Auto flower topped vs not topped

Oldreefer

Well-Known Member
I found that topping often helps to narrow the harvest window as more of the plant is getting optimum lighting ...untopped seems to lengthen harvesting as the cola is typically ahead in maturity. For that reason I usually top.
 

shiva71

Well-Known Member
Yup the dont top auto thing is bullshit. Ive topped every one, 6 main shoots that stay approximately the same height and thus stay in the sweet spot for the light. Heres my HSO Sour diesel auto, topped at 3 weeks, she actually has 8 main branches, you can see the lower 2 which will mature a bit slower but the other 6 shoots pretty much the same height which is what i aim for...20211103_153649.jpg
 
I've topped every auto I've grown...there has been zero issues.. I top them all two or three times. The last couple
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Current auto, day 15 from germ, was topped at day 12.
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I don't know where this "can't top autos" bullshit came from. They have all seemed to love it.
I go both ways. Tall strains i top every time. I personally have had no issue but i hitem early. Cant speak for others results.
 

Skittlez12

Well-Known Member
Zkittles Auto(maybe)
Week 6 of Veg (Sunday, oct 31st, start of week 6)

-Low stress trained (week 1-2 of veg til it took shape), I still keep the strings on it and train it while its in its stretch but I will defoliate the bottom shoots 3rd week of flower and will stop lst-ing.
-Topped (week 3, after 5-6 nodes)
-Supercropped it last week (week 5)

First time grower myself but I'm vigilant on my feeding schedule, paying attention to detail with what the plants are telling me and observing for deficiencies. I don't over think the little shit. From what I've learned they're resilient, and can take an ass whooping. I've tried, from what I've learned by reading/researching, to get the most out of my plants bc I grow for personal. The medical dispensaries in my state are great and I've got my medical card.. but for the prices I'm getting raped, we all are. $45-50.00 an 8th of 29-35% thc high grade. You get lucky sometimes & find some 30% for $75-100 a 1/2. I see half ounces going for $200.00 at times in the dispensaries, CRAZY.

This one is a Zkittlez auto, supposed to be anyway. I flipped from 18/6 to 12/12 Monday night to get a forsure flower transition in case she's a first gen auto (fast strain).

I've got 2 grand daddy purps next too her (Feminized) that I've did different techniques too for future references. For example I've only topped and low stress trained 1 of my gdp's. The other one was topped, lst-ed, and fimmed. I haven't supercropped them bc they are short, stocky plants without the techniques. 3 ft height at most. If you've got the environment right, she'll bounce back. I went to change out the water (weekly change) on one of my 3 week old gdps 2 weeks ago and I dropped it on its head. Top of lid on dwc bucket was taped with reflective material to avoid light leak and it held my hydroton in, but my stem split in half. At the base! I immediately threw black eletrical tape on it, grabbed 2 chop sticks for support, taped that to the stem, 4-6 days later it regenerated itself. I took the tape off and removed the support after a week. Thought I lost 4-5 weeks of work. They'll surprise you.


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Budzbuddha

Well-Known Member
Autos tend to get the “ red headed stepchild “ kind of attitudes ….. To me , if one could master the temperamental nature of these plants and grow them well ……. Photos would be nothing to work.

Most auto growers fail because of unnecessary complicated feeds , overwatering, and believing breeder hype.
They can get quite large , if done properly. They require less care . Modern autos are way more resilient than from time back.

I even cut in in half , just for shits a few years back. Still grew.

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thefullspectrum

Well-Known Member
Autos tend to get the “ red headed stepchild “ kind of attitudes ….. To me , if one could master the temperamental nature of these plants and grow them well ……. Photos would be nothing to work.

Most auto growers fail because of unnecessary complicated feeds , overwatering, and believing breeder hype.
They can get quite large , if done properly. They require less care . Modern autos are way more resilient than from time back.

I even cut in in half , just for shits a few years back. Still grew.

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Pour those nutes straight down that stem. Thats real mainlining
 

Frank Nitty

Well-Known Member
Autos tend to get the “ red headed stepchild “ kind of attitudes ….. To me , if one could master the temperamental nature of these plants and grow them well ……. Photos would be nothing to work.

Most auto growers fail because of unnecessary complicated feeds , overwatering, and believing breeder hype.
They can get quite large , if done properly. They require less care . Modern autos are way more resilient than from time back.

I even cut in in half , just for shits a few years back. Still grew.

View attachment 5022263View attachment 5022264
You have the skills and the knowledge to do that type of thing
 

Cavuccik

Member
If you got more seeds , I would start a couple more just in case theses ones don’t do well.

after you are pretty sure you have everything dialed in
Got 3 more going one lemon skunk one pineapple one haze xl 6 days old
First picture is the old one you helped me somewhat save thank you! I threw all smaller ones away and started fresh as u suggested
 

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Zogs

Well-Known Member
Got 3 more going one lemon skunk one pineapple one haze xl 6 days old
First picture is the old one you helped me somewhat save thank you! I threw all smaller ones away and started fresh as u suggested
You may want to transplant those soon. Auto's have a fast seeking tap root that you don't want to have bottom out early. In my experience this can restrict it's over all size when this happens. I usually transplant around day 7-10.
 
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