Growing cannabis on a 12/12 light cycle from seed is an interesting technique that can produce buds quickly, but often results in low yields In this article, we’ll look at why 12/12 from seed typically gives small harvests and techniques to maximize your results.
What is 12/12 from Seed?
12/12 from seed refers to putting cannabis seeds directly into your flowering room on a 12 hour light/12 hour dark schedule. This tricks the plants into thinking winter has arrived early, prompting them to start flowering quickly.
Cannabis usually grows leaves when it is lit for 18 hours, and then it is switched to 12/12 light to start flowering. You can get buds much faster with 12/12 from seed because you don’t have to wait for the long verge period. Instead of 4–8 weeks if they were vegged normally, plants will flower in 2–4 weeks.
Why Yields Are Typically Low
While 12/12 from seed lets you harvest faster yields are generally low often less than 1 ounce per plant. There are two main reasons for the small yields
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Short veg time—Plants that have been vegged for 18 hours get bigger and have more flowering sites before the switch. 12/12 plants stay small.
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Small root systems – Root systems don’t get a chance to expand much before flowering starts. This restricts nutrient and water uptake.
So plants stay small, produce few bud sites, and struggle to sustain those sites during flowering.
Techniques to Increase Yields
There are ways to get the most out of 12/12 plants, even though they don’t produce as much as regular vegged plants:
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Start in small containers – Use 0.5-1 gallon pots for the first few weeks. This will restrain root growth at first.
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Transplant to final pots – Transplant into 2-5 gallon pots just before flowering to allow more root expansion during flower.
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Use bushy strains – Indica-dominant strains stay short and branch out more. Sativas get too tall and lanky.
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Top for 4-8 main colas – Topping helps create a bushy plant with more bud sites.
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Support structure – Use trellis nets to support buds and allow more light penetration.
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Give ideal conditions – Dial in temperature, humidity, airflow and nutrients to reduce stress.
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Don’t wait until 10 weeks to harvest; take buds at 8 weeks instead. Less time to degrade THC.
Expected Yields
With good genetics and proper techniques, experienced growers see yields around:
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0.5 – 1 ounce per plant under fluorescents
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1 – 2 ounces per plant under LEDs
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2 – 3 ounces per plant under HID lights
So while total yields are low, you can harvest faster with 12/12 from seed. It requires less time, space and operating costs, suiting home growers with limited resources. For perpetual harvests, the quick grow time allows frequent replanting.
With the right approach, 12/12 from seed can be a viable option for small personal grows. Just adjust your expectations and use methods to encourage vigorous flowering and bud production from your tiny plants.
How to grow cannabis 12/12 from seed
For germination to take place, seeds will require water, air, and warmth. Germination can be either of two methods; seeds or the cloning method. Seeds are more preferred since they carry solid genetics and produce stronger plants.
Some growers prefer using starter cubes that contain micronutrients that allow root growth faster. If provided with all conditions necessary, germination starts immediately. Apart from starter cubes, you can use wet paper towels. You fold your seeds in a wet paper towel, wait for 1-4 days, and roots will start emerging. After the emergence of roots, get the seeds to the next stage of planting.
Here you have to plant the germinating seeds. You will need to have all the requirements such as growing mediums, soil with enough nutrients, and containers for healthy growth.
If planting in containers, fill them with correct soil, make a hole at the center, pick your seed using tweezers, place it in the hole, and then cover with soil. You can also spray some water in the soil to soften it for the seeds’ roots penetration.
What is growing 12/12 from seed?
Growing 12-12 from seed techniques means that you expose your seedling to 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness immediately after germination. The method always throws off the plant from the start, which starts the flowering stage a few weeks after the vegetative stage. This makes the plant start developing buds.
Usually, cannabis plants are exposed to light for an 18-6 hour cycle but switching to 12/12 hours alters its normal physiological process. The ideal is always to shorten the vegetative period to flowering hence fast harvest. Because plants only need a short time to grow roots, they don’t need a lot of space to get strong. This makes it perfect for growing in a single cup.
This technique has its pros and cons.
- Shorter growth period
- Save space
- Fewer trimmings
- Allows full penetration of light
- It saves money and time
- Often causes stunted growth to cannabis plants
- Lesser yields sometimes
Growing 12-12 from seeds is a simple and easy way to change the plant’s light cycle. You give an equal time of light and darkness as soon as the plant sprout. Due to this, the plant will appear different from the plant grown normally.
The method guarantees main bud development on the plant for a short period. You will have to provide for all conditions needed, such as correct pH level, water, nutrients, humidity, and growth medium.
If the method is done in expert experience and correct strain will produce an impressive yield of 250 grams in 7-9 weeks.
Are you still flowering using a 12/12 cycle? Want to increase your yields by up to 30%?
FAQ
How long does it take to harvest 12-12 from seed?
Speed: Growing 12/12 from seed skips the vast majority of the vegetative phase. This cuts weeks off of the growing cycle as a whole. You can expect to harvest buds in around 7–10 weeks after your seeds sprout.
What is 12 to 12 from seed?
What Is 12/12 From Seed? 12-12 simply refers to the hours of light and darkness a cannabis plant is exposed to – 12 of each. Normally, a cannabis plant is exposed to an 18-6 light cycle. This tells the cannabis plant conditions are good for growth, and it focuses on building up size and foliage.
How much money can you make off 12 plants per year?
Can you make 12 plants worth of money? If each plant yields 1 pound on average, that’s 12 plants worth of money, or 5,443 grams. In the marketplace, green herbs may cost anywhere from $5 to $20 per gram. Therefore, the total revenue from 12 plants could range from $27,215 to $108,862.
How long after 12-12 does flowering start?
The pre-flowering stage is a short intermediary phase between vegetative growth and flowering, typically lasting for 1-4 weeks after the plant has been ….