In my experience, the root systems of indicas react differently than the root systems of sativas after initiating the 12/12 flower period.
It has been my opinion, for years, that indicas produce very little root mass after setting into flower, while sativa root systems continue to grow in flower.
For example, years ago I would transplant the same day I placed plants into flower. The indica dominant plants would hardly colonize the available soil, while the sativas would colonize just fine.
Recently, I have shared this with friends who have considered this info to be some of the most important new info they've learned about growing pot in a long time. One person even called this insight the missing link to his growing ability.
Think about it for a minute... If you transplant an indica as it goes to flower, and the soil you provide is NOT fully used up by the root system, you will run into unforeseen troubles. When you feed the plant, the uncolonized soil around the main root ball will also receive food. Without roots (in the outer, unused soil) to use the nutrients up, you may be overloading the outer soil with nutrients, causing toxicity. This toxicity happens after just a few times of feeding uncolonized soil. This toxicity affects the entire mass of medium eventually, causing pH spikes and unpredictable nutrient levels.
The second trouble is during the final flush. If the soil in the pot is now partially toxic due to the above scenario, you now have to flush overferted, toxic soil. Not as easy as flushing well-colonized soil.
I learned a long time ago to do my final transplant on indicas or indica dominant hybrids about two weeks prior to flowering. This allows the roots to fully colonize the medium.
In nature, an indica has two seasons to consider... the growing season, and the flowering season. Both seasons are relatively short. Indicas do all their pre-flower preparations in the spring and summer, growing their leaves, stems and roots at this time. When they begin to flower, all their energy goes into producing flowers. Sativas are similar, but slightly different in an important way.
Sativas flower differently... They evolved in places where the available daylight is always close to 12/12, so they veg AND flower at the same time. This is why you can put a 4 inch sativa into the flower room and end up with a 6 foot beast 3 months later... they keep growing.
So, it stands to reason... sativas can be transplanted right as they go to flower, and even AFTER going to flower. The sativa root system doesn't stop growing after flowering is induced, as in indicas. Therefore we run into much less of the trouble we see in late-transplanted indicas.
I admit, this topic is not an easy one for many growers to get a grasp on... but for those of you who can grasp it, I hope it sheds some light on the topic.
Peace, good will,
cc
It has been my opinion, for years, that indicas produce very little root mass after setting into flower, while sativa root systems continue to grow in flower.
For example, years ago I would transplant the same day I placed plants into flower. The indica dominant plants would hardly colonize the available soil, while the sativas would colonize just fine.
Recently, I have shared this with friends who have considered this info to be some of the most important new info they've learned about growing pot in a long time. One person even called this insight the missing link to his growing ability.
Think about it for a minute... If you transplant an indica as it goes to flower, and the soil you provide is NOT fully used up by the root system, you will run into unforeseen troubles. When you feed the plant, the uncolonized soil around the main root ball will also receive food. Without roots (in the outer, unused soil) to use the nutrients up, you may be overloading the outer soil with nutrients, causing toxicity. This toxicity happens after just a few times of feeding uncolonized soil. This toxicity affects the entire mass of medium eventually, causing pH spikes and unpredictable nutrient levels.
The second trouble is during the final flush. If the soil in the pot is now partially toxic due to the above scenario, you now have to flush overferted, toxic soil. Not as easy as flushing well-colonized soil.
I learned a long time ago to do my final transplant on indicas or indica dominant hybrids about two weeks prior to flowering. This allows the roots to fully colonize the medium.
In nature, an indica has two seasons to consider... the growing season, and the flowering season. Both seasons are relatively short. Indicas do all their pre-flower preparations in the spring and summer, growing their leaves, stems and roots at this time. When they begin to flower, all their energy goes into producing flowers. Sativas are similar, but slightly different in an important way.
Sativas flower differently... They evolved in places where the available daylight is always close to 12/12, so they veg AND flower at the same time. This is why you can put a 4 inch sativa into the flower room and end up with a 6 foot beast 3 months later... they keep growing.
So, it stands to reason... sativas can be transplanted right as they go to flower, and even AFTER going to flower. The sativa root system doesn't stop growing after flowering is induced, as in indicas. Therefore we run into much less of the trouble we see in late-transplanted indicas.
I admit, this topic is not an easy one for many growers to get a grasp on... but for those of you who can grasp it, I hope it sheds some light on the topic.
Peace, good will,
cc
