My Top Tips for Preparing To Flower Your Indoor Crops

We all love to switch our grow timers from 18 hours down to 12 hours of light. It means that soon your plants will be producing those frosty, juicy and terpy buds full of resin and cannabinoids. If you are new to growing cannabis indoors, then this article will provide you with some valuable tips that will help you progress smoothly through the flowering period.

Tip #1 – Get Ready to Lower the Humidity Levels

The warm and humid vegetative days are about to end, and the flowering period begins. You will need to lower the humidity in the grow space to 40-50%. Dehumidifiers are the easiest way to remove excess moisture from the air, especially during the colder months. Use a digital hygrometer to see the exact temperature and humidity levels 24 hours a day.

Tip #2 – Distance of the Grow Light

For your plants to receive optimal PAR levels, keep the grow light approximately 18-24 inches above the canopy. You will need to adjust the grow light over the coming weeks, so I recommend hanging it on a chain with metal hooks or using the elastic yo-yo devices, which are cheap and easy to use.

Tip #3 – Flowering Nutrients

The nutrients your plants receive during the flowering period will significantly impact final yield, aroma, and taste. Prepare all required nutrients in advance and purchase extras to avoid running out. You’ll be surprised at how many nutrients you use and how quickly the bottles can be reduced. 

Tip #4 – Buy Bamboo Canes for Support

Colas form on cannabis plants during the flowering period, and in some cases can become so large that they begin to topple over. I am sure this is a good problem for a grower to have; however, on a serious note, it can promote mould and run the risk of snapped branches. Buy a set of bamboo canes online and place them around the edge of your pots like the numbers on a clock. I like to add 6-9 canes in my pots and tie the side branches up before 12/12.

Tip #5 – Prepare for the Stretch

Cannabis plants will stretch and rapidly increase in height and stature during the first 3-4 weeks of bloom. Ensure there is enough room for stretching cannabis plants to grow upward without the top node exceeding the grow light. Sativa-dominant hybrids tend to stretch the most, whilst autoflower seeds stretch the least due to their genetic makeup.

Tip #6 – Great Time to Take Clones

I am a big fan of pruning my plants down to one node before flowering, which makes an excellent time to take plenty of healthy clones. I recommend taking clones before inducing flowering and keeping them under a low-intensity grow light. Hence, you have infant plants ready for the next harvest.

Tip #7 – Do All the Plant Training During 18/6

Training cannabis plants is advantageous when enhancing the structure and yield capability. However, it is best to perform plant training techniques during the vegetation stage and to avoid any training during 12/12. Many growers prefer to strip and prune the lower growth shoots during the stretching phase. If you strip to one node and flower, you do not need to do any pruning afterwards.

Tip #8 – Clean the Grow Room

Take the plants out of your grow space, and sweep the floor and clean the sides of the tent with bleach and hot water. Remove any dead leaves or soil from the floor and wipe down any oscillating fans that have dust on them.

Tip #9 – Heaters

You will want to aim for a light-on temperature of 75°F and a light-off temperature of 64°F. During winter, we can experience cold room temperatures. Hence, the easiest way to keep the temperature in the optimal zone is to use a heater. There are gas, electric, floor-cable, and air-conditioning units available that can help keep your grow room warm over winter.

My Final Thoughts

The flowering stage is where all the magic happens, so the better prepared you are now, the more success you will have on the road to harvesting. Keeping your grow space as clean and sterile as possible will pay off massively and reduce the risk of insects and pests. 

I always recommend having plenty of nutrients to prevent running out, and buying an EC pen for checking the nutrient solution, a digital pH pen, and a digital hygrometer. Good luck with your plants’ flowering!

Feature photo: A large SOG setup of flowered cannabis plants. Photo credit: Bill Sutherland.