Controversial! I use my eyes!
I've started dimming my light more in the last 7-10 days. I used to blast them until the last minute. Never noticed any real difference. Some plants even, stresses them it seems, when blasting, in the wrong way. Especially in warmer seasons. I rarely expect miraculous results. I just like to use my eyes.
I have done tests with feeding till chop vs just giving them plain Un-PHd water during the last week. Never noticed even the slightest difference. Everrr. I do not believe in flushing per se. I just realized there is no sense in wasting my nutes.
I have done tests feeding autos at photo levels and had amazing results.
I have added additives to my coco to retain water so I can water once a day, 6 days a week. Take a day off. Amazing results.
I have done tests, I may have mentioned it earlier in this thread. I have done tests, I'm doing it now! Up to a week of darkness with no water. Then chop. Using my eyes? Every plant I do this to. They come out way frostier than before.
Here's the kicker. Without fail. Anyone I have shared these flowers with. 100% of the time, those plants that I have "stressed" by darkness or whatever? They always comment on how amazing it is. These people have no clue as to what I have done. They're consumers, HEAVY snob consumers, they couldn't grow a sunflower. They're not growers.
Controversial! Never figured out why people just don't try things to see what different results might happen.
Takeaway: I'm a big believer in science. Thing is that science....it's always evolving. Or should be. But in order to make that happen studies have to continue.
Takeaway: I'm not a huge believer in bro-science. But I always think that it is based on some grain of "truth". Maybe the intended result to a lot of bro-science is wrong? Like can you really flush a plant? I don't personally think so. But you CAN save nutes. Maybe that is the intended result in reality?
Does putting them in the dark make a difference? I kinda think it does? Is it the reason that bro-science claims it to be? I dunno. Maybe the dark allows the plant to ripen in a different way? Preserves something? I really do not know. I can't claim to know anything except that which I see. With my eyes.
Try it. See what happens.
I have an entire thread below. That I document most of my findings.