New Grower Growing auto with photosensitive?

[az2000]

When I started a batch of photosensitives in my 4x4 tent, I also put a Northern Storm Auto[1] in a 3 gallon pot.

It's been getting 18/6 lighting under T5s and, after 5 weeks since germination, it's grown fantastically. I expect it will begin to flower in 2-3 weeks. Can I leave it in the tent at 18/6 and then 12/12 when the photosensitives are switched to flower? Or, does the auto need to receive 12/12 (and more 3k warm light)?

How much unique attention does it need? Being "automatic," I'm assuming just the nutrients should change to a flowering balance (like GH Flora's 1-2-3).

[1] A freebie feminized from marijuana-seeds.nl

 

[wwwillie]

Hey and Welcome!
Sorry I don't really have an answer. I have read that 12/12 with an auto is not ideal, but do not have actual experience wiith this. Someone will let us know I am sure.
Wanted to warn you though... This is exactly how I got hooked. It was a freebie from The Attitude, DinaFem Critical Cheese, she got me! Now I have three autos and one phot growing so inverse of yours. I am going to separate the one photo and flower her at 12/12. I have a week or three left before I have to put this together thogh.

 

[molegrower]

When I started a batch of photosensitives in my 4x4 tent, I also put a Northern Storm Auto[1] in a 3 gallon pot.

It's been getting 18/6 lighting under T5s and, after 5 weeks since germination, it's grown fantastically. I expect it will begin to flower in 2-3 weeks. Can I leave it in the tent at 18/6 and then 12/12 when the photosensitives are switched to flower? Or, does the auto need to receive 12/12 (and more 3k warm light)?

How much unique attention does it need? Being "automatic," I'm assuming just the nutrients should change to a flowering balance (like GH Flora's 1-2-3).

[1] A freebie feminized from marijuana-seeds.nl

Autos usually require 18/6 or more.. some run 24.. if less light they will be hindered.. and not do well.. usually you would start photos about two weeks before harvest on auto.. or three.. most autos run to 70 days.. unless SuperAutos.. then like 120 days or something like that..separate room/grow area would be best for the 12/12

 

[dude]

Hey bro, you can go down to 12/12 no problems... Well, it will affect end yield but it will keep you going till the others chop.

Atb

 

[WEEDOSHI]

12/12 light schedule is not ideal to maximize bud growth with autoflowers. That's not saying they won't grow, they will, just not to their potential. To put in a simplistic way: If you're currently feeding your photo's full nutrients, it's like reducing their nutrients to only 1/3 strength and going that way through their entire grow - it'll most likely reduce the yield potential of your phenos by 1/2 or 1/3. Same thing with your autoflower, it's recommended to be on a 18/6,20/4 or 24/0 light schedule by most breeders or it will reduce yield and maybe even potency.

It'll grow fine in a 12/12 schedule, just not to its full potential and reduced yield.

 

[az2000]

Ok, thanks. I wasn't sure if autos need 12/12 during flower. It's not a problem for me if they need 16/8 during flower. I have a 2x4 tent I can put it in when the photosensitives in the 4x4 tent are switched to 12/12.

wwwillie, I agree with you about getting hooked. I wasn't too thrilled about getting auto freebies. Tossed one into my current grow. I'm already fascinated by it and looking forward to planting the others. This Northern Storm Auto has an interesting coffee aroma. Whenever I bend over the plant I get that spontaneous salivation and tingling like you get when you're in line at the grocery store and someone has fresh-ground coffee. You get a whiff and *bam* it gets your attention, takes your breath away, etc. This NSA auto really does that to me. The more I get a whiff of it growing, the more anxious I am to smoke it.

Now I'm thinking about 3-4 outdoor plants this Spring. Since they do things by their own schedule, that seems like a cheap/easy way to get some yield. I'll post to the outdoor forum soon. (I'm in the Arizona desert. Curious how these plants handle heat, or how springtime when temps are cooler might affect the plants due to daylight being less than 12 hours.).

 

[WEEDOSHI]

Ok, thanks. I wasn't sure if autos need 12/12 during flower. It's not a problem for me if they need 16/8 during flower. I have a 2x4 tent I can put it in when the photosensitives in the 4x4 tent are switched to 12/12.

wwwillie, I agree with you about getting hooked. I wasn't too thrilled about getting auto freebies. Tossed one into my current grow. I'm already fascinated by it and looking forward to planting the others. This Northern Storm Auto has an interesting coffee aroma. Whenever I bend over the plant I get that spontaneous salivation and tingling like you get when you're in line at the grocery store and someone has fresh-ground coffee. You get a whiff and *bam* it gets your attention, takes your breath away, etc. This NSA auto really does that to me. The more I get a whiff of it growing, the more anxious I am to smoke it.

Now I'm thinking about 3-4 outdoor plants this Spring. Since they do things by their own schedule, that seems like a cheap/easy way to get some yield. I'll post to the outdoor forum soon. (I'm in the Arizona desert. Curious how these plants handle heat, or how springtime when temps are cooler might affect the plants due to daylight being less than 12 hours.).

Great you have another tent! You can put it in a 24/0 or 20/4 light schedule to maximize yield. Some (but not all) even say 18/6 is not enough light for an auto, I've that to be true. AF's from my expirence need at least 20+ hours of light per day to reach their maximum potential.

Autoflowers will flower even in a 24/0 schedule. Light is not an issue with AF's but they need lots of it.

Excellent to see autoflowers have taken you under their charm

 

[molegrower]

Great you have another tent! You can put it in a 24/0 or 20/4 light schedule to maximize yield. Some (but not all) even say 18/6 is not enough light for an auto, I've that to be true. AF's from my expirence need at least 20+ hours of light per day to reach their maximum potential.

Autoflowers will flower even in a 24/0 schedule. Light is not an issue with AF's but they need lots of it.

Excellent to see autoflowers have taken you under their charm

Great info . Next time I run autos ill do 20/4. I always heard 18/6 generally is better.. thanks again!

 

[WEEDOSHI]

Great info . Next time I run autos ill do 20/4. I always heard 18/6 generally is better.. thanks again!

I can sense a big debate coming about 18/6 vs 20/4 vs 24/0. I've always used 20/4 and it's been fine for my plants. I look at it this way, since autoflowers don't need a night cycle to switch to flowering, you don't want to be wasting potential photosynthesis in a prolonged night period when that "night" period can be used to increase photosynthesis. Some say plants will accelerate root development during their night period, but if you're running a 20/4 schedule, the plants still technically have a small rest period (4 hours "night"). 18/6 is just wasting a potential few more hours which could help the plant in the long run.

Cheers.

 

[molegrower]

I can sense a big debate coming about 18/6 vs 20/4 vs 24/0. I've always used 20/4 and it's been fine for my plants. I look at it this way, since autoflowers don't need a night cycle to switch to flowering, you don't want to be wasting potential photosynthesis in a prolonged night period when that "night" period can be used to increase photosynthesis. Some say plants will accelerate root development during their night period, but if you're running a 20/4 schedule, the plants still technically have a small rest period (4 hours "night"). 18/6 is just wasting a potential few more hours which could help the plant in the long run.

Cheers.

I'm definitely agreeing.. that's why I'm going to try it next run