Transition to Flowering 

When growing your cannabis plants indoors, switching your lights to a 12/12 cycle (12 hours on and 12 hours off) tells the plants it’s time to start flowering. The change in lighting tricks the plants into thinking winter is coming. The key here is that the darkness must be uninterrupted. 

During this stage, the cannabis plant grows quickly and gains significant height. The plants will also start growing white pistils, but no real buds form yet. You’ll also start to notice the sex of your plants. Any male plants will develop pollen sacs. Separate these plants from the female ones right away. Otherwise, they could pollinate the female plants and ruin your buds. Expect this stage to last one to three weeks. 

Formation of Budlets

Between weeks three and four of the flowering stage, budlets will begin to form. These are the first real buds of your plant. They’ll have white pistils, which will stick straight out.

During this stage, nutrients are crucial. Watch out for symptoms of deficiencies and other issues, such as discolored leaves and leaf loss. You also want to avoid providing too many nutrients. Keep a close eye on your plants. Those that are well cared for will be lush and green. 

Budlets Plump Up

During weeks four to six, your little budlets will start to grow larger and fatter. In fact, you may need to start propping the branches up because they’re becoming weighted down. The buds will still have the white pistils, though, indicating that they’re still developing. 

Ripening

Between weeks six to eight, your buds will start to ripen. The plant won’t grow any new leaves or stems as all of its energy goes toward the flowers. Again, paying attention to nutrition is vital. The buds will continue to fatten, and the pistils will begin darkening.

End of Flowering

From week eight on, you’re in the home stretch. Your plant will be very finicky, and you should pay close attention to it and attend to its every need. At this point, the buds continue to ripen, and the pistils and trichomes mature. You’re essentially maintaining the plant until it's ready for harvesting.

Different strains are ready at different times. Watch your buds closely; they’ll let you know when they’re right for picking. You may want to flush your plant at this time to remove excess salt and mineral nutrients. The goal is to help encourage better flavor and aroma. 

You’ll know it’s time to pick your buds with a few visual signs. The trichomes will become milky or amber. The pistils will also darken. At the same time, the fan leaves may begin to yellow and curl. 

Growing cannabis at home provides you with not only some incredible buds but also a sense of accomplishment. Learning what to look for during the flowering stage can help to ensure optimal success.