Feeding the seedlings

[Hybrid]

The autoflowers need to develop as fast as possible with only 3 weeks in veg.
Do you feed the seedlings or should they starve for better root development?

 

[7.62]

I'm no expert, but if you feed them too soon you will burn them. I'm not sure how to copy this link, but this is from a legend in the growing scene.It's under the new growers journal section.

Post by Muddy;

Another common question I see is when to switch autos from veg to bloom. Many people are under the impression that as soon as they see the first flowers it's time to switch. Perhaps a little explanation of the life cycle of autos will help to clarify this.

Weeks 1 - 3. Once you've started your seeds and they break the surface of the soil, they are in their seedling stage. The first set of leaves to appear will usually single fingered, followed by a second set that may still be single fingered or perhaps 3 fingered. Once that second set appears growth will start to accelerate as the new leaves provide more photosynthesis. This process will continue, more new leaves, faster growth. Depending on the type of soil in use, mild vegetative nutes can be introduced at week 2. By week 3 most plants will start to show their sex. Males will start to produce pollen sacks and females will display pistols.

Weeks 4 - 6. The plants are now entering a pre flowering stage. During this time the plants should exhibit explosive growth, often as much as a new set of nodes and 1" vertical growth a day. This is the time when they will gain most of their vertical height. Many people make the mistake of switching from vegetative to flowering nutrients at this point, assuming that since they see flowers it must be the proper time. This is incorrect. If the switch to flowering nutes is made at this time the vertical growth will stop and the plant will put it's energy into producing buds. If you need to keep your plants small, or want them to finish earlier, they by all means switch nutes at this point. But if you want to get the most out of your plants continue feeding vegetative nutes until you see the vertical growth slow and stop. Depending on the strain that will usually be sometime during week 5 or 6.

Weeks 7 - 9. By now vertical growth has stopped and the switch to flowering nutrients has been made. The buds will start to fill out and put on weight, becoming hard and tight. Pistols will start to change from white to brown, orange, red, etc. By now the plants will also have developed a strong smell. Toward the end of this phase the large primary and smaller secondary fan leaves will begin to turn yellow. This is an indication that the plant is moving toward the end of it's life.

Weeks 10 - 11. At this time flowering nutes should be discontinued and only plain pHed water fed to flush the remaining nutrients from the soil and improve the taste. Yellowing of the fan leaves will continue as the plant draws the stored energy from them. Eventually they will die and fall off. By the time that the smaller leaves that come from out of the buds will also start to turn yellow. Then it's time to harvest.

I know that many of you are thinking that the seed bank said the plants will finish in 8-9 weeks, so why are you saying they take 10-11? The claims made by the seed banks are somewhat deceptive. If you switch to flowering nutes at week 3 or 4 the plants can finish in the times the seed banks say but they will remain small and not reach their full potential yield. Years of growing by myself and others has shown that autos do best if you follow this time line.

Of course, there will always be variations depending on the strain, the environment, nutrients, etc. This information is meant to only serve as a general guideline.

For more detailed information on when to harvest your plants, please see: https://www.autoflower.org/f44/when-harvest-autos-your-leaves-will-tell-you-4889.html.

NOTE: This is an informational thread. Do not post specific questions about your grow here. Please start a new thread in the appropriate forum.

Hope this helps you!

 

[Dabber]

I feed mine as soon as they pop

 

[Hybrid]

I feed mine as soon as they pop

How much do you give them and how strong soluiton?

 

[Dabber]

How much do you give them and how strong soluiton?

I use Mega Crop and Sweet Candy from @Greenleaf Nutrients I start @ 1 gram per gallon and 1/4 tsp SC per gallon

 

[SOOTDAWG]

I usually start mine at two weeks or three nodes....which ever comes first starting at a quarter ratio of nutes

 

[McDee]

I'm no expert, but if you feed them too soon you will burn them. I'm not sure how to copy this link, but this is from a legend in the growing scene.It's under the new growers journal section.

Post by Muddy;

Another common question I see is when to switch autos from veg to bloom. Many people are under the impression that as soon as they see the first flowers it's time to switch. Perhaps a little explanation of the life cycle of autos will help to clarify this.

Weeks 1 - 3. Once you've started your seeds and they break the surface of the soil, they are in their seedling stage. The first set of leaves to appear will usually single fingered, followed by a second set that may still be single fingered or perhaps 3 fingered. Once that second set appears growth will start to accelerate as the new leaves provide more photosynthesis. This process will continue, more new leaves, faster growth. Depending on the type of soil in use, mild vegetative nutes can be introduced at week 2. By week 3 most plants will start to show their sex. Males will start to produce pollen sacks and females will display pistols.

Weeks 4 - 6. The plants are now entering a pre flowering stage. During this time the plants should exhibit explosive growth, often as much as a new set of nodes and 1" vertical growth a day. This is the time when they will gain most of their vertical height. Many people make the mistake of switching from vegetative to flowering nutrients at this point, assuming that since they see flowers it must be the proper time. This is incorrect. If the switch to flowering nutes is made at this time the vertical growth will stop and the plant will put it's energy into producing buds. If you need to keep your plants small, or want them to finish earlier, they by all means switch nutes at this point. But if you want to get the most out of your plants continue feeding vegetative nutes until you see the vertical growth slow and stop. Depending on the strain that will usually be sometime during week 5 or 6.

Weeks 7 - 9. By now vertical growth has stopped and the switch to flowering nutrients has been made. The buds will start to fill out and put on weight, becoming hard and tight. Pistols will start to change from white to brown, orange, red, etc. By now the plants will also have developed a strong smell. Toward the end of this phase the large primary and smaller secondary fan leaves will begin to turn yellow. This is an indication that the plant is moving toward the end of it's life.

Weeks 10 - 11. At this time flowering nutes should be discontinued and only plain pHed water fed to flush the remaining nutrients from the soil and improve the taste. Yellowing of the fan leaves will continue as the plant draws the stored energy from them. Eventually they will die and fall off. By the time that the smaller leaves that come from out of the buds will also start to turn yellow. Then it's time to harvest.

I know that many of you are thinking that the seed bank said the plants will finish in 8-9 weeks, so why are you saying they take 10-11? The claims made by the seed banks are somewhat deceptive. If you switch to flowering nutes at week 3 or 4 the plants can finish in the times the seed banks say but they will remain small and not reach their full potential yield. Years of growing by myself and others has shown that autos do best if you follow this time line.

Of course, there will always be variations depending on the strain, the environment, nutrients, etc. This information is meant to only serve as a general guideline.

For more detailed information on when to harvest your plants, please see: https://www.autoflower.org/f44/when-harvest-autos-your-leaves-will-tell-you-4889.html.

NOTE: This is an informational thread. Do not post specific questions about your grow here. Please start a new thread in the appropriate forum.

Hope this helps you!

Live by that guide. Auto veg longer than 3 weeks unless you start to feed bloom nutrients. I have a kings kush on day 36 hasnt preflower yet. Some strain take 100+ days they veg longer than 3 weeks lol. I see so many people that are like well it's an auto so only a few weeks for veg. You can just do 3 weeks but your hurting the size and harvest if you cut them off that soon. Mephisto doesnt even start any training until they're 3 weeks old.

 

[Mushinronsha]

Just curious does this apply to hydro set ups as well? Since there is no soil to provide nutrients. Wouldnt 2 whole weeks of no food kill them or atleast stunt there growth?

 

[McDee]

Just curious does this apply to hydro set ups as well? Since there is no soil to provide nutrients. Wouldnt 2 whole weeks of no food kill them or atleast stunt there growth?

I think you feed from day 1. I do and I grow in soil. Seedlings dont get food from soil unless you buy soil that is preloaded. They have what they need in the seed. My soil is an empty canvas, I feed from day 1 with very weak solution. It is better said you dont need to but you definitely can. I dont know if it's better, but sooner they get food the sooner they should grow. Cant go crazy, I use AN and start with 1ml of voodoo juice, microbial munch per gallon. Just a little bit then slowly add. I will be switching over to Megacrop shortly.

 

[AutoWonders]

The autoflowers need to develop as fast as possible with only 3 weeks in veg.
Do you feed the seedlings or should they starve for better root development?

Dependent on medium used with emphasis on whether it is a hot soil medium such as Ocean Forest. I'm in coco and supercharge my first watering with Rhiz and calmag. I do that for the first 2 weeks. Several schools of thought on this one.