Accidently topped my 60DW, week 5 and no flowering

[smogmeister]

Hi, When LSTing my 60 day wonder I accidently topped it. This was on day 22 so it was just about to start flowering.
Now it's 2 weeks later, at the beginning of week 5 and it still hasn't shown any signs of sexing.
I know autos don't respond well to topping but shouldn't it start flowering soon? You would think 2 weeks would be enough time to recover.. I'm starting to get a bit worried.

Here are some pictures of it I took today when LSTing.

 

[cyber echo]

If it continues growing and doesn't flower you might wanna check if the strain is really auto flowering.
I assume you are running 20/4 ?
If in 2 weeks (i wouldn't wait longer, but thats just me) you still don't see flowers while the plant continues to grow, switch to 12/12.

Autos tend to delay their flowering onset after training, and perhaps the accidental topping shocked your plant, but I don't see why it shouldnt atleast show sex by now.

I LST as soon as they show sex, and that seems to stop the onset of flowering for a week while the plant continues to grow, giving the plant a chance to get a bit bigger but finish slower with better yield.

 

[smogmeister]

I'm running 18/6. I wasn't aware that LSTing delayed flowering that much. It's probably the combination of topping and lst that's making it take so long.
I'm almost certain it's a 100% autoflower. The strain is from DNA genetics and I heard they are known for having great well functioning strains.
On one hand I want to change the lights to 12/12 right now to see if it starts to flower, but on the other hand I might lose yield if I change from 18/6.
Also, the stipules on the plant are starting to dry and die off.
Look here to see what I mean by stipules: http://www.gardenscure.com/420/attachments/growth/340796d1297587763-male-female-m_and_f1.gif

Is that a bad sign or doesn't it matter?

 

[cyber echo]

LST only "delays" the full onset of flowering for a week, and doesnt completely stop it.
You didnt answer the most important question, is your plant still "growing" ? Or is it completely halted ?

Don't be 100% sure if its an auto flower unless you've grown it before. Lots of "famous" breeders produce auto flowers that don't really auto. Wasnt DNA genetics kicked off seedbay/bou for selling shady genetics ? It was if I recall correctly ?

On the other hand, you might have shocked the plant which is why it isn't flowering, but in that case, I think it shouldnt be growing either.

 

[smogmeister]

Yes it's growing about 0.5cm a day. Today I think I saw what might be the first calyx just above one the stipules. Hope it isn't just a new set of leaves.
And you might be right about DNA genetics. I'm no expert and this is just my second grow. I just read somewhere that DNA genetics were well known for having good strains.

 

[aloneinthewoods]

seems very slow for 5 weeks could just have got stunted some how i have found mine take longer when the weather is cold or if they dont like a transplant there are many many things that can stunt them

i done the same with my maxi gom an it slowed done for a week and as now exploded with growth ! so she should bounce back if you give her some love and care

what light are you running she looks nice and dense cfl ?

 

[SGS]

Hi, When LSTing my 60 day wonder I accidently topped it. This was on day 22 so it was just about to start flowering.
Now it's 2 weeks later, at the beginning of week 5 and it still hasn't shown any signs of sexing.
I know autos don't respond well to topping but shouldn't it start flowering soon? You would think 2 weeks would be enough time to recover.. I'm starting to get a bit worried.

Here are some pictures of it I took today when LSTing.

How did you know it was just about to start flowering? If it never showed sex to begin with , you dont know if it is AF. And from the looks of things it is NOT!

Sorry to rain on your hopes for a good AF plant but by 5 weeks all true AFs should be well into flowering by then. LST and Topping don't delay the Auto-Flowering trigger of true AFs like this. The most I have seen it delay was 7 days, only because the plant was cut in half and had to grow out the other branches to become dominant and begin flowering.

Personally I would put it in 12/12 soon, cause if you think about it, if it is a 12/12 strain you are still looking at a 7-8 week flowering time, putting you well over 12 weeks for some finished smoke, haha 60 Day Wonder...

Wait another week if you want, would be 6 weeks tho, where most AFs are over half done by then.

SGS

 

[SGS]

seems very slow for 5 weeks could just have got stunted some how i have found mine take longer when the weather is cold or if they dont like a transplant there are many many things that can stunt them

i done the same with my maxi gom an it slowed done for a week and as now exploded with growth ! so she should bounce back if you give her some love and care

what light are you running she looks nice and dense cfl ?

You are correct on the COLD slowing them down,, early testing was done on old HB with AFs in a controlled temp, when the plants where exposed to temps below 50 degrees for 8 hours or more the AF trigger was delayed for more then 2 weeks, compared to the same seed stock that was grown in normal conditions of 75 degrees.

Extreme Cold Temps are the only proven thing to slow and delay the AF trigger for extended periods of time.

It all boils down to what AF genetics breeders are trying to release to the consumers. Sadly there isn't any QC.

SGS

 

[smogmeister]

I use three 21W 2700k CFLs. I'm going to change the light to 12/12 tomorrow morning if it hasn't started to flower by then. Todau I think I saw calyxes forming but they may just be new leaves.
It's around 50 degrees outside at night and sometimes I leave my window open, but I don't think it goes down to 50 degrees in my growbox.

 

[habeeb]

You are correct on the COLD slowing them down,, early testing was done on old HB with AFs in a controlled temp, when the plants where exposed to temps below 50 degrees for 8 hours or more the AF trigger was delayed for more then 2 weeks, compared to the same seed stock that was grown in normal conditions of 75 degrees.

Extreme Cold Temps are the only proven thing to slow and delay the AF trigger for extended periods of time.

interesting to note


I have also seen, from my experience, AF sex very fast under LED's. I don't even think I mean size of the plant or anything of that nature, I mean them just showing sex early, as I have seen female and male on there 3 set of leaves, which to me is fast, I did not take notes on time, but given there size, I could say it was very early



to originator, your call, If its your only plant I would keep it, but if I had other plants going I would toss it, doesn't seem true AF to me, and wy waste time on a plant that might never auto. or it was a dud seed.. I cannot comment on the cold temps though..


hope all works out

 

[Big Eggy]

So prolonged period of cold only slows the trigger?? will it eventually get to a tipping point were a true AF says "okey it cold but hell i'm flowerinig anyway?" I only ask this as i plan on running some SGS seeds outside from the end of June.. I'm thinking that the Temps in July and Aug at night (UK) shouldn't be that bad.. and harvest by Mid September fingers crossed.

Eggy

sorry for the Hijack Scrogmeister.

 

[smogmeister]

After 6 days of 12/12 I finally spotted the first pistils today! I hope she makes some real fat nugs now.

 

[YUMYUMSYRUP]

UM THE LIGHTING IS PROB UR PROBLEM BOSS JUST 63 OF CFLS ISNT THAT MUCH WITH A COMBINATION OF TOPPING AND COLD WEATHER U MINE AS WELL SWITCH NOW TO 12/12...JMO

 

[SGS]

GREAT TO HEAR she is finally flowering,, 12/12 it is then,, sad you didn't get a real AF when you paid for one...

Agreed with YUMYUM, your lighting is very poor, but not the reason you have had flowering issues, that plant just isnt TRUE AF, sorry. You need to get a much better intensity to get those Fat Nuggs you are looking for. Even a small 75 watt HPS or better a 150 would be what you are looking for in a small space as yours... actually how big is your space. WHERE ARE THE PICS!?!?!?!

SGS

 

[SGS]

So prolonged period of cold only slows the trigger?? will it eventually get to a tipping point were a true AF says "okey it cold but hell i'm flowerinig anyway?" I only ask this as i plan on running some SGS seeds outside from the end of June.. I'm thinking that the Temps in July and Aug at night (UK) shouldn't be that bad.. and harvest by Mid September fingers crossed.

Eggy

sorry for the Hijack Scrogmeister.

Hey Eggy, yes from the early experiments I did back on HB yrs ago, the Auto-Flowering trigger was only slow and delayed for about 2 weeks at the most 24 days on a few plants. After that they began to flower despite the temps but, at a much slower pace.

Your plants will be fine outdoors in the UK during those months bro, not a problem at all. It is always best to start AFs OUTDOORS! That I think is the #1 problem for people getting crap results with AFs outside, a lot of them start AFs indoors then take them out when they are old enough to transport. This has been shown to have a high rate of stunting as the plants harden off from the suns rays.

Always start outdoor AFs Outdoors in a simple green house small or large, you can make one from clear or frosted plastic sheeting (painting plastic to cover floors works GREAT) and a simple wooden frame. After the plants have gotten big enough to transplant into the final pots or holes do so before they have shown sex. You can leave them in there until sex has shown but you will need to start them in at least 4 liter pots, and transplant the very day they show sex or stunting may occur.

There is a very strong misconception that AFs are EASIER then NON-AF varieties. Each category has its own set of requirements needed for them to thrive, sadly most people try to grow AFs as they would NON-AF plants outdoors, thus resulting in the poor results. My friend will be doing a very nice Outdoor run with OGRE and some other AFs, to help show people how to correctly grow AFs outdoors for maximum yields. I will be sure he posts up his results.

SGS

 

[smogmeister]

GREAT TO HEAR she is finally flowering,, 12/12 it is then,, sad you didn't get a real AF when you paid for one...

Agreed with YUMYUM, your lighting is very poor, but not the reason you have had flowering issues, that plant just isnt TRUE AF, sorry. You need to get a much better intensity to get those Fat Nuggs you are looking for. Even a small 75 watt HPS or better a 150 would be what you are looking for in a small space as yours... actually how big is your space. WHERE ARE THE PICS!?!?!?!

SGS

I'm growing in a pc case so a HPS would get too warm I think. When I went shopping in my city the highest watt cfl's I could find were 21W. So I bought 3 of those and that's the most I can fit in my pc case.
You're probably right that I need more light to get really fat nugs, but fat nugs are relative and I'm happy as long as I get at least 5 grams of good smoke. I've seen other growers get over 5 grams with less light than me in a pc case, so it shouldn't be impossible.

And here is a pic of the pc case. The paper on the walls is just temporary. I'm going to paint it white as soon as I can.
http://i56.tinypic.com/9kxem9.jpg

 

[YUMYUMSYRUP]

UR aiming for 5Gs that doesnt make any sense...Well i hope all goes well bro and things pick up for ya now..Did u switch to 12/12 yet?Yeah it seems like autos r hit and miss i have 9 going right now on day 44 5 of which r doing awsome have 6 inch cola on 1 plus a bunch of lighter size side nugs...But the other 4 have pistils shooting out but arent flowering like the rest granit my autos r 70-80 days dinafem haze auto but still 5 r on track for 70 maybe 65 but the others r looking like im gonna switch them to 12/12 when the rest r done if they havent started to bud by then..Well bro GL lemme know how its going...