Grow #2: Trying Autos

[Earlygrower]

Well, grow #1 with photos has me hooked for sure. I just put a Blue Dream and a Super Skunk Autos on paper towels.

I had 3 photos last time and opting for just 2 plants this go around. Tent is only 2x4 and want to see what a little more space will do.

Im also curious to see the difference in size / yield. The photos were fun but tried my patience at times!

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Coco
GH trio + cal mag
LEDs

[PLreef]

Autos are fun to grow. Still need some patience and a little extra care. You'll find that years are smaller with autos due to the sort veg time. Your space sounds pretty good for 2 autos. Good luck!

[Earlygrower]

What do you recommend for light schedule on autos? I was think 18/6 but see posts of 20/4 and even 24/0

[PLreef]

I'm using 24/0 for my current auto grow. Always used 18/6 before but I wanted to see how much different it would be. .so far I'm pretty happy with the amount of growth I'm getting with 24/0.

[RetiredGuy]

I am also on my second grow and am trying autos this time. If you have any more seeds, I recommend popping another. My 3 sour diesel autos are through the stretch and fit comfortably in my 2 x 4 cabinet. They are each in 5 gal fabric pots.

The veg time is short so they will not grow as big as your photos.

I have been using a 18/6 schedule. They get really droopy about 1-2 hrs before light out and are perky when I first see them the next morning about an hour from lights on. I tend to agree with those that think they need a daily break from the light. But like most things with this hobby it is a debatable issue.

Happy Growing!

[Earlygrower]

Thanks! I will use 5 gal fabrics too so may indeed pop another one.

Interesting on the droop / perk cycle. I too feel like some hours of dark will do them some good.

[dphipps1020]

Good luck with your autoflower grow. I have to say I actually prefer photos. I've been growing all photos up until a few months ago and I have to say I'm a little disappointed with them. The buds are good but I don't get the yields I'm looking for. Pretty sure I just haven't found a good groove with them yet because I see others do really good with autoflowers. Trying something brand new (for me) this time around and using coco for the first time. I think the autoflowers will do a lot better for me in coco than they did in soil. I am doing a side by side with coco vs soil and photos vs autos right now so it should be pretty interesting. I feel like coco, hydro, or outside is probably the best for autoflowers, just my opinion. My autoflowers are also under light at 24/0 and seem to be doing really good with it. Anyway, hope it goes well for you. Happy growing!

[Earlygrower]

Keep us posted on your side by side grows...great idea!

[SoOrbudgal]

I run both ways with the lights on autos. They grow fast hard to believe until you grow them.

[Earlygrower]

Nice! I’m glad I started with the photos but hoping to get similar results in less time.

[Cheeba]

Grow #2 for me, also trying autos with 18/6 light schedule in 3 gal pots. Glad I’m trying them, haven’t done any training besides topping once. Yield is less but that’s the trade off for shorter grow time. #3 will be a photo, one big gal with long veg time for lst.
good luck!

[Earlygrower]

So just one topping and no tying any branches down or anything?

[Cheeba]

Yeah topped and just let them do their thing. You could tie down a few branches but I wasn’t comfortable this time.

[dilvish]

depends on the strain and your budget. strains like Northern Lights auto like a 24/0 schedule. 18/6 will suffice if you want to cut costs on the power bill and generally speaking a lot of growers opt for that cycle for that reason alone. It's really up to you but don't go below 18/6.

[Earlygrower]

It’s not for electricity cost reasons. Somehow it just feels right to give them some dark but I have no real basis for feeling that way.

I need to rethink this I guess...

[RetiredGuy]

On my current auto grow I topped the largest of three plants. I bent over the other two ( check out Bob Ward video on you tube). The buds are starting to develop on all three. So far, I think the bent over ones are going to produce bigger buds. You might want to consider trying both ways to see what works best for you.

[Catfish22]

Do you have a link to that video. RetiredGuy? I have a couple of autos in week 4 and I was thinking of bending one over.

[Earlygrower]

It’s about day 85 for the bigger Blue Dream Auto and she looks great. Probably chop next week.

Her 7 day younger sister is nowhere near ready. Kind of strange.

[SoOrbudgal]

Excellent looking auto grow Earlygrower, yes sometimes you get exact looking phenos and other times not so much. Well that younger one just might look like big sister in a few wks, she's still early. Great patience pays off

[Earlygrower]

SoOrbudgal Thx! I’m gonna let the smaller one go for as long as it takes. She is way more pungent and sticky that her big sis.

Big sister is showing a few amber trichomes so still planning on harvest next week for her.

[Earlygrower]

Harvest day for Blue Dream #1. This one was topped as she was bushy and growing well from the start. Her sister, BD#2, is still in the tent. She was started a week behind but has not taken off like this girl did. I did not top her. Just bent her down.

BD#2 looks perfectly healthy- just much smaller at this point. I feel like she’ll be in the tent another month. Who knows…

I don’t know what the yield is here but will weigh it up when dry. I am pleased with this and will grow autos again.

Every grow gets a little better and is always fun!

[Earlygrower]

5.3 oz in jars. I’ll take it!