Phillybonker
Well-Known Member
Does bud development slow when there is no sun and it is rainy cloudy weather?
Does bud development slow in rainy cloudy weather?
- Thread starter Phillybonker
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I think so. Have not seen anything saying yes or no, just what I think happens.
Last year the US experienced a haze in the sky caused by the smoke from the many forest fires on the lands on the west side of the county. This happened even on days with no clouds; there was always that gray to brown color in the sky.
I felt that all my plants that grow better in full sun suffered with either slow growth or fewer flowers or fruit because of it. My weed plants seemed slower to grow and flower and my tomatoes produced fewer fruit or smaller ones. My zinnia flower be grew as tall as expected but the flowers were not as bright looking as they had been in previous years.
Then we got the Mildew and Mold problems by the beginning of September.
I just deleted a paragraph... Yes, hot & dry is ideal
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Phillybonker
Well-Known Member
I thought so. I have about two weeks left till my plants finish but the predicted weather is 12 days out of 14 will be raining/cloudy and from what you're saying it might take an extra week to finish with this sort of weather.
Zephyrs
Well-Known Member
I have grown many outdoor plants. And I can say with certainty that plants still develop normally on cloudy days. Albeit, maybe a Little bit slower, due too lower UV index from the sun. And slightly cooler temps. But the Essential UV lighting from the sun will still get through clouds to your plants to Photosynthesize. Basically, Yes buds still grow and swell in flower during a cloudy days of Fall Time.
Cloud cover reduces uv light penetration, but most still gets through. It reduces ir light even more. Short answer, yes it does slow plant development, less light = less photosynthesis = less growth.
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Phillybonker
Well-Known Member
I know it definitely slows growth in veg. We had about 6 weeks of almost exclusively rainy cloudy days at the start of veg due to a rare weather event and growth slowed to a crawl, when sunny days finally arrived the plants took off.
I was hoping cloudy rainy days wouldn't effect bud development the same way but from what everyone is saying it looks like it does.
PaleSun
Well-Known Member
Some clear plastic sheeting above your plants would help. Keep them from being soaked all the time, especially while they're flowering. Also, keep any organic material raked away from underneath your plants. Helps reduce the risk of mold and mildew problems, and yes, even cloudy days have a lot of light. Cheers 
Sativa1970
Well-Known Member
The leaf surface temperature has more effect on photosynthesis than a lack of UV from clouds. The same reason you are more likely to get sunburnt skin on a cloudy day. High UV with cool skin. The buds will have less converted energy from temperature slowing the chemical reactions, but I find it often boosts the terpenes. Trade an extra week for extra sticky? Anytime. Don't let anything lay on the buds if they get wet. They need air flow to prevent rot.
Backwoods70
420 Member
3yrs ago, I tried autos for 1st time. It Rained the WHOLE Time they was growing, veg and flower. They grew but only maybe about an ounce per plant. Pretty pathetic honestly. I've done same exact strain by same vendor outdoors same spot and pulled 4-5 ounces per plant. So id say it makes a difference
Unfortunately, it probably affects bud development more, since IR is blocked more effectively by clouds than UV.
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Phillybonker
Well-Known Member
That is pretty conclusive. I've done two outdoor grows but there are too many varying factors for me to know for certain that cloudy days slow bud growth. Thanks for sharing your experience.
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- #13
Phillybonker
Well-Known Member
It's looking like my 8-9 week flowering strains will need 10-11 weeks to finish. I can't control the weather, I guess I can only do my best.
Backwoods70
420 Member
Yeah I hear you, I've been growin outdoors off and on since 83. That was 1st time trying autos. I don't think I would have tried them again. However I still had several seeds from same pack left.
Welcome to the world of the gardener. Imagine how it must feel to be a farmer looking at the same situation and being able to pay his or her bills for the next 12 months balances on just a few degrees of temperature change. Or whether to wait an extra week and risk loosing the house payments for the next year because of 3-4 days of heavy rain.
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Phillybonker
Well-Known Member
Damn you've been growing a long time. I was also thinking of running some autos on the side next season but still can't make up my mind.
What strains did you smoke back in the 80's and 90's just out of interest?
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- #17
Phillybonker
Well-Known Member
I know a guy that grows for a living and it's not like he grows a truck load or anything so any losses to mold and bad weather will most likely effect his ability to pay the bills. So whenever I get grumpy about suffering losses to bad weather I remember him and think to myself - At least I'm not in that guys shoes and rely on my grow to pay the bills.
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