End of Flower Cycle question

Just wondering what the benefits of putting your plants into uniterrupted darkness for the last few days of flower are? Can anyone explain this to me? thanks

I personally believe it is a myth.

I have seen people who say it freaks out the plant and produces more buds. I disagree because a plant needs light to produce energy. Not a whole lot goes on without energy.

Why not just let them keep growing for an extra couple days so your buds keep growing.

actually um one of the guys on here posted something a few days ago, the studies about how the darkness really works. also, some of the seed companys tell you to put them in darkness for resin production

There are and will always be therories surrounding growing THE herb....and finishing for the ultimate dankness...............the darkness thing is the therory that it does freak the plant and it will resin up in a protective way....I for one, have seen calynxs swell after some extra darkness....but then again, it may have just been doing that anyway....

How can a plant do more with less?

yea im kind of with phyzix on this one, nature is nature light gives the plant energy, I would think thats like not eating for 3 days and saying you have more energy now doesnt work that way your going to be tired cranky and want that food for some energy plants i would think would feel the sme way without there lovely light

Light breaks down THC. During the day it gets broken down and during the night it builds itself back up again.

I'm sure technically it is far more complicated than that, but you get the gist.

I always harvest just before the lights come back on so the plant gets 12 hours dark pre-chop...

ok thanks for some of the clarification and reasoning... just gonna stick to the old chop when theyre done sleeping at the end of their 12 hour cycle. thanks again!

Jerry Garcia said:

Light breaks down THC. During the day it gets broken down and during the night it builds itself back up again.

I'm sure technically it is far more complicated than that, but you get the gist.

I always harvest just before the lights come back on so the plant gets 12 hours dark pre-chop...

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Plant is stronger when at its most vigorous, which is in full sun light in middle of day, at night plants sag and are flat. thc breakdown occurs in light but only once plant is dead. while its alive, light increases thc not decrease it.
also extended dark flowering only encourages mold.

This is a myth that has no credible scientific evidence. The result of this would be that you will harvest 3 days later than normal. To think that the buds are bulking up in 2 or 3 nights of darkness compared to 8-10 weeks of flowering is nothing but old wives tales and misinformed growers.

pointswest said:

buds dont bulk up in 2 or 3 nights of darkness compared to 8-10 weeks of flowering

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i think you misunderstand.

IF u turn the lights out for the last 48 hours make sure your soil is dry...from what i understand the plant freaks out and pumps the resighn out tryen to keep its self alive. i know personally that when i did grandaddy purp i would do my last 4 waters with ice water then when it dried out id leave the lights out 48 hrs and it really seemed to make it that much better. darkness and ice water also make it turn more purple from the stress of the plant tryen to stay alive in 48 hr darkness. just my opnion.

Agree. I have noticed the same thing with GDP. I think when the lights are off and the mediium is dry the last few days the plant starts dying and ripening more. It definetly brings out the purple color more which makes it look frostier.

Harvest right before the lights come on. Certain terpenes evaporate at moderate room temps, mid-low 70s, and light adds heat, so it is important to chop right before the lights come on.

d r0cK said:

Just wondering what the benefits of putting your plants into uniterrupted darkness for the last few days of flower are? Can anyone explain this to me? thanks

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The plant only produces certain chemicals within the plant and the chemicals that are made have a lot to do with the formation of THC during flowering... The more of this ONE chemical will increase the THC level in the long run.... Most basic way to explain this... There are certain chemicals within the resin on the buds that is produced at night when the plant sleeps... Why do you think the plant buds when you give it 12 hours of light instead of the normal 18 hours of night... The marijuana plants flowering life is all based off the night cycle of its growth...

phxfire said:

The plant only produces certain chemicals within the plant and the chemicals that are made have a lot to do with the formation of THC during flowering... The more of this ONE chemical will increase the THC level in the long run.... Most basic way to explain this... There are certain chemicals within the resin on the buds that is produced at night when the plant sleeps... Why do you think the plant buds when you give it 12 hours of light instead of the normal 18 hours of night... The marijuana plants flowering life is all based off the night cycle of its growth...

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Can you elaborate on this. I thought "chemicals" were produced throughout the day with photosynthesis.

It IS a myth, but it's a myth that has recently been researched, and there seem to be some thruth to this myth.

Sorry for no source, I don't remember where I read it.

Anyway, IMHO, the plant is not harmed by 24 hour darkness before harvest, so why not do it?

krok said:

It IS a myth, but it's a myth that has recently been researched, and there seem to be some thruth to this myth.

Sorry for no source, I don't remember where I read it.

Anyway, IMHO, the plant is not harmed by 24 hour darkness before harvest, so why not do it?

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Here's something that another member (Bricktop) quoted in another related thread.

""The Stichting Institute of Medical marijuana (SIMM), the first company to sell marijuana through the pharmacies of Holland, has been investigating the medical possibilities of cannabis, together with TNO laboratories and the University of Leiden.

One of their discoveries has been that to keep the ripe plants in the dark before harvesting could increase their potency.SIMM’s growers separated a crop of mature plants, harvested half of them and kept the other half in absolute darkness for 72 hours before cutting and drying. Analysis of the resulting dried buds showed that some varieties had seen an increase of THC of up to 30%, while CBD and CBN remained the same.""