New Grower moving away from autos

[Chronczar]

OK so I have been growing for a couple years now and all I have ever grown is autos. I have tried many different types autos and I have come to the conclusion I need something stronger then what autoflowers can offer. The people in this community have always been helpful so I thought I'd ask for help 1 more time.
I have a 4x4x7 tent and 2x135 leds and 1x 270 watt led.
How many mothers can I do?
And is it better to get 2 more 135 watts or 1x 270 watt light.
the 135 watts are ufo' s all lights are blackstar
thanks I appreciate all help given.

 

[Eekman]

Are you worried about growing out clones as well as keeping mother's? Also do you have room outside of your tent for the mother's if you have to do it that way.


Just wondering, and I am sure you will get some answers coming.


Eek

 

[A4]

I can't speak much about the lighting as I don't use LED any longer. There are a few here that grow photos with LED. DubV probably being one of the best. I would suggest to drop in on some of his grows and you will learn quite a bit of info. BTW, you do know there is a photo section here, right? If you post your photo questions in there, several of us will get to you quicker that way. I troll that section a pretty good bit as that is pretty much all I grow.

As for your tent size, you can grow 4 pretty easily in there. 6 if you really cram them in but I don't think you will have near enough light for 6. I have the same size tent and used a 270 blackstar in mine with a 600W HID and grew 6 photos at once. No way would I ever try it again.

Finally, there really isn't a lot of different in strength comparing photos to autos. Granted, you can't get the truly soaring sativa highs with autos but quality wise you aren't going to see a noticeable difference from your autos to most of your indicas. I am not trying to steer you away because I love some photos but I also want you to have some realistic expectations. It isn't the night and day difference a lot of people like to claim them to be.

Best of luck on your photo adventure.

 

[Muddy]

I grow both photos and autos and frankly, there isn't much difference in the potency of the newer auto strains. Many of them are now testing in the low 20s, much the same as the best photos. To keep photo mothers to take clones from, you are going to need a separate area to keep them in as they will require 18 hours of light to keep them from flowering. You'll need 12 hours in your bloom tent in order for them to flower. You won't need anything fancy to maintain the mothers. A T5 fixture with 6500k bulbs or some 6500k CFLs are all that's needed. Save the LEDs for flowering.

 

[Chronczar]

Thanks for the feed back. I never thought about doing clones as I thought I would yield enough to sustain myself for 5 months off of 3 or 4 phenos. Is clones the way to go?

 

[omnious]

Thanks for the feed back. I never thought about doing clones as I thought I would yield enough to sustain myself for 5 months off of 3 or 4 phenos. Is clones the way to go?

I don't know if it's THE way but it is an easy way. If you have the room for mothers. I used to have two moms in my living quarters by the window and hid them in closet if I needed stealth.

 

[pop22]

Clones are the whole idea behind keeping mother plants and a lot less work than breeding for seed. And I agree with Muddy, your not going to grow any weed that’s more potent than today's auto's just by growing photos. Potency is an elusive beast, many factors besides genetics involved. Try an Auto Trainwreck or Auto Blue Dream. Even my Auto White Widow has been just as potent as any of the photos I've grown.

 

[Chronczar]

I'm pretty sure I grew my autos bang on. I spent a lot of time growing out afghan just Ryder that was listed at 21.6% THC . I really don't think it was a solid 21.6% considering everything else I smoked seemed to be better then my stuff. I think it may be 21.6% phenomenon but not auto. I believe autos are like being watered down so u need more idk. I will find out in a few months..

 

[Anasazi]

You could also do 12/12 from seed. You can start a seed under 12/12 and about 4 weeks later take a few cuttings and root them. After that just add them to the tent. You don't even need 2 spaces really. Rooting requires very little light, 1 23w cfl plugged in close is enough. ;D


Since the tent is in a constant 12/12 you can keep adding plants and do perpetual grow with clones. Don't even need to keep a mother if you just keep cloning the clones.

 

[Chronczar]

It's like having a shot of whiskey is the pheno and having a whiskey and soda is auto flower. Idk maybe I have it twisted. I grew out the white widow as well and it didn't stand close to the white widow I had in Amsterdam. I want chronic and that is my mission. Thanks for the tips