First auto flower grow (harvesting question)

[OBIWANdza]

Sooooo this is my first time growing autos…..I got seeds from a local dispensary and don’t know much about autos….didn’t know they were even auto flower seeds

Here’s the kicker…..because I didn’t know they were autos my plan was to start in small pots and size up as necessary

these have been in the dirt since Jan.
had some ph issues I noticed around mid feb so I had to repot in new soil and since then everything has been on the positive end of progress however I think I lost a lot of growth potential between transplanting and soil issues

they Made it to 1 gallon pots right before full on flowering approx mid march….

This one of 3 is the farthest along but I’m not sure when I should chop the plant for drying!

 

[FirstCavApache64]

You still have a long time to go. Once all the pistils have turned brown and are starting to recede back in then you should be really checking the trichomes on your buds, not leaves and looking for the degree of cloudy/amber that you want. However that is still many weeks away. Just focus on properly watering and feeding them while controlling the environment as best you can until then.

 

[OBIWANdza]

Cool everything I’ve seen on the net said they should be done flowering in 5-8 weeks and we’re well past that but they still look pretty immature to me as well….so I wanted to be sure….thanks

 

[FirstCavApache64]

Who is the breeder and what strain is it? Don't trust breeder estimates of finishing time as anything other than a guideline and a very optimistic one at that usually. If you have problems during the grow or your environment is poor then you can add time on to those numbers for sure. I saw a great description of what to look for when checking for ripeness in a bud the other day, if I can find it I'll post it up here for you. You're going to need a jewelers loupe or preferably a small microscope to check trichomes when you are getting close.

 

[Budzbuddha]

Looks like you are using some kind of strip lighting ….. if so , expect that plant ( s ) to drag along .

Final yield will be light …. Actual finish time looks long just from current pics.
Weeks and weeks . Forget what breeder / dispensaries say …. it finishes when it finishes.
Better lighting should be your next serious purchase - if you plan to grow for meds.

“ Seeds from dispensary “ - meaning from a ”weed purchase “ or actual blister pack from breeder ?

On the fence if truly an auto if you popped in Jan. - usually autos will structure out and transition to flower ( from as early as day 21 to day 60 ) or day 35-40 ish average. I thinking it’s a bag seed.

 

[VincenzioVonHook]

Looks to be at least five weeks minimum. Assess structure. The plant will throw a first round of brown stigmas and continue to stack fresh calyx. You are looking for browned, followed by retracted stigma, swollen calyx and milky to Amber trichs. I generally use structure and retraction over trichome colour. I have had strains that have gone milky week five-six, but didn't show swell and retraction until week 9 and up.

All my autos were quoted as "70 days from seed" but most flowered for close to 70 days, and some could have gone longer.

Here's an example of a ripe flower. Swollen calyx, retracted stigma and milky trichomes.

 

[edithw]

Don't take breeder estimates of finishing time as anything more than a guideline and an extremely optimistic one.
Better Grow light should be your next big buy if you intend to grow marijuana.

 

[VincenzioVonHook]

Don't take breeder estimates of finishing time as anything more than a guideline and an extremely optimistic one.
Better Grow light should be your next big buy if you intend to grow marijuana.

Yep. Had GPD's that even contradicted their own schedules in the description. Had "70-75 days from seed indoor", "56-63 days flower" in the same paragraph. I just ignore it all and go by structure. Unless they expect it to pre-flower after 10 or so days, that's just rubbish.

 

[twentyeight.threefive]

Sooooo this is my first time growing autos…..I got seeds from a local dispensary and don’t know much about autos….didn’t know they were even auto flower seeds

Here’s the kicker…..because I didn’t know they were autos my plan was to start in small pots and size up as necessary

these have been in the dirt since Jan.
had some ph issues I noticed around mid feb so I had to repot in new soil and since then everything has been on the positive end of progress however I think I lost a lot of growth potential between transplanting and soil issues

they Made it to 1 gallon pots right before full on flowering approx mid march….

This one of 3 is the farthest along but I’m not sure when I should chop the plant for drying!

View attachment 5127999View attachment 5128000

Looks like you have at least another 5 weeks to go.

 

[FoulHooked56]

Sooooo this is my first time growing autos…..I got seeds from a local dispensary and don’t know much about autos….didn’t know they were even auto flower seeds

Here’s the kicker…..because I didn’t know they were autos my plan was to start in small pots and size up as necessary

these have been in the dirt since Jan.
had some ph issues I noticed around mid feb so I had to repot in new soil and since then everything has been on the positive end of progress however I think I lost a lot of growth potential between transplanting and soil issues

they Made it to 1 gallon pots right before full on flowering approx mid march….

This one of 3 is the farthest along but I’m not sure when I should chop the plant for drying!

View attachment 5127999View attachment 5128000

To small of pot! I use 3-5 gal. Cloth bags - here is a pic of a Green Crack Auto that I started on 2/28/22 & it will be done within a week! Used Sub-Cool soil that I made & week 4 on used Advance Nutrients Big Bud, Bud Candy & PH Perfect (my H2O is 7.8ph) & it brings it down to 6.4.

 

[Frank Nitty]

I'd be more worried about the plant behind the one you are concerned with!!! Leaves are drooping like crazy!!!

 

[bam0813]

To small of pot! I use 3-5 gal. Cloth bags - here is a pic of a Green Crack Auto that I started on 2/28/22 & it will be done within a week! Used Sub-Cool soil that I made & week 4 on used Advance Nutrients Big Bud, Bud Candy & PH Perfect (my H2O is 7.8ph) & it brings it down to 6.4.

welcome and cool handle

 

[Frank Nitty]

You still have a long time to go. Once all the pistils have turned brown and are starting to recede back in then you should be really checking the trichomes on your buds, not leaves and looking for the degree of cloudy/amber that you want. However that is still many weeks away. Just focus on properly watering and feeding them while controlling the environment as best you can until then.

Loooong way to go

 

[OBIWANdza]

Looks like you are using some kind of strip lighting ….. if so , expect that plant ( s ) to drag along .

Final yield will be light …. Actual finish time looks long just from current pics.
Weeks and weeks . Forget what breeder / dispensaries say …. it finishes when it finishes.
Better lighting should be your next serious purchase - if you plan to grow for meds.

“ Seeds from dispensary “ - meaning from a ”weed purchase “ or actual blister pack from breeder ?

On the fence if truly an auto if you popped in Jan. - usually autos will structure out and transition to flower ( from as early as day 21 to day 60 ) or day 35-40 ish average. I thinking it’s a bag seed.

yea the seed came from dispensary by way of a flower purchase…..

this was just a “oh I found a seed lemme try It out” grow the lights are whatI normally use to supplement my houseplants I literally have $0 invested in this grow so yield I’m not too worried about yet but I’ll keep that in mind

the reason I say autos is because the lights are on 18/6 and have been since starting and they have gone into flower on their own…..

but as u said wIth the inadequate lighting it may be dragging on and kicking into flower as a survival ‍

 

[OBIWANdza]

I'd be more worried about the plant behind the one you are concerned with!!! Leaves are drooping like crazy!!!

Overwatered smh