Thoughts on nutrient tapering?

Just curious what some of your opinion and procedures are. In the past whenever I'm running a 8-9 week strain I will peak nutrients between week 4 and 5 and then begin tapering their strength back until I decide to start a flush last 7 days or so. Do you agree or do you think that possibly hurts growth/yield by decreasing food when they are in their weight gaining phase? I am at day 33 of flower and plants are thriving. I'm now questioning whether my tapering is a good idea. Any thoughts are appreciated. Here are a few pics at day 33 (today) and the link to my grow journal if interested. I'm always looking for suggestions and advice...in these forums is where I have learned everything I know.

https://www.rollitup.org/t/blue-mystic-grow.957550/

When I run hydro I dont start tapering down until week 7. Usually 50% week 7, 25% week 8 and run at least .2 EC of base nutes through the end. I've found they run a little longer staying on the nutes, but developed more complex flavors. I don't go by hard timelines, you eventually can tell when thier slowing down.

I've got a couple "8 week" strains.. yeah right. I've yet to see one done in less than 9.

WeedFreak78 said:

When I run hydro I dont start tapering down until week 7. Usually 50% week 7, 25% week 8 and run at least .2 EC of base nutes through the end. I've found they run a little longer staying on the nutes, but developed more complex flavors. I don't go by hard timelines, you eventually can tell when thier slowing down.

I've got a couple "8 week" strains.. yeah right. I've yet to see one done in less than 9.

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This makes a lot of sense. I have never had problems following feeding schedules but always thought it was a bit too concrete with varying finishing times. As I've gotten more confident in my techniques I've begun varying some things. The further you get into a grow sometimes the more cautious you get not wanting to mess up a good thing but unless you expirement you don't learn. I'm gonna give your technique a try. Are you just going off visual instinct when to go to 50% or are you going off a trichome evaluation? Just curious. Thanks for the advice!

tmold44 said:

This makes a lot of sense. I have never had problems following feeding schedules but always thought it was a bit too concrete with varying finishing times. As I've gotten more confident in my techniques I've begun varying some things. The further you get into a grow sometimes the more cautious you get not wanting to mess up a good thing but unless you expirement you don't learn. I'm gonna give your technique a try. Are you just going off visual instinct when to go to 50% or are you going off a trichome evaluation? Just curious. Thanks for the advice!

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It's visual. I watch for when the pistils stop packing on and aren't stand as straight and thick as they used to, when they first show signs of withering/receding. That's generally getting into the beginning of the ripening stage and a good time to start cutting back. They usually keep swelling for another week after that , then really slow eating.

tmold44 said:

Just curious what some of your opinion and procedures are. In the past whenever I'm running a 8-9 week strain I will peak nutrients between week 4 and 5 and then begin tapering their strength back until I decide to start a flush last 7 days or so.

https://www.rollitup.org/t/blue-mystic-grow.957550/

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I like that too in hydro. my flush with just part of the tapered scheme. the bottles I used always showed a tapered instruction for the best results. I imagine if instructing us to use more product towards the end actually resulted in a better result, while it increased company profits(industry motive likely) these bottles would be telling us to use more ferts and not less. I tried before to not follow directions and it sucked every time.

WeedFreak78 said:

It's visual. I watch for when the pistils stop packing on and aren't stand as straight and thick as they used to, when they first show signs of withering/receding. That's generally getting into the beginning of the ripening stage and a good time to start cutting back. They usually keep swelling for another week after that , then really slow eating.

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Thanks....most of my pistils are still standing out with mostly white color. Trichomes are adding everyday, and they are drinking like crazy. I'll monitor those things closely and go from there. I figured about 30 days left anyway. Do you use anything different at end flush as far as a specialized flush chemical or just the reduced strength feeding recipe. I usually just did pH 6-6.3 water by itself. I would see increased yellowing when I did that. Whenever I've questioned that people usually say that was a good thing as the plants were utilizing all nutrients built up which was purpose of flush. I have been skeptical of that though.

tmold44 said:

Thanks....most of my pistils are still standing out with mostly white color. Trichomes are adding everyday, and they are drinking like crazy. I'll monitor those things closely and go from there. I figured about 30 days left anyway. Do you use anything different at end flush as far as a specialized flush chemical or just the reduced strength feeding recipe. I usually just did pH 6-6.3 water by itself. I would see increased yellowing when I did that. Whenever I've questioned that people usually say that was a good thing as the plants were utilizing all nutrients built up which was purpose of flush. I have been skeptical of that though.

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Read my sig, I didn't "flush" when I ran hydro, it shouldn't be needed if you're doing it correctly. The reduced nutrient regime also allows the plant to use any stored nutes. They'll usually start showing yellowing a week or so after dropping to 50%. If they start yellowing in a couple days, kick up the nutes a little cause they're probably still eating heavy and packing weight. I always try to keep a balanced supply of nutrients in the res, even if very weak, like .1-.2 EC. These plants aren't dead at harvest, there's no guarantee they have everything they need in reserves and we don't want them locking up while they are still ripening.

I stop Mg and K supplements 2-3 weeks out.
Might tickle the P and Ca up at the last 2..

That's in soil and with synthetic nutrition....

Fading isn't really needed, other then to reduce any supplemental K and Mg as they inhibit final THC concentrations....
P helps the ripening, and Ca helps on multiple things....Your not really helping the plant finish by fading. You might even be hurting potentials a bit.

But, it's up to you. Be comfortable with what YOU choose to do (just skip any *flush*)..