Topping an auto strain?? newb to auto-strains.

So just like the title states, I wanna know how productive topping an autoflower strain can be or if its even possible in that 2 weeks or so before it goes into bloom without stressing the plant. I have no experience with autos at all, got it as a freebie and wanted to check it out. Its been in soil for 3 days now so I still have time for growth and am interested and excited to see how these autos grow. Any other tips an suggestions from experienced auto growers would be appreciated, such as, if keeping a 20/4 or longer light period gives better results and yield?

don't do anything to autos. They are on a set schedule that can't be changed so anything like toping will just hurt your already low yield

Thats what I figured being such a small low yielding plant. Can anyone give any tips as far as lighting for them goes? Is the 20/4 light period good enough or will the full 24 give the best results?

Conflicting reports
Some say 18/6 for autos
I'd imagine 24/0 would give them the extra pace though, articles suggest up to 33% more growth pace on 24/0 compared to 18/6, and you're working on a shorter time frame

I ran 24/0 at first (non autos)...changed to 18/6 only because I figure every thing on the planet that ever lived needed some sleep. And let's not forget all these ladies are doing is getting ready to get laid their whole life; and we never let 'em! lol! Man, I'd need some down time after that!

People post a bunch of irrelevant information. Im asking for AUTO flower strain information, basics to growing them not any specific strain. Light regiments, nutes, temps, etc.

I am subed for this to see what some of the pro's say.I to am new to auto's and cracking them now

I would also like to know if grown with the proper attention, can you expect potency out of auto strains. Ive read that earlier breeds were on the very low potency side but since gaining popularity breeders have actually come out with good strains that can produce some pretty good stuff. Im interested to see how this one goes, if all is well I would for sure be interested in doing a small auto crop.

good luck

just treat em like regular plants. 1/4th dose for 2 weeks and work your way up. You could probably LST them, just not top/FIM. I only got 7 grams on my auto but I was growing in DWC and had another regular plant in with it so I had to custom the nutes a bit as the normal plant was still in veg when the auto was in flower. If you did straight auto you'd probably get half ounce to an ounce.

Give em flowering nutes when you start to see hairs. Lowlife suggests you go with 20/4 for optimal results.

MtnKulture said:

I would also like to know if grown with the proper attention, can you expect potency out of auto strains. Ive read that earlier breeds were on the very low potency side but since gaining popularity breeders have actually come out with good strains that can produce some pretty good stuff. Im interested to see how this one goes, if all is well I would for sure be interested in doing a small auto crop.

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Like posted before, irrelevant information does the person asking ( which in this case, would be me ) no good. I have read descriptions on many of the strains. Iam asking about personal experience with auto strains, what kind of results they have personally seen with the strain.

Nusky said:

don't do anything to autos. They are on a set schedule that can't be changed so anything like toping will just hurt your already low yield

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This is false. I topped both my diesel ryders and doubled my yield. LST'd them too. You should top all your plants to get the most out of them. The more tops you have the more bud you will get. This is a rule.

Gioganja said:

This is false. I topped both my diesel ryders and doubled my yield. LST'd them too. You should top all your plants to get the most out of them. The more tops you have the more bud you will get. This is a rule.

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how can you say you doubled your yield without having two identical plants, one topped and one not? You can't with autos. Autos only veg for a certain period, so you're basically giving up a week of veg period while the plant heals.

As far as how a plant grows, and importantly how it grows when topped,pruned,etc. Id have to say Nuskys reasons are only common sense. It made sense to me not to top the plant because of auto strains small veg period and overall size of the plant as well. Short veg time, small plant, already being forced to flower at a certain age, AND then to top it as well just seems like a whole lot of stress on a plant. It would seem to me that your yield would be less topping, because of the extra time spent in gaining those extra tops would in turn make those extras not as good as that main top which would have gotten all of the energy. Maybe that will be a future test, to do a side by side topped and no topped auto strain to see how it performs.

Nusky said:

how can you say you doubled your yield without having two identical plants, one topped and one not? You can't with autos. Autos only veg for a certain period, so you're basically giving up a week of veg period while the plant heals.

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Would you like to see pictures? I think you'll understand then.

Look at the first two pictures. The first is of when my diesel ryder was little; only its first week of flowering. I had topped it early in veg. After that, I began LST to get more light to the bud sites underneath. Note that the picture before it is its second week of flowering.

Now look at the latest picture. My DR is now in its third week of flowering. Count those delicious bud sites and try to tell me with a straight face that I made a mistake.

I'm waiting.

having grown several crops of autos,I will agree w/ nusky. topping will stunt the plant and it will take a few days to recover. with a normal plant, this isn't a big deal as you have as much time to veg as needed but an auto can't afford to waste a few days recovering. you want a dozen 1/2 gram buds or 1 10 gram bud?
if you have more than 1 growing, try it on a few to see for yourself.
only other advise I can give is from my own experience w/ NYC Diesel is that they throw a deep taproot and a deeper pot from the beginning seems to allow the plant to grow bigger. never heard others agree w/ this but when I started in a 10 inch tall pot, the plants grew bigger. starting in a party cup and moving to a bigger pot after a few weeks always grew smaller plants. just a personal observation

In regard to topping autos:
The guy who said "...the more tops you have, the more pot you get. This is a rule." was right on.
True you stunt an auto when you top it, and maybe it does eat in to your veg time, but you guys all seem to be forgetting how much a plant stretches for the first two, or three, or even 4 weeks of flowering depending on the hybrid....
If you top an auto at the right time, you will, indeed, increase your yield. I don't have documented proof of this, but I can promise you I have seen it done.

This is probably not true for all autos. I would think the only way to find out is to play around with a few.
Maybe someone who has grown that particular strain has tried it?

Onlyoneman said:

In regard to topping autos:
The guy who said "...the more tops you have, the more pot you get. This is a rule." was right on.
True you stunt an auto when you top it, and maybe it does eat in to your veg time, but you guys all seem to be forgetting how much a plant stretches for the first two, or three, or even 4 weeks of flowering depending on the hybrid....
If you top an auto at the right time, you will, indeed, increase your yield. I don't have documented proof of this, but I can promise you I have seen it done.

This is probably not true for all autos. I would think the only way to find out is to play around with a few.
Maybe someone who has grown that particular strain has tried it?

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That was me, and thank you. Also, I agree that if you have never tried it, you should do so before making decisions on what is kosher and what isnt.

again, please take reference of my pictures.; The plant has only been through 3 weeks of flowering and look at all those growing nugs.