Autoflower plants very small at harvest

[Bythesea]

I harvested 3 different variety of cannabis plants this week, all were autoflowers and very small when harvested, when the tricomes were just getting amberish on top. All were planted in March in California, outside. Is it common for autoflowers to be small".

L to R
GMO 8-10" at 11 weeks
Dark Matter -11" at 11 weeks
Green Crack-16" at 13 weeks

 

[golfnrl]

Hello Bythesea The short answer is no, but it's not rare either. Some strains are bred to be short. I'd say the average yield should be 2-4oz. What were you feeding these plants and what were they growing in? Did you have any problems with pests or mold?

 

[Smallgrow]

Yes it is common for Autoflowers to be stunted.
Since they have a set amount of time before they start to flower usually 3-5 weeks, any mistakes or conditions that aren’t perfect for the plants can cause this (We’ll assume you have quality genetics , that is key regardless of photo or auto).

For this reason I don’t think they are great for beginners however they are often what gets recommended. I grew them first and struggled with small plants as I learned how to grow.
As others have pointed out autos have some unique characteristics that are appealing to people, like a shorter grow cycle in some cases and more flexible light schedules. However they are in my opinion more difficult to grow successfully.

I'm not sure if you had a specific reason for growing autos in California but with that climate maybe try photos next time.

 

[Smallgrow]

Lol
Two things can be true at once

 

[Bythesea]

I tried Autoflowers to see if I could get a crop in before being on the road this summer, looks like I got that but the yield was very low. I used Foxfarm ocean forest soil in 5 gallon cloth bags.

 

[Smallgrow]

Well you got a harvest so that counts.
Keep trying and you’ll be able to get a better harvest, autos or photos.
lots to read on the main site, and ask questions here