When is Day 1 Of Flowering?

is the 1st day of flowering the same day I flip my light cycle to 12/12 or is that day 1 of transitioning????

Yes, first day of 12/12

First day is when plant finishes transition and stretch ( pre flower )

Note ….. “ PRE “ - flower.

Then it’s in actual flower.

I count starting day 1 after the first dark cycle. But my plants are all mature and have preflowers.

From seed - when the plant is sexually mature and preflowers have formed

From a sexually mature clone - the day you flip to 12/12

This is why estimated flowering times listed on seed packs confuse so many growers. It doesnt have to be overcomplicated. Its your garden and you can track and document your grow in whatever way is easiest for you -days or weeks.

I start counting the day the plants go to 12/12.

FIRST IGNORE THE BREEDER RECOMMENDED TIME FRAMES!!!!! They are 70% marketing, 20% wishes and dreams, and 10% reality.

Biologically flowering begins once the plant has finished the transition and begins to form flowers. This is pretty standard across most flowering plants.

Some indoor cannabis growers feel it is easier just to "count from day 1 of 12/12". If that's easier for them then that's great, but its not an accurate representation of how long a plant takes to actually complete the flowering process. It gives them an arbitrary number that makes them feel like they are in control of the time frame instead of the plant. However the plant WILL NOT FINISH based on a calendar. The plant doesn't care what day in growth you think its in, it only cares about light, nutrients, and environmental conditions. It will complete its life cycle once the genetics decide its time.

Different genetics and environments will take different amounts of time to transition after you flip a light to 12/12. It also takes a period of time for the plant to change the hormonal processes required to flower. These variables make the idea of counting from that point completely arbitrary.

Instead if you REALLY want to know how long genetics take to flower in your environment. You need to watch your plant and you can begin you judgment of flower time based on when your plant is ACTUALLY flowering. Then grow the plant again and you will notice if your environment is correct still that it will take about the same amount of time every time from that point.

Thundercat said:

FIRST IGNORE THE BREEDER RECOMMENDED TIME FRAMES!!!!! They are 70% marketing, 20% wishes and dreams, and 10% reality.

Biologically flowering begins once the plant has finished the transition and begins to form flowers. This is pretty standard across most flowering plants.

Some indoor cannabis growers feel it is easier just to "count from day 1 of 12/12". If that's easier for them then that's great, but its not an accurate representation of how long a plant takes to actually complete the flowering process. It gives them an arbitrary number that makes them feel like they are in control of the time frame instead of the plant. However the plant WILL NOT FINISH based on a calendar. The plant doesn't care what day in growth you think its in, it only cares about light, nutrients, and environmental conditions. It will complete its life cycle once the genetics decide its time.

Different genetics and environments will take different amounts of time to transition after you flip a light to 12/12. It also takes a period of time for the plant to change the hormonal processes required to flower. These variables make the idea of counting from that point completely arbitrary.

Instead if you REALLY want to know how long genetics take to flower in your environment. You need to watch your plant and you can begin you judgment of flower time based on when your plant is ACTUALLY flowering. Then grow the plant again and you will notice if your environment is correct still that it will take about the same amount of time every time from that point.

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What do you consider the time to start counting? After stretch, first signs of pistils or what? Just curious. You helped me a few years ago to not harvest early and I still am appreciative. Roar!

PadawanWarrior said:

What do you consider the time to start counting? After stretch, first signs of pistils or what? Just curious. You helped me a few years ago to not harvest early and I still am appreciative. Roar!

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I stopped counting years ago..... its irrelevant 95%+ of the time. Perhaps some commercial growers can use the info when running cuts for years. But Ive ran cuts for years at a time and that's when I learned the most (and stopped counting). Now I just harvest my plants when they are ready.

I keep general track of roughly how many weeks a batch of plants is in a flowering room. Typically it takes 7-14 days for most plants to actually start to flower. Like I stated in my other post, flowering begins biologically once the plant starts to form flowers. I'm not talking about the very first preflower stigma to pop out. I mean once the plant's growth changes from vegetative growth and the nodes start to tighten and form flowers.

Thundercat said:

I stopped counting years ago..... its irrelevant 95%+ of the time. Perhaps some commercial growers can use the info when running cuts for years. But Ive ran cuts for years at a time and that's when I learned the most (and stopped counting). Now I just harvest my plants when they are ready.

I keep general track of roughly how many weeks a batch of plants is in a flowering room. Typically it takes 7-14 days for most plants to actually start to flower. Like I stated in my other post, flowering begins biologically once the plant starts to form flowers. I'm not talking about the very first preflower stigma to pop out. I mean once the plant's growth changes from vegetative growth and the nodes start to tighten and form flowers.

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I agree about learing the most growing the same cut. I've been growing GC for a few years.

12/12 is day 1. I call every strain 10 week strains because any other talk is marketing speak only. We are not talking sativa. I usually go 12-13 weeks on those plants. Pulling early should never be an option. ever. There was one time bugs found week 8-9 so thats is the only reason for early pull. So with that said does it make any difference if somebody here say day one is 12/12 or any other day....no Plenty of experience here. More then any exept commercial peeps we have here...

Thundercat said:

FIRST IGNORE THE BREEDER RECOMMENDED TIME FRAMES!!!!! They are 70% marketing, 20% wishes and dreams, and 10% reality.

Biologically flowering begins once the plant has finished the transition and begins to form flowers. This is pretty standard across most flowering plants.

Some indoor cannabis growers feel it is easier just to "count from day 1 of 12/12". If that's easier for them then that's great, but its not an accurate representation of how long a plant takes to actually complete the flowering process. It gives them an arbitrary number that makes them feel like they are in control of the time frame instead of the plant. However the plant WILL NOT FINISH based on a calendar. The plant doesn't care what day in growth you think its in, it only cares about light, nutrients, and environmental conditions. It will complete its life cycle once the genetics decide its time.

Different genetics and environments will take different amounts of time to transition after you flip a light to 12/12. It also takes a period of time for the plant to change the hormonal processes required to flower. These variables make the idea of counting from that point completely arbitrary.

Instead if you REALLY want to know how long genetics take to flower in your environment. You need to watch your plant and you can begin you judgment of flower time based on when your plant is ACTUALLY flowering. Then grow the plant again and you will notice if your environment is correct still that it will take about the same amount of time every time from that point.

Click to expand...

I mean if you started counting after the budlets form the breeders day recommendation would make a tad more sense.

calvin.m16 said:

I mean if you started counting after the budlets form the breeders day recommendation would make a tad more sense.

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I’ve said that for years. Lots of “breeders” claim they count from 12/12 which makes me wonder. Are they lieing about their inaccurate flower time marketing or about when they count from to avoid debates like this.

In the end it shouldn’t really be a debate, it all comes down to biology.

Thundercat said:

I’ve said that for years. Lots of “breeders” claim they count from 12/12 which makes me wonder. Are they lieing about their inaccurate flower time marketing or about when they count from to avoid debates like this.

In the end it shouldn’t really be a debate, it all comes down to biology.

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I don't think they are LYING but they definitely are giving the soonest possible time. I swear to god I had a Bubba's Gift that would finish indoors or outdoors in 45-50 days of bloom amber trichomes.. That is counting from the time of 12/12. It isn't impossible but personally I've never had other plants be ready in less than 60-70 days from flip.

calvin.m16 said:

I don't think they are LYING but they definitely are giving the soonest possible time. I swear to god I had a Bubba's Gift that would finish indoors or outdoors in 45-50 days of bloom amber trichomes.. That is counting from the time of 12/12. It isn't impossible but personally I've never had other plants be ready in less than 60-70 days from flip.

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lol maybe lying is harsh, but I don’t really feel like it is. They know their seeds and plants better then anyone and the way they advertise flowering times in particular is nothing short of dishonest. They know only 1/100 or 1/1000 plants might finish that fast, IF the grower has similar grow conditions to the “breeder”. They are well aware that won’t be the case for everyone else, but “8 week” strains sell seeds faster then “11 week” strains. Average growers chalk it up to grow conditions and skill when plants take longer, and some times that’s the case. Most of the time in reality the breeder claimed a plant would finish a month faster then the genetics will allow.

I dont really keep count at all...seems chop when ready works.