Other Side of the Fence...Where the Grass is Always Greener

[SxIstew]

I can't wait for my auto to be picable. lol. I can take microscope pics but anything normal makes it look so bare lol.... Got such a large selection of plants going right now yet non of them are picture worthy, Only cause I joined the SOLO CUP CONTEST lol got 3 more 2 weeks behind the auto's that are flowering...... UGH. lol


So here's some oldies from my last grow. G13 Labs Auto AK freebie from the tude back in February.

 

[Slipon]

hey Stew

can I ask you, how big pot`s do you use for them Auto`s and what kind of grow medium ?

and roughly how much do you yield in averages (dried/cured) ??

 

[SxIstew]

First auto ever. Started and spent her whole life from seed in a 3.9GAL container. CocoGro is what I used before(now ReadyGro).... And General Organics full nute line...FloarNectar Pineapple Rush as well......

60 days from seed to harvest..
2oz. total................ 70 grams pre-cure, 59 grams post cure

 

[Slipon]

look really nice, how is the smoke ?

Im wondering if it might make more sense for me to grow Etc. 9 Autos instead of 2 regular plants under my two LED panels, would harvest more in a shorter time at the expense of seed cost (I got a ton of LSD Femi seed`s) and a bit more power use as I guess you need to run the light atleast 16-18 hrs a day

but I could skip veg more or less, still have a T5HO fixture I can start new once under a few weeks before harvest so I can finish in maybe 40-50 days under the LEDs

only concern I really have is potency, but as Im more in to CBD and less in the THC and mostly smoke bong I thinking Auto`s might fit me

atleast I think its worth a test run to see for myself

 

[SxIstew]

Auto's are good when you need a little extra time to veg and gather clones.

Personally I think it would be a waste of money to run them all the time. size wise they can get pretty big. but and stunting at all can drop yields to an oz or less. Most of the genetics out there are becoming more stable but they're not entirely there yet.....

I pop my auto seeds the same day as the rest of what I plan to do.
this way while I grow out the photoperiods to sex them, if not feminized, train them, take cuttings, root cuttings, ect......
I've got 2 male auto's going right now and a female. and then I joined the AUTO SOLO cup contest and got 3 more for that(2 of which are appearing female).....

While those have been growing I've been starting other seeds and growing out a mother Blue Dream cutting her up and training a bunch...... once the auto is finished. the tent flips to 12/12 as I have said before. and everything I got going (besides a single clone of each plant I plan to keep for next grow) is getting flowered.

Been doing my absolute best to keep it under 50 plants. but I tend to go above and beyond my expectations. lol

 

[mycomaster]

The only drawback I could see you having with the auto's besides potency is dense flower structure. Although autos have a decent amount of cbd from my understanding. You can't top an auto efficiently, and get alot of those top buds I'm sure you like. you get the one nice terminal cola with them, and the smaller satellite buds as I call them. In that way the harvest always seems disappointing to me. I like to have alot of them top rock hard flowers to fill my jars. The loose whispy crap is just for hash I.M.O. I've tried topping autos before, and it slows them down so bad it's ridiculous, and then they flower, and never do as well as if they would have been left alone. They may be better now, and adjust better to being topped. I just thought one time exactly what you are I'm pretty sure, and grew a slew of them, and had such a bunk harvest. Don't get me wrong they looked outstanding, but the potency was crap the density of the lower flowers was crap, and in the end if I would have had photo strains in the same area I think I would have yielded 30-40% more, and of such better quality. I really think autos will go far in the future, but I'm not gonna be the one to do the test, if you know what I mean. I love my photo strains, and don't see myself straying from them again. Even when I made hash with all the trim from the autos it seemed weak, and the taste was never anything to write home about. I think the Spanish countries seem to have a better handle on most auto's so if you do do that wat I would check out Delicious or Sweet seeds, and I think Dutch Passion's Think Different is suppose to be something special as well. Lots of choices it's just sad nobody seems to give honest descriptions of these things. They're like impulse items in the checkout lane, looks nice, nice packaging, but it's usually crap. I wish you the best of luck bro. It would be hard for me to give that L.S.D. up, and not grow it at least once in a while. not sure of your overall plans though. Peace out.

 

[Sativied]

Mornin'

... need to... ...align buds... 3... x... 5....

 

[Pinworm]

Starting to show some frost.

 

[prosperian]

Some brown hairs too, pin. How far along are you? They are looking good.

Sativied, only you would have buds on parade! 3x5= lot of bud sites! Glad you're taking the rep for being most organized grower, whew!

 

[mycomaster]

Pin, Sat looking good guys. I have weird obsessive impulses to have everything square, and of equal numbers, and all that. Nature is a random beast if anything, and usually works itself out to an extent we'll never understand. I try to more sit back, and enjoy the show when they're in flower. Work my butt off to make sure they'll be happy when they get there, and then let them do their thing. If I let the O.C.D. take over I'd be in my tent with a scope picking off the odd looking, unperfect trich's, if there is such a thing, LOL. Maybe even trimming the flowers to be more symmetrical, good grief. No, can't have that. Have a great day everyone. Peace out.

 

[Pinworm]

Thanks, boss. Day 52 total today. 12/12FS. Did some reading that got me a bit nervous. I've usually read/heard 60 days is the perfect amount of flower for whites. But, in a few articles/posts some folks were saying 6 weeks is best for Indica doms. I prefer a more heady smoke. So earlier sort of makes more sense.

I like to flush 2 weeks before giving 2-3 days light dep, then chop, trim under green leds. Throughout those last two weeks I usually only just plain water.

First off, what do you think about the 6 week idea? Second, what point do you stop feeding during flower (if at all)?



EDIT: I contacted the seed company about this specific harvest time. It's been 2 weeks, and I haven't heard a word from 'em..

 

[mycomaster]

Thanks, boss. Day 52 total today. 12/12FS. Did some reading that got me a bit nervous. I've usually read/heard 60 days is the perfect amount of flower for whites. But, in a few articles/posts some folks were saying 6 weeks is best for Indica doms. I prefer a more heady smoke. So earlier sort of makes more sense.

I like to flush 2 weeks before giving 2-3 days light dep, then chop, trim under green leds. Throughout those last two weeks I usually only just plain water.

First off, what do you think about the 6 week idea? Second, what point do you stop feeding during flower (if at all)?



EDIT: I contacted the seed company about this specific harvest time. It's been 2 weeks, and I haven't heard a word from 'em..

We have alot of the same ideas, and views it seems man. I stop feeding around two weeks prior to chop, and let her feed off of herself, and whatever is in the soil. I'm not that big on flushing as I go 100% organic, but understand the need for it. I will do a light flush at some point though as there is salts in alot of different products used organic or not. I usually pull when I'm seeing amber starting to form, but the majority of trich's are milky still. My opinion on the whole trich thing is clear-mostly precursor cannabanoids, milky-mature(what you want), amber-past prime, and degrading. A trich past it's prime is not gonna have a stonier high, it's gonna have less high to it. I used to think it would, but after testing the theory for myself came to the conclusion it was just not what people were saying. When I have a high majority of milky, and not really any clear left, that's when I chop. I'm really more worried about getting the clear, milky than the milky, amber. About the whole 6 week thing. I've pulled Skunk's at 41 days before. If my flowers are where I want them as far as bulk, and density, and the trichs are showing me she's done I pull the thing. I'm really not worried about what the breeder or someone on R.I.U said. I feel confident in my growing skills enough to know when a plant it done, that I'm staring at in front of my face, you know. I was talking to another buddy on here the other day about how some strains seem to finish faster than breeders want to say. I.D.K. why alot of them get such long flowering times in their descriptions, and then the ones which are suppose to be super fast, take forever. I have 2 White Widow x Skunk#1 regs going, and am excited to work with the strain, should be alot of fun. I just had a Skunk#1 pre-mentioned that went 41 days, and was done all day long. Some of the tightest flowers I've had in a while, and the taste is really superb, with top shelf potency right on par with other strains I have. It's all about that genetic profile, and what she has to offer in the end. I still think alot of people would get on you about pulling a girl so early, but it's all personal preference. Like I said though, only you know if the plant in front of you is done, and to your standards to pull. You gotta check those trich's to know though, a good scope is an essential tool for a grower to have. They're always worth the $ you put out for one as long as it's of good quality. I was chhecking my Blue O.G. with my handheld, and it's the 420 scope, but it can't give me the view like my usb 300X scope can do. I was checking with the usb scope, and found almost all the trichs milky, and not much amber. Even with the led light on the little scope the hps was washing it out, and making them look amber. I now know that the Blue O.G. goes milky pretty evenly, and mature almost perfectly in my eyes, and at least this pheno, I'm not saying all will. Take er easy folks. Peace and Love.

EDIT: Big surprise a seed company not returning a lone breeders e-mails!

 

[prosperian]

Thanks, boss. Day 52 total today. 12/12FS. Did some reading that got me a bit nervous. I've usually read/heard 60 days is the perfect amount of flower for whites. But, in a few articles/posts some folks were saying 6 weeks is best for Indica doms. I prefer a more heady smoke. So earlier sort of makes more sense. I like to flush 2 weeks before giving 2-3 days light dep, then chop, trim under green leds. Throughout those last two weeks I usually only just plain water. First off, what do you think about the 6 week idea? Second, what point do you stop feeding during flower (if at all)?EDIT: I contacted the seed company about this specific harvest time. It's been 2 weeks, and I haven't heard a word from 'em..

Pin, breeder guidelines are just that, guidelines. My current crop is a 60 day breeder also. Myco had mentioned the Blue OG as being a 60 day finisher and he is usually a couple days early. I had a couple AK47s run 63 days last grow.

I think scoping the buds all over the plant and selectively harvesting is the best method. Forget about the breeder photo periods and use them to give you a heads up as to when to start looking. Personally, I like my trichs cloudy with just a little amber showing. I'm also looking and the white pistils for new growth. The plant has a way of going through surges and I want to make sure the buds completes the swell before I chop.

But like everything else in gardening, find your own sweet spot by experimenting. Maybe take some early and some late just so you know how the ripeness of the trichs affect the high.

Personally, I feed my plants through harvest. Plants are like factories and they need food to keeping making the buds. That's why I scratch my head when I see growers pulling off green fan leaves. Those are the engines that make the plant grow and produce buds. Why would you want to remove the engine? Most say it's to redirect the energy of the plant to the buds, botany tells us that's not true. Other say it helps by getting light to unreached shady areas. I say, get more light like I did down below.

Plants will drop leaves they no longer need and grow new ones when they need more. Below my scrog, I have a ton of leaves that the plant had has yellowed and dropped over the last three weeks. I don't worry about it because I have so much new growth above the screen. The plant has naturally adapted to the new environment and didn't need my help to decide which leaves to remove. So, knowing that the plant might want to grow more leaves at anytime, I have plenty of nutes in the soil and can supplement a balanced ratio 20-10-20 or 20-20-20.

Lastly, chlorophyll and chemicals affecting the flavor and ash. I grow organically so keep that in mind as I offer my advice. I don't leech my tomatoes, spinach, squash, and herbs. Why would I do that to this plant? It makes no sense. I believe a proper dry and cure is what results in a successful, clean, flavorful smoke. I have experienced this first hand as my bud goes from 2 weeks, 2 months, and now 7 month cures. Wow, curing is the key. Just like fine cigars and wine, time in a controlled environment makes a world of difference.

 

[hbbum]

You know, one of the advantages of growing from dispensary clones is that you really have less of or no preconceived harvest time like you do with seeds. This strain I have now has really no info on how long it takes to harvest, so I figure I will just keep an eye on it, scope the trichs once the calyx swell and the pistils recede.

 

[prosperian]

You know, one of the advantages of growing from dispensary clones is that you really have less of or no preconceived harvest time like you do with seeds. This strain I have now has really no info on how long it takes to harvest, so I figure I will just keep an eye on it, scope the trichs once the calyx swell and the pistils recede.

Lucky growers with dispensaries! I can only get a bag of ice and cigs down the street

But yes, it does take the preconceived timeline out of the equation, good point hb.

 

[Sativied]

I have weird obsessive impulses to have everything square, and of equal numbers, and all that.

That's not weird, that is normal

3 months ago I had similar urges:

Another highdea I had was using bamboo sticks to weave the canopy into rows of bud sites. Maybe something for the next run, problem is I wouldn't be able to properly attach them at the back as I can't reach it anymore

Starting on my new flower closet soon, with two sides I can open up... so maybe

 

[Pinworm]

We have a lot of the same ideas, and views it seems man.

I totally agree. I love your style, boss.

When I have a high majority of milky, and not really any clear left, that's when I chop.

You're spot on there. I just had a little lapse in confidence, and need to hear this stuff out loud. Ya know?

I think scoping the buds all over the plant and selectively harvesting is the best method.

Agreed. Was worried that if I didn't stop feeding early enough, I'd get harsh smoke. But, after hearing that feeding/not feeding the last couple weeks doesn't RADICALLY effect much, I'm a lot more confident about my plans.

But like everything else in gardening, find your own sweet spot by experimenting. Maybe take some early and some late just so you know how the ripeness of the trichs affect the high.

Fuck yea! I use a 420 scope and a 60x loupe. Compare/Contrast sounds like a tasty idea.

Just like fine cigars and wine, time in a controlled environment makes a world of difference.

I'm stoked to try the Burp 'n Boveda method.



THANKS FOR KEEPING ME ON POINT GUYS. MEANS THE WORLD.

 

[Slipon]

The only drawback I could see you having with the auto's besides potency is dense flower structure. Although autos have a decent amount of cbd from my understanding. You can't top an auto efficiently, and get alot of those top buds I'm sure you like. you get the one nice terminal cola with them, and the smaller satellite buds as I call them. In that way the harvest always seems disappointing to me. I like to have alot of them top rock hard flowers to fill my jars. The loose whispy crap is just for hash I.M.O. I've tried topping autos before, and it slows them down so bad it's ridiculous, and then they flower, and never do as well as if they would have been left alone. They may be better now, and adjust better to being topped. I just thought one time exactly what you are I'm pretty sure, and grew a slew of them, and had such a bunk harvest. Don't get me wrong they looked outstanding, but the potency was crap the density of the lower flowers was crap, and in the end if I would have had photo strains in the same area I think I would have yielded 30-40% more, and of such better quality. I really think autos will go far in the future, but I'm not gonna be the one to do the test, if you know what I mean. I love my photo strains, and don't see myself straying from them again. Even when I made hash with all the trim from the autos it seemed weak, and the taste was never anything to write home about. I think the Spanish countries seem to have a better handle on most auto's so if you do do that wat I would check out Delicious or Sweet seeds, and I think Dutch Passion's Think Different is suppose to be something special as well. Lots of choices it's just sad nobody seems to give honest descriptions of these things. They're like impulse items in the checkout lane, looks nice, nice packaging, but it's usually crap. I wish you the best of luck bro. It would be hard for me to give that L.S.D. up, and not grow it at least once in a while. not sure of your overall plans though. Peace out.

yea well I dunno, only grew a few and never had any real luck with em, but seem`s like they came a long way, and I know what you mean, don't want to many flimsy Buds either, but if I can grow 9 or 12 main tops in 40 days and the potency have moved enough to make me happy it could be a way, might just grow a single in there on my next run and see for myself before I changes the hole set up, no matter what I do have a batch ready so it would first be on my next, next run

actually have 4 pretty big plants I have FIM so I have like 12-15 nice tops, was wonder, since I do have like 6 weeks left before harvest if I should make 12-15 clones out of em and grow em in a SoG, well just me who like to try new stuff I guess, so many options

 

[prosperian]

yea well I dunno, only grew a few and never had any real luck with em, but seem`s like they came a long way, and I know what you mean, don't want to many flimsy Buds either, but if I can grow 9 or 12 main tops in 40 days and the potency have moved enough to make me happy it could be a way, might just grow a single in there on my next run and see for myself before I changes the hole set up, no matter what I do have a batch ready so it would first be on my next, next run actually have 4 pretty big plants I have FIM so I have like 12-15 nice tops, was wonder, since I do have like 6 weeks left before harvest if I should make 12-15 clones out of em and grow em in a SoG, well just me who like to try new stuff I guess, so many options

I'm a lite weight on potency and I can tell you the auto diesel is just, if not more potent than my last two strains of reg. seeds. Didn't get the yield, but I could if I focused on autos and gave them the right growing conditions. I stunted her early on and she held it against me the rest of the grow, just like a woman.

Just kidding ladies, it's always the man's fault. Anyway, you should play around with a couple strains and see what you can do with those autos. I would like a super fast harvest now and then. There's nothing more stealth than not having a grow room up and running all the time, ya know? At least for my needs.

 

[Sativied]

Agreed. Was worried that if I didn't stop feeding early enough, I'd get harsh smoke. But, after hearing that feeding/not feeding the last couple weeks doesn't RADICALLY effect much, I'm a lot more confident about my plans.

You'll notice in your first DWC run that the plants start using less nutes near the end. Unless soil is filled with additives or heavily overfed it's not necessary to actually flush (meaning several times the pot contents). Merely giving water is usually the way to go, but the goal there is not really flushing something either, but to stop feeding with in turn the goal to prevent overfeeding at the end. Basically don't want to give nutes while there's still enough in the soil. I prefer my leaves to be light-green near harvest time, a few yellow leaves is fine too. Will make it tastier sooner so I can start enjoying it already shortly after harvesting, but it's the curing process that prevents a harsh smoke / chemical/metal taste.