The Truth About Flushing
- Thread starter riddleme
- Start date
GREENGRASS 420
Active Member
merkstillgrows
Active Member
Can you explain how to do this the whole make it rain/drown technique are you guys actually drowning the whole plant or just the soil, and do you have to keep the soil moist for those 7-10 days or drowned/extra moist for 7-10 days. Really am interested in this technique your talking about, Say I'm 2wks from harvest explain step by step please and thank you.
-merk
-merk
Nitegazer
Well-Known Member
Here is the link to Riddleme's thread where he goes into his technique and reasons for it.
https://www.rollitup.org/newbie-central/316301-calling-all-noob-growers.html
Lots of good info, though the thread rambles quite a bit, and then there are trolls that jump in here and there... Some day, when I have some time at my disposal, I would like to produce digests of some of the classic threads, so the info could be more easily consumed.
In a nutshell, the advice is to water to the point of flushing just before lights-out, and then water with ferts the following light's on cycle. The concept is the mimic the process that occurs in nature when it rains, releasing nutrients.
https://www.rollitup.org/newbie-central/316301-calling-all-noob-growers.html
Lots of good info, though the thread rambles quite a bit, and then there are trolls that jump in here and there... Some day, when I have some time at my disposal, I would like to produce digests of some of the classic threads, so the info could be more easily consumed.
In a nutshell, the advice is to water to the point of flushing just before lights-out, and then water with ferts the following light's on cycle. The concept is the mimic the process that occurs in nature when it rains, releasing nutrients.
merkstillgrows
Active Member
that would be nice its pretty hard to find all the good threads on here surly would alot of people if you did that. Now nightgazer back to this technique so you flush before lights out next day, water with your nutes again but basically drown with nute/ph water, isn't that defeating the whole purpose of flushing since your feeding them still, and your doing this for how long 10-12 days in a row. please correct me if I'm wrong thanks bud.
Nitegazer
Well-Known Member
Agreed on the challenge in finding the 'good stuff.' There is some benefit to reading many of the side posts, but the troll posts get a bit frustrating to me.
Regarding Making it Rain:
The flush then nute cycle is intended to mimic the way plants get their nutrients outdoors. It first rains, then microbes in the soil get active breaking down organic material into salts that plants can take up. For soilless growers using hydro nutes (like me) the regular flush also clears all the undesireable salts out of the soil between feedings, which may speed nutrient uptake.
This process wouldn't go several days in a row. After the feeding, the flush/feed cycle doesn't repeat until the soil gets adequately dry.
Regarding Making it Rain:
The flush then nute cycle is intended to mimic the way plants get their nutrients outdoors. It first rains, then microbes in the soil get active breaking down organic material into salts that plants can take up. For soilless growers using hydro nutes (like me) the regular flush also clears all the undesireable salts out of the soil between feedings, which may speed nutrient uptake.
This process wouldn't go several days in a row. After the feeding, the flush/feed cycle doesn't repeat until the soil gets adequately dry.
gumball
Well-Known Member
Actually it doesn't have anything to do with day/night. Riddleme does state something about them going to sleep in a couple of threads, but when it rains in nature plants go to sleep! Their leaves droop, and they kinda hang! But depending on the environmental factors (temp, humidity, dew point, pressure, and yes they all come into play slightly) the plant will wick that rain or flood awa. Imagine the plant scrambling and saying after the flooding rain "where are my nutes, the rain wash away all my fucking nutes, where did they all go, let me drink some of this, no! Ok then some of that!" Like a fucking crackhead! So the plant wicks all the moisature and is ready for being fed! If you play with the enviro factors it can help this process along.
Last post I read from riddleme about feeding though was that he prefers to do it about an hour after lights on.
Happy growing folks!
Last post I read from riddleme about feeding though was that he prefers to do it about an hour after lights on.
Happy growing folks!
merkstillgrows
Active Member
yeah i understand it now, read 6pages of riddleme's pages, damn that guy has alot of good info im glad i found this thread. i try'd this make it rain technique well see how they take it thanks for the help nightgazer,gumball, especially riddleme appreciate it fellas.
scroglodyte
Well-Known Member
one day the people that flush, will ally with the MG growers and war with the organic non-flushers........lol.
Boyz N Da Hood
Well-Known Member
Yeah what's good bro!! damn my bad I didn't see this til now... lolI assume you're talking about RiddleMe's drowning to start the cure. It does work. I do it sometimes. If you meant donating $4.20 to Ron Paul, it'll work.
How u been Boyz?
i did it last time but like an idiot I didn't do a side by side.. Lol
BklynPrototype
Member
Nice Thread....I can say is a Grower choice at the end. Leaving chemicals in plants is bad 4 your health indeed...how ever improves a "strong stone phsycotic high". Flushing has few downers and it will ensure a clean euphoric/body and energetic high. Just like harvest time....you choose your high at the end. It's all up to the grower's choice. Fresh Rain water is Mother Nature as its BEST water ever. Rain Ph is 6/6.5 if you can feed your plant with "FRESH" rain water....do it.
MonsterRobot
Member
How is flushing a waste of time? My plants finish in x amount of days regardless of if I flush or not... In fact, flushing saves me time (and money) because I don't have to mix nutes at the end...
Has anyone done a side by side to compare yield with flushed or not flushed and found it to make a diff?
Personally, I have flushed and not flushed... It makes a pretty big difference if you are using nutes like GH or something similar, but not so much of a difference if you are using organic nutes...
And one last question, isn't putting your plants underwater to drown them the same thing as flushing? It is essentially a 5 day flush if they are in plain water for 5 days... I don't think that there is a need to leach the soil or hydro medium out to flush, all you need to do is just water for a week or so and let the plants consume what is left over in the medium but that is a flush as long as you don't have tons of extra salt buildup in your root zone (and if you do have the salt buildup then you have more problems than needing to flush)...
Sorry, I know this thread is old and it took me a while to read it so forgive me if this has been answered...
Has anyone done a side by side to compare yield with flushed or not flushed and found it to make a diff?
Personally, I have flushed and not flushed... It makes a pretty big difference if you are using nutes like GH or something similar, but not so much of a difference if you are using organic nutes...
And one last question, isn't putting your plants underwater to drown them the same thing as flushing? It is essentially a 5 day flush if they are in plain water for 5 days... I don't think that there is a need to leach the soil or hydro medium out to flush, all you need to do is just water for a week or so and let the plants consume what is left over in the medium but that is a flush as long as you don't have tons of extra salt buildup in your root zone (and if you do have the salt buildup then you have more problems than needing to flush)...
Sorry, I know this thread is old and it took me a while to read it so forgive me if this has been answered...
gumball
Well-Known Member
If one was to flush their pipes, would they just fill them with water? You toilet drowns in water till you flush it, where water is rushed through it. We don't grow toilets, why flush...
Every plant that is fed a salt based food in excess will have a buildup. Indoor plants don't have rain to come and wash (or flush) all the bad lifeless matter from the roots!
Food for thought, which is the point of the thread. It is not to disuade you from your current practice. You will only do that when you understand that your current practice is wrong in someway.
MonsterRobot
Member
I know what you are talking about but doesn't putting your plants in (or just feeding them water) do the same thing as not feeding them (aka flushing)? So in a sense by drowning your plants you are flushing them.... The water will help the excess salts be leached from the soil and the plant will use what nutrient reserves it has left?
Nitegazer
Well-Known Member
The drowning discussed by Riddleme only takes place when the plant is ready to harvest. The goal isn't to starve the plant, the goal is to kill it. Flushing typically takes place in the last week or two of the grow. Riddleme continues feeding until ready to havest, then drowns the plant.
gumball
Well-Known Member
The answer is in my above post. You may have to re-read for clarification. Have a nice day bud!
MonsterRobot
Member
I read it and got it... You are saying that it isn't flushing because you aren't running a bunch of water through the medium to leach it... But the plant is no longer being fed while it is being drown and it is just taking up water and not nutes... That isn't much different than flushing the plant is it? I am not saying that not flushing is wrong, just trying to get some clarification... Toilets and plants are different (in fact, when you fill a toilet with more water than it can handle it actually drains and flushes! You don't have to "flush" a toilet to get it to flush)...
Is putting a plant on straight water for the last few days not considered a flush?
Is putting a plant on straight water for the last few days not considered a flush?
Nitegazer
Well-Known Member
I think the difference is that when flushing, the plant is not finished, and flushing for an extended period of time slows (or stops) development. That can be problematic if the plant isn't fully ripe. Drowning as part of the cure takes place after the plant is finished, when no other development is needed/desired. The goal of drowning is not to clear nutes from the plant or medium, it is to get a jump start on the fermentation process.
Of course, some folks love to flush for a week or two. I have read many posts with growers on both sides of the argument. Do what works for you.
Of course, some folks love to flush for a week or two. I have read many posts with growers on both sides of the argument. Do what works for you.
MonsterRobot
Member
Got it... That makes more sense...
So most people on here drown before they harvest but don't flush... The drowning makes the plant start to ferment or cure out faster which in turn breaks down all the sugars and whatever is left in the plant and that is why there is no reason for a flush? So, if one doesn't flush, a longer cure is needed to break down the sugars in the plant.. In order to compensate for this the plant is drowned and the fermentation process begins and is accelerated by the drowning?
So most people on here drown before they harvest but don't flush... The drowning makes the plant start to ferment or cure out faster which in turn breaks down all the sugars and whatever is left in the plant and that is why there is no reason for a flush? So, if one doesn't flush, a longer cure is needed to break down the sugars in the plant.. In order to compensate for this the plant is drowned and the fermentation process begins and is accelerated by the drowning?
gumball
Well-Known Member
I water with nutrients every day. Every week or two I run BUNCHES of water through each plant, but within 3 hours every single one that receives this treatment gets nutrients, at whatever strength I give, mostly 3/4 to full. So every plant I chop has been fed within 3 or so hours. I dont drown often as I dont have the space and while it works, it can be an inconvenience.
The drowning and the flushing are 2 independent methods. One doesnt cause or require the other to happen for it to be done. I think that is part of your confusion. They each serve a function, and may compliment each other but I think that may be part of the confusion.
The drowning and the flushing are 2 independent methods. One doesnt cause or require the other to happen for it to be done. I think that is part of your confusion. They each serve a function, and may compliment each other but I think that may be part of the confusion.