re: Xlr8's Psychedelic Bloom Party Extravaganza
I have always wondered when to count my day 1 flower. I usually wait until there is actual pistils and obvious signs of bud development.
So from the flip im at 14 but I would call today the end of my first week.
I guess it really depends on the plant and when she wants to be ready too. There is about a week window to harvest at peak ripeness so getting to know your girls makes all the difference too.
XLR8 your a guru. keep it up
Hey Shottafire -
I have changed how I look at this over time. In the end, and between us and our plant, it's all academic - they're done when they're done. So... it becomes a matter of communication and consistency that matters as far as here in the forums. I used to count flowering as "Day 1" as soon as pistils started showing and after 12/12 was initiated. However, it became clear that many people track "Day 1" as when the flip to 12/12 is made. Not everybody, however, and it remains confusing because of this.
Upon doing a little research, I read a post by Subcool from TGA Subcool genetics that solidified why I do it how I do it now. Someone asked him point-blank, "When you suggest flowering times for your strains, do you start from the initiation of 12/12, or when you first see pistils?" (or something to that effect). His answer was (paraphrasing): "The flowering days are assuming a reduction in daylight from 18/6 to 12/12, and the flowering days start as soon as this reduction to 12/12 is made".
Now, I realize Subcool's thinking isn't necessarily the way everyone wants to think of this, nor every breeder. However, to me, communicating days from flip seems the most universal language when communicating in the forums here. Plus, I had just bought a bunch of "TGA" seeds, so it seemed like the way to go for that reason, too.
Thank you for the props my friend (though I'm hardly a guru!).
One other note: I'm insane, so I keep growing multiple strains at once in my grows. Indicas and Sativas living together and other silly notions. Sometimes, they show pistils at different times. Heck, some strains reach sexual maturity and show pistillate pre-flowers whilst still in veg - while others take up to 12 days in bloom. Another reason that for me, I find "Day 1" to be easier thought of as when the photoperiod was reduced to 12/12...