need advice on flushing.

[Mushrooms201]

I am getting closer to my first outdoor harvest, I have 3 plants: one unknown, lemon haze and blueberry.

I have been reading for the past hour or so and have found that flushing is more involved than I had thought. I know that there are different opinions and approaches but any insights are appreciated.


I am most concerned with taste and avoiding the couch locked feeling, I of course would like to have some decent THC levels also.

I have been using fox farms as scheduled for the most part,

Was wondering what most people thought about molasses and / or diluted lemon juice.

It seems that a cleansing solution would be ideal but am currently tight on cash, is there a cost effective alternative?

As I don't want to harvest to late, when do you think I should start the flush? the plants are in 5-10 gallon buckets in soil. I was trying to avoid buying a microscope but am thinking if I want the best results I might need one.

I was also wondering if one could harvest in 3 or four intervals so that I could experience a strain at different maturities, anyone done this?

[kcmoxtractor]

I have heard of people doing the staggered harvest outdoor, doesn't sound like a bad idea.

Turbinado sugar works well as an alternative to molasses, but molasses has additional nutrients besides just sugar. Lemon Juice will probably make your pH too low. Use about 1tbsp of sugar in a gallon of water.

I usually flush for two weeks, twice the volume of the pot in water each time. Another important thing to do when flushing is cut your plants before the sun comes up and they start photosynthesis.

Buy a microscope or magnifying glass. You have enough herb to make it worth your investment. You have came this far, why mess up now?

[MMJ]

Originally Posted by Mushrooms201

I am getting closer to my first outdoor harvest, I have 3 plants: one unknown, lemon haze and blueberry.

I have been reading for the past hour or so and have found that flushing is more involved than I had thought. I know that there are different opinions and approaches but any insights are appreciated.


I am most concerned with taste and avoiding the couch locked feeling, I of course would like to have some decent THC levels also.

I have been using fox farms as scheduled for the most part,

Was wondering what most people thought about molasses and / or diluted lemon juice.

It seems that a cleansing solution would be ideal but am currently tight on cash, is there a cost effective alternative?

As I don't want to harvest to late, when do you think I should start the flush? the plants are in 5-10 gallon buckets in soil. I was trying to avoid buying a microscope but am thinking if I want the best results I might need one.

I was also wondering if one could harvest in 3 or four intervals so that I could experience a strain at different maturities, anyone done this?

SWIM is @ same point (PRE-FLOWER) buds on Blueberries. (Let the stink & stick begin!)

you should be fine by flushing 1.5 weeks before you chop any buds.
A MAGNIFY glass is a must so you see the TRICS. When they go from white to 40% amber cut some bud not all, plant will continue 2 grow, then 50%, 60%, 90%, then 1 @ 100%
Next time, You know by 1st hand experince each perfecto time to pick 4 the next grow & u can help the next "Joe".

[Mushrooms201]

KC will do molasses, thanks

MMJ like your idea of progressive harvest so that I know how I like it in the future.

[ShroomGuerilla]

I personally do not use molasses during flush.
Molasses is good to use before flushing to give your
plant the extra carbs it needs to bulk up and ooze resin.
As a flushing agent, molasses does nothing to aid the process.

Flushing is not rocket science.
You follow your regular feed schedule
and then a week before harvest you just give it water.

There are products you can buy that help leech built-up nutes,
but all-in-all you dont really need them.

Just water. IMO.

[MMJ]

this may help..
Trichomes are the small resin glands found on your buds. The trichomes are quite small, so you will need a pocket-microscope to see them well. watch the progression of the trichomes from a clear color, to a milky translucent color, to slightly amber. Not all trichomes will mature at the same time, but you will want to harvest when most of the trichomes have become the milky color. Amber trichomes are fine, but high concentrations of amber trichomes will tend to get you stoned, while high concentrations of milky trichomes will get you high. A good ratio is ideal.

Originally Posted by Mushrooms201

I am getting closer to my first outdoor harvest, I have 3 plants: one unknown, lemon haze and blueberry.

I have been reading for the past hour or so and have found that flushing is more involved than I had thought. I know that there are different opinions and approaches but any insights are appreciated.


I am most concerned with taste and avoiding the couch locked feeling, I of course would like to have some decent THC levels also.

I have been using fox farms as scheduled for the most part,

Was wondering what most people thought about molasses and / or diluted lemon juice.

It seems that a cleansing solution would be ideal but am currently tight on cash, is there a cost effective alternative?

As I don't want to harvest to late, when do you think I should start the flush? the plants are in 5-10 gallon buckets in soil. I was trying to avoid buying a microscope but am thinking if I want the best results I might need one.

I was also wondering if one could harvest in 3 or four intervals so that I could experience a strain at different maturities, anyone done this?

[whatchamacallit]

Originally Posted by Mushrooms201

KC will do molasses, thanks

MMJ like your idea of progressive harvest so that I know how I like it in the future.

Yes, SWIM would water with 1 Tbsp of blackstrap (unsuplhured) molasses per gallon of water, all the way through the life cycle, and make sure the pH is adjusted to the proper level (6.2-6.8, with 6.5 being the sweet spot, in soil).

This will provide a good flush, and if you notice, the only thing that is included in clearex or those final phase products is (sucrose) or other types of sugar. You can use turbinado cane sugar crystals if you are worried about nutrients in the molasses, but it's exactly what is in Sweet by Botanicare (molasses- the berry has magnesium and the citrus has added iron), and can be used all the way to harvest.

I believe it increases resin production and bulks up the buds, as well. My buddy never had anything but the most pure organic sweet flavor of cannabis, using Sweet throughout the entire cycle, so don't be afraid to use the molasses and pH adjusted water, for a flush, for at least 2 weeks before harvest. (His total nutes were -- Pure Blend Original, Liquid Karma, Sweet {Sweet even during the flush for the last 2 weeks}, and pH adjusted water, grown in Fox Farms Ocean forest potting soil, all 100% organic). And, if you are extra worried, then just use 1 tsp per gallon, although, 1Tbsp has worked excellent for SWIM.

One can flush with just plain pH adjusted water, but all the clearing solutions are some sort of sugar, and the carbohydrates help the plant use the extra food stored in the plant, making it draw all the unused salts in the plant into forming more resin glands and swelling the calyxes with resin, since they are not filled with seeds. Since the smell and taste comes primarily from the resin and trichomes, the plants seem to often ooze resin and be incredibly smelly and potent, being the most desireable nuggets ever, especially when dried and cured to the perfect dryness/moisture consistency, with smooth smoke, and pure cannabis flavor, without a hint of bite or burn.

By harvest time for SWIM, the larger fan leaves have all turned fall colors, from yellow, to various shades of reddish maroon or purple, and this signifies that it has used up most of the plants mobile nutrients, including nitrogen, which is very important, or else your pot can come out smelling/tasting like piss, and being harsh, plus sizzles and crackles when lit.

The yellow and shriveling of lower fan leaves indicates the plant is drawing those nutrients from those parts of the plant to use in the growing tips and, therefore, using up all stored plant foods, increasing the smoothness and smoke-ability of the end product. This coupled with proper drying, like Hippie's or DJ Shorts paper bag tek for curing, will create the smoothest, tastiest, wonderful smelling, pot that you could possibly grow.

BTW, BS molasses can be found in most grocery stores or way cheaper, in bulk, at animal feed stores. It also provides added magnesium, calcium, potassium and iron, which can be added with cal mag plus, but is not organic, however the bs molasses has these, and is organic.

[Mushrooms201]

Thanks all for the advice.

another question as trichomes are not water soluble and fertilizers are (i think). if one was growing a plant just to make hash could one continue with heavy fertilizers clear though the grow cycle? Then to a bubble bag type system, or was the hash once harvested? If my thinking is correct then I would think this might increase yield without affecting quality...

[whatchamacallit]

The fertilizer taste will still come through in the hash, unfortunately. SWIM has smoked hash from improperly flushed plants and the hash was just as harsh and poor tasting and improperly flushed/dried/cured pot.