Week 5 of flowering in cannabis cultivation is a critical juncture—exciting yet challenging. As buds swell and mature, growers face a unique set of pressures, from ensuring structural support to fine-tuning nutrient levels. Missteps during this time can impact the entire harvest. The pressure starts with correctly supporting plants and then moves on to tweaking nutrient levels and pest problems; staying on track can be overwhelming. Lost work or poor management of a significant week can affect an entire harvest.
In this article, we will discuss the key developments and actions you should take during Week 5 of flowering. From observing the maturation of your buds to making the proper nutritional adjustments and monitoring trichomes for harvest timing, we will provide practical tips to keep your plants healthy and productive.
What Is the Cannabis Flowering Stage?
One of the most significant phases of a plant’s growth cycle is flowering, which transitions vegetative growth into reproductive development. This stage of cannabis focuses the plant’s efforts on producing buds, which, in turn, leads to harvestable flowers with the full potency of cannabinoids and terpenes. Understanding this stage is paramount to maximizing your cannabis yield and guaranteeing a high-quality product.
The flowering stage is divided into two main sub-phases:
Early Flowering Stage:
- When It Begins (Week 1): This phase starts when the cannabis plant reaches full maturity and is ready to begin the reproductive process. You’ll see the first signs of flowering, such as tiny buds forming at the plant’s nodes (the points where leaves and stems meet).
- Changes in Growth (Weeks 1-2): The plant’s energy now transitions from growing leaves and stems to developing buds. At this stage, the plant starts to focus more on producing flowers, the central part of which will contain the cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD, and the terpenes that define the plant’s potency and aroma.
- Noticeable Changes (Week 2-3): The buds start to grow more prominent, and you’ll begin to see more definition in the shape and size of the flowers. The plant will begin to look more like the final product, with the structure of the buds becoming more apparent. The leaves might also start to look a little different as the plant’s focus shifts away from vegetative growth.
- Energy Shift (Weeks 1-3): This is a critical period because the plant will channel most of its energy into bud formation. Therefore, it is essential to provide the proper nutrients, especially phosphorus and potassium, to support this transition and ensure the development of healthy, robust buds.
Late Flowering Phase:
- When it begins (Week 5): When the plant’s flowers are fully formed and the buds are maturing. This is roughly halfway through the flowering period, usually Week 5 and beyond.
- Bud Swelling and Resin Production (Weeks 5-7): In the late flowering phase, the buds continue to swell and increase in size and density. You’ll notice the buds becoming heavier and more compact. This is a sign that the plant is putting more energy into resin production, which helps to produce the cannabinoids and terpenes that give cannabis its potency and aroma.
- Sign of Ripening (Weeks 6-8): As the plant enters the final stretch of flowering, you’ll begin to notice subtle signs that it’s nearing maturity. The trichomes (the tiny, crystal-like structures on the buds) will start changing in color from clear to cloudy or amber, which indicates the plant is approaching harvest time. The pistils (the hair-like structures on the buds) may also change color, shifting from white to orange or red.
- Pre-harvest preparation (Weeks 7-8): In this stage, the plant focuses on the last bud development and ripening stage. This is crucial because environmental factors like light, temperature, and humidity can impact the final quality and yield. Thus, the last flowering stage aims to achieve peak potency and aroma. Proper care and timing are needed to achieve a successful harvest.
Each flowering stage of a cannabis plant can determine the potency, quality, aroma, and even appearance of the buds. Therefore, week 5 is found to be the most crucial stage of cannabis production. Let’s understand what makes it so important.
Why is Week 5 so Important For Your Cannabis Cultivation?
Week 5 of flowering in cannabis plants is a crucial stage in the life of your plants. This is when buds start to form and reveal their potential, marking the start of a promising harvest. Yet, at the same time, there are a variety of issues that grow worse as the plants mature, including nutrient deficiencies, pest infestations, and structural weaknesses. If these problems are not controlled, then they may hinder growth, yield reduction, or even the quality of your crop.
During this crucial period, your concern should be on the growth of your plants. This implies watching your buds closely for health changes, adjusting nutrient levels, monitoring environmental conditions, and supporting the plant structure to avoid breakage. Decisions made at this stage will determine your harvest weeks.
Bud development and the plants’ general health must be examined in Week 5. As the plants develop further, it is crucial to avoid setbacks.
What Changes Occur to Your Cannabis Plant at Week 5?
By Week 5 of the flowering cycle, your cannabis plants will undergo several significant transformations as they continue to mature. These changes are crucial for both the health of the plant and the development of the final harvest. Here is a deeper look at the changes that occur during this period:
1. Bud Development Accelerates
- Buds Fill In & Become Denser: Buds start swelling, becoming more compact as flowers and pistils grow larger and more defined. The plant is focused on shaping and solidifying buds for a full harvest.
- Flower Clusters Mature: Budsites begin to fill with larger, more identifiable buds. This is when your flowers start to transition into their final, dense form, preparing for optimal yield.
- Packing on Growth: The plant’s main objective is to maximize growth in the bud sites, packing in more material to enhance yield and quality.
What You Should Do:
- Monitor Bud Growth: Keep a close eye on bud size and density. Watch for any signs of stunted growth or irregularities, which could indicate nutrient or environmental issues.
- Ensure Optimal Lighting: Make sure your plants receive 12 hours of quality light, with a spectrum focused on red wavelengths for flower development.
- Maintain Ideal Temperature & Humidity: Keep temperatures between 65-80°F (18-27°C) and humidity at 40-50% for healthy bud development. Avoid extreme fluctuations.
- Avoid Overfeeding Nitrogen: Excess nitrogen encourages leaf growth rather than bud formation. Instead, focus on boosting phosphorus and potassium to support strong buds and resin production.
- Boost Phosphorus & Potassium: Higher levels of phosphorus and potassium are key to dense buds and rich flower production, helping to optimize yield and resin content.
2. Resin and Aroma Production Increase
- Resin Production Peaks: Week 5 is the peak of resin production in cannabis plants. Trichomes are tiny glandular structures covering the buds and produce huge amounts of resin. This resin contains the active compounds found in the plant, including THC and CBD.
- Bud Development: At this stage, the buds become swollen with a sticky, crystalline resin, which is a marker of healthy cannabis plants. This resin contributes to the plant’s potency and acts as a critical protective feature in protecting the flowers from insects and other forms of environmental stress.
- Increased Aroma: The plant produces more terpenes. Terpenes are the aromatic compounds responsible for each strain’s unique aroma. Thus, a stronger smell means that the plant is in its healthy and productive phase.
- Environmental Considerations: When it starts to smell really potent, it may fill the grow room and can be a challenge depending on your growing environment and what your local regulations are.
What can you do:
- Manage Strong Aromas: When your buds begin to swell, expect strong aromas. Maintain good ventilation in the grow room for better air circulation and lesser intensity of odors.
- Use Carbon Filters: Carbon filters can be useful in managing pungent odors indoors through a grow setup. This helps keep the aroma in control and discreet.
- Avoid Overwatering: At this point, one should not overwater since excessive moisture can damage the trichomes or cause root rot. Protect the plant and maximize resin production by sticking to a watering schedule where the soil dries between waterings.
Are you facing difficulties in keeping track of your plant watering schedule? Don’t worry. PlanaCan‘s interactive calendar makes it easy to plan and track your watering schedule alongside other critical tasks. You can schedule your watering days, plan your harvest months in advance, and monitor your plant’s progress all in one place.
3. Structural Modification of the Plant
- Increased Bud Weight: The weight of the plant’s branches and stems increases when the buds swell and develop since larger and denser buds contribute much weight.
- Risk of Damage: The unsupported branches will bend and may break under the extra weight, which can hurt the plant and stop the buds from developing.
- Support Systems: Support systems like stakes, trellises, or plant ties are therefore necessary to ensure that branches remain upright and healthy, keeping the plant stable as it grows.
- Growth Focus Shift: The plant during this stage is more interested in bud formation rather than leaf and stem growth, thereby reducing the ratio of leaf to buds.
- Leaf Changes: Some leaves may become yellow or even die as the plant goes through its flowering cycle.
- Monitor for Nutrient Deficiencies: Monitoring leaf drop or discoloration is also crucial because these can indicate nutrient deficiencies, which need to be taken care of.
What can you do:
- Use Stakes, Trellises, or Plant Supports: Use stakes, trellises, or plant supports to stabilize the plant. Techniques such as low-stress training (LST) or a screen of green (ScrOG) can gently bend the branches and create an even canopy, which helps distribute the weight of the buds more evenly across the plant.
- Prune Excess Foliage: Other leaves should be pruned to facilitate more light and air into the buds. This way, excess energy is concentrated in the bud formation and has less chance of overgrowth with mold or mildew.
- Avoid Overcrowding: Avoid overcrowding your plants, as this can impede airflow and increase the risk of stress or mold. Proper spacing ensures that each bud receives the light and air it needs to mature properly.
- Support Larger Buds: As the buds get bigger, the branches will feel more stress and require stakes or other supports to keep them upright so that they do not break. A trellis or scrog net will distribute the weight over several branches, preventing any one branch from bearing too much. Bend or tie down the branches that are breaking or likely to break and position them not too tight on stable frames using soft ties.
- Monitor for Structural Weakness: Monitor your plant often for the weakening of structures. In case of any struggling branch, seek immediate support before its condition deteriorates.
4. Trichome Development
- Week 5 Summary: This is the week when cannabis plants begin to look like the final product. The buds are now becoming more solid and compact, and the flowering structures begin to look more mature.
- Transition to Flowering: The plant makes a full transition from vegetative growth to flowering, with its energy now channeled toward bud production rather than further vegetative growth.
- Trichomes: When the trichomes become very small hair-like structures on buds, they produce resins. Around Week 5, the trichomes appear cloudy or milky, and mean that the plant has nearly reached its peak level of potency.
- Harvest Timing: Trichome observation should be used as the tool for knowing the harvest timing. As trichomes ripen, they become amber, which means the maturity stage is over.
What can you do:
- Review the Trichomes: Look at your cannabis plant trichomes using a jeweller’s loupe or magnifying lens to look closely at them. As it reaches Week 5, you should start noticing that some trichomes may develop at this point, although it’s unlikely to be cloudy or milky.
- Cloudy/Milky Trichomes: When trichomes become cloudy or milky, it usually shows the plant is close to full potency.
- Amber Trichomes: Pay close attention to amber-colored trichomes; it is an indicator that the buds are at close proximity to maturity. It often gives the indication that the trichomes would possess higher levels of CBD along with relatively lesser levels of THC, impacting the cannabis’ potency as well as its effects.
- Harvest Time: Optimal harvest time will be determined by monitoring changes in trichomes on your plants.
5. Susceptibility to Nutrient Deficiencies and Pests
- Nutrient deficiency: Nutrient deficiency at this stage, especially in certain elements, may cause stunted buds, lower effectiveness, and slower maturing. Look out for nutrient deficiency signs such as yellowing, browning, or curled leaves on the plant.
- Pests to watch out for: When the buds mature and become stickier, spider mites, aphids, and whiteflies may appear. These pests may damage the plants and reduce the quality of the buds, so schedule regular pest inspections.
- Higher humidity levels: Increased levels of humidity during the flowering cycle will increase the chances of having mould and mildew. Maintain proper airflow and humidity levels to prevent these issues during the flowering phase.
What can you do:
- Monitor for signs of nutrient deficiencies: Monitor for Nutrient deficiency especially phosphorus and potassium. Its deficiency leads to yellowing of leaves, poor bud growth or stunted development. If you see any, focus on correcting it in your nutrient mix.
- Check for pest infestations: Continuously monitor for pest infestations like spider mites, aphids, or fungus gnats. These will cause damage to your buds and also deter their growth. If there is an infestation, organic pest controls such as neem oil or insecticidal soap can be used to kill them without killing the plants.
- Remove yellowed or dead leaves: Remove yellowed or dead leaves so the plant’s energy goes to healthy budding. This also enhances the air flow so there is a minimal chance of having mold or mildew accumulate.
- Keep the grow area clean: Clean up the grow area by removing debris as this attracts pests and fungi. Clean your tools and equipment to prevent contamination and to ensure a healthy environment for your plants.
Now, let us explore the factors that affect cannabis flowering.
Factors That Affect the Cannabis Flowering Stage
The cannabis flowering stage is influenced by several key factors that can significantly impact the quality and yield of the buds. Here are some of the factors:
1. Light Adjustments and Photoperiod Management
The most essential factor during Week 5 is ensuring that your light cycle is proper. Cannabis is a photoperiod-sensitive plant that requires a specific amount of time under light and darkness before it can induce and sustain its flowering process. At Week 5, the light cycle should be set firmly, which is usually at 12 hours of light and uninterrupted 12 hours of darkness. The breaks in the dark cycle, which means light leaks, can create stress in plants, resulting in hermaphrodites, which would impact the quality and quantity of harvest.
Tip: Ensure that the growing space is light-tight to prevent accidental exposure to your crop. If growing indoors, maximize the light intensity and spectrum for the flowering cycle. These factors impact bud quality, resin production, and plant health.
2. pH and Watering Adjustments
During the flowering stage, you must closely watch the pH of the soil or hydroponic system. Week 5 is crucial for ensuring that the pH is in the ideal range for nutrient uptake. For soil, a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 is perfect, while hydroponic systems generally require a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. If the pH is outside this range, nutrients will not be assimilated, and deficiency will start to appear.
Tip: Check it regularly and adjust it where necessary. Avoid overwatering, as this could cause root rot or a nutrient lockout.
3. Stress Management
Another aspect often overlooked during growing cannabis is stress. Plants during Week 5 have become vulnerable to stresses associated with heat, light leakages, overfeeding or underfeeding, and general physical damage. A dramatic change in stress for more than a few days results in stunted growth; it might turn hermaphroditic (a male flower) if stressed and can even bud rot.
Tip: Consistently maintain reasonable environmental conditions, including temperature, humidity, and proper airflow. High humidity levels or sudden temperature changes will stress the plants and encourage fungal infections. At high temperatures, buds become airy and ineffective. Monitor your plant’s health closely to note early signs of stress so that necessary action can be taken.
4. Environmental Control and Airflow
By Week 5, the cannabis is producing large, dense buds that can trap moisture and provide conditions for mold and mildew. To avoid this situation, proper airflow and humidity control are necessary. During the flowering period, especially by Week 5, humidity should be at 40-50%.
Tip: Ensure that your ventilation system is in good condition. Use fans to encourage air circulation and avoid stagnation in the canopy. For indoor cultivation, you can also use dehumidifiers to maintain the proper humidity levels.
5. Genetics and Strain-Specific Care
Different varieties of cannabis have unique growth traits, so learning about your plants’ genetics is a good idea at this stage. Some varieties may demand more or less support, different light intensities, or specific nutrient requirements. Note the particular variety you are growing, which will better help you tailor your care for flowering.
For example, some indica strains may require shorter flowering periods but have more dense buds, requiring support. In contrast, Sativa strains require slightly longer flowering times and less bud density, meaning different structural needs. That is where strain-specific knowledge comes in to optimize your growth.
6. Keeping Track of Your Cannabis Flowers
Tracking each step of the cannabis flowering process is essential for consistency in quality and the optimization of your yield. Tracking factors such as nutrient schedules, temperature, humidity, and growth stages allows one to detect issues early on and make the necessary adjustments. Such attention to detail will impact the flavour, potency, and overall success of your harvest.
PlanaCan makes it easy to track your growth in cannabis cultivation. It provides automated tracking capabilities, data reports, and task management, all designed to keep you on top of the process’s most minute details.
Expectations for Week 6
As you close Week 5, you should start preparing for the next stage: late flowering. During Week 6, you can expect even more bud development and a final surge in resin production. As the plants continue to mature, you will need to adjust your care routine, paying closer attention to trichome development, environmental conditions, and nutrient levels.
Now is the time to refine your practices as you head into the final stages of flowering and in preparation for harvest. With proper care, you will have maximized your yield and quality and set up yourself for a successful harvest.
Conclusion
Week 5 is a critical time for cannabis cultivation. As buds swell, resin production reaches its peak, and plant growth accelerates, your plants need careful attention to ensure they thrive. From providing physical support to adjusting nutrient levels and monitoring trichome development, every decision counts as you approach the later stages of flowering.
Managing all these tasks manually will be a headache. Therefore, PlanaCan allows growers to organize themselves properly and efficiently. The platform automatically manages schedules, monitors nutrients in real-time, and tracks plant health, ensuring nothing is missed. Its functions include task reminders, teamwork collaboration tools, and even tracking growth stages, which can better manage the whole cultivation process.
Want to simplify your cultivation workflow? Schedule a free call today to learn how PlanaCan can support your growing efforts and help you achieve a successful harvest.
