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                 -+- The Merry Pranksters from Menlo Park -+-
                               10.1990.01.01.25

                 Marijuana Grower's Handbook - part 25 of 33
                               by pH Imbalance
                                 "Flowering"

                                     from

                         Marijuana Grower's Handbook
                         [Indoor/Greenhouse Edition]
                                 Ed Rosenthal


   Earlier in this series (Part 3), we described how marijuana determines
when it should flower.  It senses the onset of "Fall" by measuring the
number of hours of uninterrupted darkness.  When the plant senses a period
of uninterrupted darkness long enough each evening, it triggers into
flowering.
   The period of darkness required varies by variety.  Equatorial varieties
need a longer period of darkness than indica or Southern African varieties
because the equatorial growing season is longer and equatorial plants have
shorter days.  Equatorial sativas flower when the dark cycle increases to 12
hours or more.  Most indicas flower at between 12 to 16 hours of light, 8 to
12 hours of uninterrupted darkness.
   Male marijuana plants flower before the females and are only partially
light-sensitive.  In some varieties the males seem to flower after a few
months of growth, regardless of lighting conditions.
   Since female marijuana flowering is regulated by light, a cultivator
growing under lights can put the garden into flowering with the flick of the
timer.  Once the plants start to bloom, they will grow another foot or two
in height.  The plants should be set into flowering before they get too
tall.
   Growers use several lighting regimens to start the plants flowering.
Growers using continuous light or another long day cycle can cut the light
back to flowering cycle with no intermediate steps.  The plants do not
suffer from shock or exhibit unusual growth.  Some growers do introduce the
cycle more gently, cutting the light back to flowering cycle over several
weeks.
   After 4 to 5 weeks of heavy flowering, some growers set the light back
another hour to simulate the shortening season.  Growers cut the light back
another hour after another month.  This may be especially helpful in
finishing some tropical varieties, which do not reach maturity in their
native lands until the middle of the short day season (there is no winter in
the tropics).





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