Do's and Don'ts in Different stage of Plant Growth

June 21, 2012 - PRLog -- Watch your plant height at Reproductive or Early Flowering Stage

When your crop enters the reproductive or early flowering stage, it will exhibit a dramatic spurt of growth. In a short time, generally two to three weeks, the plants may double or even triple in size.

Of course the amount of growth depends on the variety of plant you have chosen. Some varieties produce extensive branching while others grow more vertically. Also, the root mass will quickly increase to fill either your beds or containers.

During this stage, you want to pay close attention to the height of your plants. You don't want them growing so tall that they tend to block artificial lighting. Keep in mind that in most HID lighting applications, your plants should not exceed 36" in height.

Also remember that lighting intensities drop sharply the further they have to travel. Tall plants will end up producing poorer quality material on lower portions where the light is weaker.

Normally, limited or slower growth on lower branches is not a problem because you want the energy of your plants concentrated in the upper portion of the canopy where they will produce higher quality flowers. Just be aware that too much height can weaken the light reaching your prime flowering sites.

How to achieve tighter intermodal spacing

During the vegetative stage, you may want to control vertical growth (internodal distances) in order to slow the rate of branching and increase the quality of your fruit or flowers.

Some growers attempt to control vertical growth by applying products to the root zone that contain synthetic growth retardants. This is not recommended.

For one thing, these products often contain chemicals that are not listed on the label. They are generally mutagenic and can be harmful to your health. The chemicals can also alter the characteristics of your flowers resulting in a poor quality harvest.

A much safer and effective alternative is to look for a quality bud enhancer. But don't apply it to the roots. Use it as a foliar spray.

This technique will not only encourage tighter internodal spacing but also provide fuel to meet the demands of the flowering phase.

Consider using the bud enhancer as soon as the plants enter their initial flowering stage.

Techniques for applying foliar sprays during early flowering

Because of the rapid growth experienced by plants during the first stages of early flowering, you should plan to use a foliar spray once a week for the first two or three weeks. This is particularly important if you're experiencing yellow plant tips.

To increase the efficiency of the spray, it is smart to use a foliar delivery product such as wetting agent. This type of product contains surfactants, which are lubricating agents that break through the surface tension of leaves to improve the flow of nutrients.

A word of warning. Don't expose wet foliage to intensive lighting levels. This will often result in sunscald.

Orchestrating the lighting

When moving the plants out of the vegetative stage, some growers keep them in the dark for about 24 hours. After that, the lights are switched on for 12 hours and off for 12 hours. Growers who follow this pattern claim they see a stronger and quicker flowering response.

After about three to five days of light, your plants should begin making the transition into reproduction. The true flowers should then begin appearing in about two to three weeks.

Some longer flowering varieties may require as much as a month to really move into the reproductive or flowering phase. If they require a longer period of time, you probably won't find them suitable for indoor cultivation. However, keep in mind that the extra flowering time required could be compensated for by a shorter vegetative growth stage.

More Flower Gardening news at http://advancednutrients.com/hydroponics/News.php