SisterMaryElephant wrote:In practice, curing makes a bigger difference than flushing, imho.

Definitely.

Final phase is a bottle of chilating agents. Chilation is a filtering process used in biochemistry, especially medicine. They're enzymes that claw onto molecules to neutralize them. In this case, it literally cleans the roots.

It's true AN oversell everything, but if they wanted us to buy and use more, they would recommend we keep using all their nute line-up until the end. Suggesting a 2 weeks flush (with or without chilation agents) is not financially advantageous for them.

The idea is that the chilation agents clean the roots, which forces the plants to empty the nute reserves out of the buds and leaves so that when it is harvested, it's been "cleansed"

It's perfectly logical, but as you say, in practicality, it might not make any noticeable difference for the user.

I know the theory of flushing but I just don't buy it based on my own results without flushing or with minimal flushing...

Not so logical in hydro, *maybe* a bit more logical in soil but I still wouldn't go 2 weeks. Flowers put on most of their weight in the last few weeks and you're basically suggesting starving them for 2+ weeks.

If you had two separate reservoirs I'd suggest trying both to compare but, as I said, you're only hurting your results with that long of a flush.

Why do you find it less logical in hydro?

Because soil buffers nutrients, most hydro mediums don't. Changes in pH or ppm show up in the plants very quickly in hydro and corrections happen quickly too.

The better question is how is it logical to starve a plant for two weeks while you're trying to get it to put on flower weight? It's not going to cannibalize itself and grow at the same time.

*I* wouldn't flush in soil for more than 3-5 days and not more than 48 hours in *DWC...but that's just me.

SisterMaryElephant wrote:The better question is how is it logical to starve a plant for two weeks while you're trying to get it to put on flower weight? It's not going to cannibalize itself and grow at the same time.

According to chromatography reports commissioned by AN and then subsequently released on their terrible blog, at the end of their life cycle, cannabis plants buffer nutes that accumulate within the buds. The idea is to flush out the nutes out of the buds, not the soil (again, according to AN), so then when you combust the plant, you do not inhale any residual additives or nutes. I do not combust so it would not even be affecting me.

AN claims mature buds buffer enough nutes for the last two weeks of their life cycle. By flushing the soil/res, it forces the plants to use up all the nutes stored in the buds (and leaves). When I called AN months ago to inquire about mixing, I asked about their Overdrive and Final Phase, and the guy on the phone said that if I flushed correctly, by the time I harvest, the fan leaves should be wilting and yellowing, as proof that they had been "sucked dry of their nutes."

While the chromatography reports supported their theory that residual additives and nutes are left behind in the buds, the idea they affect taste is purely subjective and is not even measurable. Unlike proper drying and curing, which is a demonstrable process in-vitro, and its benefits are measurable, chemically speaking.

Again, I know the theory of flushing. Smoother smoke, better taste...blah blah blah. I don't buy it.

Nonsense...at least partially.

Flushing DOES make the plant "use up" the chemicals/sugars inside but, as I said, soil buffers nutrients so it takes longer to flush in soil which is why it makes more sense in soil than hydro.

Look at other hydro grow journals here and look at the difference in flower formation during the last few weeks. They're not fully mature 2 weeks before harvest. Photosynthesis requires food and light. If you take away the food, growth slows or stops. When I do my last 24 hour *DWC flush, I don't even use the light either because there is no photosynthesis without food. I know growers that insist on flushing and they'll admit a loss of yield of 10% or more. If you're willing to stunt flower growth for theoretical flushing gains it's your choice but the real cons outweigh the theoretical pros imho.

If the plant is using up the nutrients stored in the plant, it's not growing, it's cannibalizing itself to try to live and even without flushing the plants will yellow and wilt towards the end of their life cycle. Again, the way to get smoother, better tasting product is in the cure not so much the flush.

Try running pure water in *DWC for 48 hours and see how it affects your plants health; then imagine starving them, 7 times longer, for 2 weeks. Once you get multiple flower rooms going you should try both if you have to see it for yourself...

SisterMaryElephant wrote:Try running pure water in *DWC for 48 hours and see how it affects your plants health; then imagine starving them, 7 times longer, for 2 weeks. Once you get multiple flower rooms going you should try both if you have to see it for yourself...

I'll be running all sorts of experiments later. Should be fun. That's why I want my own chromatographer.

Experimenting is a lot of fun!

You won't need one for that test. Plant abuse (and many corrections) can show up within hours in *DWC.

Day 83

The purple can be used creatively sometimes



Otherwise, things are looking normal.



I'm concerned about the length of a few branches... they're very tall, could they snap as the buds become big and expand?

Well, I'm gonna have to order that second chiller right now

Ever since I put in the bigger dehumidifier in, even a 20F differential between target temp and that of the water passing through the icebox isn't enough to handle the heat. I'm a little puzzled.

I'm gonna use the new 1/4 chiller to cool the water to the minimum temperature (40 I think) so then whenever the icebox comes on, the air coming out is icecold. The smaller 1/10hp chiller will simply cool the coil for the nute res. Later I can use that 1/10 hp chiller in a single loop to cool all the DWC res in all enclosures.

Hopefully I get at least 1lb out of this grow, this is starting to get very expensive.