when to start counting

just a couple of quick question,

1)should I start counting from the first day of 12/12, or should I start counting from the day I first see little flowers on the ladies.

Stain: Northern lights, Bigbud and bleuberries, (flowering time 8-9 weeks)

2) I will be getting a short cycle timer, been spraying roots in a aero system for 24/7 since the clones were taken, about to go into 12/12 cycle (hence the last question), could I just change it to 1 minute on and 4 minutes off sraight away, or do I need to do this gradually.

Many thx in advance

Actually it's when she starts to show her flowers that you would start to count the days. If he were to start counting when he switches to 12/12 he could be waiting a week or two for flowers to start...and then he'd be harvesting too early then.

homegrownboy said:

Actually it's when she starts to show her flowers that you would start to count the days.

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Really, I read that the first day of flower is when it's witched to 12/12?

strangerdude562 said:

Really, I read that the first day of flower is when it's witched to 12/12?

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If the plant has already reached pre-flowering stage then it's from when she starts the 12 hour light day...she's already at her mature stage and is ready to produce, most good books are writtin on the assumption that you grow the plant in it's natural life span, letting it do it's own thing, and just controlling the enviroment, now everyone wants to control the plant, which is wrong.

Same here, read a load of grow journals, and some start counting from the first day of 12/12, but they seems to be harvesting at aroung approx 70 days 10 weeks for 50/50 (amber/cloudy), after reading all these grow journal still a bit unclear. I do understands each strains varies............

any ideas on the:

2) I will be getting a short cycle timer, been spraying roots in a aero system for 24/7 since the clones were taken, about to go into 12/12 cycle (hence the last question), could I just change it to 1 minute on and 4 minutes off sraight away, or do I need to do this gradually.

You should not judge your plants readiness to be harvested by the number of days flowered. You should harvest when the trichs start turning amber colored. This can be longer or shorter than the "Flowering Time". You don't have to count any days at all.


You can just change your aero schedule, no need to do it gradual. plants will be fine.

I wish I could help but im a soil only grower and don't know anything about aero's.

As far as the 12/12 goes for clones, you can flower clones as soon as they have a root system, and since there genetics are already female, theer's no guessing involved, taking for granted that the clones were taken from already known female.

NoDrama said:

You should not judge your plants readiness to be harvested by the number of days flowered. You should harvest when the trichs start turning amber colored. This can be longer or shorter than the "Flowering Time". You don't have to count any days at all.


You can just change your aero schedule, no need to do it gradual. plants will be fine.

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Dammit, I was going to say somwthing along those lines...but thought I would answer the question about days. You are right, but for those who don't follow that rule of thumb and follow seed company's #of weeks flowering then i though it'd be waste to say.

I don't even usually check my trichs anymore, I just look at the buds and can see a small colour change, and i know it's perfect for me. 50/50 colour is normal, but I like about 65/35 ratio, more of a nightime smoke then, and for trippy high I harvest when still white on top.

i say for mature plants (4+ weeks old) or clones you should count flowering from the first day of 12/12. the 2 week stretch is part of the flowering time. Counting is a good way to know when you'll be ready to check the trichs, the trichs will tell you for sure when the plant is ready. anywhere from 55-70 days after 12/12 for most indica strains.

Thanks all for the helpful advice, strangerdude562; homegrownboy & last but not least NoDrama..

the first quesion is for me first grow journal, I will just keep it simple and updates 12/12 Week x day x.
https://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/126914-aeroponics-nl-blueberries-big-bud.html

and for the switching to short cycle, thx NoDrama

+ rep to all, thanks again

waterCooled said:

i say for mature plants (4+ weeks old) or clones you should count flowering from the first day of 12/12. the 2 week stretch is part of the flowering time. Counting is a good way to know when you'll be ready to check the trichs, the trichs will tell you for sure when the plant is ready. anywhere from 55-70 days after 12/12 for most indica strains.

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HOCUS POCUS I say!!!!

homegrownboy said:

I don't even usually check my trichs anymore, I just look at the buds and can see a small colour change, and i know it's perfect for me. 50/50 colour is normal, but I like about 65/35 ratio, more of a nightime smoke then, and for trippy high I harvest when still white on top.

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Hehe me either, I just look at the plants now and you just "Know" when they are done. They get a kind of golden aura around them, at least thats what i think it looks like to me.

Ya exactly like that...good example!!