Flower is where new growers get nervous: leaves yellow, smells change, and every forum thread says something different. Here's the week-by-week of a typical 8-week photoperiod strain — what's normal, what needs action.
Weeks 1–3: the stretch
Normal: rapid vertical growth (plants can double), white pistils clustering at nodes, thirst climbing week over week.
Action: maintain training ties, keep nitrogen up until the stretch slows, raise lights to hold your distance target.
Not normal: pollen sacs (remove males/herms immediately), stretch beyond double (light too far away).