Flowering Stage

Flowering Stage

The flowering stage is the phase in a cannabis plant's life cycle where it stops focusing on leaves and stems and begins forming flowers. It follows the growth phase and is the final stage before harvest.

More about the Flowering Stage

For most cannabis plants, the flowering stage is triggered by light. They are so-called photoperiod plants, which means they switch to flowering when the nights become longer, as they do in late summer and autumn. Autoflower varieties are the exception, since they begin flowering based on age rather than daylight.

The flowering stage is often described in three parts. In the first weeks, the plant goes through a transition where it can still grow noticeably taller, often called "the stretch". Next, the first small flower clusters appear, with white stigmas sticking out of each calyx. In the final part, the flowers fill out, and sugar leaves and bracts become covered in trichomes.

How the flowers change

As the flowers mature, several visible changes take place. The stigmas, often called pistils, gradually shift from white to orange, brown or red. The trichomes also change appearance over time, going from clear to cloudy and eventually amber. The large fan leaves may begin to yellow, as the plant directs its energy towards the flowers.

How long the flowering stage lasts depends on the variety. It typically ranges from several weeks to a few months.