The flowering stage of a cannabis plant’s life cycle is the period when it begins to produce flowers or buds. This typically occurs after the plant has gone through a vegetative stage, during which it has been growing leaves and stems.
The length of the flowering stage can vary depending on the specific strain of cannabis, but it typically lasts for 8-10 weeks. During this time, the plant will go through several distinct phases. Here is a brief overview of what to expect during each week of the flowering stage:
Week 1: During the first week of flowering, the plant will continue to grow and develop its stem and leaves. You may also start to see some pre-flowers forming on the plant, which will eventually develop into buds.
Week 2: In the second week of flowering, the plant will begin to grow more rapidly, and the pre-flowers will start to become more pronounced. You may also notice a change in the color of the leaves as they start to produce more chlorophyll.
Week 3: By the third week of flowering, the plant will have grown significantly, and the pre-flowers will have developed into full-blown buds. At this point, the plant will start to produce more resin, which will give the buds a sticky texture.
Week 4: In the fourth week of flowering, the buds will continue to grow and develop, and you may start to see some of the plant’s pistils, or hair-like structures, turning reddish-orange in color. This is a sign that the plant is maturing and getting ready to be harvested.
Week 5: By the fifth week of flowering, the buds will have grown even larger, and you may start to see some of the plant’s trichomes, or tiny crystal-like structures, forming on the surface of the buds. These trichomes contain the plant’s active compounds, such as THC and CBD.
Week 6: In the sixth week of flowering, the buds will continue to mature and develop, and the trichomes will become more pronounced. You may also start to see some of the plant’s leaves turning yellow and dying off, which is a natural part of the plant’s life cycle.
Week 7: During the seventh week of flowering, the buds will be nearly mature and ready for harvest. At this point, you should start to closely monitor the trichomes to determine when the plant is at its peak potency.
Week 8: In the eighth and final week of flowering, the buds will be fully mature and ready for harvest. At this point, you can cut down the plant and begin the drying and curing process to prepare the buds for consumption.