Autoflower growing questions

So recently I discovered the wonder that is autoflowering cannabis plants! I've done a lot of reading and they seem to be absolutely perfect for my situation. Fairly small plants and extremely fast production are exactly what I was looking for, plus they are now incorporating so many amazing strains into the autoflower gene that it seems to be a dream come true! With proper care, people are producing rather good yields as well as potent looking buds. I have never grown before and am greatly considering it now. I just have a few questions.

1. I want to purchase feminized seeds from a reliable seller at a fair price. I have looked into many and have a few in mind, which would you suggest? Any input on personal preferences or issues you may have had with a company would be appreciated.

2. I am planning on growing 1 to 4 plants at a time and I want to do a CFL grow. How many and what wattage bulbs should I use for this amount of plants? I know photoperiod does not matter with autoflowers, but what light schedule would you recommend? I'm thinking a 24/0 schedule as I have seen good results from this.

3. I have done a fair amount of reading but when it comes to giving the plants nutes, I'm still fairly clueless. Any and all info you have on nutes would be great, such as preferred brands, feeding schedules, etc.

4. I am planning on using a soil from Fox Farms as I've read many successful grow journals using their soils. What would you recommend?

5. This is my last question and biggest concern - smell. How noticeable of a scent do autoflowering varieties produce? I know it varies from strain to strain. I'd assume since autoflowers are a bit smaller than normal plants they would produce less smell. How bad of an aroma would 1 plant produce? How about 4? My current situations allow me to grow, I just don't want the whole house to wreak of dank. If the plants were in a closed room with I don't know, maybe some glade plug ins or something, would the smell be noticeable throughout the house? I also plan on getting an apartment with my girlfriend this coming summer or fall. Would the smell from 1 to 4 plants (possibly 8 at that point in time) be too strong for growing in an apartment?

I apologize for the lengthy thread, I just want to get as much info as I can before I start growing so I can make sure my plants produce as much as conditions allow, as well as good quality product.

Your responses are greatly appreciated!

Stay high

Autos are ok but note that they are not all so small and the fast times they advertise don't always pan out. I have grown White Dwarf and they do stay small. I don't grow in soil so won't comment on nutes. Smell won't be overpowering at all and can be controlled. But it might be noticeable. You will need to think twice about who comes in your home, and be ready with extra febreeze. Oh yeah, 24 hr light for autos but switch from a blue spectrum to red when they begin to flower. You want at least 100 preferably 150 or more, actual watts per plant in cfls. hid light is worth it.

illegal smile nailed it.
1-4 plants. as in 1,2 ,3 or 4?
I saying raw minimum of 125-150w a plant. Less than that and yield will be affected and yes 24/0 is alright with autos.
Switch cycles once your in flower.

Yes, I mean 1-4 plants as in 1, 2, 3, or 4.

What would you recommend switching the light cycle to once flowering begins? 20/4? 18/6?

Also, when you say 125 - 150 watts, are you talking about the equivalent? So for 125 - 150 watts I'd want at least a 26, if not higher watt cfl bulb? That would be one 26 (or more) watt bulb per plant?

I like autos in my veg tent. Northren lights, pine apple express, big devil and la diva so far. ..all 4 was under 18 inches, smell great, taste perfect. just la diva did not yeild as good as the rest... over two zips off the big devil, other are just under zip, laviva was 1/2 a zip. I run em on 24/7 light.

justan said:

Yes, I mean 1-4 plants as in 1, 2, 3, or 4.

What would you recommend switching the light cycle to once flowering begins? 20/4? 18/6?

Also, when you say 125 - 150 watts, are you talking about the equivalent? So for 125 - 150 watts I'd want at least a 26, if not higher watt cfl bulb? That would be one 26 (or more) watt bulb per plant?

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He means you need to decide between 1, 2, 3 or 4. And like I said, actual watts not claimed equivalents. It's not the time cycle that gets changed when they BEGIN to flower, that stays 24 hrs. What changes is the spectrum of the light. With cfls you go from 6500k or thereabouts, to 2700k or thereabouts. If you don't know what that means I recommend some more reading before you start.

justan said:

Yes, I mean 1-4 plants as in 1, 2, 3, or 4.

What would you recommend switching the light cycle to once flowering begins? 20/4? 18/6?

Also, when you say 125 - 150 watts, are you talking about the equivalent? So for 125 - 150 watts I'd want at least a 26, if not higher watt cfl bulb? That would be one 26 (or more) watt bulb per plant?

Click to expand...

no dude 26 watts would grow like a one inch plant.

To be asking questions like this you need to be reading some of the stickies a bit more in the newbie section, no offense intended just you need to get a base point otherwise youll end up like me buying a 600w bulb for a tiny closet.

As for what lights you need:
6500k for vegetative, 18 hours light up to 24 hours light
2700k for flower

and wattage... well some people say 150 watts for your first plant then add 50 for each extra one.
Or 50 watts per square foot (at least)

personally 150 watts would grow one good plant... 250 would grow 2 etc.

and lots of people will tell you to go for HPS lights instead

Oh and as for smell, my first grow was a 12 inch white widow (non autoflowering), and thats pretty small. It could be smelt down the stairs. So my advice is definitely invest in a carbon filter or some form of odor control no matter what, especially if law is an issue, its not really optional because it WILL smell. Especially as you are (or should be) ventilating air straight out of the area.