I just realized that the free seed I received from Attitude is an autoflower, and I sowed it on September 10. I have been using the same light cycle obviously and read that with autoflower you don't change it at all during the grow. However, I was wondering when the best time to switch light bulbs is, the pistils have grown leaves but no signs of any colas yet. The plant is just starting to gain a slight scent. Any info is appreciated.
It won't have any effect on yield? This is my first grow so I want to try and get myself into some good habits. It looks quite healthy though, I owe that to organics and all the info I've gotten from Grasscity. Peace.
I would as soon as it shows preflowers. Thats about 1-2 weeks after Id have moved mined to the flower room under the HPS.....But since mine are photoperoid....they show sex because of the switch
I have been looking into this myself and found a grow method from Low Ryder that says you can switch it anytime after the plants show sex. Just leave it on the same cycle and it should be all good. That's what I am doing with mine anyway, my first Autoflower grow as well
The best thing to do is..... place it in total darkness for 24 to 36 hours, then make the switch to HPS. This really ramps up the flowering hormones, pronto. Then flowering nutes only (lower N, higher P & K), and rock it with 16 hours of light per day till the finish for best yields. .
. This is a common misconception. The parents in these autoflowering hybrids, are almost always one non-autoflowering strain x a autoflowering strain. Which means the plants posses a recessive trait (of being non-autoflowering). To ensure the switch is made without prolonged veg time. A day of darkness, helps ensure the transistion. So, why would you not do it ? I always done this at 3 weeks, and all my plants have made the swtich smoothly. . With properly tested strains like Lowryder 2 or Easy Ryder, proper repeat selctions were made of only strong autoflowering parents. Joint Doctor deserves credit for being thorough, and never rushing beans to market. . A lot of these other seed makers are taking short cuts and putting beans on the market after a single cross. So, with them, the recessive traits can appear, unneccesary extra veg time can occur & I say " why waste time under the lights, maximize it instead." . Once the flowering hormones increase from the dark period, rock them with at least 16 hours of light to the finish. .
So yes I was right...it doenst need 12/12.....maybe a day of dark..but not a full flower regiment of 12/12...In fact you state to finish flowering with " at least 16 hours of light to the finish."
^^ Yes, we are both right. Autoflowering strains benefit from a reduced light period, to help set the flowering phase of growth (at least one dark day works best) & yields best with a minimum of 16 hours of light, until finished. . 12/12 is a non-autoflowering strains requirement, to set & maintain flowering. Running any autoflowering strain with only 12 hours of light, would greatly reduce it's yield. .
Wouldn't it depend on mother/father/Auto-NonAuto Lineage? My autos have started to show sex just two weeks into veg and I was curious wether or not my harvest weight/potency may increase if I went ahead and switched to the HPS bulb now as apposed to switching at the end of week 4 as planned? That would be two less weeks of MH and two more of the High Pressure Sodium.. I intended to keep my lights at 18/6 throughout the entire grow as suggested by another member (no 24 hour dark period, as I don't want to stress them at all). Any suggestions?
I dont have mph or hps lights. Just cfls and uvb bulbs. After intro ducing the uvb bulbs omg did she grow. It is an auto that has been in soil for over a month. It has a smell and I think I need to switch to flowing nutes and bulbs.