New Grower How Are Autos different?

[Somerset]

I thought it might be useful for other new growers to discuss the differences Autos have to other types of cannabis, or even other plants in general. Personally, I am a keen gardener and always have been so feel very green fingered and confident that I can grow weed well. However, this is my first time and I'm starting to understand some of the basic differences that Autos have that mean growers need to adapt their growing behaviour/instincts to increase their chance of success.

The life cycle of an auto might be straightforward in theory (you germinate the seed, you grow it, you harvest and dry it etc - all within a set period) but growing them isn't as straight forward as as a normal plant, or even a normal weed plant. I'm discovering/hearing things like:

Because their life cycle is set (hence the auto bit) therefore you are often limited, particularly when growing outdoors, to what you can do in that window. For instance, if the weather is shit and the plant doesn't thrive, it won't take longer to get up to full strength (as it might in the wild) and give you a decent crop.

They are more sensitive to nutrients than normal plants (apparently.) Is this true? If so, how true, how sensitive.

They also take longer outside than most suppliers state.

They are bred indoors, and therefore never react quite as well outdoors/suffer more because of it.

What, in your experience, are the differences peculiar to autos that growers need to be aware of? What are their unique characteristics, good and bad. Help us out potheads!

 

[namvet25]

I started out with photos outside and found where I lve the season is to short for them to fully develop so I started growing autos.I no longer grow outside but grow all year round under Led lights and love the fact they mature fast and I can have several differents strains and don't have to wait that long in between grows.

 

[Somerset]

Namvet, thanks for chipping in, its good to hear your thoughts. Other than the downside of the local season length in your area, what benefits/limitations did you experience with growing outdoors?

 

[namvet25]

I didn't have any problems growing outside except a few bug problems and some rainy cloudy days.I had some huge plants with monster colas but the frost came to early and the trychomes didn't have time to develop.

 

[Peteey010]

Although this is my first auto grow (and even that isn't quite an auto didn't start to flower until 10 weeks) I have found relatively no difference between the photo's I used to grow in fact I would say that my auto has been less stressful to grow.
regarding weather and conditions Not much difference there either i've manged to grow photo's outside in one of the wettest UK summers recorded and my auto is now close to 5 feet tall and 4 wide been outside since May and survived hailstorms torrential rain and being blown over at least 3 times and she's thriving she's only been fed a general purpose tomato food while growing but now I give her Ionic bloom nutes which is more than I ever gave my photo's and they turned out fine
As for yield don't know the answer to that one yet ask me again in about 5 weeks after I chop her
and as for other types of plants i can't even grow a sunflower but weed yeah I seem to have a talent for it

 

[Somerset]

Nice one Peteey, thats reassuring to hear! Everything else I've read so far goes against my planters/growers instinct and I realised today that I'm struggling to battle against those instincts because of what I'm reading throughout the forum as a naive first timer! Its nice to hear people experiences bucking against the trend. What auto varieties are you growing?

 

[Peteey010]

It's supposed to be a fruity og kush but the strain wasn't stable and alot of people who grew it found it not going auto until 8-10 weeks or so and some auto'd as they should so the distributor didn't release then
I have only given my opinion here and there are many more gifted and talented growers here who hold a vast wealth of information I only put what has worked for me over the years and even then it took me 5 outdoor seasons to get it right
My basic rule of thumb when growing outdoors prepare the ground well in advance of your grow once their big and hardy enough to go outside full time put them in the ground and leave them to it don't mess with them