# Nitrogen taper

> Gradually cutting nitrogen in late flower, toward zero near the finish, while still feeding phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur and micronutrients; GenetixBay's alternative to flushing.

- Canonical: https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/nitrogen-taper.html
- Also written: N taper, tapering nitrogen, taper nitrogen, late-flower nitrogen reduction, nitrogen ramp-down, N ramp down
- Glossary category: Harvest, drying and curing · Evidence: Supported
- Status: Draft: awaiting expert review · Updated: 2026-10-31
- Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), attribute "GenetixBay cannabis glossary"

A nitrogen taper is a late-flower feeding strategy: reduce nitrogen step by step over the final weeks, approaching zero near harvest, while keeping every other nutrient supplied. The plant draws on its own stored nitrogen, older leaves [fade](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/senescence.md) naturally, and buds keep the potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, sulfur and [micronutrients](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/micronutrient.md) they need to finish.

## In practice

The GenetixBay approach (house position, Supported): taper nitrogen, don't [flush](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/flushing.md). Research shows that lower nitrogen can raise [cannabinoid](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/cannabinoid.md) and [terpene](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/terpene.md) percentages while lowering total yield (Saloner & Bernstein 2021). It's a trade-off you manage, not a reason to starve the plant.

A typical outline: hold normal N through the bulking weeks, then cut it back over roughly the final 2-3 weeks, while holding K, Ca, Mg, P, S and micros steady. Watch the [fan leaves](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/fan-leaf.md): a gradual fade from the bottom is the goal; a sudden mid-canopy yellowing means you cut too hard or too early.

This is why Jardin uses [per-element dosing](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/per-element-dosing.md). A bottled two-part can't drop N without dropping everything else.

## Don't confuse with

- **Pre-harvest flushing**: removes all feed (Myth, harmful).
- **Feed reduction**: cutting all nutrients equally, which also starves K and Ca.
- **Nitrogen deficiency**: an unwanted problem, not a managed finish.

## Related terms

[Flushing](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/flushing.md), [Senescence](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/senescence.md), [Harvest window](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/harvest-window.md), [Per-element dosing](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/per-element-dosing.md)

## Read more

- [Pre-harvest flushing: a myth that costs you yield and resin](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/harvest-cure/flush-debate.md)
- [Nitrogen (N) in cannabis: nitrate vs ammonium, deficiency, toxicity and targets](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/nutrients/nitrogen.md)
- [Building a cannabis feed by stage: ppm targets per element and how to hit them](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/nutrients/feed-by-stage.md)

## Sources

1. Saloner A, Bernstein N. 2021. Nitrogen supply affects cannabinoid and terpenoid profile in medical cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.). Industrial Crops and Products 167:113516. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2021.113516
2. Hershkowitz JA. 2024. Nutrient management of cannabis in controlled environments. MS thesis, Utah State University (Bugbee lab). https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd2023/178
3. Alden MJ, Faust JE. 2025. Exploring the legacy practice of flushing in controlled-environment production of high-CBD cannabis. HortScience 60(10):1818-1825. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI18752-25