Much love for the fact checking, Mother! Thanks for the great info @jmystro, incredibly helpful. However, you'll want to do more than simply adjust the schedule to get the most from your plants; you'll also want to get the light intensity and coverage spot-on. Any ideas on how to do this outdoor as I have 9 growing in my backyard, and willing to test it out. (you can easily confirm this one for yourself with a sniff test). Does it make a diff? Forums Gallery Calendar Guidelines . They harvested half of the plants in a regular way, but kept the other half in the dark for 72 hours. This also goes for the aromatic substances called terpenes. [Updated to add Rhode Island and Maryland]. They go in the dark when you chop them. A 24 hrs long night will hardly make a difference that youd notice. Does 48 Hours. Discover what makes cannabis sticky and which strains deserve the title for being the stickiest. 50+ Fun Gift Ideas for Cannabis Growers (2022), Where is it legal to grow weed in the USA? Founded by an American activist James Burton, it was one of two licensed suppliers of medical marijuana in Holland and unfortunately went bankrupt within a year or two*. My practice has been to harvest after 48 hours. Drug Cannabis production requires 11-12 hours of continuous darkness to induce flowering and at least 10 hours of light for adequate THC production (Valle et al. 48 hours darkness is most optimal for THC according to the video, ironically PSI Labs is a competitor of ours. Suppose youre not in a hurry and can wait as long as its necessary for buds to reach the peak of their quality. They generally say the nugs were fire, but very long periods with no light also made the buds less solid. While darkness helps preserve terpenes, photosynthesis helps create them. That said, the last 710 days is when you can maximise trichome production with the right know-how. By this stage, buds are well-formed, and you should notice some branches bowing under the weight of all your hard work. I understand how the extended dark period is "supposed" to jump start the production of trichomes, but since this is my first grow, I don't know how we'll it actually works. So the idea of using the prolonged darkness to improve the quality of buds works here as well. 1978). How long is enough? Another possible explanation here is that THC levels in your weed are the highest after a multi-day darkness period due to natural fluctuations in THC in plants. Correct; and as chlorophyll breaks down, an actively growing plant will scavenge and redistribute the released nutrients through its vascular system to where it is actively trying to grow- its reproductive parts. If your climate is too cold (like mine), or too hot, and you Cloning cannabis is a very convenient way of plant propagation. All the references I read recommend 48 hours for darkness at the end of the grow. Although there is limited scientific research on this front, the evidence does point to the fact that a darkness period right before the harvest can in fact make your weed stronger, or in other words, greatly increase the THC content. Started by more infoIf you like smoking weed, but you also want to take care of your teeth, then you have a choice to make. Why is good stress important for trichome production? Another tactic is to water your plants with ice water. It shuts down thinking that it is becoming winter and buds swell an THC gets stronger. Now sugars and starches arent something that improves the quality of the smoke. 4) Sugars/starches recede from the plant to the root zone while in dark cycle resulting in a better tasting/burning bud. Dark period before harvest - GrowWeedEasy.com Cannabis Growing Forum As for upping THC levels, I'd say that a superior smoking experience would give you the placebo effect of a higher THC content. Optimising light exposure and quality during lights-on hours will maximise your plants ability to develop large, resinous buds. BUT it smelled a lot, lot, lot more stronger. Again, this technique tries to mimic conditions a cannabis plant might experience in the wild. Most people recommend doing a three day darkness period right before the harvest, as this will produce the best result. Were sure many of you have already tried this method. Hi all, some compelling ideas here.seems the general consensus is 48-72 hours of dark; before harvesting. No offense, but your beautiful state is crazy dry! Just some good info I haven't seen on this site before. I also like to keep watering my plants as usual up until the day of harvest. They don't die when you cut them, it takes a few days, it's a slow process of various materials breaking down and I believe that needs to happen in cool, dark environment. A lot of people say a 24-48 hour dark period just before harvest is beneficial to the plant. But Ive grown cannabis long enough to know that sometimes what seems intuitive isnt correct, which is why experiments are so helpful and powerful. //dark period before harvest - GrowWeedEasy.com Cannabis Growing Forum You will not see any real benefit keeping your plants in the dark for the last 3 days. I then trim them of scrap, cut off and hang in the dark for 2 days. I did a 48 hour dark period and saw no difference with my previous yield of same strain. Just like with THC increasing during that darkness period, so do the terpenes, theoretically. @macgyver_stoner @tdubwilly @Bogleg @myfriendis410 @covertgrower @imSICKkid Drying and Curing in the Dark Does the Trick, Too, Interview with James Burton, 1st version of dutch medical cannabis 1993 2003. i.e. They say by complete darkness for 48 hrs. Dark Time Before Harvest - Harvesting, Trimming, and Curing - Growers 48 hours of darkness before harvest | Rollitup All the principles above apply to any cannabis plant, including autos. fallponics, Road Kill Skunk - Ester Alcohols, Train-wreck and the Catpiss Connection, Blueberry, Stinky Blueberry, Blueberry Acid Dog, Pipecarver's new Spiderfarmer5'x5' with 2-SE3000 growing wild. Points. As I plant physiologist and biologist specializing in cannabis I can assure you that the "48 hour light depravation" prior to harvest is typical "street" mythology and Youtube bull. This was a spur-of-the-moment test without any controls, so take this with a grain of salt, but its pretty stark how much higher the THC tested after the 3-day dark period on both plants. This message will be removed once you have signed in. Trichomes are a more important part of the cannabis plant than many realize. 1.2 Is Powdery Mildew Dangerous? What do you guys think about giving plants 48 hours of darkness just prior to harvest. This project uses worsted weight yarn. I dry out the compost before harvest but only for the reason that it easier to break down and get rid of dry root balls than wet.. You could also opt for LEDs so you can position your lights as close to your plants as possible, without scorching or heat issues. There are actually some compelling theories explaining why it happens. Should I water plants before 48 hrs darkness before harvest? Another theory is that resin acts as sunblock, high intensity rays, especially those high in uv light will make the produce more resin to protect it's precious buds. If you allow all of the starches and sugars to drain back down to roots, and then chop the plant before it sees light again, technically, you are drastically reducing the amount of sugars and starches that need to be broken down in the curing process. What were your results? You'll need 15 uncured buds of the same strain in your Sim's inventory before you can cure them. Hopefully, the result is greater levels of terpenes and cannabinoids. 2) Darkness increases terpene production Still, with a scalpel in hand, the idea is to split stems vertically, before inserting skewers to prevent the opening from closing. By gently inflicting stress on a plant during the vegetative and flowering stage, it's possible to activate its self-defence mechanism and increase resin production without causing irreparable harm. In darkness, the far-red change into red. There is an ideal support for every vegetable to help take your harvest from average to superior. One of the popular ways to danker buds is the extended dark period before harvest. Get the Pattern on Ravelry#6. I am prepared to do that real soon. Although there is no concrete proof, either way, there are a few leading theories as to why this darkness period can help to increase THC levels in your weed, so lets take a quick look. Which means that when you dry your buds and later cure them, never expose them to direct light. SNS: New Price Drop On Spider Mite Control & Fungicide, https://cannabis-science.com/papers/Chemical Ecology of Cannabis.pdf, Effects of Light on Degradation of Chlorophyll and Proteins during Senescence of Detached Rice Leaves | Plant and Cell Physiology | Oxford Academic. Designed by Tin Can Knits, Harvest is a long-sleeved cardigan knitting pattern. Its because cannabinoids protect marijuana flowers from the harmful effects of UV radiation. There are also some independent studies out there conducted by normal growers. Use a natural bristle brush to apply fence stain. You can click on your computer > order > medicine and each bottle of medicine will cost $50. Please share! From a theoretical standpoint, I personally have difficulty imagining a vast difference in bud quality using last-minute tactics. Conclusion: Should I Harvest In The Dark or Light? Waking this thread back up. the plants scence the dry air and the very dry medium, they think there gonna die soon - so make a last attempt at saving there seeds, but since its sensimilla, so the trichs get the last burst of energy. 3) Terpene levels are at their highest at the end of the dark cycle right before lights on. Do you believe in 24 hrs of darkness before harvest? You must log in or register to reply here. By encouraging a weed plant to activate its defences, we can increase resin production, and thus cannabinoid and terpene production. ), [HLG Blackbird] 600W Premium LED Cannabis Grow Setup & Shopping List (up to 1.5 lb yield). As always, I could be wrong, but I believe the whole "48 hrs of dark to increase resin/quality" is a misconception based on partial truth. YouTube restricts most of our content, so Join the iCan Family! Did it work?Ask my wife !!!!!!!! 48 Hours Of Darkness Before Cannabis Harvest | Seedsman Blog Pacific Punch plant under an HLG 65 4000k LED grow light (65W) in a 2x2x3 mini tent (check out the full grow journal), Runtz plant under a Spider Farmer SF-1000 LED grow light (100W) in a slightly taller 2x2x4 grow tent. It can range from 24 hours to 1 week or even more. Youd be fucking with her hormones that can do strange things like throw nanners with more than 3 days of darkness. Many websites and forums refer to a study that was supposedly done on the subject by the Stichting Institute of Medical Marijuana (SIMM). Such a response could hardly have evolved because in nature no one turns off the sun for several days in a row. Another way to stress your plants in a (supposedly) good way is to lower nighttime air temperature. The idea behind the 24-48 hour dark period before harvest stipulates that THC production is in running mode and will continue even if lights are out during a day or two, but the degrading factor of the light is no longer there and results in an increase in THC levels. 3) Terpene levels are at their highest at the end of the dark cycle right before lights on Really seems like one of those broscience tips you get from the bro at the hydro store tryin to sell you somma dem bloom boostaas! Remember that no amount of stress can overcome a plant's genetics. (No, but hempy buckets are great!). All the research, preparation, and cannabis care cannot outweigh the importance of choosing strains with proven genetics. Mere days away from harvesting your ripe buds, two final techniques stand between you and success. Its a bad idea to water your plant before turning off the lights for good. Are you going to grow the same clone and do a side by side comparison ? This method is particularly effective for folks who are starting out, those looking to maximize quality in a shorter period of time, and folks who's like to produce a connoisseur-quality product each and every time with no guesswork involved. If you click on a link on this site that takes you to Amazon, I will earn a small commission and help keep the lights on at no extra cost to you . As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. (I know it sounds stupid to ask about chlorophyll but hey something has to go in the magic soup, right? growingpain5 brings up some valid points hes read based on the plants biology. havent been any scientific studies done on this front, but thanks to some common sense, it does seem that this is true. (For the Biggest/Fastest Yields), Nebulas Guide to Cannabis Auto-Flowering Strains (2023). The vast majority of growers do tend to lean towards the longer time frame being a better choice, though those who are less concerned with potency might benefit from choosing the shorter time period. 2) Sugars travel to the root zone during the dark cycle to feed microbes resulting in smoother smoke. Totally not convinced theres any benefit to the 3 days of darkness tho Putting your plants in the dark for three days before harvest might actually lead to less flavor. The bottom line here is that you should definitely harvest in the dark. As we already mentioned, experiments have confirmed the efficacy of 72 hours, or 3 days. The quality of buds depends on the percentage of THC and other cannabinoids, and growers go to great lengths to increase their levels. 36 or 48 hrs is more like it. (Fans still on, bubbler etc.) 6 abadtrip commented No light anywhere. Although it's just us manipulating the environment, there's no extra work involved in turning off the lights right before you harvest, so it's worth a go. The key is to get these supports in place before the plants grow tall enough to need them. Is there anything you can do right before harvest to increase THC or bud quality in marijuana plants? No scientific studies have been conducted to either verify or negate the efficacy of the practice, although there are numerous theories as to why the trick might be beneficial. Giving off CO2 in the process. ), Ugh, sorry the message directly above ^ was meant for another forum (about cobbing). Chopping them in the dark seems like it could help preserve the existing terps, but keeping them in the dark for an extended period seems like it might interfere with the plants ability to make new ones to take their place. A followup experiment is definitely coming. By turning off the light for more than 12 hours, you are making the plants run on empty. 5) Chlorophyll isnt produced/active in the dark and existing chlorophyll begins to break down. Help needed for total beginner's first outdoor harvest looking bad, retrieve your One of their discoveries has been that to keep the ripe plants in the dark before harvesting could increase their potency.SIMM's growers separated a crop of mature plants, harvested half of them and kept the other half in absolute darkness for 72 hours before cutting and drying. Most experienced cultivators have tried not flushing before harvest, which has caused them to experience first-hand the glaring difference in quality of the yield .You see, during the growing cycle, your plants store excess amounts of nutrients, salts and other compounds. Without them, there would be no taste, no cannabinoids, and, most importantly, no high. The cannabinoids contained in weed help to protect the whole plant from damage caused by UV rays. 107. 48 hours before harvest Mere days away from harvesting your ripe buds, two final techniques stand between you and success. Free when ordered products value is above 75,00, Wednesday, 08 March and Monday, 13 March 2023*, HST And LST Techniques For Training Your Cannabis Plants, Using LED Grow Lights To Maximise Cannabis Yields, Flush cannabis plants to prevent nutrient lockout, Give cannabis plants 2448 hours of total darkness, Top 10 High Yielding Feminized Cannabis Strains. Trichome goes through four distinct stages of development. All VIP members get gold boxes and exclusives FREE! https://www.patreon.com/iCanTHC Co. If you see that your trichomes are starting to turn, youll want a cycle of between twenty-four and forty-eight hours to really maximize the potency of the plant that you are growing. Just make sure you keep temperature and humidity balanced during the dark phase to prevent any last-minute bud rot or mould. Some links on this site will earn me a small commission if you click on them and eventually buy something from Amazon. The Perpetual Harvest: Grow Unlimited Weed. It's at this crucial transition that you can make some straightforward adjustments to kick-start trichome production. Check out my other side-by-side cannabis growing experiments. Giving the roots room to spread out will help a lot. as above its more to dry them out before they are cut down, after 60-70 days of 12-12 i dont think 24/48hrs will change anything imo. JavaScript is disabled. I took this from another forum, forgive me. They say that there is no additional benefit from more than 48 hours. Like I mentioned, after I get the kinks out of growing ( I've made a lot of mistakes during my first grow ) by doing a few grows first; me being me, I will probably give this idea a try, just for curiosity sake. Heres the logic: cannabis begins to flower when nights become longer and longer. * Interview with James Burton, 1st version of dutch medical cannabis 1993 2003. 48 Hour Dark Period Prior to Harvest 7,540. The best reason for extending the dark peroid for a few days would be to save on power. By subjecting the plants to extended darkness, the theory is that the plant will have as much of these desired compounds as possible at the time of harvest. People claim this increases THC or makes the plants more "frosty". Has anyone tried 7 days in the dark, prior to harvest? The most common tactic is to place your plants in total darkness for 3 days before harvest. True or not i dont know. Although this does admittedly seem unlikely, there are plenty of sources out there that talk about this study. We won't go into the specifics of each one; just make sure you follow the manufacturers dosing recommendations to get the best results. My passion for the sticky icky started nearly a decade ago, and it all began when I first laid my eyes on the beauty that is the marijuana plant. The girls are ready two plus weeks of flushing is done . The veg stage has gone off without a hitch, and your cannabis plants are ready to make the switch to flowering. Pay attention to the growth of trichomes on the plant and make sure that you keep it in the dark for 48 hours before harvest. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Why Do Weed Plants Need Darkness? - Growing Marijuana World In fact, you would never make it to the flowering phase without suitable levels of both, so why change either 23 weeks from harvest? When you visit a website or use a mobile application, a computer asks your computer or mobile device for permission to store this file on your computer or mobile device and access information. I have read that this makes the trich production increase and the buds swell more, but also that 36 hours may be best so you don't run into mold problems. This is the reason that I always want to see some kind of scientific reason behind these ideas. 1 Spraying Buds Before Harvest: Powdery Mildew Remedy? Is 24/36/48 hours not enough? With a well-established nutrient routine and one (or several) well-positioned lights, your cannabis plants are going from strength to strength. All Content Copyright 1993-2023 420 Magazine All Rights Reserved. 1.3 Avoiding Powdery Mildew In The First Place 1.4 What to Do if You Find Mildew On Your Buds Before Harvest 1.4.1 Cut Off The Infected Buds 1.4.2 Hydrogen Peroxide Spray 1.4.3 Heat Blast 1.4.4 RF Treatment - YouTube 0:00 / 5:17 Sign in to confirm your age This video may be inappropriate for some users. 420growist.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites. 2) Darkness increases terpene production. [Checklist] Get Prepared to Start Growing Indoors. By subjecting plants to 48 hours of total darkness right before harvest, some growers believe it stresses the plant into thinking it's missed its chance to flower as nights start becoming longer. An extended dark period right before harvest might very well increase THC content. I have 2 White Widows and a Purple Hawk currently that are getting close to harvest and I was thinking of giving this a try with one of my white Widows. Its never a bad idea to look for ways to enhance your cannabis harvest. Check out my other side-by-side cannabis growing experiments, Check out more side-by-side cannabis growing experiments. The idea of using a dark period to increase THC before harvest warrants some investigation. Its hard for me to believe a dark period could increase the THC this much on a consistent basis. Maybe Ill think up some other similar tests. Be informed before you purchase. Keeping your plants in the dark for 48 hours before a harvest helps to increase the production in the trichomes and thus increases the overall potency of your marijuana crop. no thats why we are here and not in a lab, do i have a few gadgets and books that may make think iam one my wife always reminds me that i got no phd on science and if the plant knows the end is near it prepares its self for the last meal and shuts down photosintesys this is why you way thill plant is rippen think about it Ive heard as much and trust it as testable science. So the best time for harvest is early morning. more info. johnb1963 I would recommend the 48 hrs anything more you would be chancing an issue with mold specially if your not using the proper technique ..what Rwise meant was 24 hours would be a safe window of darkness without having issues with mold starting.i my self stop watering a week before I transfer the plant to darkness helps with resin profile These 2 cannabis plants are close to harvest. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 48 hrs of dark and no water - Marijuana Growing & Cannabis Forum We would like your permission to use your data for the following purposes: The functional cookies ensure that our website functions properly. drilled holes one time. There were no control plants. One explanation of why dark before harvest improves the quality of weed is that mild stress may increase the production of resin in buds. My cannabis seedling leaves are stuck together, what do I do? Now, as far as comparing a 24 hour, 48 hour, and 72 hour darkness period goes, it does appear that the longer this darkness period is, the greater the effect will be. Just some good info I haven't seen on this site before, some pot plants are purple if yours are they can see uv light therefore I could only guess That the plants would hermie if you are exposing them to light they can see during sleep hours. I do 48-72 hours of darkness before I cut. Will 24 hours of darkness suffice? | International Cannagraphic There exists today - to my knowledge - no evidence for this. Many people require braces to Our team has a decade of growing experience, we created 420Growist to share our wealth of experience to help both new and experienced growers. Germination of seeds is illegal in many countries. I would like to ask a question about creasing branches or drilling a hole in the trunk of plant to increase or boost resin production?