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If you’re a cannabis grower, you know that flushing your plants is an important part of the harvest process. But what exactly is flushing, and how do you do it? Read on to find out.
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Why You Should Flush Your Plants
It is very important to flush your cannabis plants before harvest. This will get rid of any residual chemicals and fertilizers that may be in the plant, and it will also help improve the taste of the final product. There are a few different ways that you can flush your plants, so let’s take a look at some of the most popular methods.
Prevents Nutrient Lockout
Cannabis plants, like all plants, can develop a case of “nutrient lockout”. This is when the roots of the plant are unable to absorb the nutrients in the soil because they are “locked out” by the build-up of salts. When this happens, your plant will become starved for nutrients even though they are right there in the soil. The only way to solve this problem is to flush your plants.
Helps Remove Pesticides
#Flushing your plants helps remove pesticides
If you’re using any kind of pesticide, it’s important to flush your plants before harvest. Pesticides can build up in the plant, and if they’re not removed before harvest, they could end up in your final product. Flushing will help remove pesticides from the plant so that they don’t end up in your finished product.
#Flushing helps remove excess nutrients from the plant
If you’ve been feeding your plants nutrient-rich food, there’s a chance that the plant could be taking in more nutrients than it needs. When this happens, the excess nutrients can build up in the plant and make the final product taste bitter. Flushing helps remove these excess nutrients so that they don’t end up in your final product.
#Flushing gives your plants a chance to rest
After a long grow cycle, your plants have been working hard to produce buds. Flushing gives them a chance to rest before harvest so that they can put all their energy into producing high-quality buds.
Gives Your Plants a Break
Many growers like to give their plants a “rest” period after they’ve completed the flowering stage. This helps the plant to reset its system and prepare for the next grow cycle. Flushing your plants is one way to do this, and it can also help to improve the quality of your final product.
When you flush your plants, you are essentially removing all of the built-up nutrients from their system. This gives them a chance to “detox” and can help to prevent nutrient lockout during the next grow cycle. Flushing can also help to improve the taste and smell of your final product, as it removes any residual nutrients that may be present.
There are a few different ways that you can flush your plants, but one of the simplest is to just stop feeding them nutrients altogether. Let them dry out completely and then water them with plain water for a week or two before harvest. This will remove any residual nutrients from their system and give you a clean slate to work with.
If you want to be absolutely sure that all of the nutrients have been removed from your plants, you can try using a product like FloraKleen or Super Soil Cleanser. These products are designed specifically for flushing cannabis plants, and they will remove all traces of nutrients from your soil or hydroponic system.
No matter which method you choose, flushing your plants is a good way to give them a break after flowering and can also improve the quality of your final product.
How to Flush Your Plants
Flushing your plants is an important part of the cannabis growing process. It removes any residual nutrients from the soil, giving your plants a final chance to absorb as many nutrients as possible. This can result in better-tasting, higher-quality cannabis. Flushing also helps reduce the risk of harmful chemicals and moulds in your final product.
Two Weeks Prior to Harvest
You will want to start flushing your plants two weeks prior to harvest. This will help ensure that all the nutrients have been used up by the plants, and that any residual chemicals will have time to dissipate.
To start, you will want to cut back on the amount of water you are giving your plants. Slowly reduce the amount of water you give them over the course of a week, until you are only giving them enough to keep the soil moist. You don’t want the soil to be too dry, as this can stress the plant and cause problems with the flush.
Next, you will want to stop feeding your plants nutrients. If you are using a liquid nutrient solution, simply stop adding it to your watering cans. If you are using solid nutrients, stop adding them to your soil mix. Again, give your plants a week or so to use up any residual nutrients in the soil before moving on to the next step.
Stop Fertilizing and Watering
You will need to stop fertilizing and watering your cannabis plants about 2 weeks before you harvest. This will help get rid of any residual nutrients in the plant, so that they won’t end up in your final product. You can water your plants with just plain water during this time to help flush out any residual nutrients.
Flushing with Plain Water
Flushing with plain water is the most common and simplest way to flush your plants. You simply stop giving your plants nutrients and give them only water for the last two weeks of the flowering stage. This will help to flush out any residual nutrients in the plant and reduce the risk of nutrient burn.
What to Expect After Flushing
After you’ve flushed your cannabis plants, you can expect them to look a little bit unhealthy. The leaves may turn yellow or brown, and the plants may start to shed their leaves. This is normal and is nothing to worry about. The plants are just getting rid of all the built up nutrients in their system.
Smaller Yields
Cannabis plants need a lot of water, so it’s no surprise that they will produce smaller yields if they are flushed properly. Flushing removes all the built-up nutrients in the plant, so it has to work harder to produce flowers and buds. The end result is smaller, but more concentrated, buds.
Softer Smoke
Once you have flushed your plants, the smoke will be noticeably softer on your throat and lungs. This is because the residual chemicals and salts that give cannabis its harsh smoke have been flushed out of the plant material. Many smokers enjoy this more gentle smoke, as it is easier on the throat and lungs. However, some smokers actually prefer the harsher smoke of non-flushed cannabis, as it provides a more intense high.
