by Stoney Tark
The flowering stage is the most exciting. During this time, your plants will grow and develop those frosty, dense, and absolutely dank flowers that usually become our head stash for the next two to three months! In this article, I will provide 12 tips for success in the flowering stage to help take your indoor growing game to the next level, increasing yields and flower quality.
Tip #1: Grow Timer
The reason I have added this first is that something as simple as not correctly adjusting the segments of the grow timer can be problematic. It has happened to me in the past, and I am sure it has happened to many others, where one 15-minute segment was not pressed up or down correctly, resulting in an unwanted light break without even knowing it!
Tip #2: Smell-Proofing
For a beginner-level grower who feels they could get away with growing in a closet or a room without a carbon filter and extractor, do not do it. A carbon filter plays an important role in keeping your growing space as discreet and private as possible. Invest in a carbon filter for the flowering stage, even if you didn’t need one during the vegetative stage. A smell-proof grow space is a must.
Tip #3: Nutrient Solution pH
It always amazes me when I visit growers who do not test the pH of their nutrient solution. Check the pH of your nutrient solution with a pH meter, then adjust it with pH Up or pH Down products. Soil growers should aim for a pH between 6 and 7.
Tip #4: Keep a Clean Grow Room
Keeping a clean grow space benefits you and your plants. Keep the grow tent or grow room floor free of dirt, nutrients, soil, and dead leaves to create a clean, sterile environment. Frequently sweep the floor and around the pots, and use a chemical disinfectant spray every two weeks. This will reduce the risk of pathogens, insects, and pests, and is a good way to be as professional and clinical as possible.
Tip #6: The Right Temperature
You do not want your growing space to be too hot or too cold during flowering. Achieving the right temperatures when the lights are on and off is the key to a successful harvest. I recommend keeping the temperature between 71–77°F (22–25°C) when the lights are on. When the lights are off, the temperature should drop slightly to about 60–66°F (16–19°C).
A flowering cannabis plant reaching maturity. Photo by Stoney Tark
Tip #7: Top-Quality Airflow
It is essential that the ventilation is functioning properly and that there is adequate airflow. The easier it is for your room or tent to ventilate air, the better off your plants will be. Poor ventilation can make grow rooms hot and create stagnant air around the buds. Ventilation is everything when growing high-grade flower!
Tip #8: Check Buds for Mold
We all love the development of big, dense flowers during the last four weeks of flowering, but so does mold. Discovering that your buds have gone moldy is heartbreaking. My tip is to inspect your buds for mold daily during this critical period. In some extreme cases, buds can mold from the inside out, significantly reducing yield.
Tip #10: Distance of the Light
How far away you keep your grow lights can significantly affect how much photosynthetically active radiation (PAR)-rich light your plants receive. On the basis that the heat produced by the lights is quite low and cool, adjust the lights between 12 and 18 inches above the top of the canopy. If you really want to get the light intensity levels spot-on, use a PAR meter to find the perfect distance. Autoflowers in a grow tent will not stretch as much as photoperiods.
Tip #11: Follow Nutrient Guidelines
Over-fertilizing leads to a world of problems that start to reveal themselves during peak flower production. Beginner growers often go overboard with nutrients, especially during the 3–4-week transition from vegetative to flowering growth. My tip is to follow the guidelines provided on the nutrient bottles and do not add more nutrients when you feel like it; try your best to keep the nutrient feeding regimen as consistent and precise as possible.
Tip #12: Bamboo Canes for Support
Flowering cannabis plants tied to bamboo stakes. Photo by Stoney Tark.
If you’re doing everything right, there will come a point during the flowering stage when your plants become so heavy from giant colas and side branches that they begin to topple over. Adding bamboo canes and securing the side branches with thick gardening wire will keep your plants’ structure in good shape and help support flower and trichome production. Insert the canes at the edges of the round pots, like the numbers on a clock.
Take your indoor garden further
If you want structured guidance beyond trial and error, Oaksterdam’s Home Grow course walks you through setting up and running a productive indoor garden from seed to harvest. When you’re ready to turn that experience into job-ready skills, the Live Commercial Horticulture Worker program adds live instruction, hands-on learning, and the practical training you need to step into a professional grow with confidence.
Use code “tark10” at checkout to save 10% on your enrollment in either course.