Auto didn't auto

[Cougar672]

I have a Gelato auto from Fastbuds with a predicted 9 week lifespan. At completing her fifth week, she shows only a few sparse pistils and no stretching. I've grown many autos with lifespans anywhere from 9 to 12 weeks, and they always show significant stretching and pistil growth prior to completing week 4. When I flipped my other tent to 12/12 I stuck this Gelato in there. After only a couple days of 12/12 she has shown significant pistil growth and a little stretching.
Question: Can I put her back in the other tent where the light in on for 18 hours? Do I risk a re-veg? I plan on keeping her at 12/12 for at least a few more days, but her final home will depend on what this knowledgeable group has to say.
Thanks.

[Orggrwr]

I also have had 2 or 3 autos over the years that took much longer to flower than breeder indicated. They all eventually produced good bud, just took a few extra weeks. An auto already in flower should be fine to put on 18/6 schedule.

[bdeegan]

I think I would leave the one in the 12/12 tent. If it took the light change to get it to flower then I would think it would reveg if switched to 18hrs again. I’ve had this happen before and finished the non auto plant under 12/12.

[Cougar672]

I was hoping for a more definitive answer than 50/50. Guess I'll leave her in the 12/12 tent.
Thanks to bdeegan and Orggrwr for the advice.

[Rwise]

IF its truly an auto light cycle makes no difference, cept the more light the better (to a point)
IF its really a photo going to 18/6 will certainly reveg it
Some autos take 5-8 weeks to get started on flowering and finish at 120+ days, however the breeder claims 8-9 weeks from seed to harvest.
My Guess would be its a throwback to photo, or an oops.

[bdeegan]

I’m no expert but from what I understand if the autos are not bread to at least f4 you run the risk of photo traits coming through. I have no experience with that breeder or strain but I will forever be super selective with my auto breeders after getting burned on my first experience.

I have read about the “fast variations” sometimes being a 12/12 photo whos flowering time is just faster so possibly that too. Also don’t take out the chance of a packaging mixup.

You could try to bump up the light like 1/2hr at a time until 14hrs on. 14 is the min for photo but most say 12 to give a buffer for genetic differences between plants.

[upnorthx]

Kinda sorta similar.. First grow, I have 6 plants, 3 varieties from Seed Supreme...all supposed to be autos.
Well, they are at 135 days and maybe ready to harvest in a couple weeks from what I'm told. They were on 18/6 till 110 days, said the heck with it and put them on 12/12 and they flowered within days. Also they never had a "stretch" phase at all...barley grew any taller after the flip. Totally puzzled

[Rwise]

Welcome to GWE, hit the link at the top of this page "When To Harvest" and read, and post up some pics, we luv pics! Contact them and see IF they will replace your seed as they are not autos.

[Cougar672]

After considering all the knowledge offered above and that the breeder (FastBuds) has a good reputation, I am going to assume she is truly a (slow) auto and I put her back in the 18/6 tent. I'll let you know if she re-vegges. Thanks to everyone who helped!

[Cougar672]

After a couple weeks in the 12/12 tent I moved her back to the 18/6 tent and she continued to flower, no re-veg. Thanks for the advice!
This 9 week auto has now been growing for about 12 weeks. Trichromes still about 30% clear. Based on Trichromes and overall appearance I was ready to harvest very soon. Over the last few days she has produced a lot of new pistils.
Question: should I still go ahead and harvest, or do I wait for the pistils to change color?