pruning and flowering

So I just switched the lights to 12/12 two days ago, and as my first grow I was wondering what kind of time frame to expect before I should really start to see flowers develop. I believe I actually see the begginning of the white hairs I am looking for in two places on one of my plants. Also I was wondering how much pruning is too much. I have two different strains. Two plants from an unknown strain that were free seeds, and two plants from feminized carmelicious seeds. This is my first grow so I am unsure really what to expect other than looking at pictures, which I have looked at a lot. But the carmelicious just grows so damn bushy compared to pictures ive seen and the other strain i have. I have attached some pictures, this is after some pruning around the bottom that I did to get better air flow around the base and throughout the plant, but the top is still super bushy in my opinion, and as I have never done this before I am unsure really where the good places that bud will grow are so I dont want to clip anything valuable. I feel like on my first try I should just be better safe than sorry and grow it all and deal with that fluffy bud on the bottom that I hear about. anyways, I was just more curious as to when I should expect to start seeing some growth...its only been two nights of 12dark.


Above is the feminized carmelicious. Again this is after I cut a bunch of growth off the bottom as you can see the breathable space on the bottom. This is the plant that I have seen the beginning of white hairs. Also before you comment on the drooping leaves, I didnt think about the pictures until immediately after I misted the shit out of them...They are usually very healthy green and standing at attention, they will be back that way in about an hour under the light.


This is the other plant of an unknown strain that I was mentioning. Definitely not as bushy, I have barely taken anything off of this plant. Just a couple of the original fans from the bottom. Again, also just misted with wet leaves.

I have two of each of these plants, and both are in the same size and condition, Its just hard to get them out from under the lights for the pictures, so i only slid out the two.

they look over waterd overall look good tho

You're looking to hard. Depending on the strain it will be 2 to 3 weeks before your leads stretch to start forming colas. After that you'll get pistil balls form.

I am relatively new myself. Your plants look healthy though. the bud sites are the places that branch out from the V of the fan leaves. Fan leaves can be removed without to much worry. Removing fan leaves allows for light penetration and better air flow. You don't want to remove to many at one time because you dont want to send the plant into shock. What type of lighting and soil are you using?

But don't remove fan leaves yet. wait till the stretch begins in a few weeks and then sparingly.

I have a kind of make shift set up. I just use miracle grow organic potting mix. Regular stuff you find in any garden section. And for light, I have 2 x 100 watt HPS fixtures, But I didn't think that was very much so i have it supplemented with like 720 equivalent watts of cfl. there are 12 of the 60watt equivalent bulbs of varying colors spread out over them. I believe the soft white, and natural (the more blueish ones). I know its a weird set up, but its an awful lot of light. I plan on upgrading to a nice HID sometime, just wanted to experiment this first time and see what happens before I go spending a lot of $$ on a nice set up. I have a free access to as many 13watt cfls, and the two 100 watt hps fixtures through work.