when to separate male from female and pollination advice.

I have about 9 plants going now. I plan on making seeds from all 3 strains. Ghost train haze #1, Kandy Kush and Doc's OG. I know I need to flip my lights to 12/12 and the males should show there sex first so I know what I'm dealing with. What I don't get is the proper time line / light cycle for male and female. So after I identified my males they will be removed to another area and remain on a 12/12 cycle so they will continue to make bananas and pollen. Should I then switch my light cycle on my females back to 18/6 to give me enough time to collect the right amount of pollen and have a bigger female for more seeds? The female plants heaviest ovulation stage to make seeds is day 24-32 of flowering. Would it be best to collect ample amount of pollen before I switch my females back to 12/12. That way I know I will have enough pollen and I can brush it on my females between day 22-32. Let me know if this sounds right. Or after I identify the males and move them to a area just leave both rooms on 12/12. I'm afraid if I do this I won't have enough pollen for my females between day 24-32.

Males IME show first. I'd recommend collecting and storing the pollen to give the females a little extra time to mature. Maybe 3 weeks and then brush the flowers. There is a breeding sub-forum on RIU that has a great deal of info.

Males generally show themselves first. I would put everything in 12/12 to determine sex. Once your females show you can top them and stick them back under 18/6, if you want to top. I would separate the males into a different room under 12/12 and let them do their thing. Since you'll be collecting pollen find a good way to do it. I've used Tupperware. Good luck.

cool thanxs for the feed back. When can I start collecting pollen from the males? Can you let seeds get to mature? I mean after the pistils except the pollen they turn brown and start to suck back into the calyx after about 3-5 days. That's the sign everything is looking good. Now when I harvest I want to make sure my seeds are big and mature so should I harvest when my seeds look mature or can I let them go longer so my trihcomes can have a good milky/amber ratio? Even though my main objective is to breed I would still like my flowers to be mature also. I don't ever remember hearing of anyone letting seeds get to mature though. Just asking. great idea about topping too. That way I can breed my Ghost train and after my GTH#1 clones start to take off I'll cross breed it with doc's OG male pollen from my earlier breeding for something new to look forward to. Heavy Ghost OG pheno X Heavy Face Off Pheno = face melting OG smoke.

You can start collecting when the plant is ready. The sacks will open and drop the pollen. You just have to watch for it. Let the seeds mature as long as possible at least until the other females are ready, they won't get too mature. If you want some smoke from the plants just pollenate a few bud sites. Keep both the males and females on a 12/12 the whole time. Do some more reading up on the whole seed making topic while you have the time.

Males IME show first.