Question 1: When is the absolute EARLIEST a plant's gender can be determined? Question 2: When is the EARLIEST you can force flower (I.E. How many fingers would there be on the leaves at that point?) -Thanks
Depends on strain, but I'd wait until pre-flowers to come in to flower. I wouldnt want to stress it out and have slow flowering..
Plants will usually show preflowers at around 3-5 weeks, at or above the 6'th true node, not counting the cotyledon leaves. This is when they reach maturity, and is also the soonest they can be flowered. Putting them under 12/12 before this time will only cause slow growth and long internodal lengths.