Background
This article is intended for growers who have not yet entered the flowering phase. In addition, for gardeners who are planning to grow cannabis indoors, the information needs to be read. If you think it is not time to learn this information, leave an article in a practical browser bookmark. It will definitely come in handy!
How to increase the yield of plants that have already begun to bloom? If you have not taken any measures during the growth of cannabis, consider that you have the last chance. And it cannot be missed. In addition, there are several ways to influence the final harvest. The material not only comprehensively considers effective solutions for growing in the hue phase, but also studies it during the flowering process (the beginning of bud formation). So, assuming that your ward plants have begun to actively grow buds, what can you really do to increase the yield at this growth stage? In turn, see all the methods below.
1. Increase light intensity
It is well known that light is actually a supplement and therefore a transfer of life energy. In short, if plants receive more light output, they will produce larger buds. There is nothing supernatural. Everything is obvious and understandable.
3 main ways to increase light intensity
Install better cannabis plant grow lights.
It is very important to keep your cannabis grow lights as close as possible without overloading your plants.
Prune your new buds so they develop horizontally under the light. Pruning during growth allows your plants to keep the light as close as possible without causing intense light burns on the tallest leaves.
When cannabis is surrounded by vegetation, it will actively react by trying to grow taller to get better lighting.
2. Choose the right cannabis grow lights for the flowering period
For optimal yield, density, and bud size, use high-quality cannabis LED grow lights when the buds are forming:
3. Provide the right spectrum during bud formation
Using LED grow lights with more red light of different wavelengths during the flowering stage will be more effective than using cannabis grow lights with more blue light.
Choose a cannabis LED grow light that contains the following diodes:
White;
Red;
Far red (infrared wavelength);
Typically, such lights in the instructions contain a light temperature definition of 3000K, or indicate "far red" as an indication that the entire desired spectrum is here. Visually, this light appears pink, yellow, or reddish.
Cannabis plants grown under a 480W GLMX480 cannabis LED grow light look very attractive.
LEDs that don't have too much white ("fuzzy") may or may not work. Only use dimmable cannabis LED grow lights if you have a real-life example of another grower having success with a similar device. Experimentation with technical issues is encouraged, but only with a clear understanding of the in-depth process and the goal of truly achieving large-scale growth.
Cannabis LED grow lights generally need to be kept at least 40 cm above the plant to prevent bleaching and burning.
4. Follow the recommended defoliation schedule for defoliation
Most growers use targeted strategic defoliation to maximize their yields. This term refers to the process of removing specific leaves at specific points in bud development. In effect, it "disrupts" the plant's natural process and causes the buds to grow larger and denser than normal. This technique works best with seedlings of varieties that have increased green volume. Conversely, if your plant doesn't have a lot of leaves, defoliation will slow growth, so don't go overboard with this operation.
The basic principles of soil defoliation are as follows:
At the beginning of the flowering period (weeks 1 to 3): remove all large, fan-shaped leaves on long stems. This will expose your newly developed bud structures to direct light. Kidneys need direct light to expand.
After 3 weeks, carry out another defoliation only when the plant looks thick. Exposing the main branches to direct light will help the plant "focus" on bud development.
After the second large defoliation, remove only the leaves that cover the buds, or if the plant becomes too dense in the middle and bottom of the bush.
l You will find that the buds are getting bigger and bigger, and a chic harvest is just around the corner!
This growth has just switched to 12/12 mode. This is what he looked like before defoliation.
The first leaf removal is completed.
Three weeks later.
Second leaf removal
7 weeks later.
High yield results are obvious!
Attention! The defoliation schedule outlined above is fairly typical for most indoor growers, regardless of the variety the grower chooses. However, the timing of certain actions may change depending on various factors, mainly the cultivation conditions.
5. Do not ignore abnormal symptoms that appear!
After entering the flowering stage, the plant has increasingly demanding nutrient ratios and its overall nutritional value. Make sure you quickly diagnose and correct any nutrient deficiencies, insect attacks, diseases or other visible problems. Unhealthy plants lack the energy to form buds.
Identify and correct plant problems immediately to avoid damaging the crop. In the photo below, the plant is too close to the light and shows signs of mild stress.
The cannabis leaves in the photo are too bright and the edges are bent upwards. And they themselves become crispy and dry.
6. Environmental factors for optimizing cannabis growth
There are several key factors to keep in mind. They are mainly related to the microclimate of your grow room / grow box during the flowering stage. If you really want to maximize your yields, consider the following triggers:
Temperature - keep the temperature between +18°C and +26°C as much as possible. Increased temperatures are associated with loose or "airy" buds, weaker bud smell, reduced immunity, mold formation, insect infestation (especially if the buds are also wet).
Humidity - after the buds begin to develop, do not let the environment be too humid. High humidity can cause mold infestation and bud rot, and also inhibit bud growth. High density / large (high humidity makes it difficult to effectively transport water through key plant nodes).
Peculiarities - when the interior of the farmhouse / farmhouse has reflective walls, light loss can be prevented. There are many options for increasing reflectivity, such as painting the walls with white paint or covering them with polyester film. Providing more light to the plants will help your buds grow densely.
Air circulation - In addition to maintaining the correct temperature and humidity, it is also important to give your plants a breeze and plenty of fresh air. Effective air circulation prevents many problems and speeds up plant growth, which increases overall yields.
Adding additional CO2 to the air - Some growers add additional CO2 to the air to increase yields. Plants need CO2 for photosynthesis, and (in some cases) adding CO2 to the air allows plants to extract more energy from the same amount of light. There are many different ways to increase CO2 levels, some of which are more effective than others!
A large number of cannabis growers focus on finding new nutrients and additives to increase yields, but ignore the current environmental issues. If the environment created is not ideal, focusing on the above tips may make a much greater difference to your crop than any product you can buy in a container.
7. Harvest in a timely manner
Most importantly, do not start harvesting too early! Pay attention to this argument: cannabis buds will gain significant weight in the last two weeks before peak maturity. Make this your unshakable law, and the results will come quickly.
Even harvesting a few weeks early can cut your final harvest in half! Plus, these bots will not be as strong, shiny, and aromatic. Don't trust this with your own experience, trust the grower.
When most of the white hairs on the buds turn black and curl, the cannabis plant is ready to harvest.
Experienced growers often check the glistening trichomes under a magnifying glass to ensure the right time to harvest.
8. Continuous cultivation
This advice is not specific to the flowering period, but its importance cannot be overemphasized. After all, if you do not pause between harvests, the grower will constantly have finished products of different varieties throughout the year. Of course, we are not saying that there will be a harvest every day (although it is possible, but very laborious). However, the cyclical nature of the process and the lack of pauses in the growth process produce amazing results, and it is likely that soon you will have too much. But we all know what you can do with it ;)
Interestingly, it is not uncommon for cannabis growers to equip at least two workspaces and ensure a continuous harvest process.
Finally
Continuing with the idea of a continuous process, it is crucial not to stop developing and keep learning. Amazing discoveries happen almost every day, which means there is always a need to learn more about growing yields!
