Purple Erkel: When to start Flowering?

d0z3r · #1 05-19-2008, 04:37 PM

I posted this query on my grow journal(the pics are there):
Dozer's First Hydro - Purple Urke - Medical Marijuana

Do you guys think my girls are almost ready to flower?
I am beginning week 5 of veg, and I'm worried about vertical clearance. I have about 4 feet of clearance above the level they are currently growing at. The girls are: Purple Erkel(indica), presently about 16' tall, and really bushy. On one hand, I don't want to jump the gun and limit my yield, but conversely, I don't want to have to take extreme measures to limit height if they decide to go all vertical on me during flowering.

Pics are from this morning.

Please help if you've done indoor hydro before. This is my first go at an indoor grow, and It's progressing rather quickly. I'm getting nervous about space.

Thanks in advance.

d0z3r

ghengiskhan · #2 05-19-2008, 04:43 PM

Your plants look good man, great job. I would start flowering soon. 5 Weeks is quite a bit to veg, and since they're indicas they haven't gotten too tall it seems. Keep in mind though that plants can double or tripple in size by the time they're done flowering, I'd start very soon if not now. Could wait for a second opinion too.

crotalus · #3 05-19-2008, 05:45 PM

I'd say put em on 12/12 now. They are already gonna be pretty damn big by the time you harvest. I have a question for you though. Where the hell do you get purple erkel? I've wanted to try it for awhile because i've read that has the stongest high of the purple strains. From what i've heard, you can only get it in clone form. I've seen at least one cross on a seedbank site (erkel X nl5 i think). Did you start from clones? And if so, do you have any idea how to get this strain in the states?

primeralives · #4 05-19-2008, 05:55 PM

flower now if your nodes are alternating (the plant is mature)

d0z3r · #5 05-20-2008, 11:12 AM

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the feedback! You all confirmed my suspicions that it is, indeed, time to bring them over to 12/12 light. Here's the thing though, presently, the system is loaded with nutes for vegging, and I'm running a 600W metal Halide. Should I switch the light cycle to 12/12 and my bulb to my 600W HPS now, and let the veg nutes ride until Sunday, or should I hold off and switch the light when I can flush the system and add my flowering nutes?

Croatus:
I got my purple erkel clones at a local dispensary in Santa Monica, CA. They've always had great purple erkel in flower form, so I thought I'd give the clones a go.

Thanks for the response guys! I'll be sure to keep everything up to date as the 'bud pron' phase begins.

=)

D0z3r

crotalus · #6 05-20-2008, 03:58 PM

a lot of people like to switch to flowering nutes around a week or so before putting plants on 12/12. I usually do it at the same time. I know someone who waited to start using flowering nutes until a week or so after switching to 12/12 and he said his plants still started flowering just as early as normal. any of these options will work, but i would definately put them on flowering nutes before 12/12 or at the same time. I wouldn't wait to do it afterward. here's what i always do. i transplant into bigger pots that will last throughout flowering the day before switching to 12/12. i moisten the new medium with a light solution of flowering nutes. If you are using fertilized soil or don't need to transplant before flowering however, this is probably usless to you. watch for nitrogen deficiencies early in flowering. i get this sometimes after switching. you shouldn't have nitrogen deficiencies until late in flowering.

d0z3r · #7 05-20-2008, 04:45 PM

hmm.... I think I'm going to switch the bulbs and time tonight, and re-fertilize Sunday with the flowering nutes. Everything I have read says that it takes from one to two weeks to begin flowering in earnest after switching the light off, so four days of 12/12 with the veg nute mix should be fine. *crosses fingers*

Wish me luck guys!

d0z3r · #8 05-22-2008, 09:39 AM

Yep. I pussed out.
I decided ultimately to switch to the HPS on wednesday, and hold off on switching the light cycle until Sunday. I figured this would cause the least amount of stress to my pretties.