Flushing organics?

[Builder0101]

1st harvest. 3.5 Quarts of bud from Tangerine Dream Auto from Growers Choice Seeds.
The other .5 quart is a Cream Auto that was a runt that was crowded in a pot with her big sister. Big sister is going to be at least 1/2 lb.

Ok here is my question. I am thinking of flushing my next plant. She is a Critical Purple from Growers Choice. Organic grow. She is a week or 10 days from harvest. Maybe more. Hairs are 1/2 brown. Trichs are mostly clear with some cloudy. I'd like to get some fall color out of her. Other than that I have no real reason for wanting to try a flush.

Input greatly appreciated.

Thank you my brothers and sisters.

 

[Proph]

Congrats on the harvest!! Nice work!! Im a little confused though... If it was an organic grow, what were you feeding it that needs to be flushed? Organic grows are basically water only with some top dressing and teas here and there.. There's nothing to "flush out". If you are wanting a "fade" and are growing organically, it should happen naturally because you should only be using water only for the last 3-4 weeks. It takes weeks for a plant to "fade". A "fade" is when the plant starts to feed on the stored up food in its leaves as it nears the end of life. Depending on how "green" the leaves are currently, that could take anywhere from 1-4 weeks for a full plant fade.

 

[Builder0101]

I understand. but I can continue teas right up to harvest.

 

[Proph]

I understand. but I can continue teas right up to harvest.

Teas are considered feeding in the organic world.. So that would be feeding the plant up until harvest. If you want to see a fade of some sort, you will want the plant to start feeding off of its leaves, not off of the soil. So water only. But again, depending on how much time is left before harvest, you may only see it on a few leaves, and maybe not at all. With autos, I start water only as soon as the pistils start to die off.. Often even sooner.

 

[Builder0101]

@Proph Right. I sit astride 2 philosophies. I know I have to try it both ways see what works for me. I guess I want to give them every opportunity to make cannabinoids. Starving them in the end seems like it would deprive them of their potential. I am going to emulate you on this one and water only for the last 2 weeks. I am pretty sure I have that much time. Would you give them anything? Molasses...
Also PH or no. My tap is 8.5-9.

 

[Proph]

@Proph Right. I sit astride 2 philosophies. I know I have to try it both ways see what works for me. I guess I want to give them every opportunity to make cannabinoids. Starving them in the end seems like it would deprive them of their potential. I am going to emulate you on this one and water only for the last 2 weeks. I am pretty sure I have that much time. Would you give them anything? Molasses...
Also PH or no. My tap is 8.5-9.

No worries..I've been in your seat before. I had to do the same thing before I understood organics and chose to go that route.. At some point you have to pull back and view it as what it is.. A plant.. So if you think of it at its basic level.. With 3-4 weeks to go, there is no way to "starve" the plant.. If your organic soil is active and alive, THAT is what you are "starving" by using water only for the last few weeks.. The soil, not the plant. Using water only to run off for the last few weeks will lower the microbe life.. That microbe life is breaking down the organic matter in the soil, which in turn, makes the organic nutrients in the soil available to the plant. Once that microbe activity stops, and the bacteria/fungi numbers get lower, so does the amount of nutrients becoming available. Once the soil is depleted of most microbe/fungi/bacteria life, the plant will start to feed on the leaves.. That's where the "fade" comes from. The leaves get lighter green, then yellow or some times purple or black as the plant feeds on the leaves. Those leaves have been storing food since the day they appeared. That's why I say it depends on how long you use water only. If the leaves are dark green or a nearly green, they are full of food for the plant and will take longer to fade. If your organic soil is alive and active, the only way to starve the plant is to completely stop watering the plant after all of the leaves have faded.. But you will harvest any plant long before that can happen..

Molasses increases microbes and helps them multiply, on top of a long list of other things. So adding it now will continue to help feed the soil, which will in turn, feed the plant. That's why it's "water only" for any sort of "flush". You're not trying to add things into the medium with a "flush".

If you're grow has been organic, there has never been a need to ph anything. If your soil is alive and active, the ph is being kept in check by the rhizosphere. The soil rhizosphere will correct the ph by itself if ever needed. I don't ph anything in my organic grows (because I know the soil is active and alive). Ph is intended for people who use chemical/synthetic nutes or grow in soilless mediums. When you think organic, think nature.. If it happens in nature, I try to have that happen in my tent. No ph'ing in nature, no ph'ing in my tent, lol.

 

[Builder0101]

Thanks. Confirms everything I have done to date. It will be easier to start giving one just water. Less to think about