Dr. Feelgood, second crop, yield down

[ltecato]

First of all, before you start laughing and hurt my feelings, allow me to explain that Dr. Feelgood is supposed to be a short, fast-finishing plant.

In April I planted 5 seeds and got the smallish plants I expected, which is cool because I've got no room anyway. Not knowing any better, I started these plants on a 12/12 light cycle almost immediately, but then after checking here I switched to a longer day of 18-20 hours of light, as recommended. The yield ranged between 8 and nearly 15 grams per plant.

So this time I started the crop with a long light cycle, but after looking at an electric bill I decided maybe my LEDs aren't as efficient as I hoped, so I cut the lights back a bit after a couple weeks of growing.

I just got through weighing the third of five plants in my latest crop (planted mid-July indoors) and am now suffering severe butt-hurt because the yield has been roughly 8 grams or less per plant.

Not sure what I did wrong. Too stingy with the ferts, maybe? I only gave them two or three doses of fertilizer because they didn't show any signs of nutrient stress until they were well into flowering. If it matters, I grew 'em in dirt, one-gallon pots.

 

[MonkeyPickAss]

1 gallon pots, i think that is your problem right there.

 

[710revolution]

I grow all my autos in one gallon pots. Usually use ffof and few other choice amendments. The problem could have been bad aeration (which for autos is extemely important). Possibility you screwed up just one time with PH or over feeding. Because of their short life cycle, with autos, seemingly small problems could spell ruin for the rest of the grow. Nutes and ph are far more concentrated in a smaller pot, making the margin for error slimmer considering you are also restricting the size of the root ball. I can pull an ounce and a half off one auto in a one gallon pot. The plants you see in my profile pic were grown under 8 CFLs and one cheap mars reflector. I pulled just over 4 ounces, thats three plants in one gallon pots in a 2 by 2 space, tucking leaves the whole way. LST by way of tucking is also a good way to get more tops exposed to light for a better yield. Better luck next time.

 

[Just Let Me Be Faded]

Small pots may be the issue.. What kind of light?

 

[wdk420]

First of all, before you start laughing and hurt my feelings, allow me to explain that Dr. Feelgood is supposed to be a short, fast-finishing plant.

In April I planted 5 seeds and got the smallish plants I expected, which is cool because I've got no room anyway. Not knowing any better, I started these plants on a 12/12 light cycle almost immediately, but then after checking here I switched to a longer day of 18-20 hours of light, as recommended. The yield ranged between 8 and nearly 15 grams per plant.

So this time I started the crop with a long light cycle, but after looking at an electric bill I decided maybe my LEDs aren't as efficient as I hoped, so I cut the lights back a bit after a couple weeks of growing.

I just got through weighing the third of five plants in my latest crop (planted mid-July indoors) and am now suffering severe butt-hurt because the yield has been roughly 8 grams or less per plant.

Not sure what I did wrong. Too stingy with the ferts, maybe? I only gave them two or three doses of fertilizer because they didn't show any signs of nutrient stress until they were well into flowering. If it matters, I grew 'em in dirt, one-gallon pots.

Pics or it didn't happen.

 

[ltecato]

Small pots may be the issue.. What kind of light?

LEDS, two lights in a 2x3 grow tent. Each is supposed to be at least 180 watts. One was from Mars Hydro, bought on discount, and the second was a similar model from another company. A sticker on the back says "Maximum power 300 watts," but I think it was advertized at a lower power.

 

[ltecato]

I grow all my autos in one gallon pots. Usually use ffof and few other choice amendments. The problem could have been bad aeration (which for autos is extemely important). Possibility you screwed up just one time with PH or over feeding. Because of their short life cycle, with autos, seemingly small problems could spell ruin for the rest of the grow. Nutes and ph are far more concentrated in a smaller pot, making the margin for error slimmer considering you are also restricting the size of the root ball. I can pull an ounce and a half off one auto in a one gallon pot. The plants you see in my profile pic were grown under 8 CFLs and one cheap mars reflector. I pulled just over 4 ounces, thats three plants in one gallon pots in a 2 by 2 space, tucking leaves the whole way. LST by way of tucking is also a good way to get more tops exposed to light for a better yield. Better luck next time.

OK, thanks. Obviously I need to work harder or use bigger pots or else try another strain.

 

[ltecato]

1 gallon pots, i think that is your problem right there.

Maybe, but my first crop was also in one-gallon pots. But it certainly can't hurt to try bigger ones next time, which I'll probably do.

 

[TacoMac]

Not enough light is one.

Too small a pot is two.

I'm willing to bet improper nutrients is three.

Auto flower plants is 4.

Auto flower plants are made for quick turnaround, but for that you pay a price with lower yields. So, if you're going to do auto flower, you REALLY need to know what the hell you're doing to get maximum yeilds out of them.

If you're not doing everything just right, an auto flower plant will be much more dramatically effected than a regular feminized plant for the reason that there is no time to recover before it's given cycle is over. With regular feminized plants, you can control the grow much better, see issues during the veg stage and keep them there until you work them out before moving on to flower stage. You just have much more control.

You should be getting your sea legs on regular feminized plants first. Yes, it takes a lot longer. But you'll know your plants better, get more experience identifying problems, and streamline your skills so that the next time you go to autos you know EXACTLY what you're doing.

My two cents.

 

[Marijuana Mercenary]

First of all, before you start laughing and hurt my feelings, allow me to explain that Dr. Feelgood is supposed to be a short, fast-finishing plant.

In April I planted 5 seeds and got the smallish plants I expected, which is cool because I've got no room anyway. Not knowing any better, I started these plants on a 12/12 light cycle almost immediately, but then after checking here I switched to a longer day of 18-20 hours of light, as recommended. The yield ranged between 8 and nearly 15 grams per plant.

So this time I started the crop with a long light cycle, but after looking at an electric bill I decided maybe my LEDs aren't as efficient as I hoped, so I cut the lights back a bit after a couple weeks of growing.

I just got through weighing the third of five plants in my latest crop (planted mid-July indoors) and am now suffering severe butt-hurt because the yield has been roughly 8 grams or less per plant.

Not sure what I did wrong. Too stingy with the ferts, maybe? I only gave them two or three doses of fertilizer because they didn't show any signs of nutrient stress until they were well into flowering. If it matters, I grew 'em in dirt, one-gallon pots.

A lot of the faster strains do not produce well in my experience. Blueberry is the fastest and lowest yielder I have come across. Maybe go with a NL or AK strain next run? They seem to produce a hearty plant.

I hear changing the light cycle during the grow can stun/affect them also.

Maybe you could scrog/lst for a higher yield next run?

 

[bubblenut]

Not enough light is one.

Too small a pot is two.

I'm willing to bet improper nutrients is three.

Auto flower plants is 4.

Auto flower plants are made for quick turnaround, but for that you pay a price with lower yields. So, if you're going to do auto flower, you REALLY need to know what the hell you're doing to get maximum yeilds out of them.

If you're not doing everything just right, an auto flower plant will be much more dramatically effected than a regular feminized plant for the reason that there is no time to recover before it's given cycle is over. With regular feminized plants, you can control the grow much better, see issues during the veg stage and keep them there until you work them out before moving on to flower stage. You just have much more control.

You should be getting your sea legs on regular feminized plants first. Yes, it takes a lot longer. But you'll know your plants better, get more experience identifying problems, and streamline your skills so that the next time you go to autos you know EXACTLY what you're doing.

My two cents.

I second this. Have been growing near 20 yrs and have only taken on autos within the last two/three yrs. Although i have never had an auto that yielded less than 100grams! They are pretty stable as long as you read them right!