Pot Size or Plant Count?

My current plan is to grow 4 plants in 3.4l pots, which is about .7 gallons, and at 5 weeks switch them to 3 gallon soft pots and start a new generation in 3.4l pots. I only have room for four soft pots but I would have room for 5 of the 3.4l pots.
So my question is, would I get more weight off 4 autos in 3 gallon soft pots or 5 autos in .7 gallon pots.?
Thanks in advanced.

3 gallon pots sounds like youd get more out of them as long as u veg them for longer ..... i just realised u have autos so i think personally ud get more out of 5 autos aslong as you top them

I don't want to top them, I'm growing for minimal branching.

sincl9759 said:

3 gallon pots sounds like youd get more out of them as long as u veg them for longer ..... i just realised u have autos so i think personally ud get more out of 5 autos aslong as you top them

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topping autos is counterproductive to their growth cycle...with a normal strain you top it, then veg it a little longer to heal itself...since an auto doesn't have a controllable vegetation period it will reduce yields if you top it.

In my honest opinion it does not matter. You are trying to apply 12/12 logic to the auto flowers.

Auto flowers are production kings. Weather you use smaller pots with more plants, or bigger pots and less plants. You will still get the same Weight/Watt

Auto flowers 60day COMPLETE LIFE CYCLE, is what gives them this HUGE advantage. THIS ADVANTAGE is so huge. Auto Flowers will beat out any 12/12 strain in the same grow time and space.

I love this place,I really think the auto's should have there own forum. I am runing a few now in my room and just moved them to 2gal pots to give the roots room. I am a good 8 weeks away from having bud,but the autos should be ready in 55days. Thanks for the infor on not topping, was thinking about the with next batch... but now i know can not be done

Welcome to the new autoflowering forum...

I think I'm just going to find out. I'm gonna go by another 3.4l pot and just grow one out but still transfer the other four to 3 gallon pots.

Personally when growing autos, I start them in the pot they finish in. Ive found the gallon and a half size is turning out to be the perfect size. Im currently doing 4 easy ryders and doing a test run on 1 1/2 vs 2 gallon pots and the 1 1/2 by far is looking better than the 2 gal. 2 gallons are shorter and squat where as the 1 1/2 its growing as it should a branching perfectly, will continue to be my pot for autos. Tallest right now in the 1 1/2 at about 4 weeks is 16 inches and the other is 14 1/2 in comparison to the 2 gallons sitting at 12 and 10 1/2. Based on previous auto grows and the size in the 1 1/2 i expect to get an oz from the two and around 14-21 g off the 2 gallons.

Only my two cents, though ive seen some massive autos when transferred into the 3 gallons like your doing.

I have mine in 3 gal pots now, the one was not happy about the transplant and will keep everyone posted if it comes back. hope she does not die as its my bud to hold me over till next batch

That's interesting that the 2 gallons are shorter, I would of expected other wise. Although it makes sense if the 2 gallons are shorter because they have more soil located towards the top so less soil usable by the roots.
Do you expect your plants to get much taller?
By "massive" do you mean tall? I can really only accommodate about 20" maybe 24" without having to turn my 400 down to 250.

Ohmy have you grown autos in 3 gallon pots before?

massah said:

topping autos is counterproductive to their growth cycle...with a normal strain you top it, then veg it a little longer to heal itself...since an auto doesn't have a controllable vegetation period it will reduce yields if you top it.

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not true, it depends on the strain like and your grow environment, like all cannabis. I've done this experiment with EVERY auto i've ever paid for, because i've learned that some auto's respond well to topping/fim in early veg (10 days or earlier) and those that begin flowering at 20-25 days from seed are uneffected by topping/fim. it just makes the plant bushier. Did this to my fruit auto's and it increased yield, while the other half(control group) yielded less, and the bud was less potent. the pineapple express auto's ive grown were negatively impacted by this losing yield but gained potency. Short stuff's Mi5 is better Topped/fim'd and really brings out sidebranching which ups its yield and prolongs flowering period.

extension of flowering period was the main detriment i witnessed from topping an autoflower, as the plants always finished a week or 2 behind the non topped. Try it you may find the results favorable. i think earlier autoflowers were prone to week growth and stress with this method, but the more modern bred strains have less ruderalis traits dominant besides the auto feature.


currently i am growing some autoflower crosses i've bred myself, and i fim'd them down the middle to 50/50 topped/nontopped (each 8-11 days from seed) and its been 3 days and all are responding well to the fim, with new growths already branking out. they were at 3 nodes starting their 4th node and they are almost the same size as those who weren't topped. it may be hybrid vigor that's keeping these so strong or the fact that they are half Dinafem fruit auto and half TGA Jillybean/Chernobyl/Vortex.

The reason I grow autoflowers is single colas quick harvests, so more side branching and an extra 2 weeks is not preferred.

RRF X purple jem...2 gal pots with super soil...3 gal should be more than enough except for very large autoflowers..

well then, i'd go with smaller pots, some may end up root bound though. 2 gallon pot per 2 oz is the best i've seen from an autoflower in yields (Mi5)

I'm hoping for 1oz a plant so if I can pull 2oz with 3 gallon pots I kinda don't care if I could of grown more with smaller pots lol.

blimey said:

The reason I grow autoflowers is single colas quick harvests, so more side branching and an extra 2 weeks is not preferred.

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exactly. instead of topping, why not do a SOG? with most autos its the way to go.

I have a digital 400w ballast and a huge 3x3 reflector and if use 2 gal I can still get a very well yielding auto harvest with up to about 8-10 plants no prob in just a 5x5x5 area

blimey said:

I'm hoping for 1oz a plant so if I can pull 2oz with 3 gallon pots I kinda don't care if I could of grown more with smaller pots lol.

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well the problem with your logic is this...1oz per 2 gal pot is not a problem, but just because there in a 3 gal pot does not mean they will get ANY bigger, for example with my RRF x purple jem they get about 30-35g dry per plant in a 2 gal pot... they get about 30-35G dry per plant in a 3 gal pot... they get about 30-35G dry per plant if planted 2 at a time in 3gal pots...but in 2liter pots they only have 14-16g... my RRF do similar results but there a little lighter about 25-28G in 2 gal, 3gal, 2 in 3gal..and 10-14G in 2liter...as long as there is enough soil for them to reach there max they should to reach it...btw. I have grown RRF, purple jems, and a cross of the 2 for over 3 years now and have never had a plant get root bound in 2 gal pots of super soil, not even close...

Awesome advice, I'm going to look into 2 gallon smart pots. Do you start in your final pot?