how long to veg?

I have 6 feminized skunk strain plants going in 3 gal pots, under 400 watt met hal/hps combo lamp( currently met. halide) The plants are about 3-4 weeks from seed and between 4-6" high right now, but very bushy with big leaves, does this sound about right for the time frame. I am running 18-6 lighting. My question is how long do I have to keep them in vegging stage? is there a minimum? This affects yield ,yes,. Also I ve read in some of the forums about topping, is this neccessary? once I switch to flowering stage how long does budding/ flowering take? I guess some of this is strain dependent ,I was just wondering if anyone out there has any relevant info to help me out?? Thanks

Hey dude

Generally from what I've heard you've gotta veg them til they're at least 6 weeks old (PERSONALLY I like 2 months....8.5 weeks ish...)

You don't NEED to top - but I suggest if your going to then do it now then it may be worth it!

Budding - 8 weeks minimum, 12 weeks max roughly...but dont go below 8 weeks!

Oh yeah - Pssst...check the grow faq out, top right!

Wait till the plant is around a foot they generally double in size.apart from sativa's like arjons ultra haze#1 this is a monster i started flowering at just over harf foot and the plant was 7 foot at week 5 these kind a plants are monsters.all plants normaly tell the grower how high when to bud.but sativa/indica i always flower at 1 ft with the lights a few ince of the tops through both stages you want nice tight internodes leggy plants are a waste of good growing room.any plant that takes longer than 8 week i would start flowering a little early too this means they normaly gain a little height.

See how the nodes are not straight across anymore. That means she is mature and flowing with hormones. If you wait till this point she is ready and will do good. If you wait a few weeks more she will do even better. I myself like to wait until at least 18" and I prefer 24". The longer you wait the more leafs and nodes for the buds.
She will start to show flowers at 2 weeks and need another 4 weeks then flush her, then 2 weeks later POW.

I waited 4 weeks and the first appearance of alternating nodes. Plants were 15-17" at that time, and shot up to 60" by the time they topped out. When you start is partly maturity, partly strain, partly how much overhead space you have. More maturity is better for yield. But your other factors may force or allow you to start earlier. I almost wish I had started a week earlier as my space got pretty crowded. But who knows.. they may have just stretched for another week just the same.

Topping? I wouldn't do it unless you have time to kill waiting for the recovery. I like the concept of keeping the first grow simple -- learn about the plant and what it does more naturally. Mess around with topping, FIMing, LST next time around. Trust me, brutha.. just cover the basics here and your 400W is going to give you a nice pile of dope without a lot of messing around.

It generally takes 7-10 days for flowering to begin after you switch your lights to flowering, but it can be more or less. Skunks are usually early-maturing.. so that means 10-12 weeks flowering, not the 8 weeks the seed site told you.. maturation times on seedbank sites assume absolutely perfect conditions, which few of us are set up to mimic, esp not the first time around.

So when I get the alternating nodes and want to switch to flowering should I go 12/12 with the hps? and when shouold I change the nutrients to flowering/ blooming stuff? You said keep the light a few inches away, should I use the "if it burns your hand iit will burn your plant rule or what. Right now the met halide is about 12-14" away , should I move it in closer?


Thanks for all your replies they are clearing things up for me, anymore input will always be appreciated...Peace

If your leafs are not ridgeing up and the new leafs on top are coming out in full and not skinny and tight, the light is fine.
Hps for 12/12
Flush plant day off or day before going 12/12 then start flower nutes. Keep your plants 12-18 inches away from lights in 12/12 when they bud you can get them closer.

it all depends on how much room u have. when u flower it will grow 2 to 3 x bigger. u can flower when ever u are ready but of course i wouldnt flower rite away atleast give it a month