As this is my first grow, I have a few (well, actually, lots, but I'll try and ask them bit by bit
) questions.
I have 2 Trainwrecks and 2 Top44s currently under 12/12 lighting to try and get ready for Glastonbury festival at the end of June. They have been under 12/12 since last monday, and as yet there appears to be no change.
It can take up to a couple of weeks for flowering to start after flipping 12/12, you could try giving the plants 24/48 hrs of darkness, then go 12/12 this can sometimes give them a kick start.
Cloning- From what I read, this is just a question of taking a cutting and allowing it to root and grow...it will then be the same age and sex as the donor. If I do this now, and keep it outside in a coldframe, presumably it wont flower until its back to 12/12 lighting? Having started on 12/12 a few days ago, have I missed this opportunity?
Yes a clone is the same genetic age as the mother it was taken from. It'll continue to veg until either you put it in to 12/12, or if your leaving it outdoors you can expect it to start flowering sometime in September. Cuttings can be taken from plants in flower, general rule of thumb is, the further in to flower the doner plant is, the longer it will take for the cut to show roots, so if your doner is only about a week in to 12/12, the cuts shouldn't take too long at all.
Harvesting- Assuming these things flower and progress well enough to be ready for my deadline, how long do I need after cutting them down, for them to be ready? I have also seen mention of 'flushing' prior to harvest...whats the purpose of this, and what does it entail?
Curing- I assume this means preparing the buds for consumption? How long does it take, and can it be speeded up?
I was going to cut them down as late as possible, hang them to dry in the grow cabinet (which has a heater and carbon extraction) I have access to a dehumidifier...presumably this will speed up the drying process? Good idea?
Flushing is done to rid the medium of unused nutes before the end of flower so the taste of the bud isn't tainted by the nutrients. In summer I dry in my loft, no heater is needed, just a small fan to help air circulation and ensure the buds dry out evenly, they usually take about a week to 10 days before they're ready to go in to jars for curing, curing isn't essential, it does make the bud burn better and taste smoother and some say it increases the strength, but if you're working to a dead line, i.e Glasto, there's nothing wrong with smoking uncured bud. A dehumidifier is a good idea, in flower and in the drying room but again, not essential. In summer you shouldn't need a heater to dry bud, it'll cause it to dry too quick and it'll taste like crap.
All advice and recommendations gratefully received!
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