Why avoid autoflowers when learning to grow?

Doug Dawson · Dec 12, 2020

Boatguy said:
pretty much sativa and haze, so i guess that explains it.

LOL, yeah my current Maui Waui states 9 to 11 weeks on the breeder site and they always seem to take a bit longer. That said I am hoping this favorite of mine is worth the wait. Full disclosure, that's a stock photo, not my plant. :bigjoint:

On the bright side my other 2 plants are Shiva Skunk, another favorite of mine. It says 45-55 days flowering so yeah for that.

bf80255 · Dec 12, 2020

Doug Dawson said:
LOL, a bit of an exaggeration there bud. If you cannot retain knowledge from growing for the past 10 months over the course of a 2 month summer period than I would say you have bigger problems than growing. Sure if you take 8 years off you will be way out of practice but nobody is talking about taking about that, I said I switch to outdoor and shut down indoor for a couple month a year, much different. Unlike fighting, in many cases I would take the amatures over the pros. They tend to put more time and effort into their individual plants. Many amateur home growers produce much better bud than the pros.

I do agree with you that if someone did your method they could learn a ton but you also have to consider most are after the end product as well as the knowledge. For the home grower many times a balance has to be struck to gain knowledge while still sustaining your needs.

As for plants not taking 3 months, I disagree. If you add the 2 week pre flower stage when you first flip to a normal flowering time than you are close. Most breeders state an 8 week flower which almost always translates into 10 or more. With the 2 week pre flowering time you are at 3 months. At least that is what I have found. I don't grow plants for quick flower times, I grow them because I want a particular strain and it is for my own personal use. I am sure there are faster plants out there, just not what I have wanted thus far.

yeah i know just trynna make a point lmao
im a trainer so im all about optimizing efficiency yah know? thats how my fucked up mind thinks.

good point but I would argue that those "amateurs" that grow the best bud are also pros (most been doin this a while) and generally speaking grow year round. some of the most knowledgable gardners ive ver met were little old ladies not greenhouse managers or professors they are just more specialized than the big guys... like niche or craft id say not amateur.

hey thats how I learned! I can pull up some pics and show you some of my runs, not too bad for my level of inexperience id say. and I was able to harvest enough to sell and smoke. I get it tho most dont have that luxury

clones actually dont go thru that preflower stage because they are already sexually mature so it speeds it up a bit. yeah same here i mean the strain I bred out the the F8 Pinkie Pie is bred from a 14 week flower thai sativa. im not afraid of a long flower lol its all about the bud.

I got a strain right now that has a crazy fast flower, it finishes by like september 15-30!!! I usually wont harvest most till mid to late october!

PadawanWarrior · Dec 12, 2020

bf80255 said:
what strains are you guys growing???

if its not haze or thai I dont get anything longer than 10 weeks

I cant even think of one off the top of my head that takes 3 months......besides hazes and thais.

Golden Goat needs 12 weeks.

And lately I've been moving a plant from veg to flower every 5 weeks or so. So every 5 weeks I've been harvesting. So that's like 10 times a year. But I want to take a break. I've been growing this strain for over 2 years straight now. I keep saying I'm gonna take summer off, but then don't want to get rid of my Green Crack.

bf80255 · Dec 12, 2020

Star Dog said:
I just flowered blackberry for 90 days?
Far too long for my liking.

woah! i bet you that was straight couch lock city!
how did the length of flower effect the final product?

Boatguy said:
pretty much sativa and haze, so i guess that explains it.

theyre the best but goooood they take so long!!!!

Doug Dawson said:
LOL, yeah my current Maui Waui states 9 to 11 weeks on the breeder site and they always seem to take a bit longer. That said I am hoping this favorite of mine is worth the wait. Full disclosure, that's a stock photo, not my plant.
View attachment 4766846

On the bright side my other 2 plants are Shiva Skunk, another favorite of mine. It says 45-55 days flowering so yeah for that.

View attachment 4766848

which maui is that?

damn!! 45 days!?!?! ive heard that claim a few times before but.... just couldnt see chopping that early....seems like a waste of a grow lol

bf80255 · Dec 12, 2020

PadawanWarrior said:
Golden Goat needs 12 weeks.

And lately I've been moving a plant from veg to flower every 5 weeks or so. So every 5 weeks I've been harvesting. So that's like 10 times a year. But I want to take a break. I've been growing this strain for over 2 years straight now. I keep saying I'm gonna take summer off, but then don't want to get rid of my Green Crack.

golden goat? never heard of that, anymore info on it?

smart man. hahahhha i know the struggle!! why dont you just make a little cfl box to maintain a bonsai green crack and chill?

Burt Hooter · Dec 12, 2020

If I only had 1 tent, wouldn't autos make sense?

Star Dog · Dec 12, 2020

bf80255 said:
woah! i bet you that was straight couch lock city!
how did the length of flower effect the final product?

theyre the best but goooood they take so long!!!!

which maui is that?

damn!! 45 days!?!?! ive heard that claim a few times before but.... just couldnt see chopping that early....seems like a waste of a grow lol

It's still in the drying process atm I've not had a chance to test the final cured product, the smells are encouraging though lol.

Doug Dawson · Dec 12, 2020

bf80255 said:
woah! i bet you that was straight couch lock city!
how did the length of flower effect the final product?

theyre the best but goooood they take so long!!!!

which maui is that?

damn!! 45 days!?!?! ive heard that claim a few times before but.... just couldnt see chopping that early....seems like a waste of a grow lol

The Maui Waui is from Nirvana and the Shiva Skunk is from Sensi Seeds. I never trust breeder claims, likely because plants can't read, lol.

I agree with your point about some home growers being "professionals". I guess it's just semantics as professional means you get paid for it. That said, we are all paid in bud so I suppose I have to agree with you. Those old granny growers, gotta love them. Many years of experience and no rushing to get product out. Better to have the best result for all your work and just throw the calender away.

I really wish I had the ability to have more plants but I can do what I can do within the law. Probably best thought since turning my basement into a big grow room would likely piss of my wife. Since she has access to my toothbrush and my throat while I sleep I figure it's best to never make her that mad.

PadawanWarrior · Dec 12, 2020

bf80255 said:
golden goat? never heard of that, anymore info on it?

smart man. hahahhha i know the struggle!! why dont you just make a little cfl box to maintain a bonsai green crack and chill?

Golden Goat is an awesome strain, it just takes a little longer.

Golden Goat (Clone Only Strains) :: Cannabis Strain Info :: SeedFinder.eu

Independent, standardized information about Clone Only Strains cannabis-strain Golden Goat! Find phenotypes, comments + detailed profiles, flowering-time, THC-Content, images, prices & stores, extended family-tree & lineages, crossings & hybrids, grow-journals, direct-comparisons, medicinal...

en.seedfinder.eu

I have a Green Crack houseplant that I keep supercropping just in case.

Doug Dawson · Dec 12, 2020

PadawanWarrior said:
Golden Goat is an awesome strain, it just takes a little longer.

Golden Goat (Clone Only Strains) :: Cannabis Strain Info :: SeedFinder.eu

Independent, standardized information about Clone Only Strains cannabis-strain Golden Goat! Find phenotypes, comments + detailed profiles, flowering-time, THC-Content, images, prices & stores, extended family-tree & lineages, crossings & hybrids, grow-journals, direct-comparisons, medicinal...

en.seedfinder.eu

I have a Green Crack houseplant that I keep supercropping just in case.
View attachment 4766856

That could be considered a prehistoric masterpiece, lol.

radrolley · Dec 12, 2020

Auto flowers can be nice if you live in areas with shorter summers and don't want to spend time and money vegging indoors. At the same time, auto flowers can cost you more unless you're getting the seeds free. I would much rather spend time and money keeping clones as opposed to buying auto flower seeds. It might even cost me under a $1 a month to keep far more clones than I need(most given away). I just use an aeroponics system and add a little nutrient solution which is really not even needed. A cheap 6w LED is more than enough light and nothing to run. Putting them in cups of soil after they root actually costs me more.

PadawanWarrior · Dec 12, 2020

Doug Dawson said:
That could be considered a prehistoric masterpiece, lol.

I had an original Durban Poison when I started, but I tossed it out to make room for a different plant. I think I tossed it out and replaced it with the Green Crack actually. I had my closet packed the first round, lol. Anyways, it was a beautiful little plant and was growing nice and squat for a sativa. I'm gonna grab another one of these days. That's an old strain.

SnoopyDoo · Dec 12, 2020

Doug Dawson said:
That math does not work. Not only do you than need separate rooms but if you throw a plant into bloom this month and than 2 more next month you will than have a month or two where you cannot. Most plants take 2 to 3 months to flower and ripen properly from flip. Hey if it works for you than all the power to you, it does not work for me. I can grow 4 plants twice a year indoors while taking the summer off. That produces a few pounds a year which is perfectly fine. Throw in an outdoor grow at the cottage since it is a separate residence and I got weed to give away to friends and plenty for my rosin press. Also keep in mind that while your 2 first plants you flipped are in with the 2 you flipped second it is not legal here to grow and veg more. Clones, seedlings etc all count as plants here so 4 plants is 4 plants. That is the sad reality of legality here. That said we are much better off than some places.

Just trying to figure out how to jam in more grow cycles for you canucks, so the newbies can learn faster. At 1 plant a month and you should never be above 3, so you can still do 1 a month. Gets tough if you don't have 2 rooms. Since it's legal, you don't necessarily need a room/tent for veg, just some space and a light. Do it count as a plant if it's in veg/clone?

GeneBanker · Dec 12, 2020

I say do it. I regularly tell people the best way to teach a baby to crawl is throw it in a fire. You learn real quick with pressure.

bf80255 · Dec 13, 2020

Burt Hooter said:
If I only had 1 tent, wouldn't autos make sense?

yeah, sure they can.
or you could just run photos under that same light and change the light cycle accordingly. that way you have a little more control of veg.

it all depends what your trynna do...theres 1000 ways to skin a cat

Doug Dawson said:
The Maui Waui is from Nirvana and the Shiva Skunk is from Sensi Seeds. I never trust breeder claims, likely because plants can't read, lol.

I agree with your point about some home growers being "professionals". I guess it's just semantics as professional means you get paid for it. That said, we are all paid in bud so I suppose I have to agree with you. Those old granny growers, gotta love them. Many years of experience and no rushing to get product out. Better to have the best result for all your work and just throw the calender away.

I really wish I had the ability to have more plants but I can do what I can do within the law. Probably best thought since turning my basement into a big grow room would likely piss of my wife. Since she has access to my toothbrush and my throat while I sleep I figure it's best to never make her that mad.

hahaha yea breeder claims can be pretty dicey. thats why I only buy from breeders who are transparent

totally, why waste all the time vegging and flowering to chop in the home stretch just before the real magic happens?

i feel yah... i mean... idgaf about the law lol I stay breakin that shit. fuck plant limits and dumb shit like that...but i feel yah
hahahaha yea best not test your luck

PadawanWarrior said:
Golden Goat is an awesome strain, it just takes a little longer.

Golden Goat (Clone Only Strains) :: Cannabis Strain Info :: SeedFinder.eu

Independent, standardized information about Clone Only Strains cannabis-strain Golden Goat! Find phenotypes, comments + detailed profiles, flowering-time, THC-Content, images, prices & stores, extended family-tree & lineages, crossings & hybrids, grow-journals, direct-comparisons, medicinal...

en.seedfinder.eu

I have a Green Crack houseplant that I keep supercropping just in case.
View attachment 4766856

ahh man... that better be some A-1 smoke cuzz the flowers look kinda dinky... frost but so thin!

radrolley said:
Auto flowers can be nice if you live in areas with shorter summers and don't want to spend time and money vegging indoors. At the same time, auto flowers can cost you more unless you're getting the seeds free. I would much rather spend time and money keeping clones as opposed to buying auto flower seeds. It might even cost me under a $1 a month to keep far more clones than I need(most given away). I just use an aeroponics system and add a little nutrient solution which is really not even needed. A cheap 6w LED is more than enough light and nothing to run. Putting them in cups of soil after they root actually costs me more.

why not just make S1 fems? you can keep them indefinitely for free. clones definitely cost more than a dollar a month to maintain. light space is valuable.

GeneBanker said:
I say do it. I regularly tell people the best way to teach a baby to crawl is throw it in a fire. You learn real quick with pressure.

work 70% of the time...every time

PadawanWarrior · Dec 13, 2020

bf80255 said:
yeah, sure they can.
or you could just run photos under that same light and change the light cycle accordingly. that way you have a little more control of veg.

it all depends what your trynna do...theres 1000 ways to skin a cat

hahaha yea breeder claims can be pretty dicey. thats why I only buy from breeders who are transparent

totally, why waste all the time vegging and flowering to chop in the home stretch just before the real magic happens?

i feel yah... i mean... idgaf about the law lol I stay breakin that shit. fuck plant limits and dumb shit like that...but i feel yah
hahahaha yea best not test your luck

ahh man... that better be some A-1 smoke cuzz the flowers look kinda dinky... frost but so thin!

why not just make S1 fems? you can keep them indefinitely for free. clones definitely cost more than a dollar a month to maintain. light space is valuable.

work 70% of the time...every time

Ya that's a bad picture of it. Here's a few shots of the one I grew. This was like 3-4 weeks or so before harvest. I got 1/2 pound off it. I actually still have some.

go go kid · Dec 13, 2020

Doug Dawson said:
LOL, yeah my current Maui Waui states 9 to 11 weeks on the breeder site and they always seem to take a bit longer. That said I am hoping this favorite of mine is worth the wait. Full disclosure, that's a stock photo, not my plant.
View attachment 4766846

On the bright side my other 2 plants are Shiva Skunk, another favorite of mine. It says 45-55 days flowering so yeah for that.

View attachment 4766848

the reason for this early cropping is because of the amsterdam hash n grass growers growing for an energetic high, can you imagine how the place would go down hill rapidly if everyone was propperly stoned on fully flowerd cannabis. the place would come to a grinding halt

sallygram · Dec 13, 2020

My big reason for not learning with Autos is they really are a totally different plant that you are not going to learn from. Think about it, you will not learn to take a cutting, there is no real topping or heavy manipulation of the plant and if you want to try something like revegging you are totally sol. I have seen some great Autos and am okay with auto growers I actually have thought about doing some outdoor auto grows myself but really I think if you want to learn how to grow some great weed you can't do it with autos even though you can grow some great weed with autos if you understand what I am saying. And I wish they had Autos when I started growing when I was a kid.

Wastei · Dec 13, 2020

Wizzlebiz said:
Listen. Nothing wrong with that at all. I learned running both at the same time. Just know thing will slow an autos yield down significantly if messed up in veg.

Enjoy doing both. You will see there really is a difference between how to treat autos and photos.

Good advice! I always used to run Autos alongside in 18/6 then you always had something to smoke before harvest. Ahh the good old days.

go go kid · Dec 13, 2020

oops, forgot the bonsais. you can get just as good results from growing mini trees with photos. and they realy are a differant kettle of fish altogether.
the plus side of them is you can learn basics from them, you can get a tomato grow bag as soil, some tomato feed to maybe feed them once or twice during flowering.
but i agree overall the dont teach you much about growing. the skill that comes from growing multiple photo variaties will you almost everything, but theres allways a new way of growing that hits youtube these days

Why avoid autoflowers when learning to grow?

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