Auto-Magic?

[crucialbunny]

As much as I hate to admit it, I'm embarrassingly inept when it comes to this
whole auto-flower growing thing. This is my third effort with these things and
while the buds come out fat & greasy, the ridiculously small size of my plants
makes me wonder what is wrong with my method. I see many of you posting
pics of your auto Sequoia forests and all I can figure is ya'll know some kind
of magic that has eluded me. I start my plants and they do great. Suddenly,
bang, before they can achieve any size, it's flowering. So, for the love of Pete,
will somebody here have pity and share the secret magic with this old dirt farmer?

[Rwise]

An auto that runs 60 days will not be as large as one that runs 120+ days. Want larger autos, get seed that takes 5-8 weeks before it starts to flower, and is said to get taller. Most of the autos I have done were only 18-24 inches tall at the finish line, and thats all they were supposed to do.

[crucialbunny]

We'll, These 2 ran exactly 62 days so you're right on the money there.

[SoOrbudgal]

All i can say is for myself i've tried doing LST it's the least stress but if i do hard tie downs or try and treat them as if they were photos i don't have the touch for larger harvest. I'm getting abit more particular with any strain i grow now. I rarely grow the same strain time after time. My indoor OG Kush autos will produce better than i had during winter. They seem to do better in my dryer tent. Mine are at 60days from sprout one is 23" the other 20" I think i'll get at least 5oz off the two which i really need. I'm thinking end of this month maybe first week of July. I did'nt top or train at all did'nt want to slow it down. I've never had big yields crucialbunny so if you find a why please share LOL That's why i try an stuff my tent with them makes me feel better seeing a full tent.

[crucialbunny]

I harvested my Vanilla Frosting "window plant" today which was started mid March and it yielded at least 3 times the bud I got from my 2 autos and only about 1 month more growing time. Rwise nailed when he suggested a 90 day auto. Those extra 4 weeks really allow for the plants to gain some needed veg time. I have a couple Sherbet Fast seeds that I'm itching to try. I'll probably wait for that because I'm sure I'll soon be overwhelmed with what I already have going.

[SoOrbudgal]

I believe Rwise got a point about 65 vs 90 breeders times. I don't know i've always ran quicker autos do to needing it. If i grow 90-120 day autos i'd rather just do photos.

[bboyfromwayback]

Rwise is onto something. I’ve had better luck with autos that take 3-4 wks to start flowering than the ones that flower within 2wks

[Orggrwr]

If I get an oz. and a half from an auto I consider it a success. As long as the quality is there I don't mind. Just grow a lot of them

[Orggrwr]

Several reasons . I do perpetual harvest so I harvest a plant every 2 -3 weeks and an 1.5 oz is more than I can smoke in 2 weeks. End up giving most of it away. Like being able to care for plants any time of day because I work a weird schedule. Like having seedlings and finishing plants in same tent. Like being able to try many different strains in a short period of time . I grow photos also but auto's are quick, easy , and a lot of fun.

[Bluey]

I get that.
I'm away for work all week and have to automate my grows.
This last grow will keep us in weed for the next couple of years but I'm itching to give another grow a go, mostly because I know I can do better after learning from last grows stuff ups.
I use the one room for everything, from storage, drying, growing, curing, so I need to produce at least 25 Oz to get me into the next cure zone ready to smoke based on a 4 to 5 month grow.
Would be nice to have another room or two as it would open up lots more options for us and I could experiment a lot more.

[Orggrwr]

Yeah, in that case you definitely worry about yields. I would hate to have down time from growing. It helps keep me sane.

[Going2fast]

crucialbunny I will be glad to regurgitate the advice I've given multiple times already but nothing will help until you actually implement it. You know the definition of insane right?
STOP transplanting
STOP topping
Give them 18+ hours of good light. You aren't going to grow anything decent in a windowsill.
Use at least a 3 gallon planter. 5 is optimum
Don't defoliate until after the stretch and only a few at a time then.
Autos hate stress of any form. Put the seed in the dirt and leave it be. I would not even lst until you get used to how they grow on their own.
Oh and start with good genetics. White label beans such as from ILGM are a crap shoot. And the majority of people are pulling 3 to 6 ounces off of the scarlets so they are not the culprit.
All of these produced over 4oz each. The big one went 7. No transplanting. No topping and ph'd water only. Under 90 days.

[bboyfromwayback]

Agreed, my last few autos all produced over 4oz. I’ve realized the first 3wks are the most important for an auto. Once I stopped treating them like photos and let them be I’ve had a lot more success with them. After a month they’re pretty much on cruise control now. I remove leaves occasionally but that’s it with autos