Harvest & Curing Flushing at the right time ??

[Willtech]

Hi Guys ,
I'm questioning myself whether I've started flushing too early on a couple of my plants . I'm going to flush for 2 weeks using "flawless finish" by AN . Over 40 % pistills are orange but only 75% trichs are cloudy with very little amber . I don't want sleep medicine as the final result if I can help it so I thought starting flushing now will be the right time .. am I wrong and made a mistake ? Bearing in mind they have another 2 weeks of water . What exactly happens during the pure water phase ? Do they keep fattening or just use up the nutes in the soil to maintain themselves?
I can start back on nutes on them quite easily tonight for another week or two if that's what they need ..
what do you think?EDIT-it's Think Different
I can't give you a macro shot I'm afraid as don't have a camera like that.
Does this look like it would be ready in 2 weeks?

Go easy,
W.

 

[BII]

During this "flushing," the plants starve for nutrients, digest/burn their stored sugars and nutrients, including sucking leaves dry. [Maybe that makes remaining buds look bigger, adds more color, or there is some other reason why people "flush."]. I don't flush, but 2 weeks seems longer than most do it -- a week?

There are many, like myself, who see no reason or benefit to starving the plants, particularly in their last days, when you want a last burst of resin production as the plant realizes its about to die. I just don't see how removing nutes from media/soil can result in meaningful removal of anything from the fluids or cells of resin-rich buds. That is a very long distance to expect a diffusion/concentration gradient to result in salts removal from bud's cells well-protected within cellulose fibers and resin. I feed my plants to the very last day.

But "flushing" is a super common legacy (long in use) process. It's hard to go against that. And in that context, you can't really do much wrong by flushing.

 

[Willtech]

During this "flushing," the plants starve for nutrients, digest/burn their stored sugars and nutrients, including sucking leaves dry. [Maybe that makes remaining buds look bigger, adds more color, or there is some other reason why people "flush."]. I don't flush, but 2 weeks seems longer than most do it -- a week?

There are many, like myself, who see no reason or benefit to starving the plants, particularly in their last days, when you want a last burst of resin production as the plant realizes its about to die. I just don't see how removing nutes from media/soil can result in meaningful removal of anything from the fluids or cells of resin-rich buds. That is a very long distance to expect a diffusion/concentration gradient to result in salts removal from bud's cells well-protected within cellulose fibers and resin. I feed my plants to the very last day.

But "flushing" is a super common legacy (long in use) process. It's hard to go against that. And in that context, you can't really do much wrong by flushing.

 

[Willtech]

Hi Bill,
Great in depth reply . Thanks. Once I posted I kinda realised I answered my own question and was doubting myself . I don't know if I agree with not flushing at all(I just don't have enough experience) but it definitely feels wrong to me to stop feeding at this point as they are packing on weight . What I'm worried about is overshooting the harvest point and ending up with a CBD rich plant with less THC. It's only my second grow and last time only one plant out of the 4 I did actually got me proper stoned . This was because I was premature in chopping them down. It wasn't through choice however, I had bud rot starting so cut my losses and chopped them. This time round they are looking really nice and potent.
Would a week flush suffice do you think? Do you notice a taste difference between a flushed plant and a non flushed plant ? Automatics are on such a strict time schedule it would be a shame for me to lose an ounce over the 3 plants for something that isn't really that worthwhile ..
go easy,
W

 

[Willtech]

Anyone else want to chip in here ? I'm really keen to know what thoughts are on flushing . I'm not too great at using the search function on this forum as every time I type in a keyword like "flushing " it comes back with zero results ..
I've just fed them again anyway until I figure it out so there's no panic . Worst that will happen is I don't flush and feed them up until harvest .
I thought not flushing would end up with a brutal tasting product ? If that isn't the case then I'm a happy camper as I can just feed until my perfect level of trichs.

 

[Corgy]

https://www.autoflower.net/index.php/2016/11/16/flushing-the-myth-that-will-not-die-by-pop22/

 

[BII]

You can do a compromise, which an Adv. Nutrients rep. once told me should do 'flushing' rather well. Just feed until very close, a few days from harvest, do the "Flawless Finish" chemical-assisted flushing, and feed water or just let it dry for the next days before it's ready, is at the stage you want.

 

[Willtech]

Cheers guys ,
I was going off info I found somewhere else . Not flushing for so long really helps me pick the right time for harvest . I was stressing about trying to work out how far ripe the colas would be in 2 weeks time .. pretty difficult having never grown this strain before .
The flawless finish I received for free from a hydro shop along with loads of other nutes because I returned a £500 heater they accidentally sent to me instead of someone else .. may as well use it.
Obligatory pic .
Thanks again,
W.

 

[Willtech]

That's a good read man.. thanks for posting .
I'm certain what I need to do now .. beef em up @Corgy