Mixing Photos and Autos

[OldManGrower]

Is it advisable to mix photos and autos in the same indoor grow? Is there a downside for doing so? Will changing the light schedule negatively impact the autos?

[PLreef]

Autos can grow in 12/12 just fine but I prefer a minimum of 18 on. I know we have a few growers that have both growing in their grow rooms now. Hopefully they chime in and give you some more insight.

[Farmbuck]

I grew both in my grow room. I veg my photos for 8wks at 18/6 with the autos then switched to 12/12. Can't say I had a situation with my autos.

[dilvish]

I agree. I just did Alaskan Purple photos and an auto NL. The NL typically likes lots of light, hence the name, so the switch to 12/12 from 18/6 didn't harm it but may have slightly stunted the growth. Having said that she still produced some good fat buds.

[Farmbuck]

And the NL's smoke is not bad either.

[SoOrbudgal]

I dig your new avatar there OldManGrower yes sir i do. Anyhoo......I would of started the autos first 18/6 veg them as you decide when you want to 12/12 i would start those autos at 18/6 i let mine go into flower the autos for 3wks prior to flipping photos 12/12 came out fine. But i would of rather had the autos further along in flower. So when i do it again i will grow them autos out give them at least 30days if not more of flowering then switch to 12/12 with the photos. Make sense?

[OldManGrower]

I was pretty sure that if anyone caught my new avatar, it would be you. Sort of represents me and my long strange trip. I am going to follow your advice and start two photos two weeks ahead of three autos. I think this ought to do it.

[grouchyoldman]

Great question OldManGrower! I'm planning my next grow right now, and I want to mix autos & photos.
I'm a living soil/photo grower with zero autoflower experience so this is terra incognita for me. As usual, I feel compelled to complicate things just to make it interesting.

My idea was to start the autos 24/0 or 18/6 and veg them for a month. Then add newly germinated photos and let them veg for six weeks under the same light schedule right next to the maturing autos. By that time the autos will be 10 weeks old and should be close to harvest. The photos at six weeks will be about ready for the 12/12 flowering switch.

So the entire auto grow would be under full veg lighting and after the auto harvest the photos can move into flower mode.

Seems like everybody gets what they need. Or am I missing something important?

[OlderNOTwiser]

I'm pretty much where you are at the moment. I have three autoflowers that are at 14 days +/- 2 days. I have two 5 gallon bags "cooking" with Earth Dust. One had a failed grow and has been treated for a month now. The second was started a few days ago. When the smallest auto appears to be coming out of the baby stage and actually looks like a proper plant I'll drop the photo beans. (Right now that looks like this weekend.) The autos are all supposed to be 63 - 65 days. I'm planning for 70 - 75. If the photos take a few days to sprout and a week in the Solo cup the autos should be approaching 28 days or so. With that in mind I'm reckoning the photo plants should be ready for flip right about harvest for the autos. I don't want the autos to have to deal with the 12/12 if I don't have to.

[oldjarhead100]

when my photos are done in 3 to 4 weeks I am planning on growing 8 autos so I can keep lights on 18/6 and fill in all extra space with photos until end of May

[SoOrbudgal]

I hope i had explained my prior post well enough? But that's what i mean.....get those autos well ahead of the vegging photos first would be my plan. Running them with the photos at 18/6 is best with the photos vegging. I'd like to see mine run this way then when autos are in last 2wks of flower flip the 12/12 it won't hurt the yield.