Hi OG! I’m new to growing autos. I’ve read about them stunting in the first few weeks from too small a pot or a stressful transplant etc. So far I’ve only ever started them in 5 gallon final pots in living soil.
Does anyone use small nursery bags to start autos? And end up with large plants? I’m just now seeing that they make biodegradable bags designed to be up potted IN the bag. Would young auto roots get slowed down with this type transplant? 
5 Likes
Exactly what I am planning. Waiting on the expert inputs.
3 Likes
This isn’t an expert input, but I don’t think so. I don’t think it’s touching the sides or bottom of the pot with roots that makes the plant decide to be small. I think it’s when its roots pretty much fill the pot. So if you’re up-potting, which I used to do all the time with autos, you have to do it before it looks like the plant needs it.
Also cooler temperatures have been my bane with autos. Since I started growing in living soil and keeping the temperature above 80°F until deep in flower, I’ve done a lot better. But sometimes they just stunt for no good reason. And that includes the really popular, expensive breeders’ gear.
Edit: BUT - it’s still good advice to plant in your final pot to reduce the chances of stunting and to give the plant more time to fully develop the microbial associations that feed it (if you’re in living soil).
5 Likes
Buy some biodegradable pots then come time to up pot you just plant the entire thing including the pot into the new medium and the roots will grow through the pots with no stress on the plants.
4 Likes
That’s basically what these little fabric bags are.
If I’m thinking correctly about the nursery bags he’s referring to.
3 Likes
As long as they are biodegradable they will break down. The pots I linked though once wet through the roots grow through them without problems very quickly. I’ve used peat pots a lot in the past. They also do a coco coir type pot that works the same if you worry about the environment.
3 Likes
Planting in the final pot makes it more of a pain if you have a dud to keep everyone on the same timing. I’m considering the bags or peat/coir pots because I don’t really love transplanting in the first place. With photoperiods it a bit easier because you can let the roots really fill your nursery pot and make a sturdy rootball.
2 Likes
Autoflowers are obviously on a time schedule but I’ve just let a few plants go until they die in the past and they have ALL gone way past the breeders stated time period. Stalling an auto out for a week or two in my own personal opinion won’t effect it that much. 
4 Likes
Even in the first 3 weeks?
1 Like
They keep growing and maturing even past the breeder stated times. If you stall them out before they flower I really can’t see a problem. They will flower and trichomes will still mature in the normal rate.
I’m far from an autoflower legend though and all I’m giving is my own personal experience with them.
1 Like
I personally start EVERYTHING in solo cups. Auto, photo, doesn’t matter to me. Autos specifically, I keep them going in solo cups for about 3 weeks then transfer to 3gal fabric pot of coco.
I have first hand seen the taproot of an autoflower hit the bottom of a solo cup, wind around the bottom and even sometimes poke out the slit in the cup. … never have I ever had a stunted auto 
. I don’t think there’s any truth to the taproot initiating flower because it hits the bottom of a cup or pot. … I mean, how does that work outdoors? Or in nature?
You just gotta find a routine that works for you. Starting literally everything in solo cups works best for me
FWIW, i also defoliate autos same as photos, never seems to cause undue stress
5 Likes
Exactly, I never understood this, I think it’s more so triggered hormonally at a certain point imho
4 Likes
You’re a braver man than I. I strip photos nearly naked but these autos have every leaf they were born with. I just tuck. If I was better at internetting I’d definitely insert a pic of Buffalo bill here.
1 Like
It’s not just that they stall. They stunt. If they ‘get the feeling’ life is going to be tough, it’s like they make an epigenetic decision to stay small. And once that happens there’s nothing you can do about it.
1 Like