The Cannabis Flowering Cycle
The flowering cycle is the longest and most rewarding stage of your grow. This is where all your hard work pays off—your plants transform from leafy vegetation into resinous, aromatic buds.
📍 Your Grow Journey
Pre-Flowering & Sexing
Identifying Plant Sex
The flowering stage actually comprises two parts: pre-flowering and flowering. Many growers use the pre-flowering stage as an opportunity to determine the sex of their plants. This is crucial for preventing unwanted pollination.
Female Plants
Produce buds/flowers with white pistils. These are the plants you want to keep!
Male Plants
Develop pollen sacs instead of buds. Remove unless breeding.
Important: Isolate male and female plants from each other unless you’re planning to create your own cannabis seeds. A single male can pollinate your entire grow room.
Nutrient Shift
🧪 P & K Take Over
During veg, nitrogen was king. Now it’s time to shift your NPK ratios. Potassium and phosphorus become the priority during flowering—they enhance bud growth, resin production, and overall flower development. Reduce nitrogen to prevent excess leafy growth.
Save Time with Smart Seed Choices
Feminized Seeds
Skip the sexing process entirely. Feminized seeds produce all-female plants, so you never have to worry about identifying and removing males.
Learn about feminized seeds →Autoflowering Seeds
No light schedule changes required. Autoflowers transition to flowering automatically based on age, not photoperiod. Perfect for beginners.
Learn about autoflowers →12 Hours Light / 12 Hours Dark
To trigger and maintain flowering in photoperiod plants, switch to a strict 12/12 light cycle. The extended darkness signals to your plants that “winter is coming” and it’s time to reproduce by flowering.
What to Expect
The Magic Happens
When your plants start flowering and producing buds, things get exciting. Your buds will develop milky-white pistils, while trichomes engulf your plants with a layer of crystals. This is what you’ve been waiting for.
White Pistils
Hair-like structures that catch pollen and signal flower development
Trichomes
Crystal-like glands containing cannabinoids and terpenes
Pungent Aromas
Terpene production kicks in—things get stinky!
Odor Control Tip
If you’re growing indoors and need discretion, recirculate your air through a carbon filter. Carbon filters will keep those pungent smells to a minimum.
Patience is Key
During the flowering cycle, it can be tempting to sample your buds early. A little taste here and there is okay, but don’t overdo it or rush your plants. Let them fully mature for maximum potency, flavor, and yield.