Flushing Marijuana | Our Guide On How And When To Flush

One of the most important processes in weed production is the flushing of roots or the washing out of weed roots. This simple process can make or break your smoke experience. Although it may seem like a hard task, flushing marijuana roots are actually quite easy. However, you might need to carry out some research to learn how and when to properly flush the weed. In this article, the reason for washing weed roots and how to do so will be explained.

What precisely does it involve to flush weed roots?

During the growing and flowering phase of the marijuana plant, nutrients are infused to increase the plant’s yield and to keep the cannabis healthy. The root absorbs these nutrients and the nutrients reach the cannabis plant through the roots. However, the nutrients are capable of affecting the way the weed tastes. Also, it can make the throat uncomfortable and feel sharp. More so, you definitely wouldn’t want these nutrients to go into your body through the weed. The way to prevent all these is by flushing and washing the roots clean completely.

Basically, flushing marijuana is a process that eliminates the surplus nutrients from the plant soil in order to stop the roots from the continued absorption of the nutrients and to ensure that cannabis plants with too many nutrients are properly balanced out before harvest. The process of flushing cannabis is done when the marijuana becomes almost ready to be harvested. Flushing involves no more than just simply washing the soil the cannabis plant is on, the fertilizers are rinsed out so the cannabis buds come out properly cleansed when harvested.

It is quite simple to carry out this method. All that should be done is to cease providing fertilizer for the plants and giving them only water. Here, the most important thing is timing.

The benefits of flushing cannabis plants

Like other living organisms, cannabis requires optimal nutrients in order to thrive. Nutrient inadequacies can cause the plant to die or fail to properly thrive. However, when plants are given too many nutrients, the plant doesn’t absorb the surplus nutrient nor uses it to grow, rather it stays, becoming a deficit – this is similar to how the human body operates. Surplus residual nutrients upon harvest can result in the plant’s end product being of poor quality. Although the plant buds may appear to be healthy, you can notice the following:

• It is hard to smoke; it is not easy to ignite the weed and it may glisten noticeably.
• Due to the excessive mineral salts found in the plant’s flower heads, the taste can be harsh and noticeably unpleasant.
• The smoke can cause the feeling of irritation; a lot of users have reported sore and itchy throat and extreme cough.

When can I be flushing marijuana

Flushing the cannabis plant can be appropriate at several stages in the plant’s growth cycle:

1. The transition phases of growth and feeding cycles – the nutrient needs of cannabis plants vary, cleansing the roots before starting a different fertilizer is beneficial.
2. Nutrient lockout – this happens when the cannabis plants are not able to take in nutrients from the substrate or soil.
3. Pre-harvest – This stage is the most important time to flush and it is the main focus of our article.

Pre-harvest: The kind of substrate determines the right moment for flushing

For soil users, flushing two weeks to the harvest is great. For users of coconut coir or Rockwool, you should start flushing seven days before the harvest. For hydroponics plantation systems, it is recommended to start flushing three days before the harvest.

When using organic soil or super soil, it is important to completely avoid flushing. This is because flushing will cause the destruction of very essential microorganisms, also the soil’s biodiversity will be harmed.

Therefore, it is important to identify when your weed is ready for harvest. Viewing the hairs found on the plant tips with a smaller microscope can allow you to determine how much longer the plant will stay. Initially, the hair strands have white color, this becomes darker later on (more cloudy); you can harvest the plant when 50 percent of the strands become brown.

Flushing can commence when the plant’s bulbous trichomes begin to change into milky white rather than when it is crystal clear.

How to properly flush weed?

To flush weed, you have to rinse the soil (this is also called a substrate) of your marijuana plant. While this is usually soil, it can be hydro substrate too, for example, hydro granules, rock wool, or coconut coir.

Having a pH meter right before flushing commences can be useful. It is key to make use of water and soil that has a pH value of six (6) when rinsing out soil from the cannabis plants. For growers using a hydro substrate, a 5.6 pH value is better. To ascertain the level, put your pH meter into the water.

Plenty of water needs to be added to the substrate or soil. An estimation of at least thrice the size of water the container where the plant is sitting can take is great. However, this measurement is largely based on the plant’s nutritional program.

The EC (electroconductivity) and PH level of the water to be used must be accurate. Although untreated tap water usually has the right level of acidity, it is recommended for you to conduct a quick and simple pH test just to make sure that the level is between the point of 6 and 6.5.

Also, it is important to make sure that the water EC level is quite low. It has to be 0.0. If getting accurate pH and EC levels are difficult for you, we advise that you use commercial enzyme cleansing products. This can mean that you will not need to make use of so much water during the irrigation. The plants may be stressed out from the flushing and will require some days to heal. Making use of the product will mean that you just have to soak the soil up until it begins to leak through the container’s base.

You must control and monitor the drainage

Placing the plants in a bath or taking them outside can be great since the process involves lots of water. Keep watering until the soil or substrate can not absorb water anymore then wait for all the surplus to filter, repeat this process continues as is necessary.

You must control and monitor the drainage when the plant is being watered. The last liters of water are supposed to come out transparent. This is the best way to know that the plant’s root flushing is complete.

Collect samples of the drained water then use your EC meter. If the collected sample has below 0.5 EC value, then the flushing was successful and the soil has become rid of the excessive nutrients. The plants’ reserve will be used to balance out the plant’s internal levels with that of the substrate. This results in the levels becoming lower and preventing unnecessary levels of salts from entering into the plant’s flowers.

Upon the end of the flushing (until it is time for harvest), all nutrients still contained in the plant and roots will be thoroughly rinsed clean. This has its consequences for your plant; because the plant no longer gets nutrients, and nutrients are being taken from just the plant itself. It can be easily noticed that the color of the plant leaves lightens and turn dry and yellow eventually, but this doesn’t affect the quality and strength of the buds.

However, it ensures that your cannabis is optimally clean and has a much better taste. Also, you are able to ensure that the cannabis will not have any more nutrients. The major benefit of growing your own weed and flushing it is that you are sure of what you are smoking.

How often should I be flushing marijuana?

Flushing the plant roots really needs to be carried out just one time before harvesting. It can be done more than one time if your plants show signs of a nutrient lock at the growing stage.

Once the cannabis plants have undergone flushing and are harvested, take out time to carefully dry your weed and cure it. All the hard work you have put in will be richly rewarded with amazing quality cannabis that is very pleasurable to smoke. Your weed buds will boast of having reached their highest potential to the sweet envy of your friends.