Question... How do you know when the plant is mature enough to start flowering?

How do you know when the plant is mature enough to start flowering and old are they usually before it is time?... Also should the amount of darkness slowly be increased soon before flowering? here are some pics of my plants, they are about a little over a month old and almost a foot tall.

You can flower when they get their 5th set of nodes... if I'm not mistaken.

The amount of darkness::: You can decrease it gradually, or just do it in an instant... either way works good.

Most people change to 12/12 instantly... but I know there are some people that do it gradually. Up to you, really.

BTW: Nice avatar! :)

This plant looks like it has about 6 or so sets of nodes, right?

yeah it is starting on the 7th node, so should I start flowering?

if you start flowering your plants at 1 ft , you will end up with plants 4 ft or taller.

I FLOWER MINE AROUND 18". WORKS FOR MY FLOWER AREA AVAILABLE

I want to keep the height down as much as possible, I have limited space.. and ideas for that?

When to flower your plant... The first consideration is your vertical space..
The second consideration is your LIGHTING..
The third consideration is, the number of plants you have...

If you have only one plant and you are using a 400-1000 watt HPS, you should top your plant(make clones) when your plant is 12-24 inches tall..
Then let you plant grow for 7-14 days (18+ hours of light) and then flower it (12/12)..

You will grow a tremendous plant... that will double in size.. maybe a bit more than double.. especially if you don't have the light close enough (your plant will stretch)

The more plants you have (or less light you have), the less light penetration you will get to the lower foilage. So, you will want to flower them when they are shorter. LIGHT is EVERYTHING.. every inch your foilage is farther from your plants will directly effect your yield. An HID light that is more than 12 inches from the foilage is a MISTAKE!!!! A JOKE!!!
A WASTE!!! a disgrace

i love you

Plants double and sometimes triple in size when flowered. When they start passing 2 X's there vegging height... that is a sign that the light is to far away and that the plant is stretching.. This will have an adverse effect on all colas.. all nugs.. all buds..

: (

BTW - NICE plant

love

your container is tiny.. flower her NOW...

You can tie a string to her neck and then tie a screw or a bolt around the string.. this will make her bend over and you can keep her a bit shorter like this.. forcing her to grow sideways.

: )

love

yeah plants will most likelky double in size so what kind of lights and stuff do you have? whats your grow space size?

I am using three 36" floresent grow tubes, keeping the plants just inches from the light.

grow space is a closet, about 6' by 3' and right now there are only 2 plants that are close to flowering?

well you can start flowering and like KNOWM said you can tie them down and limit the height that way and actualyl get more buds possibly

I think I am going to give them a couple more days and then start.

One easy way to know when your plants are ready to flower is the pre-flowers. But if hieght is an issue then go by hieght.

IMO a lot depends on if it was started from seed or clones. seeds I let veg longer than I do clones.. with my set up as soon as my clones get a root they go right back in the bloom box..