How quickly can you flower after planting a seed? I'm not interested in maximizing yield, I just want to try a bunch of different strains.
you can force it by going 12/12 pretty much anytime. there is a micro grow section where a lot of growers can help you.
You can start a plant on 12/12, won't get very big, but you can do it. My grow journal http://forum.grasscity.com/indoor-medical-marijuana-growing/1353929-mopheads-purple-closet-adventures.html
First, most growers do not consider the actual light cycle of the plant from the region it comes from Indicas mostly get a max of 14 day light hours during the summer grow season, and that only briefly Sats have a longer veg season with day light ~ 15 hours max So, even though we are growing indoors, the light cycles are built into the strains DNA For shorter grow needs, go with Indicas Buy a book that lists the hours by region
A plant needs to be sexually mature before it can flower, this takes around 3 weeks from germination. You can switch to 12/12 then and you can harvest 8 weeks later using a fast strain. Autos take about 10 or so weeks from germination, so if you want multiple strains fast, this is probably your best option
The plant needs to become 'sexually mature' first. You know when the the is mature enough to flower because it will show its pre flowers. (The first caylxs you see) usually in the main stem by the nodes. Chef. Ha shoulda of read down before I posted we gave near identical answers! Chef.
HC haven't the guys been doing it from shortly after seedlings to get the micros? Do you get the US Newsweek magazine? If you can find it, it has some great articles you islanders may like. Titled WEED NATION
Dude I've seen people start them off in 12/12 they only get a few grams, but it is possible. Just extremely pointless. My grow journal http://forum.grasscity.com/indoor-medical-marijuana-growing/1353929-mopheads-purple-closet-adventures.html
OK, it sounds like autoflowers would be best for my situation so harvest is as quick as possible. Can any strain be found in autoflower from a good seedbank or are they non-existant for some strains?
You can put them on 12/12 any time you want but it doesn't mean it will have any effect. Until they reach sexual maturity the photoperiod won't effect them
There are a lot of auto strains available, some autos don't have a photoperiod sensitive counterpart, and vice versa
Herbies has an awesome auto flower site. Autofloweringseeds.com My grow journal http://forum.grasscity.com/indoor-medical-marijuana-growing/1353929-mopheads-purple-closet-adventures.html
If you are running autos I guess it would be similar to a sea of green. Autos will flower by themselves but they should be able to stay small enough so that you can fill your tent up with pots side by side with no spacing (pot to pot). So it will kind of be like a sea of green I guess.