To flush or not to flush.

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
Newbies - read up on decreasing EC/PPM feeds the last weeks of flower. Read up on watering and feeding. Figure it out that there is little to flush. The water you give at the last takes care of leftover nutes pretty well unless you were heavy handed with the nutes. Like a lot here are.
 

Jimdamick

Well-Known Member
My bad guys. Didnt mean to upset anyone with another flushing post for my particular grow. Ive read hundreds of posts on this topic with so many mixed opinions. So far everyone that has posted seem to say dont flush but 90 percent of the topics I read say a 10-14 day atleast. I was set on flushing but you guys who posted are changing my mind. Thanks guys.
In hydro, personally, I stop adding nutes about 1.5 to 2 weeks before finish, knowing there are enough nutrients in the roots and leaves to carry on feeding the plant. I save money, the plant doesn't need them, and it will provide a smoother flavor and a better burn. Maybe it's a placebo effect, but I do it anyway.
In soil though, I would say it's a waste of time, as the soil will not clean out. It's impossible.
 

Jimdamick

Well-Known Member
I didnt mean to reply to your quote, but u cant starve a plant that has reached its maximum potential. If you ever grown hydro you could tell because the plant will not consume any nutrients and thus the ppms will rise, the plant filters out nutes and only drinks water. As the plant reaches its harvest stage even in soil it will turn te leafs yellow but at the same time the its begging for water. So there's where the flush comes in. Also im not sure if most ppl understand that by flushing i dont mean drown the plant with water for 3 weeks straight but gradually taper of the nutes. Organic grows dont necessary need more than a week or of just plain water. Assuming its truly organic wich only about 10% of so called Organic growers are truly organic.
I agree 100%. In hydro at least, a reduction or even a complete halt in adding nutes for the last couple of weeks is advised by more than a couple of manufactures (except for AN) The plants don't need the food anymore, they are taking all the remaining energy needed from the leaves.They don't even need that much light, and again that is proven. I don't feed for the last 2 weeks, and my colas are always falling over. Save the money, at least in hydro, don't feed, and there's your flush.
 

South Texas

Well-Known Member
Hate me if you want but I flush for two weeks before chop. Even with organics. 3x the container size volume water, and ¿fora clean? (GH) on the last bucket. The smoke feels better on our throats that way.
I started doing it because everyone's a weed snob around here, and now I'm a believer. Try it yourself :-)
 

South Texas

Well-Known Member
In hydro, personally, I stop adding nutes about 1.5 to 2 weeks before finish, knowing there are enough nutrients in the roots and leaves to carry on feeding the plant. I save money, the plant doesn't need them, and it will provide a smoother flavor and a better burn. Maybe it's a placebo effect, but I do it anyway.
In soil though, I would say it's a waste of time, as the soil will not clean out. It's impossible.
 

resinhead

Well-Known Member
I agree 100%. In hydro at least, a reduction or even a complete halt in adding nutes for the last couple of weeks is advised by more than a couple of manufactures (except for AN) The plants don't need the food anymore, they are taking all the remaining energy needed from the leaves.They don't even need that much light, and again that is proven. I don't feed for the last 2 weeks, and my colas are always falling over. Save the money, at least in hydro, don't feed, and there's your flush.
I am of the opinion to agree with you. And I'm not really looking for any argument, but any analogies of starving livestock or plants before harvest seems irrelevant due to the fact that we don't SMOKE/VAPE any of these other than tobacco, and that is a very poor industry standard to follow because of additives and their handeling/storage procedures. I don't know if they "flush" though...
 

South Texas

Well-Known Member
Hell yeah. Stop feeding about two weeks priorr to cut date. A little foliar. Food of molassas & seaweed could continue up until a wweek or. So. More import, iwater/flush plant heavily one week before harvest, & let plant go dry natural a week prior to harvest. Ac will cause purple buds if given 2 weeks indoors.
 

GrowinDro

Active Member
Thanks, the tricomes on the Holy Grail are around 90% clear still, the Purple Bud still looks clear. Im gonna check them daily and hopefully harvest next week if they are ready.
 

JungleTime

Well-Known Member
Thanks, the tricomes on the Holy Grail are around 90% clear still, the Purple Bud still looks clear. Im gonna check them daily and hopefully harvest next week if they are ready.
Theres some myths and tricks into forcing tricomes to turn faster. I've messed with water temp the last two weeks and it seems that cold water for the feedings the last two weeks speeds this cycle up. I just throw frozen jugs in my res and it brings the temp down to around 55 degrees which is pretty cold to the touch.

The theory is that this stresses the plant as the seasons change forcing it to finish up. I've seen some tests done stating there is around a 5% increase in thc but the "tests" are never really scientific as there are so many variables. But it seems to work for me. Just some thought if you wanted to mess around in some future grows.
 

Resinhound

Well-Known Member
Basic botany will tell you that you cant "flush nutrients" out of a plant.In the end it comes down to "its my plant and ill do what I want with it" and thats fine.Do what you want with it by all means.But most of this is based on pseudo stoner science,not facts.Knock yourself out flushing who cares.
 

GrowinDro

Active Member
Today is day 56 of flower.

Everything is ready to go for harvest and now I am just waiting for them to fully ripen.

I decided to mess around a little bit. I did everything opposite of how I normally would just to see what would happen. Heres what I did.

I cut the 2 smallest branches from each plants on day 54, these buds were heavily shaded from the colas and were over a foot from the tops. I cut them off 2 days after a full feed and after the lights were on for 6 hours. I hung the branches and pointed a fan right at them and left a light on. After 24 hours I trimmed them and put them in a mesh coffee filter with a plastic bowl over them to dry them faster. After an hour of that I cut them in small pieces to try it. They were still a little wet.

Basically I wanted to see what they would be like if I cut when they were full of nutes, tricomes mostly clear and a shitty quick dry.

I expected a really harsh taste, throat burn, no high and to cough my ass off...

I was wrong.

The Purple Bud has a great flavor and was really smooth. It had the green taste but it was easy on the lungs. I had a nice uplifting giggly buzz from it as well. This smoke all around was better than the "mids" and "dro" my friends get.

I am very pleased with the turn out of my samples. I am really looking forward to seeing what these are going to turn out like when its time.
 

smegpot

Well-Known Member
Today is day 56 of flower.
....
Basically I wanted to see what they would be like if I cut when they were full of nutes, tricomes mostly clear and a shitty quick dry.

I expected a really harsh taste, throat burn, no high and to cough my ass off...

I was wrong.
....
It all comes down to your cure, leaching and flushing are for resolving issues. In nature the plant doesn't stop feeding for the last 2 weeks.

This is a touchy subject for some, so to each there own (and I suspect the people that claim a flush is mandatory has burn marks and crispies all over, hence their need to flush since they run high PPM at the end trying to run it hot and heavy). I never flush or leach unless I have an issue. Plants stay green till the chop, no hot and heavy, just steady as she goes til the end.

Your nutrients aren't battery acid, there the same elements they get in soil. I've yet to see a solid scientific explanation as to why a flush in hydro is necessary if your plants are perfectly healthy.
 

Germama

Well-Known Member
Flush or no flush when is the best recommended last time you want to water before a harvest? A week before and let it dry out or do you want more water in buds at harvest and water day before?
 
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