Thinking Autoflower for Coming Grow. Help Needed for this Autoflower Know-Nothing

Basic Growing Info
1

Hey guys!

Been growing for a year plus, and thinking I may do an Autoflower. For those who do both, what can I expect to be different other than the obvious automatic switch to Flower from Veg state?

Here’s my previous grows, just to show experience, etc.

Five 5-gallon plants in 2x4. Given as Clones. First ever grow April 23

Taildragger
Taildragger1920×1080 338 KB

Electrify single plant grow. First Octopot grow - 2nd ever grow. Cutting direct to soil.

electrify
electrify1920×1080 397 KB

Blue Dream and Skywalker OG in 2x4 Octopot grow. First “From Seed” grow.

20240516_172050
20240516_1720501673×1134 491 KB

LSD in 2x2. From Seed grow…

lsd day 61
lsd day 611920×1080 391 KB

Ive got two more grows going now, and they will harvest in November. I think Im ready for my first Autoflower. Got a few from last years Veterans giveaway, so may as well use.

Whats best policy regarding lighting? Hours on/off? Nutrient differences?

I usually run HLG350R in my 2x4, but have Grow Light Science ProGrow320 that I may use. Tent is Gorilla 2x4 with extension, so plenty of height.

Im planning to stick with Octopots, and probably go single Autoflower in my 2x4 to give some room to breathe. May not even top. Should be a fun time, but would like to hear from others who may have grown both Photos and Autos, and those who may have time in with Autos for tips, expectations, etc.

One advantage I forgot to mention, is Octopot is from seed to harvest. There’s no transplanting at all. One 7-Gallon grow bag from start to finish.

Thanks in advance, guys!

16 Likes
2

What strains/breeder are you planning on running.?.?.?

I’m not familiar with octopots but looks like you know how to use them well. Plant directly in final container, maybe use a little more aerating amendment to soil. You have to be on point especially the first 3-4 weeks so as not to stunt them, you can’t make the time back up like a photoperiod. Calcium deficiency tends to pop up quicker with autos in my amateur experience.

4 Likes
3

I am a couple days away from starting a few autos and you’re more then welcome to grow along if you’d like.

LoveDaAutos Journal

7 Likes
4

That’s pretty darn spot on @PotCom . I might add that using a medium with very light nutrients is big especially for auto seedlings. Autos very much dislike wet roots but love moist soil.

5 Likes
5

Not sure on strain. Whatever is Autoflower and looks cool in stash I got from last years giveaway. I’ll look and see what Ive got and get back on that.

Octopots are Awesome. That simple. Cool thing with Autoflower is there’s no transplanting needed with Octopot, so it saves that recovery period.
Seed into Octopot.
Top water once.
Fill Reservoir to first line and maintain level.
Seed sprouts anywhere from 3-8 days, in my experience.
Roughly 2 weeks until roots hit water, then watch the hell out. Explosive growth.

I think it’ll be a cool match. The Rain Science 7-Gallon Autoflower Bags work really well and , I think add to the aeration.

4 Likes
6

Damn, given the quality of your posted grows, you won’t have any trouble with autos.

My 2 cents; grow something strictly for flavor. Just grab a strain that “sounds like it’ll taste good” :man_shrugging: lol, I mean not like we don’t already do that, but as a photo grower you might also gravitate toward Hazes, or Chems etc etc, not any certain flavor but like a “profile” or even quality of effect

With autos, I say just shoot for strictly flavor & even go so far as to just pick something with a cool fancy name :+1: :+1:

4 Likes
7

Here’s what I’ve got…

vet grab
vet grab1440×2560 339 KB

Have to get into a couple of them, but I see one autoflower for sure…
Scarlet grapes @blowdout2269
Dont know anything about that one, but gonna do some digging

Different angle…

veterans
veterans2560×1440 338 KB

Did a little bit of reading through a thread on here, and looks like a pretty cool strain so may just go with her.
See how much I can pull from her in my 2x4 in an Octopot .

3 Likes
8

Made by my homie @Going2fast.
It is Double Grape(Mephisto) ×
Scarlet Sunset(Gas Reaper)

You’ll find many grows of it around here.
Definitely pop some-a those!
:wink:

4 Likes
9

Im no expert but ive found i can run autos on 24 hrs light full cycle and they dont seem to mind. Thats nice because it makes it easier to keep the environment steady. For me that means dimming the light to maintain a decent DLI.
Also congats on all the remarkable past photo runs. And continued success with this. :trophy:

3 Likes
10

For autos, my opinion on lighting:

20/4 from seed thru veg, when you notice flowers starting to form drop to 18/6. Mid to late flower drop to 16/8.

4 Likes
11

That’s basically how I always pick what to grow. I’m a sucker for a cool name lol.

2 Likes
12

…For a 2x4 and 7 gallon octo pots, run 2 at least and depending maybe start a couple seeds per pot as early on you’ll be able to tell which ones are more vigorous than others and you just pull the slow ones, also due to the limited time span it better they fill the space and fight for it needing some pruning vs not filling the space.

Light cycles everyone has their own opinion but i routinely see plants loose there tugor pressure later in the day as them seem to want a rest cycle but this is also based around how much light your giving them, so a low light 24hr cycle is possible but also a higher light 18, 16, or 12hrs cycles can easily be done. Personally 18/6 has worked well for me over the many years ive done autos.

As for topping one can but do it early say around the third or forth node with just nipping of the new fresh grow thats only say a 1/2" tall and say within 2-2.5 weeks of sprouting your soil as when they are still small they have time to branch out, also leaf tucking fan leaves away from lower bud sites help alot at making level canopys. Your more shaping with a gentle hand and redirection rather than lopping and pruning aggressively, mind you that can happen later if they are fighting and or you need to thin out the bottom useless stuff but that can wait till week 4-5ish

3 Likes
13

Are you in the USA, @supersecretjim ? If so I’ll set you up with a 4 strain auto grow. Thinking 3 seeds each of four different auto strains. Happy to get your auto grow up and running.

4 Likes
14

Yeah, environment is one of the main reasons Im considering autos my next grow. Its such a pain stressing about light leaks, and controlling environment in my closed tent. With autos, I could prob just leave all ports open, tent flap half open…

Right now, I cant even go into the room where my tents are during lights off because my flower tent definitely isnt 100% light proof.

2 Likes
15

Im for sure, gonna! See which of the two I get. Purple and tight, or green and looser. Either way, its all good :100:

1 Like
16

Thanks, Bud! I really do appreciate the good words :100:

Did a bit of looking around. Looks like they really dont NEED a resting period, so 24 hours it will be, most likely.
Run around 45-60 DLI typically. Not sure how that will translate. Strain-specific to a point, Im sure.

1 Like
17

That would be amazing! :100: @LoveDaAutos

I’d love to enter the Autoflower side of growing with some solid genetics.

Gonna try to Main-line an auto at some point, I’m sure. Should prove interesting given the shorter time-table. Although, I typically Veg 28 days.
Something like my LSD grow, or a bit more relaxed like my current Powie Pineapple grow.

Here she is Today Day 24… I love showing off my lil girls

20240924_151146
20240924_1511461920×1080 338 KB

1 Like
18

That is a realistic positive point, for sure :100:
Light at lower power for longer run shaves off a few degrees.

19

Oh yea thats another cool thing about autos. Can dip in there and take a look whenever

2 Likes
20

I think im planning to top out at about 45 dli. Unless they look like they want something else

2 Likes