What does it mean

[Dubi806]

What does it mean when they say alternating notches?

[dooobster]

When a plant is young, each time a new node appears, you'll see 2 leaves, each at the same height on the stem. These are called non-alternating.

As the plant matures, the leaves will begin coming out one at a time, staggered up each side of the main stem. This is when they are called alternating nodes.

Here are a couple pics to show the difference between alternating nodes and non-alternating.

First pic is non alternating, second pic shows alternating.

[Dubi806]

is it important that it does this before i flower?

[keeko]

i personally think its important to the plant....really eases it into flower mode with little to no stress. as for flowering before its alternating, theres nothing wrong with it, i just think its a little more of a nudge to the plant......might be a little shock to it.
all depends on maturity.

[justanotherbozo]

is it important that it does this before i flower?


the reason you have to wait for alternating nodes before flowering is because
the plant isn't mature enough to flower before the alternating nodes begin to
appear. if you start to flower them before the alternating nodes appear you
take the chance of stressing the plants and maybe creating hermies.

think of it like puberty, before you see alternating nodes, you have a pre-
pubescent plant, when you see alternating nodes, that signals that the plant
is mature enough to procreate. (which is what flowering is supposed to be
about)