how do autoflowers auto flower?

[tSoG]

So, I was wondering to myself the other day "tSoG, how do autoflowering strains know how old they are if they have 24/0 lighting?"
Do they mature at different speeds for 24/0, 20/4, 18/6, etc... has anyone tried something other than 24 hour schedules? say perhaps 24/8, or 20/12? something to extend veg as long as possible to increase plant size before flowering? I realize keeping a mother AF is impossible, but cloning an AF would pause the growth of the clone til it rooted, correct? or would a cutting/mom flower at the same time? I did a lil searching, but never found anything related to manipulating environment to enhance AF yield.

reducing, or removing red/far-red light from the grow? growing under a vegging LED setup (all blue, no red)

anyone try this stuff? just figured I'd think out loud for a change.

 

[THCKingsblend]

Well tsog that is a very good question. I am currently cloning and flowering my IAF at the moment, I dont seem to have issues as far as cloning. I also wonder if cloning somewhat, pauses the growth till it roots.. My mother was a clone and I have had her at least 2 months and she hasnt started to flower as far as I can see.. I have read that Iranian Auto Flower is not a TRUE auto-flower.. I know TRUE auto-flowers will flower due to genetics, but does different phenotypes veg longer than others. I think that increasing the veg time on auto-flowers kinda defeats the whole purpose of a quick cycle. But some auto-flowers really pack a punch and would be nice to not have to buy seeds constantly or, make them..I am going to try some light cycles that you have presented and I hope to come back with some results if noone else can by then..Great question TSoG.
Kingsblend

 

[salbahe]

from what i gather and in my newbie opinion...
because of their short life cycle(especially the veg stage), AFs need to receive a lot of light to maximize their growth,the more light they get the faster they grow and produce buds."More light More buds,Less light Less buds".

as to cloning, it is not advisable as it disrupts the plants cycle and diminish yield.if cloned the cutting will be too weak to carry the weight of the buds if ever.

but stick around you'll get answers soon enough...there are lots of experts here.

Peace

 

[salbahe]

IAF, according to the creator has no ruderalis genes in it.
there are new strains coming out that have longer veg time(but still finish earlier that regular strains)i think that "Longer veg equals bigger/taller plant equals more Buds"

Peace

 

[Muddy]

Autoflowering is in the plant genetics. Ruderalis evolved in cold northern climates as a response to short growing seasons. It was then crossed with full size strains, back crossed to bring out the recessive auto gene, then stabilized to produce the plants available today.

 

[basspirate]

will IAF flower automatically then?? ...or is it just super early? i've been interested in this strain for a minute and might try it down the road.

i'd be super interested to know how it clones if it's not a true AF.

cheers!

 

[salbahe]

According to its creator, a mother IAF can be vegged for sometime(not long), and can be cloned(though clones must be a certain height before you induce them to flower(outside).
If this is true, this will be the new wave of AFs... a little bigger, increased yield, and more potent. Too expensive though.

Peace

 

[brifunforme]

The only autos that will flower in 24 hours of light are the ones with ruderalis in them. Unlike C. sativa and C. indica, ruderalis does not bud by the change in light cycle it goes by age. This is what I gathered when reading about autos.

 

[tSoG]

I guess no one has any input on +24 hour schedules, or other things that can alter veg/flower growth in autoflowers. thanks to everyone for your responses.

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

they auto flower when the root system has fully colonized it's growing space. if it's a true auto-flowering plant it will flower under 24 hours of light no matter what.

 

[tSoG]

they auto flower when the root system has fully colonized it's growing space. if it's a true auto-flowering plant it will flower under 24 hours of light no matter what.

thank you! so, can root manipulation change AF habits?

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

i don't know.

 

[20/4]

has anyone tried something other than 24 hour schedules? say perhaps 24/8, or 20/12?


anyone try this stuff? just figured I'd think out loud for a change.

Well im no genius and im pretty baked but i dont think 24/8 or 24/12 is possible there are only 24 hours in a day...but if your saying give them 24 hours of light then 8 hours of darkness then 24 hours of light then 8 hours of darkness, i honestly dont think there will be ANY benefit, but you could try it yourself and let us know what happens!

 

[Muddy]

Not sure I agree with that. If that were the case, how would you explain a plant that is grown in the ground with unlimited root space? Auto flowering is in the plants genetics, the results of evolution to colder climates with shorter growing seasons.

they auto flower when the root system has fully colonized it's growing space. if it's a true auto-flowering plant it will flower under 24 hours of light no matter what.

 

[Bighill]

Here is some info about photoperiodism. Sounds like it is based on a protein, if you could find what one is handling the autoflower. Perhaps you can manipulate it.

Many flowering plants use a photoreceptor protein, such as phytochrome or cryptochrome, to sense seasonal changes in night length, or photoperiod, which they take as signals to flower. In a further subdivision, obligate photoperiodic plants absolutely require a long or short enough night before flowering, whereas facultative photoperiodic plants are more likely to flower under the appropriate light conditions, but will eventually flower regardless of night length.

It is interesting that hydro autos get soo much bigger, the only thing you can "see" that is different is the root mass. Maybe it just takes loger to build up the protein in hydro autos because the plant matter is growing so fast.

Some food for thought..

Bh.

 

[TexasMonster]

thank you! so, can root manipulation change AF habits?

I am not a breeder and I am fairly new at this. I do have two auto strains grown already though. Autoflower plants are gonna auto when their genes tell them to. Not when their roots do whatever, not when the light changes, not temperature, but at a date already programed into that seeds memory card. I am fairly certain that is accurate. I am sure though that if it is wrong somebody will let us know.

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

i am right, you are wrong.

 

[tSoG]

i am right, you are wrong.

I claim no level of correctness. dad always said "you can only be right, or happy."

Autoflower plants are gonna auto when their genes tell them to. Not when their roots do whatever, not when the light changes, not temperature, but at a date already programed into that seeds memory card.

the question is tex, how do these plants know dates, when they live in 24 hour sunlight?

would 24/6, 20/8 or some other light period act the same with x amount of "days" turning to flower no matter what length of "day" you choose? has anyone done any testing on this? I realize most choose autoflower for short season outdoor growing, and stretching the veg period seems counterproductive, but I'm just asking to better understand what goes on with AF genetics.

thanks everyone!

 

[TexasMonster]

I claim no level of correctness. dad always said "you can only be right, or happy."




the question is tex, how do these plants know dates, when they live in 24 hour sunlight?

would 24/6, 20/8 or some other light period act the same with x amount of "days" turning to flower no matter what length of "day" you choose? has anyone done any testing on this? I realize most choose autoflower for short season outdoor growing, and stretching the veg period seems counterproductive, but I'm just asking to better understand what goes on with AF genetics.

thanks everyone!

No, I have not tested that as I am an outside grower. Going to become an inside grower this winter but will only be using cuttings for that. I do get what you are saying now. How does the plant know that its been through a day when we give it varying light schedules? I dunno. Its a good question though.

 

[vicious bee]

I claim no level of correctness. dad always said "you can only be right, or happy."




the question is tex, how do these plants know dates, when they live in 24 hour sunlight?

would 24/6, 20/8 or some other light period act the same with x amount of "days" turning to flower no matter what length of "day" you choose? has anyone done any testing on this? I realize most choose autoflower for short season outdoor growing, and stretching the veg period seems counterproductive, but I'm just asking to better understand what goes on with AF genetics.

thanks everyone!

Good questions. I've read a little about flowering and I believe it's due to hormone build up. In the Thale Cress, which is a plant that is used as a model in genetic engineering. There is a gene called CONSTANS that if destroyed causes it to flower independent of the light period. The gene normally encodes proteins based on the light period. There is a very, very good book that I read that info in called,""Seed to Seed, The Secret Life of Plants" by Nicholas Harberd . It's not heavy duty reading but covers how the different hormones, cells, etc. operate in plants. It's well worth reading. Most plants have hormones that are always balanced by other hormones. I say hormones it's really more like proteins.
The question you posed about the different lighting period is a good one. You can do alternate lighting periods with digital timers like the X-10.
I grow in little cups and I don't believe it changes the flowering cycle due to root restriction. They won't get a big though.

Temperature was mentioned. Cold temperatures will slow flowering and make the plant grow longer. Not bigger though because while it grows longer it also grows slower.