I agree with you that most people over complicate the process. But I am willing to help out a new grower that didn't understand the importance of PH here.
Over my years of growing in the method that you speak of, REALLY simple I've learned a few things.
I've learned that dead leafs don't provide energy to your plants, so the less leaves you lose, the better.
I've learned that alot of times they will go yellow earlry in flower if they didn't get enough nitrogen before going in and they will need some additional later on. If a plant has vegged for 3-4 weeks prior to flower, that's generally not the case and will be fine without it. Although if you look at FF particularly, they suggest that you add it.
This particular case the yellowing was a sign that his PH was way off or too much salt was causing a lockout and if not corrected the plant will not take up nutrients effeciently, you will lose leaves and your overall yield and potency will be reduced. The proper thing to do is check your PH and flush your plants, AS YOU STATED, so we're not in disagreement here.
I'm not trying to hurl insults, but he's new to growing and wanted some advice. From now on, this particular grower will know the importance of PH and can make his own judgement call on whether to add N during flower.
To each his own on the N in flower, I add it, I harvest healthy, happy, dense, potent plants. I also tend to only veg for a week or two as I see the additional veg time as a waste. My lights only penetrate about 1 1/2 feet into the canopy, why bother with growing 2 more feet of plant? I just up the number of clones I use, but everyone grows in their own style and their own way. Some people just love big beautiful cola's, I only care about cost/gram and time, so I grow the fastest way possible with the best yeilds I can. I have done 7 week veg's and I've done 6 day veg's and I have both logged out here if you want to see the results. What I found is that 2-3 weeks veg gives me what I want.
Good luck with your growing, and try just once keeping your plants green, I used to harvest them yellow also, but green light grabbing leaves make for big beautiful buds.
If it starts going yellow @ week 6 obviously I don't concern myself with it, but when I grow that strain again I'll do things earlier on to avoid it.
