8 weeks into flower

[crisscross]

I am 8 weeks into flower and I am confused. I have mostly cloudy trichs, none amber and all hairs are white. I'm looking for experienced growers' opinions on how much longer I'm looking at until I can chop!
I was feeding at :3700 ec or 1500ppm on a .5 scale ( I have both meters and that's what they show) and a ph that fluctuated from 5.3-6.0

For 2 weeks I have been feeding less but I have noticed that the ph keeps falling. It seems like the plant is not eating as much as it used to. The levels are now at 2700 ec and the ph falls as low as 4.5. I have been doing straight water add backs with 6.2 ph raising the overall ph to 5.4 or so but 12 hours later, back down to 5.0 or lower.

Albino Rhino x Big Bud
Seed
16 weeks from seed
Flower, 8 weeks in
DWC bucket
hydroton
69-74
maxibloom by general hydroponics, cal mag (recently)
ph from 5.2 to 6.1 sometimes.
400w hps and the light is about 3-5" away from the canopy. My fan keeps everything cool.
My RH is 10%, there is a fan angled away from the plant so the plant receives minor, deflected air
I have hard water but I am using 1/2 tap that has been allowed to have the chlorine evaporate and 1/2 ro


Any advice as when to chop or why my plant quit eating would be appreciated! thank you

ps I am uploading photos right now and will post them asap

 

[Scrappy-doo]

Bro are you planning to flush? I'd say right about now is a good time to do so. Fuck the ph at this point it's so late in the game. Flush her for a week or 2 then chop.

 

[zeppelindood]

IMHO ~ Stop feeding, only water from about day 45. Take it 65-70 days then go dark for 2 days and chop her. Good luck and Agape' shower ~

 

[crisscross]

here's a few pictures. more coming

 

[zeppelindood]

She's almost ready, I'd take it 65 days and go dark for a day or two then chop her... just my opinion ~

 

[crisscross]

I'm over 65 days right now. So I am leaning toward flushing her for 10 days.

What's this 'go dark' for a day or 2 before I chop? Keep her in water while doing that? does it have to be complete dark as I'd like to use my tent for other plants now.

 

[zeppelindood]

I am 8 weeks into flower and I am confused.

Criss, you originally said you were 8 weeks in? So you're over 9 weeks? I don't understand.

Go dark = leave light off

 

[zeppelindood]

does it have to be complete dark as I'd like to use my tent for other plants now.

Yes it does, you won't be able to go dark due to other plants.

 

[Scrappy-doo]

yeah a lot of people put them in complete darkness for a couple few days before the chop. Keep her in water when doing that.

Can you post some pics of the lower budz?

Your tops look like they may have been too close to the light. 3-5" is very close. The leaves around the top are crusty looking.

If that's the case, in my experience when the light is too close and the tops get burnt the buds don't develop fully and looks like it's not finished, cause the top kinda got burnt out. I got a friend who does that all the time and his tops never look finished. I try to tell him, but he's a bit thick.

Anyway, if that's the case then your lower bud sites should be able to give you an idea as to how far along the plant is in it's development.

Either way it's time for a flush and chop.

 

[zeppelindood]

Your tops look like they may have been too close to the light. 3-5" is very close. The leaves around the top are crusty looking.

IMHO, that's a solid analogy Scrappy

 

[crisscross]

3-5" is a error from copy/paste. the distance to the light is now 16", I realize the distance and N toxicity caused that damage.

No, I'm not over 65 days in flower--sorry. I meant total from seed. misunderstanding.

I don't have any close up pics and I won't for another 7 hours or so of the side too much. this is the best side picture I have:

 

[Scrappy-doo]

OK the whole bottom 2/3 looks real good. I'd say you're right on track. Same advice. Flush for at least 1 week if not 2, and then cut.

At this point if you need to move your new plants under the light, then just set this one off to the side to ripen up.

 

[crisscross]

scrappy, you are the man! thanks for the advice everyone! I fucking love this community

 

[skullznroses]

Yeah .... I have a few plants flushing that are crammed into a corner. I flushed for 1 week, then I took off all the fan leaves and flushed again. Im going to let them chill for a week or so until I get a chance to chop them down to size. I have put in a few new plants, and will fill in the space with more vegbabes once I chop.

I think you're looking at buds within the "harvest window", which is a window not a bullseye. I always follow the advice of "wait one week after I think they're done" because the calyxes always get smaller when you dry the bud. For me completeness of budding is just as important as trich color. I don't like the taste of bud where the "meaty greens" hasn't matured fully, even if trichs are at a more desirable level.