Force flowering outdoors?

[ÉsÇ420PoT™]

Hey all,

I have a nice little plant on the go at the moment outdoors but due to circumstance it will have to be pulled early. Normally I would let them see through the season and flower naturally so I have never tried to force flowering before.

A few things spring to mind.

Firstly how long should I give it to complete flowering?
Second, is 12/12 the normal or can I give it less than 12 of Sun, would 10 be better?
Third, what would be the best material I can find to cut the Sun out, I was thinking to buy a small greenhouse and then wrap it in dark material being careful not to let in any light so I can just place the frame over it every night. Does that sound about right?

Anyway, just a couple of things. Any tips would be great.

OK bud, first, 12/12 ONLY! If you do any more or less it will cause your plants to hermaphrodite.
The meterial your looking for is called "Phifer"
Here's a link to give you an idea. It blocks around 20-40% of the suns Heat and rays.
Click here for Phifer Example

Or you need some Visqeen PLastic (very dirable transparent plastic) that you can use to cover as a green house type effect.

Click here for Plastic Sheeting Example
(just be sure to ask a worker and get the most transparent kind for growing. Tell him whats up, your buidling a green house and need something to keep your "Garden" safe yet allow sun through).
Hope this helps. Cheers

 

[Sunspot]

Cheers, that stuff looks like it's what I'm after. Have to try and find some locally or online I guess.

 

[ISK]

OK bud, first, 12/12 ONLY! If you do any more or less it will cause your plants to hermaphrodite.

sorry buddy but that is just not true....I have grown several plants at 11/13 and 13/11 without issues

 

[B1unts]

^ vouch those light cycles are fine EsC420pot probably just severely stressed his plants and they turned on him.

 

[Sunspot]

I was thinking the timings outdoors are never going to be as accurate as using lights.
I mean at 7 am the Sun is up but the plant isn't in the light at that time but it has certainly sensed the sun and has woken up and started tostretch so to speak. Only when it's truly dark does the plant seem to shut down and go all floppy.

I can put either cover/bring it inside as soon as the last light hits the plant or wait another hour or so until just before sunset and give it a slower transition.
If that makes sense.

 

[ÉsÇ420PoT™]

sorry buddy but that is just not true....I have grown several plants at 11/13 and 13/11 without issues

Well, I misunderstood what this guy was doing, and of course outdoor will never be an exact 12/12.

^ vouch those light cycles are fine EsC420pot probably just severely stressed his plants and they turned on him.

Wait what? Where did this assumption of me stressing my plants out come from?? LOL! I was referring to indoor... My stoned self didn't see the (outdoor) part of this. I thought dude was taking his outdoor plant to force flower inside.. My misunderstanding. But still, what?? Lol!!!!

Anyways, I agree with Sunspot, outside will always fluctuate, thus never be an exact 12/12 lighting cycle. The Hermying I mentioned earlier, was my experience with indoor... Only time I've ever seen a plant hermy indoor is when the light cycle wasn't exactly 12/12, and/or there was a light leak, thus not being light tight. Regardless, I don't think you can force flower outdoors... I mean you can if you put it out there when its the right season to start flowering. It's purely up to the seasons and the timing you put it out there. Green mojo to ya bro!

 

[B1unts]

Well, I misunderstood what this guy was doing, and of course outdoor will never be an exact 12/12.


Wait what? Where did this assumption of me stressing my plants out come from?? LOL! I was referring to indoor... My stoned self didn't see the (outdoor) part of this. I thought dude was taking his outdoor plant to force flower inside.. My misunderstanding. But still, what?? Lol!!!!

Anyways, I agree with Sunspot, outside will always fluctuate, thus never be an exact 12/12 lighting cycle. The Hermying I mentioned earlier, was my experience with indoor... Only time I've ever seen a plant hermy indoor is when the light cycle wasn't exactly 12/12, and/or there was a light leak, thus not being light tight. Regardless, I don't think you can force flower outdoors... I mean you can if you put it out there when its the right season to start flowering. It's purely up to the seasons and the timing you put it out there. Green mojo to ya bro!

The reason plants turn hermie is too much stress, not the perfectly fine light cycles you suggested.
So if you got hermies under those condition you over stressed them.

 

[ÉsÇ420PoT™]

sorry buddy but that is just not true....I have grown several plants at 11/13 and 13/11 without issues

The reason plants turn hermie is too much stress, not the perfectly fine light cycles you suggested.
So if you got hermies under those condition you over stressed them.

Im well aware that stress causes the Hermying...... However, I haven't stressed my plants ever unless it was in the form of the light cycle.. The light cycle very much can cause a hermy.. I know this first hand from experience when I first started growing indoors 7 years ago... I was simply expressing my experience as a means of perspective. Take it or leave it as yall see fit, to each their own. Btw B1unt, welcome to rollitup! You'll learn a lot here bud

 

[Wavels]

Simply move the plants back and forth every day at 8PM and 8AM.
Stick to the schedule.
Foolproof.
Indoor shelter is better than outdoor covering. Just make certain that you provide 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness indoors.
I have done this for dozens of crops over the years.
Indoors and outdoors...the best of both worlds.

Good luck!

 

[B1unts]

Thanks for the welcome man! and yeah I'm not saying your inexperienced or anything just saying I have never had a hermie from a slightly altered light condition.

Simply move the plants back and forth every day at 8PM and 8AM.
Stick to the schedule.
Foolproof.
Indoor shelter is better than outdoor covering. Just make certain that you provide 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness indoors.
I have done this for dozens of crops over the years.
Indoors and outdoors...the best of both worlds.

Good luck!

Also vouch for this, never done a crop this way because of the major pain in the ass it would be but we had 2 Autoflower plants on the deck on year and would bring them in to ensure the cycle... they actually did quite well.

 

[B1unts]

Im well aware that stress causes the Hermying...... However, I haven't stressed my plants ever unless it was in the form of the light cycle.. The light cycle very much can cause a hermy.. I know this first hand from experience when I first started growing indoors 7 years ago... I was simply expressing my experience as a means of perspective. Take it or leave it as yall see fit, to each their own. Btw B1unt, welcome to rollitup! You'll learn a lot here bud

Thanks for the welcome man!!! and yeah Just saying I've never seen a hermie from a slightly altered light regiment but at the same time I have never really seen one from stress either, its actually almost hard to accomplish a hermie lol

 

[ISK]

Im well aware that stress causes the Hermying...... However, I haven't stressed my plants ever unless it was in the form of the light cycle.. The light cycle very much can cause a hermy.. I know this first hand from experience when I first started growing indoors 7 years ago...

sorry but once again I cannot agree with you that the light cycle can/will cause hermie, as stated I have run 11/13 indoors and even 14/10 with sunshine.

IMHO, there was another factor that gave you hermies, not sure what hat was but I highly doubt it was the light cycle

 

[Drumfounded]

You said you may let it get dark naturally and then cover. Then uncover around 10am. If it works per your schedule, you may want to cover while the sun is getting low and uncover as soon as it's really shining. Keep the same light schedule but try to maximize the possible sun exposure. Say, cover around 8 and uncover around 9am. Just a thought! The plant looks great by the way. Wish I had more advice but I've never grown outdoor or forced flowering. However, I feel it makes sense that the higher sun intensity, the bigger the nugs! Good luck homie

 

[Sunspot]

Thanks all for the comments and advice, lots to take in.
After checking it out the last sun hits the plant at around 8-8:30pm so I'm gonna shoot for bringing it in at 8 and out at 8-8:30ish to fit my schedule mind you that's going to piss me off on the weekends.

 

[Sunspot]

Thanks for the welcome man! and yeah I'm not saying your inexperienced or anything just saying I have never had a hermie from a slightly altered light condition.

Also vouch for this, never done a crop this way because of the major pain in the ass it would be but we had 2 Autoflower plants on the deck on year and would bring them in to ensure the cycle... they actually did quite well.

I have two AF seedlings on the go now too, still small as and only just starting to show signs of growth but I wouldn't of thought of bringing them in. It's an idea.

It's going to be a weird season as once I have settled in the new place I will probably start another batch of plants outdoors, completely not ideal though.

 

[Sunspot]

Just an update, things seem to be going well since bringing it in at night. No discolouration, still growing and there are certainly visible white pistils now.

 

[Sunspot]

Going along nicely.