Cannabis plants increase resin production at night. 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. As for smell, my plants always smell great just before waking up for the sun. Then, during the nighttime, the cannabis plant produces and stores as many cannabinoids as possible to ready itself for yet another day of warding off the sun. #2. I read this is Jorge Cervantes growing bible and most of this literature is very useful, but the 48 of darkness allows floored me. Then, you want to apply an oil-based, semitransparent stain in order to protect the material from the sun's ultraviolet rays, which can cause the wood to fade or turn gray over time. Some terps evaporate off each day, but many of the lost terps are replaced as long as the plant is still metabolizing. Guest Sky420, January 19, 2014. After all, during the flowering stage, your plant is already getting 12 hours of darkness each day. 4) Sugars/starches recede from the plant to the root zone while in dark cycle resulting in a better tasting/burning bud. I think we're better. I have 4 White Widows Autoflowers roughly 6 weeks out from harvest and I'm attempting to time everything really nice; as far as getting ready for harvest and deciding on a dark period. Of course, cannabis plants didn't evolve over thousands of years only to develop trichomes so we could smoke or vape them. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You'll still need to subject your buds to a thorough drying and curing, but what you hold in your hands should be the most trichome-loaded haul of your marijuana growing career. How will you know if it's beneficial though ? The biggest watch-out with UV-B is the damage it can cause to both plant and grower. To get rid of these unwanted substances (and the chlorophyll) growers slowly dry and cure their buds for several weeks. Its a good practice for sure to cut during the dark cycle to gaurantee she hasnt sucked anything up during a day time chop. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. If youre looking for a more potent blend, youre going to need to undertake a dark cycle to create more potent trichomes. i have also heard the heat and light almost bake the terpenes(spellcheck) and they recover in the dark thats why they smell soo much more. There were no control plants. the breakdown and flushing of chlorophyll before harvest huh? Giving the roots room to spread out will help a lot. growingpain5 brings up some valid points hes read based on the plants biology. Ill go over them. One theory here, to make your weed as strong as possible, is to keep it in the dark for a few days prior to harvest but is this whole darkness before harvest theory actually true? , Great advice. Both rolanterroy and medicineman note that these techniques are more productive on inidicas and mostly indica hybrids said: .So are you saying that the buds experience a stretch and this will not be favorable to fluffier sativa like buds? Creating Cannabis Awareness Since 1993. After all, not all of us like smelling Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Has anyone tried 7 days in the dark, prior to harvest? In theory, the darkness before harvest just stresses the plant which in turn will make the plant think it's near the end of it's life, if the plant has not be pollinated then it will increase resin production to make itself more sticky to get male pollen to stick to it. You'll need 15 uncured buds of the same strain in your Sim's inventory before you can cure them. Does Weed Tea Smell Strongly? It may not display this or other websites correctly. Just by picking the right strain, yields can be improved dramatically. more infoIf you like smoking weed, but you also want to take care of your teeth, then you have a choice to make. Perhaps it was natural variation between the buds. With a well-established nutrient routine and one (or several) well-positioned lights, your cannabis plants are going from strength to strength. The later on in the season it gets, the more flowers the female weed plant produces in the hopes of being pollinated. Pics do not lie. You will not see any real benefit keeping your plants in the dark for the last 3 days. I also like to keep watering my plants as usual up until the day of harvest. Extending the dark period is even better. Whats the science/reasoning behind it and are there any other pre-harvest tips/tricks I should incorporate like not watering, lowering temps, etc.? On the basis of this information we can make our website more user-friendly. I also tried the "nothing but water" flush while growing hydro. I'm no scientist but I hope my experience with the subject helps. It (THC) reaches the peak at the end of the dark period (night), and then cannabinoids get partly degraded by light during the day., 1) Darkness increases resin production Hi ,this little old poem is about Stressing ____ Your wife your dog and the Walnut tree the better you beat em the better they be_____. And one more thing: some growers use shorter days and longer nights (like 11/13 flowering light cycle). 1978). No difference. Unpollinated female plants keep increasing the mass of flowers in hopes that at least some of them manage to catch pollen. 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. Although the evidence is not 100% there, it is safe to assume that having a darkness period of at least two days prior to harvest may increase both THC and terpene levels in your weed. Hummm,,,not sure about that. While that sounds reasonable, I think it would take a lot longer than 24-48 hrs. Such a response could hardly have evolved because in nature no one turns off the sun for several days in a row. 5 Effective Ways to Prevent Cannabis Hay Smell After Harvest. What I have heard has nothing to do with trichomes I heard that by turning off the lights, your basically turning off the plant and some of the nutrients and chlorophyll in the plants settle to the roots. Beginner Grow Guide is a participant in the Amazon Associates affiliate program. At night, those compounds travel back down to the roots where they are stored until the next day. And dont think that the usefulness of darkness before harvest is a myth. You don't want to expose weed plants to excessive amounts of UV-B any earlier than 23 weeks into their development. Terpenes and other secondary metabolites form mainly during the dark cycle. Wow! 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. About to drop a Strawberry Glue. Now, lets keep in mind that while this is a real organization, finding the actual study is not possible. Can I still harvest her buds? In cases like a looming assignment, the stressor isn't endlessyou know the situation is coming, and you know when it will end. I personally do 36-48 hours of dark then chop. 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. Now sugars and starches arent something that improves the quality of the smoke. However, if we had to offer a final bonus piece of advice, it would, of course, be to harvest buds at the optimal time. Trichomes make up that little fuzzy layer on top of the plant that film that almost looks like frost and that usually carries a fairly strong aroma. Water with ice-cold water Another largely unsubstantiated claim, but one that has grown in popularity over the years watering cannabis plants with ice-cold water. And although scientific research is lacking on the topic, the theory is that trichomes help protect cannabis plants from UV rays, so increasing exposure may thereby increase trichome production. Seems that would happen better with lights on,,but im not a Botanist. The most common tactic is to place your plants in total darkness for 3 days before harvest. In fact, you would never make it to the flowering phase without suitable levels of both, so why change either 23 weeks from harvest? How to Grow Different Cannabis Strains Together. By encouraging a weed plant to activate its defences, we can increase resin production, and thus cannabinoid and terpene production. 1.1 What is Powdery Mildew On Buds? What makes cannabis buds harsh to smoke? Readers with grow questions (or answers) should send them to Ed at: Ask Ed, PMB 147, 530 Divisadero St., San Francisco, California 94117, USA. Ive even heard a grower say that you should put nails through the main stem to scare your plant. hcking123 5 yr. ago Hmm, harvest before lights come on. The girls are ready two plus weeks of flushing is done . When you cut a plant and hang it upside down in a dark closet to dry, it doesnt mean that the plant is dead. As a grower, always ensure you wear protective glasses and clothing to limit the impact on your eyes and skin. Any ideas on how to do this outdoor as I have 9 growing in my backyard, and willing to test it out. If anything it'll make it easier to trim and dry better. All of that being said, youre now probably wondering how a darkness period before the harvest helps to increase THC levels. Instead, a few simple changes throughout the vegetative and flowering stages can maximise trichome production, helping your resinous buds reach their full potential. The more sunlight there is, the more cannabinoids will degrade over the course of the day as they battle against the UV rays. I have no idea if this is true or not This is the dilemma Im in. 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 Very very interesting stuff! Harvesting without proper flushing will produce buds that contain the minerals and nutrients you were adding to the water. I harvested buds off these two plants from before and after giving them a 3-day dark period. no water, sometimes i let it get really cold depending on humidity. Its not like theres only some weak anecdotal evidence to support it. Or some unknown factor. Essentially, the idea is to shock your plant in the days leading up to harvest in hopes of increasing the potency of your buds. One aspect of trichome production in cannabis is protection against chromosomal mutation and DNA damage caused by UV light, particularly UVC by shading the surface area of the leaf and flower lessoning UVA, UVB and UVC light penetration. However, if you block the cookies, you may not be able to enjoy all the technical features our website has to offer and this may negatively impact your user experience. The question of God and other objects-of-faith are outside reason and play no part in rationalism, thus you don't have to waste your time in either attacking or defending. Its common knowledge that the content of THC and other cannabinoids fluctuates. https://www.patreon.com/iCanTHC Co. (For the Biggest/Fastest Yields), Nebulas Guide to Cannabis Auto-Flowering Strains (2023). I don't think a lot of people say this is a good thing to do . Rumors! Dont forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter to get updates on my current experiments before theyre published on the website! Red hair = lower bag appeal wear I come from so I would advise against this method if this is a concern to you. Is there anything you can do right before harvest to increase THC or bud quality in marijuana plants? I think I will let the res go dry and then top water Nice :), Transplanting them is a good idea. Community Software by Invision Power Services, Inc. What do people think on this 24-48hr dark period. Harvest too late, and cannabinoids like THCA will start to degrade into CBNA. I would like to know because im not understanding whats going to happen in that small amount of time with lights off that wouldnt happen better with lights on. ", Be careful plants that have purple choroform can see uv light. We won't go into the specifics of each one; just make sure you follow the manufacturers dosing recommendations to get the best results. Did it work for you? Although exactly how increased stress levels cause higher levels of resin to be produced in buds is not known for sure, it is still a leading theory nonetheless. Its the same as with cannabinoids. Thanks for the great info @jmystro, incredibly helpful. Essentially, the idea is to "shock" your plant in the days leading up to harvest in hopes of increasing the potency of your buds. Finally, consider lining the grow room or tent with reflective material to improve overall coverageit's a lot cheaper than running supplementary lighting. Its also possible that harvesting half the plant increased THC in the remaining buds, and it had nothing to do with the darkness. This was always a head scratcher, but now its clear to be an old wise tale. Heard of it but never heard of any research proving it's effective. 600W MH/HPS Cannabis Grow Setup & Tutorial, Fix Your Limiting Factor to Improve Yields, How Many Cannabis Plants Should I Grow? So the best time for harvest is early morning. PAR vs ePAR light meters: What is the difference? Darkness Before Harvest Lab Results: Are There Any? Don't forget that this stressor is one of many in our quest to increase trichome production, and you need to ensure each plant has sufficient time to recover. How Big Should My Plants Be After 2 Weeks? One explanation of why dark before harvest improves the quality of weed is that mild stress may increase the production of resin in buds. One theory here is that increased levels of stress, even small shocks to the cannabis plant, can temporarily increase THC production. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. by Grhode_Island | Sep 5, 2018 | Grower Questions | 8 comments. Conclusion: Should I Harvest In The Dark or Light? I use the same method that nuttso posted. I'm assuming you also dry in the dark.so basically, everyone is already doing this. Youd be fucking with her hormones that can do strange things like throw nanners with more than 3 days of darkness. You must log in or register to reply here. You'll want to give your cannabis plants an ice bath as close to harvest as possible. How much dark? 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. As mystro said, some terps evaporate off during the day, so chop them in the dark when levels are at their highest. Darkness helps marijuana plants replenish THC and terpenes. i though ph down is a chemical surely if ur flushing u dont wanna be puttting chems in your plant? I recently found a video comparing the cannabinoid contents of the same plant harvested in sections. Sign up for a new account in our community. I am not aware if uv light affect green leaf on marijuana but it sure does with the purps, Be careful plants that have purple choroform can see uv light. So the obvious choice is to harvest your weed before lights-on indoors, or at dawn outdoors. I try to keep it in the 61-55% range for as long as possible. The change tells plants that winter is coming and encourages them to put all their effort into flowering and trichome production (and therefore terpene and cannabinoid production) before it's too late. Shocking or injuring the plant is another theory that involves torturing the plant either by feeding it ice water or jabbing it with tacks or nails so it thinks that it will soon die and must produce more resin to attract male pollen. How long is enough? Darkness Before Harvest Theories: Does It Actually Work? Stress is an inevitable and often necessary reaction that not only helps us to focus, but can even increase stamina; a beneficial outcome when up against last-minute work deadlines. (Fans still on, bubbler etc.) you dont want them to hermie. I have seen a few people do this with great results.. They generally say the nugs were fire, but very long periods with no light also made the buds less solid. Interesting. iPower 24"x47"x59" Mylar Hydroponic Water-Resistant Grow Tent with Observation Window and Removable Floor Tray for Plants Seedling, Propagation, Blossom, EXLENVCE 1500W 1200W LED Grow Light Full Spectrum for Indoor Plants Veg and Flower,led Plant Growing Light Fixtures with Daisy Chain Function (Triple-Chips 15W LED), iPower GLFANXSETINLINE4D8RH 4 Inch 190 CFM Inline Fan Carbon Filter 8 Feet Ducting Combo with Humidity Monitor Grow Tent Ventilation, Grey. 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. * Seeds are sold as souvenirs. By this stage, buds are well-formed, and you should notice some branches bowing under the weight of all your hard work. The plant needs sugars and starches when it photosynthesizes. As for upping THC levels, I'd say that a superior smoking experience would give you the placebo effect of a higher THC content. There may be a whole week or twos extra buddage you are missing out on. I wonder if there is some other factor. However, this is a debatable idea within the cannabis growing community. Therefore, if you leave your plant in the dark for a few days before harvest, it should increase THC levels. When you leave weed in dark before harvest, make sure the soil is dry. Most browsers give you an explanation of how to do this in the so-called \help-function\. To increase trichome production, we need to apply the same principle to cannabis plants, subjecting them to several stressful but manageable situations. They say that there is no additional benefit from more than 48 hours. Register now to gain access to all of our features. 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. Harvesting and Curing; This Topic All Content; This Topic; This Forum; Advanced Search; Browse . I read somewhere That 48 hour dark period is designed to both increase resin production and THC content. (What Happens), 3 or 5 Gallon Pots For Autoflowers? By purchasing, you are indicating that you have reached the age of majority where you live, and are aware of your local laws. What Causes Cannabis Leaves to Get Dry or Crispy? It went something like that.It relates to old custom of beating Walnut trees with chains to improve cropping. The idea behind the dark period is to harvest with the most amount if trichomes on the buds. Such an exciting time to be a grower! First harvest ever. Note: As an Amazon Associate, GrowWeedEasy.com earns a commission from qualifying purchases. All the research, preparation, and cannabis care cannot outweigh the importance of choosing strains with proven genetics. It's time to harvest, of course! I really have never read this or done this. First, lower humidity means higher THC. Got a Sweet Zombie and a Northern Lights DWC in the dark right now. When the plant is in the dark it is using stored sugars to maintain it's life spark. This page seems popular on the internet so I'm going to try and update it with some scientific data. The rationale I've heard for this is a different version; that light destroys THC. Should I water plants before 48 hrs darkness before harvest? Naturally, a few dark days before harvest contribute to the higher concentration of terpenes in buds. Photoperiod marijuana plants progress through their life cycle according to changes in the light schedule. Anyone heard of this or practice this technique? Analytical cookies give us insight into how our website is used. Over a three day dark period I suspect youd end up with a net loss. Its vital that you know each of them so that you both understand how the plant works and how you can figure out when it is time to harvest. After 48 hours of darkness right before harvesting, it smelled WAY stronger then before the darkness. I personally saw a noticeable difference in trichome coverage and they bulked up a bit more. Yes. 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. then send in some samples to have them checked out. It's by focusing on the protective nature of trichomes that growers can enhance or increase their production. Use a natural bristle brush to apply fence stain. Take a plant(25% of your crop would give you a better ratio for an experiment) and put it in the the dark for two days, take pics before.