Trouble Getting Big Yield From Autos. Need Advice

Hey all,

So a couple things. I'm having trouble getting a good yield from Auto flowers. I've tried multiple strains and seem to have the same problem each time. I start with 18/6 light and use Fox Farm Ocean Forest soil mixed with perlite and peat moss. The plant grows in veg stage for about 4 weeks then it turns to flower which I understand is what happens with Autos but it never gets a chance to branch out and develop multiple bud sites causing it to just basically be one large stem and thats it.

I feel like im stuck between a rock and a hard place because I tried using Urb nutrients to give a better yield. My photoperiod flowers love it. But it was giving the Autos nute burn. So basically I read that you cant really give too much nutrients to Autos. I also read that you shouldnt transplant autos and just start them in the big pot which I do usually transplant them at least once.

So if I can't transplant and I can't give nutrients, I don't know what else I could do so that I get a better yield?
Also the lighting is fine because I dont have these problems with the photoperiod strains.

What light do you have above them? What’s your environment look like. Temps and humidity. Are you within decent VPD?

Grow in coco and lights on 24/7 XD

ToFarGone said:

What light do you have above them? What’s your environment look like. Temps and humidity. Are you within decent VPD?

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I use a full spectrum 100 watt LED light. I have a small grow tent and only grow one or two plants at a time. Right now humidity and heat has been off the charts where I live but it stays about a steady 75-85F in the tent. I also keep a fan on and have been watering with distilled water since she really did not like any extra nutes.

MATTYMATT726 said:

Grow in coco and lights on 24/7 XD

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I havent tried this yet but see a lot of people do prefer the coco. Would I then be adding my own nutrient mix if I go with coco?

Tiburon1611 said:

I use a full spectrum 100 watt LED light. I have a small grow tent and only grow one or two plants at a time. Right now humidity and heat has been off the charts where I live but it stays about a steady 75-85F in the tent. I also keep a fan on and have been watering with distilled water since she really did not like any extra nutes.

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Guessing your light is underpowered just my opinion

Tiburon1611 said:

I havent tried this yet but see a lot of people do prefer the coco. Would I then be adding my own nutrient mix if I go with coco?

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Yeah. Coco needs to be feed nutrients each watering but you can feed exactly what and how much you want as opposed to soils which you have no control over what is or isnt in there. The positives to coco are plentiful. You can grow in much smaller pots saving money/space than soil because coco dries faster and even though the roots have kess space in a big pot of soil, you can water coco way more as in 1-6x a day giving them plenty of food and fresh oxygen. Soils need to be watered 3/4/5 days inbetween to not drown them. Coco is less likley to attract pests due to no living organisms in the medium like soil.

ToFarGone said:

Guessing your light is underpowered just my opinion

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Might be right. Got it on amazon for like $150. I know a lot of people don't prefer LEDs but it gets really hot fast in my room and since im not home too often I'm trying to reduce fire hazard.

MATTYMATT726 said:

Yeah. Coco needs to be feed nutrients each watering but you can feed exactly what and how much you want as opposed to soils which you have no control over what is or isnt in there. The positives to coco are plentiful. You can grow in much smaller pots saving money/space than soil because coco dries faster and even though the roots have kess space in a big pot of soil, you can water coco way more as in 1-6x a day giving them plenty of food and fresh oxygen. Soils need to be watered 3/4/5 days inbetween to not drown them. Coco is less likley to attract pests due to no living organisms in the medium like soil.

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Really helpful stuff man I appreciate it!

Tiburon1611 said:

I use a full spectrum 100 watt LED light. I have a small grow tent and only grow one or two plants at a time. Right now humidity and heat has been off the charts where I live but it stays about a steady 75-85F in the tent. I also keep a fan on and have been watering with distilled water since she really did not like any extra nutes.

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You're not going to get big yields off a 100 watt LED. You need to be pushing 400 actual watts of LED light on a 24/7 schedule (250 is great for some strains, but better to have excess light than not enough). The lifespan of autos is too short to go light on the light - way different story for photos that you can keep growing indefinitely If you start providing the proper lighting, I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised by the result.

RStone77 said:

You're not going to get big yields off a 100 watt LED. You need to be pushing 400 actual watts of LED light on a 24/7 schedule (250 is great for some strains, but better to have excess light than not enough). The lifespan of autos is too short to go light on the light - way different story for photos that you can keep growing indefinitely If you start providing the proper lighting, I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised by the result.

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You do not need 400 watts for 1-2 plants like he grows. People that use autocobs use 1 @ 55 watts per plant. Burple is a bit weaker but still 100 watts is good for gus style of growing.

MATTYMATT726 said:

You do not need 400 watts for 1-2 plants like he grows. People that use autocobs use 1 @ 55 watts per plant. Burple is a bit weaker but still 100 watts is good for gus style of growing.

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Ridiculous... you want your auto's to get max yields, take my advice. If you don't, listen to Matty. Just that simple. BTW, I only use COBs...

RStone77 said:

Ridiculous... you want your auto's to get max yields, take my advice. If you don't, listen to Matty. Just that simple. BTW, I only use COBs...

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Don't be a clown. Plants generally need 1 sq ft a plant. Hos growers go with 50 watts, cfl uses 100 watts and led users use generally 30-35 watts of light per sq ft. He has 1 MAYBE 2 small autos. Don't give wrong information.

RStone77 said:

Ridiculous... you want your auto's to get max yields, take my advice. If you don't, listen to Matty. Just that simple. BTW, I only use COBs...

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Alao this is a joke. I want to see your pics of 8 cobs at 50 watts over 1-2 plants. Calling you out on this for sure.

Has anyone thought of LST to increase yields. Don't grow to many autos except on the deck in summer but they need to be tied down. WW this last season was 3 oz a plant

Rayi said:

Has anyone thought of LST to increase yields. Don't grow to many autos except on the deck in summer but they need to be tied down. WW this last season was 3 oz a plant

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Lots of growers do lst. Afn(autoflower.net) has TONS of journals showing this. But saying defoliation and topping is a must is a joke and a half. Those are still plant dependant.

I grow autos, used to grow them in soil, would struggle to get up to 1.5 - 2 oz a plant, im now growing 9 plants perpetual sog in 2liter hempys 100% perlite under 50w of bridgelux eb strips, i get 50ish grams every 3ish weeks now.

Enviroment and genetics plays a big part

Smiffy2k9 said:

I grow autos, used to grow them in soil, would struggle to get up to 1.5 - 2 oz a plant, im now growing 9 plants perpetual sog in 2liter hempys 100% perlite under 50w of bridgelux eb strips, i get 50ish grams every 3ish weeks now.

Enviroment and genetics plays a big part

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You make you're own seeds? This would have to be expensive to keep buying since you can't clone autos.

Also do you have any journals you can link?

MATTYMATT726 said:

You make you're own seeds? This would have to be expensive to keep buying since you can't clone autos.

Also do you have any journals you can link?

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Not yet, yes its starting to get expensive. I bought seeds during fastbuds last sale, buy 5 get 5 free, i tried making seeds with homemade cs spray but didnt have much luck, im trying with cs spray bought online now. No journals, not my thing. The journal below is what i based my grow on.

https://www.420magazine.com/community/threads/come-sog-with-me-112-plants-2-liter-hempy-sog.138874/

Smiffy2k9 said:

Not yet, yes its starting to get expensive. I bought seeds during fastbuds last sale, buy 5 get 5 free, i tried making seeds with homemade cs spray but didnt have much luck, im trying with cs spray bought online now. No journals, not my thing. The journal below is what i based my grow on.

https://www.420magazine.com/community/threads/come-sog-with-me-112-plants-2-liter-hempy-sog.138874/

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You should check into Mephisto. They are crazy generous in extra seeds and one of the top rral auto breeders at the moment.