Higher Yield? Perpetual auto grow vs single photo grow?

[RuggedWombat]

So I'm in a situation where I'm debating which will yield more, 2 three plant auto grows that function more like a perpetual grow (one tent would flower while the other handles veg), or a single grow with three traditional photoperiods. My constraints are I have a 2x4x5 tent that can handle 3 plants at a time. I have also converted a small closet in the room which could handle 3 plants up to around 3 weeks into veg. The issue is the light from the closet setup would make running a perpetual grow with photos impossible. I tried sealing the space under the closet door and it hit 95 degrees.

So the ultimate question is: would running 3 autos in the tent and the first 3 weeks of another auto grow in the closet outweigh running one traditional photoperiod grow? Obviously the autos would have a quick turnaround time with I'm guessing 75 days or so for harvesting an auto versus 93 days for a photo grow. 75 days minus even 3 weeks of veg for the second grow means the autos would turn over much faster, but the yields on autos are obviously smaller. Here is the closet setup. The tent is your standard vivosun grow tent.

 

[SouthFloridaGenetics]

Just fill it up with 3 autos. It will be fine. Then about one month before chop start 3 more up in the closet to get them a head start for the main auto tent. Keep the lights on 18 hours for each area when in use. It should yield you a couple of pounds each time at least!

 

[DeadHeadX]

Just fill it up with 3 autos. It will be fine. Then about one month before chop start 3 more up in the closet to get them a head start for the main auto tent. Keep the lights on 18 hours for each area when in use. It should yield you a couple of pounds each time at least!

I don’t disagree with the recommendation, but you can’t expect pounds, or even a pound, from three autos.

 

[SouthFloridaGenetics]

I don’t disagree with the recommendation, but you can’t expect pounds, or even a pound, from three autos.

I get 1.5 pounds from each of my autos all the time. I'm just using what I know to recommend to you things you can actually do.

 

[SouthFloridaGenetics]

I don’t disagree with the recommendation, but you can’t expect pounds, or even a pound, from three autos.

Fat fat pound after pound from my autos!

 

[DeadHeadX]

Fat fat pound after pound from my autos!

Those are beastly autos for sure.

 

[Kindbud421]

I don’t disagree with the recommendation, but you can’t expect pounds, or even a pound, from three autos.

If your running 3 plants from, say like Mephisto, in hydro… I would expect at least a pound or more. I recently saw on IG a 2+ pound single auto… just sayin

 

[coreywebster]

Yeah, great!
But the OP is in a 2x4x5.

 

[RuggedWombat]

If your running 3 plants from, say like Mephisto, in hydro… I would expect at least a pound or more. I recently saw on IG a 2+ pound single auto… just sayin

It won't be in hydro; it'll be promix HP. I am however currently running Meph Double Grape which are going well. I'll start another Meph batch in a week or so. I think with a few runs I'll get things dialed in.

 

[Delps8]

My first five grows were autos and they can be beasts (2' x' 4' x 8').

One grow is auto, one is a photo.









The bottom picture is the auto grow and there are two plants in the res. The plant on the right is taking up about 80% of the space and had branches falling out of the tent.

With 5' of height, I'd go with a photo because you can decide when to flip and, therefore, control the height. If possible, use a light that has a blue-heavy spectrum, give them a lot of light (which will tend to keep them short and bushy), then top and LST.

The plant in the first photo was grown under an LED veg light, topped and LST'd and ended up 30" across 24" front to back, and about 24" tall.


Yield info on the autos:

Chris (Evert) was the plant on the right, Wilma (Rudolph) was the smaller plant (Wilma had a slow start, hence the name).

 

[amneziaHaze]

Only problem with autos you have to start them from seed and each seed is slightly different.with photos you can do clones that can in reality go flower after planting.
But as you say you have light leaks soo i would go with autos find some breedet zhat gives consistent plants

 

[Roy O'Bannon]

I have used some led shop lights to veg before and straight up grow a ton of tomato's and peppers.
I put all 6 up in a 2x4 area and they don't make much heat. Might be able to get your closet going.

Stuff grew really well under these.
Barrina (6 Pack) LED T5 Integrated Single Fixture, 4FT, 2200lm, 6500K Super Bright White, 20W Utility LED Shop Light

 

[SouthFloridaGenetics]

Hey OP! What are you deciding on doing? It looks like either way its a grow. Do you have some ideas for specific strains yet? It's gonna be badass for sure. Let us know.

 

[driver77]

I don’t disagree with the recommendation, but you can’t expect pounds, or even a pound, from three autos.

Couldn't resist...ended up around 1 3/4 lb from the RQS Mimosa auto on the right...another lb from the other plants in with it. Todays auto's will get huge in the right conditions.

 

[RuggedWombat]

Fat fat pound after pound from my autos!

How many days from sprout did those plants take?

 

[SouthFloridaGenetics]

How many days from sprout did those plants take?

85-90 days for most of them. I had one go 105 days.

 

[medidedicated]

Perpetuating autos is tricky, even photos if youre not too sure when to take the cutting and veg/flip. I was 3 wks early and was a pain but at least theyre not flowering until I want them to.

Clones would save on seeds unless you can make fems its not a super easy process.

Sog would be quickest turn around time and theyll finish on time. I think takes like 2-3 runs to get things on a dime. Thats with photos.

Sog would make more sense than having a veg space to grow a tiny plant that a auto could pretty much do same thing without the additional mentioned benefits.

Autos are subject to runts the kind people show up in problems section asking why, its a runt. A one joint plant lol. Its not super common though but just adds to the comment of unpridictability.

Id just turn the veg space into another sog setup. Sog I was under impression its a advantage of easier high yield. Canopies can lack hormone to fill in a spot so just leaves it unfilled.

I get those somewhere in the canopy every time but better than overcrowding. But the turn around is a major advantage.

Idk what I love so much about it, just a sense of guarentee of many important things. It has potential to be a real smooth ride.

 

[RuggedWombat]

85-90 days for most of them. I had one go 105 days.

So I'm running Meph Double Grape and they say 65-70 so I should adjust my harvest date to something like 85 days or so? I haven't done an auto grow in probably 2 years so I'm adjusting my traditional photo knowledge a bit. What major advantages did you notice from going beyond the breeder grow times? Bigger yield? Or plants didn't seem mature at the recommended grow schedule?

 

[medidedicated]

My mini diy tent loaded with light leaks. Photoperiod clones. Bedroom light on during lights off all the time.

 

[RuggedWombat]

Why do u need to seal the closet to be able to veg photos?

The light leaks from the closet would bleed into the flowering tent.