Cannabis Sensei

Aurora Indica Grow Journal: Week 8

Grow Guides · By Jake Willhoite · Updated · 2 min read

aurora indica grow week 8 plant
Contents

In week 7 of the Aurora Indica grow, we adjusted the plant’s nutrient intake to get them ready to start flowering. This week, we defoliate, try lollipopping, and flip the lights to flower.

Legal note: Growing cannabis is only for adults 21 and over where state law allows it. State home-grow rules differ, so check yours first.

Under federal law, marijuana is still a Schedule I controlled substance unless it is in an FDA-approved drug or covered by a state medical marijuana license; a federal order moved those two categories to Schedule III in April 2026. A DEA hearing on rescheduling the rest of marijuana was set for mid-2026.

Day 50

Earlier in the week, I gave the plants a heavy defoliation. After a few days of recovery, lots of small lower bud sites popped up.

So I tried lollipopping: snipping off the lower branches that sit below the top canopy. The idea is that the plant puts more energy into the main tops, which get the most light, instead of small, shaded lower buds.

Growers use it to get bigger top buds and an easier harvest, though results vary. It also opens up airflow under the canopy, which helps reduce the risk of mold.

Day 51

The plants have bounced back from the defoliation and training. They're about as tall as I want them in veg, so I flipped them into flowering.

I switched the lights from 24 hours on to 12 hours on and 12 hours off. They look healthy and ready.

Follow along week-by-week to stay up to date on this grow!

Sources

More in Grow Guides