Is it feasible to use a scrog setup on autoflowers? I've planted 3 Mephisto's Wedding seeds in a 20 gal fabric pot. They're supposed to range from 20"-30" in height. If I put a screen at 13", would that enable enough growth to even out a canopy before mid flower? I've grown a total of 7 autoflowers and LST tiedowns have worked on them, but I am intrigued by the potential for scrogging.
I see a lot of guys scrog autos. Seems to work great. I just harvested a Mephisto Wedding. They run on the small side so I think you will do just fine. Cheers Os
I'm debating with myself on the height of the screen. I once grew 4 sour diesel autos in a tent and the individual plant heights varied significantly--to the point where they were sitting on different pedestals and such to try and get them level with each other. Maybe it would be better to set the height for the lower end of the scale to be sure everything is captured by the net. I have a little time yet to make a decision. Thanks.
That’s a valid point to consider. There will always be pheno differences running from seeds, as opposed to cuts. What I would want to do, is wait until I see the plants pushing clumps of pistils, then build the net. That’s probably going to be around 35 days (plus or minus 3-5 days) from the time the seedling emerges from the ground. I’ve never done a trellis grow, so I can’t really offer practical first hand advice on the heights. More than happy to help with anything else. Cheers Os
Cool, that makes sense. Sometimes I let my brain run out ahead of the problem when the best approach would be to "wait and see." At this point I'd be better of focusing on getting the plants off to a healthy start. Thanks for the perspective.
That’s actually the winning strategy. Just keep em happy in the beginning and don’t make things too complicated. I like to let ‘em grow for a minute while I decide how I think they might grow the best. Take this with a grain of salt, but Mephisto Wedding really seemed like a strain that liked to be left alone to do it’s thing for the first 3-4 weeks. That’s based on my grow, and all the other MW grows I’ve viewed over on afn. If ya need anything just ask! Cheers Os
Autoflower network has a Mephisto Genetics forum Mephisto Genetics There are a ton of useful forums throughout the site besides the MG forum. Lots of Scrog grows to look at and take notes on. Any auto grow tech, or training style etc, you will see it there. Mephisto also has a huge Reddit forum if that’s your thing. cheers Os
Somehow I missed a sow bug or two when I was resetting my pot and 2 out of 3 seedlings were decapitated right as they broke the surface. The third survived but suffered some damage. Now I'm trying to rush along a few more seeds to germinate so they can all grow up together within a few days. Using some of my freebie seeds as a compromise, so might not follow through with the scrog project. Hopefully they all get along in one pot. At least going to wait and see . . .
Thats a bummer my friend. Seems like lots of folks have been loosing seedlings to hitch hikers lately. I wish you the best of luck on the next attempt. Cheers Os
I hand picked the ones that I saw when I lifted the mulch. Maybe should have tried a little something else. Diatomaceous earth? My heart sank when I saw him scamper off as I pulled up the humidity dome. Normally don't mind them but they were hungry, and what could taste better than a tender and moist sprout? Live and learn, I say.
I wonder if keeping lights on 24/0 and not using a humidity dome snd providing just a touch of airflow would keep crustaceans at bay and away from seedlings. Once the seedlings have some size, I would think the crustaceans would be pretty harmless. Maybe combine that with a temprary food source (dont know what that would be, just spit balling). Another one of my best grow bros is also getting hit by crustraceans, so Im pretty interested in this situation. Cheers Os
Pillbugs are nocturnal creatures, and love moist soil. As crustaceans, they actually need moist soil in order to breath. While they typically don't eat "developed" plants, they do have affinity for freshly sprouted seedlings. I remember reading somewhere long ago about this hack. Never had opportunity or need to try it myself... First, clear/remove a section of your mulch away from the soil. Put a moistened potato slice on top of the soil and cover it with a soaked piece of carboard/thick layer of paper. I would not recover with the mulch. Check under the potato slice right before lights on. Move quickly. Remove manually. Continue with fresh potato slices daily until seedlings are well established.
Very nice Wak. That’s right along the lines of what I was thinking of. The old “bait and switch”. Cheers Os
Great ideas all. Thanks for the input. I know rhat there are mixed opinions about transplanting autos, but I am considering starting seeds in manure seedling pots filled with rhe same seedling mix that I use to make the plugs in my living soil pot. Then, when roots start to show, they'll be transplanted directly into the same soil they're already in with minimal shock (hopefully). The CowPots are supposed to break down faster than ordinary peat pots and provide very little resistance to root penetration. Could be a way to minimize predation at the sprout/early seedling stage.
Starting in a seperate container is a great strategy. I would just use a solo cup and trasplant normally. Its the timing thats key. The grow bros over in my thread have determined that 10-12 days after they pop the surface is the right time to xplant from a soli cup. There is just enough roots to hold the soil mass together, but not so much root development that they slow, stall, or stunt. I would make the cavity for the solo extra large and shore it up with extra seed starter until a solo cup is a perfect fit. That will help the roots grow out into the pot faster, and minimize the possibility of base soil mix being hot and possibly burning the seedling. The attempts I have seen using cowpots were not very successful. The cow pot isnt necessarily to blame, but solo cups are tried and true. I figure you already had a tough start, stick with what for sure works with autos. Cheers Os
I'd like to add something to this... Use a nested cup set up. Plant in a clear plastic solo, nested in an opaque one. Drainage holes in both. That way, at any time, you can check the progress of root development as OS described. Just slide the clear cup out of the opaque one and have a look-see.