Big Newbie: Can you help me find the right strain?

GemGrows24 said:

Only one way to find out

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Thanks mate

WhatWouldBobDo said:

So after reading and doing a ton of thinking and taking the advice mentioned here, I think I’ve narrowed it down to:

Blue Dream Autoflower
Zkitllez (probably the Autoflower version, although the CBD version looks interesting)

Also on the short list, perhaps after I try those two, would be:
Cali OG
Harlequin

Sound reasonable?

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What's the reasoning to choose autos instead of photo period plants starting out?

Cheers and all the best of luck!

Wastei said:

What's the reasoning to choose autos instead of photo period plants starting out?

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Lack of experience mostly. But I’m also concerned about vertical height from a sativa.

I grew about 20 years ago. Everything was much different back then. LEDs were just hitting the market, and most used MH and HPS combos (with massive heat issues), fans sounded like jet engines, and the genetics I used were less than stellar. The plants I grew all turned very leggy, and I had a challenge learning topping techniques and controlling vertical height. Probably undersized lights didn’t help. But the plants that I did get to finish had some stellar resinous bud.

I know that I don’t need a high yield, or high THC content.

So, I wanted to start off with an autoflower, at least to get things going and dialed in. The yield off one plant, even an auto, should be more than I need for some time. Pop a seed, toss it in 20 hour light cab and good to go (mostly).

I was actually thinking of running one single autoflower start to finish to dial everything in. Once done, I’d start another autoflower, and halfway through start a photo fem, that way the auto should finish around the time I flip from 18/6 to 12/12. And should result in about 3 different strains to try out over a 6 month period, if all goes according to plan.

WhatWouldBobDo said:

Lack of experience mostly. But I’m also concerned about vertical height from a sativa.

I grew about 20 years ago. Everything was much different back then. LEDs were just hitting the market, and most used MH and HPS combos (with massive heat issues), fans sounded like jet engines, and the genetics I used were less than stellar. The plants I grew all turned very leggy, and I had a challenge learning topping techniques and controlling vertical height. Probably undersized lights didn’t help. But the plants that I did get to finish had some stellar resinous bud.

I know that I don’t need a high yield, or high THC content.

So, I wanted to start off with an autoflower, at least to get things going and dialed in. The yield off one plant, even an auto, should be more than I need for some time. Pop a seed, toss it in 20 hour light cab and good to go (mostly).

I was actually thinking of running one single autoflower start to finish to dial everything in. Once done, I’d start another autoflower, and halfway through start a photo fem, that way the auto should finish around the time I flip from 18/6 to 12/12. And should result in about 3 different strains to try out over a 6 month period, if all goes according to plan.

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If you want to save some time and money you can always run photo period plants with 12/12 from start to finish to keep plant size down and finish as fast as an auto.

Wastei said:

If you want to save some time and money you can always run photo period plants with 12/12 from start to finish to keep plant size down and finish as fast as an auto.

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I hadn’t considered that.

What would be the advanatage of running a fem photo at 12/12 from the start over running an auto on 18/6 or 24/0 from the start?

WhatWouldBobDo said:

I hadn’t considered that.

What would be the advanatage of running a fem photo at 12/12 from the start over running an auto on 18/6 or 24/0 from the start?

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The obvious one is electrical cost, the other ones are you will find a more stable genetic pool in photo seeds and you can find something you could possibly keep for the future.

Wastei said:

The obvious one is electrical cost, the other ones are you will find a more stable genetic pool in photo seeds and you can find something you could possibly keep for the future.

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Hmm . . . that gives me alot to think about. I’ll have to read up on yields and quality of product grown on 24/0 with autos vs 12/12 from the start with photos, among other things.

I was also trying to find a seed vendor that had all of the things I was looking for, to make ordering simpler. If I don’t stick only with autos of some strains and photos of others, I should be able to broaden my seed bank search.

thanks so much for the ideas!

WhatWouldBobDo said:

Hmm . . . that gives me alot to think about. I’ll have to read up on yields and quality of product grown on 24/0 with autos vs 12/12 from the start with photos, among other things.

I was also trying to find a seed vendor that had all of the things I was looking for, to make ordering simpler. If I don’t stick only with autos of some strains and photos of others, I should be able to broaden my seed bank search.

thanks so much for the ideas!

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I think its a bad idea to go with one seed supplier. Try to avoid researching on certain websites because they can be biased. What you're doing here doing your research is a good thing and a lot of people can point you in a good direction. Be patient when using your money, seek good opinion!

As far as companies i've used and like alot

Horticultural Lighting Group- for their innovative and unique website. Love the DIY stuff and top notch customer service with any problems I've had. My meanwell dimmer had no problem besides a stripped screw and they sent me a new one no questions asked. all the other equip ive bought still works!

AC Infinity- bought 7 oscillating pole fans. later they had a recall type deal and sent me 7 new ones YEARS later. The other month I set up my cloudforge and it was overhumidifying. I found out I just wasn't setting it up wrong and the customer service got back to me within a week right new christmas

for seedbanks for me its GLG and DC seed exchange. love bobbitchens and hydrored's beans. The guy running GLG gives away some really unique and potent crosses that are exclusive to only free if you buy from him, and collaborated with his breeders.

Nutes in hydro coco I like GH trio for nutes

predatory bugs I used natures good guys and had a great experience

Nizza said:

As far as companies i've used and like alot

Horticultural Lighting Group- for their innovative and unique website. Love the DIY stuff and top notch customer service with any problems I've had. My meanwell dimmer had no problem besides a stripped screw and they sent me a new one no questions asked. all the other equip ive bought still works!

AC Infinity- bought 7 oscillating pole fans. later they had a recall type deal and sent me 7 new ones YEARS later. The other month I set up my cloudforge and it was overhumidifying. I found out I just wasn't setting it up wrong and the customer service got back to me within a week right new christmas

...

Nutes in hydro coco I like GH trio for nutes

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Well you’re going to like this then, lol.

My 2x4 grow tent is an AC Infinity, and yesterday I placed the order for the Cloudline fan and refillable charcoal filter. I already have the GH trio and planned on using them in coco.

I was going to go with an HLG light, but ended up going with a VIPARSPECTRA instead. I recognize I may need to upgrade my light at some point though.

Nizza said:

for seedbanks for me its GLG and DC seed exchange. love bobbitchens and hydrored's beans. The guy running GLG gives away some really unique and potent crosses that are exclusive to only free if you buy from him, and collaborated with his breeders.

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I haven’t heard of GLG or DC seed exchange. I’ll check them out.

You proly like erdpurt op it's mostly drug type 2 phenos as in 1and1 THC/CBD ratios I can't see you freaking out on that it's more of a fast outdoor indica type but you can grow it indoors if you wanted to

WhatWouldBobDo said:

Lack of experience mostly. But I’m also concerned about vertical height from a sativa.

I grew about 20 years ago. Everything was much different back then. LEDs were just hitting the market, and most used MH and HPS combos (with massive heat issues), fans sounded like jet engines, and the genetics I used were less than stellar. The plants I grew all turned very leggy, and I had a challenge learning topping techniques and controlling vertical height. Probably undersized lights didn’t help. But the plants that I did get to finish had some stellar resinous bud.

I know that I don’t need a high yield, or high THC content.

So, I wanted to start off with an autoflower, at least to get things going and dialed in. The yield off one plant, even an auto, should be more than I need for some time. Pop a seed, toss it in 20 hour light cab and good to go (mostly).

I was actually thinking of running one single autoflower start to finish to dial everything in. Once done, I’d start another autoflower, and halfway through start a photo fem, that way the auto should finish around the time I flip from 18/6 to 12/12. And should result in about 3 different strains to try out over a 6 month period, if all goes according to plan.

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Autos are a lil trickier to grow Vs photos that's why I'd always recommend photos till U get your growing skills down autos aren't so forgiving of mistakes

conor c said:

Autos are a lil trickier to grow Vs photos

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Interesting. Can you tell me more about why they are trickier?

I grew with limited success over 20 years ago. But things were alot different back then. My photo plants stretched hard (lighting was much more of a challenge back then, and I preferred sativa strains over indica strains) and I had a hard time keeping compact sativa plants. My last grow was actually the first version of autos that came on the market, and while they didn’t produce great yields, they stayed pretty small and compact. But growing them was super simple and easy, at least back then. I assumed over the last 20 years that breeders would be able to get more out of crosses in these autos. But you know what they say about assumptions.

I recommend that you stay away from really complex hybrid plants. Go with seed banks that have worked their lines for awhile -Archive Seeds, Riot Seeds are two that I have been happy with (although they are usually quite a bit more expensive).

The main knock on auto's is their flowering cycle is well, automatic. They are going to start flowering when they want to not necessarily when you want them to. The ones I have run usually start flowering at 3 weeks, some as soon as 2 weeks. If you don't have your conditions dialed in you will end up with some pretty small plants. They are fun to run though, just stand back and let them do their thing.
I would also recommend North Atlantic Seed Company for seeds. They have a good selection, take visa and have quick shipping.

tstick said:

I recommend that you stay away from really complex hybrid plants. Go with seed banks that have worked their lines for awhile -Archive Seeds, Riot Seeds are two that I have been happy with (although they are usually quite a bit more expensive).

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It’s really interesting to me how hard it is on some locations to find just basic genetics like Blue Dream. Even at Archive Seeds and Riot Seeds. But such is life.

Thanks for the recommendations!

laddyd said:

If you don't have your conditions dialed in you will end up with some pretty small plants. They are fun to run though, just stand back and let them do their thing.

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Pros and cons, for sure.

I think, based on grows from decades ago, what I’m most concerned about is not knowing fully how tall a plant will get, and how long I need to go into veg. Because I don’t want a 2 foot plant at veg to turn into an 8 foot monster that outgrows the space by flowering. And I thought autos would avoid that issue.

I know, of course, once I grow a plant I’ll be more familiar with it’s characteristics for subsequent grows. Like if I grow a Blue Dream in veg for 4 weeks and switch to flower and it becomes an absolute monster, then maybe switch at 3 weeks. Or if at 4 weeks it’s a little too small, maybe wait until 5 weeks for the next grow. But at least right now, I’m trying to find the right strain, or what I like and what I don’t like. So the odds are I won’t have many subsequent grows for a while. I’d like to try Blue Dream, then Zkittlez, then Cali-O, for example. So I won’t really be able to “learn” the characteristics for subsequent grows. At least for a while. So, at least I thought, that’s where autos would shine. Because I could grow a Blue Dream auto, not be concerned about it’s height or when to switch from veg to flower, and try out the bud. If I like it, in the future try it as a photo and really learn its characteristics.

I know the downside to most autos is that they can end up pretty small, with some pretty small buds. Which, for someone that smokes alot and wants big buds as a payoff for their time investment, I get would be frustrating. And maybe in time I’ll be there too. But at least for now, I don’t need alot, so small plants really don’t bother me or concern me. As a small harvest of a few ounces is more than enough to get me through a 3-4 month time period through the next harvest.

laddyd said:

I would also recommend North Atlantic Seed Company for seeds. They have a good selection, take visa and have quick shipping.

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I’ve heard alot of really good things about them. Thanks for the suggestion!