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i need help on autoflowering.
- Thread starter Asce
- Start date
blackosprey
Member
My first piece of advice would be to follow mitch_connor and 20/4's grows. There is a plethora of knowledge in their threads that pushed my techniques.
in a nutshell, though, here's some basic do's and don'ts...
+Pick an auto for your grow size/environment. Research what will fit well in your space/light setup.
+do not feed for the first two weeks. Plain water only. Start at 1/2 or 1/4 strength, and go up from there.
+transplant at sex, or even better, start plants in their "final" pots. Deeper is better, as autos send out a long taproot. You do not want to stress with any type of rootbinding, and the first 2 weeks are critical in this development. Lots of success has been used with 2 liter soda bottles with the tapered top cut off (don't forget the drainage holes).
+Pick a light cycle of 20/4 or 18/6. Which ever you choose, stick with it through the entire run. If 20/4 doesn't seem like your style, try 18/6 on the next one.
+This one is a personal thing, but don't pre-sprout. I soak for 12-24 hours and then plant direct. The theory is to prevent any stress on your new babes.
+Do not FIM, top, supercrop, lst, or use any other type of pruning technique, especially on the smaller autos out there. I think you can on some of the larger autos coming out, but the recovery time from the stress is too long for the life cyle to not stunt autos. However, SOG is a very beneficial style of grow for autos, especially for the smaller (1 foot) types. It maximizes the space, and gives good yields
+Do you see a recurring theme here? DO NOT STRESS!!!! In my previous tries with autos, stress has always played a negative factor in growth.
+RELAX. They will turn out fine. A "hands off" approach to autos has worked better for me compared to being a overbearing father.
Hope this helps, good luck.
in a nutshell, though, here's some basic do's and don'ts...
+Pick an auto for your grow size/environment. Research what will fit well in your space/light setup.
+do not feed for the first two weeks. Plain water only. Start at 1/2 or 1/4 strength, and go up from there.
+transplant at sex, or even better, start plants in their "final" pots. Deeper is better, as autos send out a long taproot. You do not want to stress with any type of rootbinding, and the first 2 weeks are critical in this development. Lots of success has been used with 2 liter soda bottles with the tapered top cut off (don't forget the drainage holes).
+Pick a light cycle of 20/4 or 18/6. Which ever you choose, stick with it through the entire run. If 20/4 doesn't seem like your style, try 18/6 on the next one.
+This one is a personal thing, but don't pre-sprout. I soak for 12-24 hours and then plant direct. The theory is to prevent any stress on your new babes.
+Do not FIM, top, supercrop, lst, or use any other type of pruning technique, especially on the smaller autos out there. I think you can on some of the larger autos coming out, but the recovery time from the stress is too long for the life cyle to not stunt autos. However, SOG is a very beneficial style of grow for autos, especially for the smaller (1 foot) types. It maximizes the space, and gives good yields
+Do you see a recurring theme here? DO NOT STRESS!!!! In my previous tries with autos, stress has always played a negative factor in growth.
+RELAX. They will turn out fine. A "hands off" approach to autos has worked better for me compared to being a overbearing father.
Hope this helps, good luck.
Very good tips above!
Get the essentials right in your AF grows, it might take two or 3 runs to get used to them, but after that providing nothing bad out the blue happens it's pretty much plain sailing.
Use good quality soils, can be expensive but so worth it! And would provide a nice basis to re-cycle and save some monies next time around.
I would just add, LST is a go-er for anysize class of AF's (imo)
It's only any form of high stress training that I wouldn't use on a dwarf AF.
I use organic nutrients, so it's harder to burn/stunt them, but I find the plain water until sex or around 2 weeks then for example 1ml per litre grow, then build up from there depending what they are telling you. Once established they really can eat nutrients in comparison to some regular strains i've grown. (high metabolism?)
I second the repeated idea to not stress/stunt them, the first 2 weeks are the most critical period, get them through that stage happily and you're set.
There are however AF's being released now that are more resistant and will have the ability to recover to an extent. (the larger, longer flowering varieties)
I check mine every day, usually just for 20 mins or so, take them out spin them round a quarter turn and pop them back in. I like doing this as it's a good way to assess if they'll want water the next day.
Get the essentials right in your AF grows, it might take two or 3 runs to get used to them, but after that providing nothing bad out the blue happens it's pretty much plain sailing.
Use good quality soils, can be expensive but so worth it! And would provide a nice basis to re-cycle and save some monies next time around.
I would just add, LST is a go-er for anysize class of AF's (imo)
It's only any form of high stress training that I wouldn't use on a dwarf AF.
I use organic nutrients, so it's harder to burn/stunt them, but I find the plain water until sex or around 2 weeks then for example 1ml per litre grow, then build up from there depending what they are telling you. Once established they really can eat nutrients in comparison to some regular strains i've grown. (high metabolism?)
I second the repeated idea to not stress/stunt them, the first 2 weeks are the most critical period, get them through that stage happily and you're set.
There are however AF's being released now that are more resistant and will have the ability to recover to an extent. (the larger, longer flowering varieties)
I check mine every day, usually just for 20 mins or so, take them out spin them round a quarter turn and pop them back in. I like doing this as it's a good way to assess if they'll want water the next day.
I prefer coco to soil for indoor.
I can't find any fault with any of these tips.
With coco, I plant scuffed seeds directly in 3 gallon pots. I wouldn't transplant them.
This is tough with limited space unless you use feminised seeds.
Once you figure out what works for you you could make a seed crop, or a feminised seed crop.
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=60610
I can't find any fault with any of these tips.
With coco, I plant scuffed seeds directly in 3 gallon pots. I wouldn't transplant them.
This is tough with limited space unless you use feminised seeds.
Once you figure out what works for you you could make a seed crop, or a feminised seed crop.
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=60610
M
MrSterling
Can someone explain why autoflowers like drier feet than other plants, and why it would decrease yield to water too much?
blackosprey
Member
It's all about the development of a strong root system early on in growth. If you keep them "dry," the plant grows more roots to seek out water. More roots=more absorption of available nutrients=better plant growth above ground. I have found that the dry soil is really only necessary for the first 3-4 weeks, or until sex (whichever happens first), then you can maintain a regularly moist soil. For instance, if growing in a 1 gallon pot, I water only every 5-7 days (bone dry), then at sex and when I start a nutrient program, it switches to every 3-5 days (dry).
Hope this helps.
M
MrSterling
That makes sense! Thanks for the input blackosprey!
In coco I water until the tray fills a bit, then water again when the tray is dry. The same as I would with regular plants.
aloneinthewoods
Member
temperature can slow them down i find too cold will slow them and may add a week to the harvest date too hot will stunt them but they will Finnish on time dark period temp don't seem to make much difference ive had it go as low as 5 degrees c when light have been off with no noticeable effects !
blackosprey
Member
MK, no offense, but that sounds like someone who has either never grown autos, or has not had success at growing autos.
legalizeDK
Member
blackosprey
Member
Maynard, I'm probably gonna come off like a dick, but so be it.
I see you posting in threads with tons of bitch ass comments...why? Someone's completely innocent question has turned this thread into troll bait. I'm sorry that your experience with autos turned out bad, but really, it's no reason to fly in with negativity. I'm also not defending anyone else's comments to you (although, I find Snoopster to be a funny dude), but now you're becoming the little turd that has to have the last word.
Please man, be helpful, or if you can't be helpful, start your own threads with worthless info.
No hard feelings. If you've been doing this as long as you say, then you should have a wealth of knowledge to share, instead of unfounded opinions.
I see you posting in threads with tons of bitch ass comments...why? Someone's completely innocent question has turned this thread into troll bait. I'm sorry that your experience with autos turned out bad, but really, it's no reason to fly in with negativity. I'm also not defending anyone else's comments to you (although, I find Snoopster to be a funny dude), but now you're becoming the little turd that has to have the last word.
Please man, be helpful, or if you can't be helpful, start your own threads with worthless info.
No hard feelings. If you've been doing this as long as you say, then you should have a wealth of knowledge to share, instead of unfounded opinions.
You see me come in with 'bitch ass comments'.. well.. most of my comments are not at all 'bitch ass' and my comment here was simply meant to be humor. But, it seems that it did not come off that way. However, when people come in as start shit, i'm not real likely to do anything but keep playing the game. I will concede that autoflower's have come a long way in the past couple years, but they will never be as good nor as potent as regular 'non autoflower' strains. I really would like you to justify your comment that i'm some kind of bad guy.. i'm not. I have a sarcastic sense of humor that goes over a lot of poeple's head. So.. you can come in here and make unfounded statements about me.. that's fine. The o.p. on this thread obviously doesn't give a shit because he's the only one that hasn't commented past his first post. I also find it kinda funny that 2 of the people that have joined into the poopy party have also left me positive reps in many other threads. I'm going to go read your 190 posts and see what kind of saint is calling me a bad guy.
mgk
I will concede that autoflower's have come a long way in the past couple years, but they will never be as good nor as potent as regular 'non autoflower' strains
mgk
I beg to differ, but I'm in it for the long run!
Potency will come..
However not everyone needs or desires blow your head off weed 24/7 pal. Point in case, Had a chap recently turn down a nice Sour Bubble derivitive the other day in favour of an AF strain of mine as he preferred the effect and taste.
Each to their own, swings and roundabouts, what ever floats your boat lad!
Didn't yo' momma tell ya if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all?
Your comment might have been intended as humourous, but appreciate the forum you are posting in and us folks love our little AF's. Just seemed like you wanted to needlessly incite some ruckus and rile people up.. which obviously worked!
This thread wasn't a debate though, it was just a guy asking for help, and he was getting some usefull tips and info which could have helped others along the way too.
Can we bin this second page?
Peace
cleaning crew has passed through...
mind your manners, do...
or said cleaner will have more cleaning to do...
mind your manners, do...
or said cleaner will have more cleaning to do...
rockylampoon
New member
To simplify things; do your preparations well, then forget about your plants, but remember to water and adjust growlights. That's pretty much my philosophy on growing AF varieties.
