Hey brudda.... exactly correct. and if done right the plant will show you. to me it seems like many growers have forgotten this aspect and you don't see plants being finished properly afraid it may affect their yield.I give straight water the last couple weeks, and to me, that seems the same as flushing.
The goal is for the plant to use up the remaining nutrients so it isn’t in the smoke, right?
I figure as long as that goal is accomplished one way, or the other, you’re good.
I do drown them pretty good those last few waterings, though.
and if using salt based foods which if not OMRI Organic and your not flushing, your smoking all the foods you ran thru your plants.. and why it tastes funny or all the same.. why it leaves behind a black ash that is difficult to flick off the ash.. all bad signs.
So yes, pure water last 2wks is perfect, but, you always want to jump start it with a small flushing to remove the junk and jump start the flush.. now the plant will not find any foods within the medium, or not enuff, and will now begin to rob from within itself. Nitrogen first, bottom of plant only... so you know it's from a flush and not a deficiency.. not all elements are mobile but the ones that are will be stolen from within the plant itself causing wonderful colors or Red, oranges, purple hues. and at the point of most harvests your just not seeing this.. even growing organically this is a must..
Is it the fact we are making hybrids and they are more resilient plants, or have developed so that they are not food pigs or something.