New Grower AF Trigger: Age or Maturity?

[Mushroom King]

From the sparse info regarding Autos on the internet, I've read that they will start flowering after a certain number of nodes have developed (3-4 I believe), but I also read info saying they flower after a certain number of weeks/days. I was wondering if anyone has any insight into which factor is the determinate variable or trigger in causing the flowering stage to begin.

Example: A poorly grown "Strain-X" has 2-3 nodes formed by week 3, however the same strain grown with better light and nutrients has grown 4-5 nodes by week 3. Would the better grown plant begin flowering earlier because it has reached that level of maturity faster, or will both plants flower at the same time regardless, because they are at the same chronological age?

 

[Balarama]

I vote for maturity, as you said and is confirmed by experience, poorly grown auto plants(especially outdoors) start and finish later.

 

[thetreeman]

Seems to be age in my limited experience, gotta get them growing fast and furious asap to get a decent sized plant in the end...

 

[briman]

Time!!! If you stunt them in veg, it set em back a week or two and they don't recover like a photo. I dont move em, no turning, no nothing. You ant all their energy to go into growing.

 

[Muddy]

My understanding is that it's a buildup of a certain hormone that triggers flowering. Can't remember where I read that but I'll see if I can find it.

 

[Bayes]

If I recall correctly, flowering is triggered by the hormone florigen. The precise time is neither time or maturity based, its genetically determined. However, this generally coincides at with a certain age/maturity of the specific strain.

 

[Mushroom King]

If I recall correctly, flowering is triggered by the hormone florigen. The precise time is neither time or maturity based, its genetically determined. However, this generally coincides at with a certain age/maturity of the specific strain.

I'm aware that hormones are the mechanism that leads to flowering, and that the time it starts to flower is predetermined by genetics. I mean sativa/indica/afghanica strains are genetically predestined to flower at 12 hrs, 14, hrs of light, etc. I'm just wondering what the genetics of ruderalis/auto strains are predetermined to start inducing flowering during - certain stage of maturity (ie. number of nodes) or certain biological clock time (ie. 3-6 weeks or so.)

So far on this thread there seems to not be a total consensus on the issue (although I appreciate everyone who has replied.)

The reason I ask is that a friend of a friend of a friend has an auto strain that has been growing above soil for a little under a week now, and it is putting out its second set of true leaves (non-cotyledons.) This seems slightly accelerated compared to average, in which case I am mainly just wondering if it will make for a quicker harvest OR a bigger harvest.

 

[Grey Bear]

[h=2]AF Trigger: Age or Maturity?[/h]
The answer is both to some degree.
Most cannabis growers that I know, work from limited understanding of photoperiodism.
Almost all research about it across crop studies point to darkness being the factor main factor in flowering crops.
In other words if a plants 8-16 hour daylight schedule is interrupted by periods of darkness, there is little effect on flowering, but if we interrupt that same plant's nighttime schedule with periods of light, flowering will be adversely effected.
So what we cannabis growers refer to as photo or regular light plants, the crucial factor to induce flowering is hours of night not so much hours of light.
What we refer to as Autoflowers are facultative photoperiodic plants, the "rules" governing flower are much more fluid with these plants. There is an optimum light schedule for these plants but it is based on many factors such as type and strain. They will usually flower at some point, but conditions have some degree of effect on that.

If you grow like a farmer and stick with a certain strain and variety for several consecutive rotations, you can get that all worked out to optimize.
If you grow like a gardener and like to try out new varieties and strains, it is much more difficult to dial in.

 

[Mushroom King]

AF Trigger: Age or Maturity?


The answer is both to some degree.
Most cannabis growers that I know, work from limited understanding of photoperiodism.
Almost all research about it across crop studies point to darkness being the factor main factor in flowering crops.
In other words if a plants 8-16 hour daylight schedule is interrupted by periods of darkness, there is little effect on flowering, but if we interrupt that same plant's nighttime schedule with periods of light, flowering will be adversely effected.
So what we cannabis growers refer to as photo or regular light plants, the crucial factor to induce flowering is hours of night not so much hours of light.
What we refer to as Autoflowers are facultative photoperiodic plants, the "rules" governing flower are much more fluid with these plants. There is an optimum light schedule for these plants but it is based on many factors such as type and strain. They will usually flower at some point, but conditions have some degree of effect on that.

If you grow like a farmer and stick with a certain strain and variety for several consecutive rotations, you can get that all worked out to optimize.
If you grow like a gardener and like to try out new varieties and strains, it is much more difficult to dial in.

I knew about the dark hours in photoperiodicity plants, but very insightful post. Thanks. Here's hoping it doesn't decide to flower too early.

 

[Magic]

A auto can never flower too early. It could be too early compared to a photo but a auto will only flower when its mature enough photos u can force flowering can't do that with autos.