Preflowers in early July

[Cep]

Just like the title states I'm seeing pistils on July 10th that probably formed a few days earlier in my absence. The plants all have finishing times around Oct. 1st or later and usually will show flowers around August 1st.

The only thing I suspect has happened is that my raised beds dried out a bit.

To elaborate, all were planted in 1' high raised beds that were heavily mulched with straw. Heavy rains occurred in late June that saturated the soil. With warmer weather the past two weeks (high 80's) the top 2-3 inches of soil have dried out. I haven't watered in fear of over watering, until today when the new emitter tubing system was used. The moisture probe shows dry soil near the base of the plants (within a 1' radius) but all the surrounding soil is moist and I believe the majority of the root system is wet.

Could my plants be throwing early flowers in response to their inner root systems drying out?

 

[Stoner Bob]

pics? location? my kush plant outdoors started showing bunches of pistils about a week ago close to a week after the summer equinox, i don't think anything is abnormal about it. the plant is about 6' tall.

is the comment "usually will show flowers around August 1st" from your experience under the same conditions, or is it from what you've read?

 

[Abzon]

I had mine go into preflower in May right after moving them outside. Ended up going back into veg and are now they are fine and about 9ft tall with the exception of one that flowered pretty heavily. I trimmed off most of the bud and it too is now back into veg but is very small and picking up speed .

 

[Cep]

Thank you for the responses. No pic, but its 45 deg N. The plot is mostly made up of hybrids with the exception of one true "kush" or indica dominant plant. The plants that I'm most worried about are the DJ Short Blueberry that last year started flowering at the end of July/Aug 1st (comment was from experience).

All my clones did pop single pistils per node in late May, despite having lights set up to extend the day to 16 hours. This was normal then and they soon were vegging full force until now. I even spotted a few pistils on a few blue dreams which I know don't start flowering until early August normally.

I gave the plants a light soaking near their bases in hopes that I'll get 20 or so more days of veg. I'm just very hesitant to over water them. Also wondering if anyone else has the same experience.

 

[Bluewidow]

You do understand these are only preflowers from being sexually mature right? Most of mine outside this year have already preflowered and were all started from seed indoors in April.

 

[RosettaStoned]

Yeah it's fine. Once they get big enough they put them out.

 

[Cep]

Yes, I understand preflowers indicate maturity. The have already shown them in late may, reverted back to vegging and are now showing preflowers for the second time. I don't remember seeing them this early last year. The overall appearance of the plants looks like its changing as well (top internodes are slightly angled rather than vertical).

I'll get some pictures tomorrow...

 

[cannanaut]

I am at 45 N , and noticed this "phenomenon" on my plants too. I have a lot of DJs genetics in my plant and all of them shows hairs and balls. It was surprise to me to see them show pistils that early.

If you grow in open field with a lot of sun, they might start to flower earlier than if grown in half shaded place.

 

[frankenstein2]

I'm a little further north than 45 and my plants are doing the same thing. I was wondering what was going on too. I usually can pin down the week they start to flower using the daylight chart. Last year I was right on the money. There's no way mine are showing preflowers from lack of water. This has been the wettest season we've had in awhile. They are however in direct sunlight for the better part of the day. I like it. Hopefully they will be ready a wekk or two early this year. Last year I took mostly everything down on Halloween day.

 

[Cep]

They get over 12 hours of direct sun, 15:25 day length.

I would be happy if this means I'll get a Sep. 12th finish, but I have the feeling its stalling them and they are gong to finish Sep. 25th anyway.


There's also some taco leaf going on. The second pic may look fine for vegging but I'm familiar with this strain and the internodes are starting to get shorter.

 

[FatherEarth]

Above 45 north ideally I would be pulling tarp by now. The goal is to avoid the waning Sunlight of the onset of fall. Also to finish while the sun still is fairly direct as well as avoiding the potential early rains that can start in early September. Plus you can beat the flood of outdoors that comes in with an "on time" finish.
The best information I could scrounge up with the potential to explain this phenomenon without the use of anecdotal evidence is The Physiology of Higher Plants

 

[FatherEarth]

september 25 is pretty early, Id be stoked for that.

 

[SunGrown]

Cep, you are seeing what a lot of growers are seeing this year. The way you describe the angle of the tips is spot on.

I am not sure why it's happening but many gardens in my area are experiencing the same thing this year. My ladies are big enough that I'm not concerned with yield but I have friends that will be very bummed this year with their pull.

I don't think it can be narrowed down to over or under water, or even strains...I have blue dreams already transitioning...not what this strain does, and I've had the same cut since 08 or 09.

The reading material father earth referenced is good reading, it was required when i was in hort, but doesn't cover what is being seen this year, and there is no way to pull tarps on these kind of gardens.

Some guys in Tom hills thread are discussing it too.

 

[FatherEarth]

start reading @ page 40...

Youd be surprised what you can pull tarp on. LOL I was pulling tarp last year at this time on a 12 ft high 15 w 72 ft long greenhouse, as a one man show.


So SG, can you tell me whats happening with all these preflower reports?

 

[SunGrown]

Father earth, first I should say I have been reading and gaining knowledge from your posts for a long time. So respect there.

And yeah, on a greenhouse pulling tarps sure, it's very doable, but not on football field sized gardens.

However, I have read that book and will read the pages referenced again today, but no, I do not know what is going on this year. It is different than anything I've seen in the last decade and not just my opinion, lots of people this year seeing the change.

I wish I had an answer!

 

[Cep]

september 25 is pretty early, Id be stoked for that.

DJ Blueberry. Clearly an unusually early pheno as other peoples descriptions are of a Oct. 7-14th finish. I love her but am always looking for something quicker. That "MR. Nice" clone that humboldtlocal was running looked like it fit the bill.

Cep, you are seeing what a lot of growers are seeing this year. The way you describe the angle of the tips is spot on.

I am not sure why it's happening but many gardens in my area are experiencing the same thing this year. My ladies are big enough that I'm not concerned with yield but I have friends that will be very bummed this year with their pull.

I don't think it can be narrowed down to over or under water, or even strains...I have blue dreams already transitioning...not what this strain does, and I've had the same cut since 08 or 09.

The reading material father earth referenced is good reading, it was required when i was in hort, but doesn't cover what is being seen this year, and there is no way to pull tarps on these kind of gardens.

Some guys in Tom hills thread are discussing it too.

I've see those posts in the TH thread and thank you guys for responded here too. It's confusing but I'm not panicking anymore if others are seeing the same thing. Maybe its just a seasonal deal rather than an unseen stressor that I was fearing.

@Father Earth
I'm going to start digging through that text. It's been a good 6 years since plant physiology!

 

[Stoner Bob]

I have one Kush plant outdoors that seemed to start it's flowering a couple days after the summer equinox. I'm at around 34 degrees north (SoCal). I think it started stretching jun 15th or so, I was out of town for two weeks and when I got back the top was stretched about a foot with alternating leaves from the stem


good luck with your's.