Dinafem Critical + Auto-Flowering

Hello Rollitup!
Not my first grow, but I would consider myself a noob. With all the information I've accumulated from this site and others, I figured I would share my progress with my latest attempt at Critical + Auto.

Growing medium - Fox Farm Ocean Forrest I planted my seedlings straight into the FFOF. I've read around and some people say the soil is too "hot" for seedlings, meaning there is too much nutes, but my auto seems to be happy. Again I am a noob so that's just my gut impression.
Date planted - May 24th
Lighting​ - Outdoor/Sun grown
Potting/Container - 10 gallon smart pot
Seed Company - Dinafem
Strain - Critical + Auto

My main concern is her size. Right now she stands just shy of four (4) inches.
She was planted the 24th of May and sprouted about two (2) days after that. So, it's been vegging roughly 3 weeks. I could smell her start to stink about 2 weeks ago. I predict she's gonna explode with growth this week.

Any advice/suggestions is appreciated.

Mattywanna

Also, I'm going to upload higher quality pics because my computer camera is a piece of shit.

I grow all my autos outdoors on my balcony in FFOF. Works just fine, so I doubt that's the problem. Are they getting enough sunlight? You appear to be in a complex with buildings all around you - which could block the sun? Maybe a bit of overkill with the 10 gallons of dirt, but it won't hurt. It could make watering a bit more difficult.

If I were you, I would plant some tomato plants, etc. on that balcony. I would also suggest placing a board big enough to hide the mature plant, and place it between your pot and the balcony rails. Anybody looking up there will be able to see your plant otherwise. Particularly when it's already beginning to smell at this stage. Just wait until day 60.

You may be completely legal in your State, but I wouldn't want the entire complex knowing my business. It will be interesting to see how the plant does in the next week or so.

put her in the sun and stand back

if the pot size is 3 gallons or bigger she will take off about the 3rd 4th week and get near the maxium height....then flower like hell

Yes, it is legal but I completely agree, I don't want everyone knowing my business. I actually have other fruits and veggies in a huge planter so that could provide sufficient cover from watchful eyes. I wanted to get a 7 gallon but my hydro shop only had 10. I think direct sunlight may be the main issue. I was planning on vegging outside and then flowering indoors, but from the research I've done, that option seems to be a no-no.

go out and get yourself a bunch of mint and use hang basket then place that at the bottom and tho in some other flowers ......it will look like agarden to everyone but the ones that know what it look like (we get sight or smell of a plant growing we know ....count u as one of the we )

if u have to keep her hidden .............might invest in a system of mirrors and reflect the light into her .........other wise u will need a light (run it on the natural light timing during the day not many ppl will see ligh and with it off at night no one sees it

Update - June 19, 2013

Day 27
Hairs are starting to come in everywhere on top, and between the nodes. Smell is still to a minimum. You have to put your nose right up on it to get a whiff, but it's there for sure. Mostly a skunky scent. I'm going to start with nutes next week, since I'm a broke ass at the moment. And holy shit, 10 gallon smart pots really retain water. I only had to scrape into the top 1.5 inches to get to dark, wet soil. I'm guessing I'm only gonna have to water this girl once a week, although I did water her thoroughly after transplanting her from the 1 liter pot to prevent shock.

Below are a few pictures of her progress, with a new and improved camera as promised!



I don't know why these pictures from my first post are attached below, oh well.

Hey Mattywanna, ur plants r looking good. I don't think ur growing Critical +, I grow them all the time & urs don't look or act like mine. Now another scenario is that I may not b growing them ?. They r my favorite & something I grow all the time so Im a bit familiar with them. There is also another & maybe urs have been stunted bad & in shock bad or something ?. Mine r always bigger & u can really c they r in flower at that stage. I have bought mine from the Single Seed Co. & Attitude, & they both have the same traits, so Im confident whatever Im growing is the same whatever they r. I will b following ur thread because maybe they r Criticals & just been stunted bad somewhere along the line ?.

Udpdate - June 27, 2013

Day 35

Lady Critical + is doing quite well. Lots of progress since last update. I tried my hand in LST. Tonight will be the end of day 4 of training, which will be her last for this session. Aside from low stress training, I watered her on Monday with nutes. I used Tiger Bloom and Big Bloom. I figured the nutes in Ocean Forrest would make her happy for her short lived vegetive cycle. The inner shoots are coming along nicely throughout, especially her exposed side.

tyedyed, I agree she does look a little stunted. She looks about 2 weeks at most behind I would say. The shock could be from transplanting a while back, and the fact she only gets sunlight, as powerful and spectrum-ful it is I am interested in how she turns out though since you think she's not a Critical +. I can't say %100 sure but without a doubt she's an auto

<- inner shoot LST

Shes looking good in any event. I love the Dinafem Criticals they are a good all around plant & don't require a lot of attention. Im going to keep watching ur thread to c just how she turns out.

Have you had to water her much recently? I'm asking because I have a Royal Dwarf going which didn't need much watering at all during the veg/pre flower stage but needs watering like every other day now that's she's into full bloom. Also, I stunted her at the beginning by having too moist a soil during the beginning seedling stage.

Udpdate - July 9, 2013

During veg, I did notice she didn't go through a lot of water. But as of late, especially with this Bay Area heat, I've been watering her like every 4-5 days, and that's in a 10 gallon pot.

Mattywanna said:

During veg, I did notice she didn't go through a lot of water. But as of late, especially with this Bay Area heat, I've been watering her like every 4-5 days, and that's in a 10 gallon pot.

Click to expand...

Good to know! I have a Dinafem Fruit Auto which I'm itching to get started as soon as my other girl finishes...I'll be following your thread to see how everything goes! I would like to do an outdoor balcony type grow as well (i've done it with photos in the past with mixed results) and I think autos might be more suited.

Hey man, really enjoy the thread being that Im growing some C+ right now as well! today is day 30. Please continue to update as I am very interested in how she turns out! Should be getting some bud explosion soon being that your 50+ days now..

Update - July 23, 2013

Day 60

It's getting so close I can smell it ... and my corny joke for the day is out the way

N-E-ways, my girl is doing well. She has not ever showed signs of any extreme over or under watering. No stress from nutes which I'm very happy to see. Maybe next time I'll go a wee bit harder on the nutes and see how that goes, but that's down the road.
I will have to get a microscope here soon so I can see what is going on with the trichs. Lastly, I trimmed a few leaves that I wasn't feeling were going to do any good leaving and also not hurt her trimming away.

Thoughts, comments, fodder.

Forgot to post the pics, stoned and tired as hell haha.