General Hydroponic KoolBloom
Available as Liquid KoolBloom or Dry KoolBloom, this additive is widely regarded as the best bud hardener out there.
Well that concludes are look at Week 5. The plants have gotten deeper into flower, the buds are getting bigger, and the vegetative growth has slowed.
The flowering stage is when your plants will produce buds and what we commonly refer to as “weed”. During the flowering stage, your plants should be ready to harvest after 8-12 weeks, depending on the strain.
Plants might drop flower buds if there is too much water in the soil and roots are suffocated, or if the soil too dry. Note: It's a good idea to know the specific moisture needs of the plant you are caring for.
Week 4: Growth Stops and Plants Focus on Their Buds
Even though there are still white hairs sticking out from the buds, the buds themselves become larger with each day and as the buds grow more and more, the plants will produce more trichomes. This causes the odor to become much more pungent.
Some people also believe large buds are more flavorful and potent. But the reality is, you can get the same good quality flower when you buy small buds - so you'll save money just because they're less popular. And because the potency is the same, there is no reason to pay the higher price!
“'Bud Heavy' means a Budweiser — a true Budweiser beer,” says Beyer. “I have also heard it called Bud Diesel, but that's not the language that Midwesterners use.”
Yes, sugar leaves can be smoked once they're dry, but they will be harsh and relatively weak in potency compared to the buds. Moreover, they will be less flavourful.
Instead, utilize organic fertilizers like worm castings, blood meal, fish meal, or bat guano for nitrogen; bone meal or rock dust for phosphorus; wood ash or kelp meal for potassium; and dolomite lime for calcium or magnesium.
The best way to check the trichomes on your buds is to use a magnifying glass or a specially designed-trichome viewer. If you see that the trichomes are mostly clear, the plant is not mature enough to harvest. If you see that the trichomes are milky white, the plant is ready to be harvested.
Higher THC
Trichomes are present on all marijuana plants, but sticky plants have the most and therefore generate the most THC on their tips. Since THC is one of many factors that affect an individual's “highness” from weed, sticky weed will often be more potent than dry weed of the same strain.