To get buds to flower, you need to provide cannabis plants with more than 12 hours of continuous darkness each day.
Cannabis is a short-day plant, meaning its flowering cycle is triggered by the amount of uninterrupted darkness it receives. When the hours of darkness exceed 12 hours per day, the plant recognizes the shorter days and longer nights, signaling it to shift from vegetative growth to flower production.
Here's a breakdown of how this works:
- Photoperiod: The term "photoperiod" refers to the daily duration of light exposure a plant receives. For flowering cannabis, a typical photoperiod is 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness (often denoted as "12/12").
- Darkness is Key: It's not just about reducing the light hours; the uninterrupted darkness is crucial. Even a short burst of light during the dark period can disrupt the flowering process and cause the plant to revert to vegetative growth (or cause other issues).
- Indoor vs. Outdoor:
- Indoor Growing: You have complete control over the light cycle using timers and grow lights. Simply switch your timer to a 12/12 schedule to induce flowering.
- Outdoor Growing: Flowering is determined by the natural seasonal changes in daylight. As the days shorten in late summer/early fall, outdoor plants will naturally begin to flower.
- Autoflowering Varieties: It's important to note that autoflowering cannabis strains are different. They flower based on their age, not the photoperiod. They will typically flower regardless of the light cycle they receive, though they generally benefit from longer light periods (e.g., 18/6 or even 20/4).
In summary, controlling the light cycle, particularly ensuring at least 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness, is the primary way to trigger flower production in photoperiod-sensitive cannabis plants.
