Whether it’s your first or nth time growing cannabis plants, nothing comes close to the feeling of excitement when you are about to harvest your marijuana buds. After months of toiling and patience, everything comes to this – earning your reward.

But this time around, something seems amiss. It’s the last few weeks of the flowering stage, yet the marijuana buds don’t seem ready for harvest. What’s going on? Why are the flowers not ripening as fast as you expected?

Cannabis Plant Flowering Stage: An Overview

To help you identify the potential causes of the slow maturation of your marijuana buds, it is good to have some idea of the cannabis plant flowering stage. Here’s what you can expect from your flowering cannabis plants on a week-by-week basis.

Flowering stage week 1

The first week of the flowering stage is the point where your cannabis plants transition from the vegetative growth stage to the flowering stage. You will notice that your crops continue to grow at an intense rate. There are some marijuana cultivars that can even double their size during this time. You will also see your weed plants develop more colas and leaves.

This remarkable growth rate is critical because your plants need to become more robust to support the development of the flowers. Although feeding your cannabis plants vital nutrients can be helpful, resist the urge to overdo it. Otherwise, you can expect a few problems later on.

Flowering stage week 2

The second week of the flowering stage is the time when your plants exhibit their sexual characteristics. This is why some cultivators begin to separate their male plants from the flowering plants during this time.

Flowering stage week 3

By the third week of the flowering stage, it is impossible not to notice the massive growth of your flowering plants. But at this point, the growth spurt tapers off. Instead of spending their energy on growth, your cannabis plants shift their focus toward bud development.

During the previous week, you saw your plants develop white hairs. But during the third week, you should be able to see buds developing. However, it is until later that you get to see the resin glands and trichomes.

Flowering stage week 4

At this point, your plants have stopped growing altogether. Now, their main focus is on bud development.

Flowering stage week 5

During the fifth week of the flowering stage, it can be pretty hard to miss the familiar pungent smell of marijuana that your plants emit. At the same time, the buds have grown immensely. It is also not unusual for your flowering cannabis plants to develop more buds. The pistils and trichomes, on the other hand, begin to change their colors.

Late flowering stage

By the eighth week, most cannabis strains are ready or close to ready for harvest. However, there are some cannabis plant strains that will take a longer time before they can be harvested.

During the final leg of the flowering stage, your flowering cannabis plants show no growth. That, however, doesn’t mean that you can coast and wait for harvest time. This is the time to be vigilant and watch out for issues that can cause headaches later on. These include foxtailing, light burn, and nutrient deficits.

Reasons Why Your Cannabis Buds Aren’t Maturing Fast

Your plants are deep into the flowering period and you’re playing the waiting game. But upon close inspection, you’ve noticed that a few of your cannabis plants seem to be lagging behind in the bud development department. There are a few possible reasons why it might seem that it’s taking forever for the cannabis buds to mature.

Cannabis strain

There are some cannabis seeds that have a longer seed-to-harvest timeline. This is particularly true for Haze, XXL, and Sativa strains. (Alprazolam) And if you are not familiar with this tendency of these cultivars, you might end up setting unreasonable expectations for your crops.

There isn’t much you can do if this is the underlying reason for the sluggish ripening process of these cannabis strains. Fortunately, these strains tend to mature fast after periods of seemingly little to no development.

Misinformation

The packet that contained your cannabis seeds provides you with a host of information regarding the marijuana strain you bought. However, the information on the packet can be misleading, especially if you didn’t buy from a reputable source.

Think of the information on the packaging as a quick guideline. In some instances, the information can be misleading, especially when it comes to the maturation timeline. For example, some breeders begin their harvest countdown when the buds begin to appear. However, in most cases, that is only applicable if you are growing your cannabis seeds outdoors. If you are an indoor grower, it is better to start your countdown two weeks after.

If you are planting cannabis seeds from a strain you haven’t cultivated before, it is a good idea to set reasonable expectations. From a breeder’s point of view, an early harvest is the same as harvesting buds when they are fully matured.

LED grow lamps

Many cultivators are switching to LED grow lights because of the advantages and benefits they offer. However, some growers have noted a few issues with these grow lights. According to these cultivators, LED lights have been causing slower maturation among their crops. The issue seems to affect autoflowering strains mostly. However, the use of LED grow lamps can also affect regular cannabis seeds.

If you are planning to use LED grow lights for your indoor setup, make sure that you are using those specifically designed to cultivate cannabis plants. Although it is possible to grow cannabis with some types of LED lights, you will get your desired results with those that are manufactured for cannabis growers.

Revegging

Another possible reason why your cannabis buds are not maturing as fast as you expected them is that your plants reverted from the flowering stage back to the vegetative stage. When this happens, the affected cannabis plant puts its energy back toward producing more leaves and stems instead of developing its flowers.

This issue arises when cannabis plants get more light beyond the 12/12 light cycle. Take note that it doesn’t take much for weed plants to revert to the vegetative stage. Even the smallest amount of light contamination can trigger revegging.

When a cannabis plant goes back to the vegetative stage and does not revert to the flowering stage, its buds will eventually die. Unsure if your female cannabis plant went back to the veg state? One sure sign that such has happened is the appearance of smooth leaves. The signs of revegging can look the same as the symptoms of light or heat stress. If the affected plant is suffering from extreme stress, it will grow foxtails.

Light or heat stress

Cannabis plants require ample light and heat to thrive. But when subjected to intense light and temperature, the plant can be subjected to stress. When any of these issues arise during the flowering stage, the affected plant can stop developing its flowers. If the stress persists, a female cannabis plant can stop growing flowers altogether.

Plants that are suffering from light or heat stress will produce buds in the areas closest to the grow lights. Aside from that, you might see yellowing leaves. The appearance of foxtails is another sure sign that your plants are under stress.

Avoid these issues by using the appropriate grow light which should be positioned as close to a cannabis plant without causing stress.

Nutrition issues

Without proper nutrition, your cannabis plants cannot ripen their buds as fast as you’d like. Remember, the nutritional needs of weed plants change as they enter a new growth stage.

When your plant enters the flowering stage, make sure that you provide it with the nutrients that are required for this stage. But more importantly, pay attention to nutrient ratios. It is not enough that you give your crops the nutrients they need. You should also ensure that you give them enough, not more, not less.

How to Harvest Cannabis Plant Buds Faster

Want your cannabis buds to mature faster? Here are a few things that you can implement for a faster seed-to-harvest date.

Plant a quick-finishing cannabis strain

One of the simplest things that you can do to ensure that you get cannabis flowers that ripen fast is to choose a cannabis cultivar that finishes fast.

The cannabis plant growth stages can be broken down into two main parts – the vegetative stage and the flowering stage. During the vegetative stage, you can coax your crops to grow faster. But once they are in the flowering stage, there isn’t much you can do as the timeline for maturity will depend greatly on genetics.

In particular, look for hybrids that are listed as fast version cannabis seeds. Alternatively, you can consider buying autoflowering cannabis seeds that can be harvested anywhere between two and three months. However, be aware that some autoflowering strains have lower potency compared to their photoperiod counterparts.

If your goal is to harvest as soon as possible, avoid Haze cultivars and Sativa strains. These cannabis plants take a long time to finish.

Give your plants long hours of darkness

One of the chief advantages of indoor cannabis cultivation is that you can manipulate a few factors to achieve your desired results. For example, if you want your regular cannabis seeds to breeze through the flowering stage, you can manipulate the light cycle.

Usually, cannabis plants begin to enter the flowering stage when they have fewer than 13 hours of daylight. However, once your plants are deep in the flowering stage, you have to reduce daylight hours in favor of more hours of darkness. Switching to a 12/12 cycle helps hasten the ripening of the buds. In general, flowering cannabis plants ripen within seven to 12 weeks after you switch them to this light cycle.

With most Sativa strains and Hazes, you need to give them long hours of darkness to coax them into maturing faster.

But before you give your cannabis plants longer hours of darkness, be aware that using this light cycle can lower your yield. The main reason behind this is that your buds won’t have as much time to grow thicker and denser. If you intend to use this technique, be sure to let your plants have sufficient time to finish the flowering process first.

Provide young plants with 24 hours of daylight

It is standard practice for many cannabis cultivators to provide their crops with 18 hours of light and six hours of darkness during the vegetative growth stage. With this light cycle, you ensure that your young plants grow to be robust.

But if your goal is faster maturity of the cannabis buds, you should strongly consider giving your crops 24 hours of light per day. This fast-tracks your plants’ growth potential during the veg stage. However, you may have to lower light intensity under this light cycle. Otherwise, you might encounter a few issues.

If you notice that your plants are succumbing to sickness, reducing the hours of light to 18 hours will give them the opportunity to recover and bounce back.

Coax your plants to enter the flowering stage earlier

Although autoflowering strains are known for their fast seed-to-harvest timeline, it is possible for regular cannabis seeds to approximate the same. The key here is to start the 12/12 light cycle about three to four weeks after germinating your cannabis seeds. Do not start sooner than this because it can slow down the growth rate of your cannabis plants. In turn, your plants won’t enter the flowering stage as scheduled.

The idea behind here is to trick your plants to think that the winter months have arrived. When this happens, your plants will enter the flowering stage and begin producing buds. This technique can also be applied to clones.

Consider switching to a hydroponic setup

While soil remains as one of the top substrates used for growing cannabis, some growers attest to the benefits of using a hydroponic setup. Compared to soil, using hydroponics provides you with faster vegetative growth. And although you won’t get as many benefits for your plants during the flowering stage, overall your plants mature faster, translating to a quicker harvest.

Switch to indoor cannabis cultivation

Growing cannabis indoors has a few advantages over outdoor growing. Sure, you can save tons of money with outdoor growing. But if your goal is to fast-track the ripening of your cannabis buds, then you should strongly consider switching to indoor cannabis cultivation.

With outdoor growing, timing matters, specifically when you begin the planting season.

Typically, cultivators begin planting during spring, expecting to harvest during the tail end of fall. That usually takes about six months if you nail things right. Growing indoors, you get more control over a host of factors, including lighting, temperature, and humidity. You can even shorten the seed-to-harvest period drastically.

If you choose a fast-finishing strain and set up your grow room properly, you can harvest buds in as little as four months. That is something that’s difficult to replicate with an outdoor grow setup.

Nail down proper cannabis plant nutrition

Nutrition is critical for all stages of cannabis plant growth. However, if you want to ensure that your buds mature faster, you must provide them with the proper nutrients at the appropriate ratios, especially during the vegetative stage.

If you are using soil as your substrate, it is not necessary to provide your crops with fertilizers for the first few weeks. That is particularly true if you are using nutrient-rich soil. On the other hand, if you are using a hydroponic setup, adding nutrients directly to the water or substrate should be done right from the start.

You should also be aware that the nutritional needs of your plants change as they move forward to a new growth stage. During the vegetative stage, your cannabis plants require more nitrogen, over phosphorus and potassium.

But during the flowering stage, your crops need less nitrogen. Too much nitrogen hampers the development of flowers. That can mean a longer ripening process and worse, smaller yields.

Monitor your cannabis plants regularly

Make it a habit to check on your plants regularly. This allows you to identify issues before they spiral out of control, especially those that can slow down their growth.

When your plants don’t get the treatment they need, you are adding days or even weeks to your planting season. And conversely, if you remain on top of all the situations that may arise, you can shave a substantial amount of time from the season.

Another advantage of constantly monitoring your crops is that cultivation becomes relatively stress-free. Among the top issues that you should watch out for are nutrient problems, diseases and pest infestations, light and heat stress, and revegging.

Why Your Cannabis Flowers Are Maturing Fast

While some cannabis plant cultivators have to deal with the issue of marijuana buds that are slow to mature, others face the opposite: cannabis buds that flower faster than expected. While this may seem surprising, especially if you are still a novice, it is not necessarily a bad problem. In fact, there are a few advantages associated with cannabis plants that flower way ahead of schedule. But first, let’s uncover a few potential reasons behind this phenomenon.

Cannabis strain

One of the potential reasons why your cannabis plants are flowering early than usual is genetics. Sativa strains tend to produce buds without depending heavily on the light cycle. Furthermore, these cannabis strains are genetically coded as such. Typically, Sativa-dominant strains develop slower, even during the flowering stage.

Indicas, on the other hand, were first cultivated in areas where the winters are harsh. Because of this, these strains can move into the flowering stage quicker in response to the arrival of winter.

Planting ahead of the standard schedule

Another potential reason why your cannabis plants have begun flowering is that you started the planting season ahead of what other growers have been accustomed to. This is particularly true if you start planting around March or April in a location where the nights are as long as the days. For a cannabis plant, this indicates that winter is about to come.

To avoid early flowering, make sure that your weed plants get 10 hours of darkness, especially during spring.

Moving cannabis plants to a new location

Moving your plant to a new location can also cause it to flower ahead of schedule. This may happen because of the different light intensities in the two locations. Usually, this happens when you move an indoor cannabis plant to an outside location. In response to this change, the weed plant may begin flowering before it ought to.

Your plants are still in the pre-flowering stage

Your plant may still be in the vegetative stage and has just begun to enter the pre-flowering stage. The appearance of stigmas on your weed plant indicates that the flowering stage begins but your crops won’t produce buds anytime soon.

However, the pre-flowering stage is crucial for a couple of reasons. For one, it is the best time to determine whether you have female or male plants. And second, the pre-flowering stage allows you to make the necessary preparations before your weed plants start flowering.

You planted an autoflowering seed

Maybe someone gave them to you. Or perhaps a couple of autoflowering seeds were inadvertently mixed with the regular seeds you purchased. One thing is for certain – you planted an autoflowering cannabis seed and it is now ready to produce buds.

Conclusion

Cannabis cultivation requires patience. You cannot expect things to align with your own timeline. But sometimes, there are factors that can derail your plans. As such, it is important to constantly monitor the growth of your cannabis plants, not just during the flowering period. Pay close attention to the growth of your plants and act quickly to make the necessary adjustments if you find something amiss like the gradual maturation of your cannabis buds.

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