To auto or not

Viridios

Viridios

Member
Hey fellows, I’m a new grower still on my first grow. I started with autos and once this is done I will try a photo to see which one I’m better suited to. My question:

What are the advantage of one over the other. I ask as i originally thought autos finish a lot quicker than autos and im not fussed with not having to change the light schedule as I don’t see that as a good reason. But this auto I’m growing is likely to go to 12 weeks from seed. Isn’t that the same time as most photos?

Maybe it’s better if I ask what I’m looking for. I want to grow for my own use and I’m a regular smoker. I want a high THC content that finishes fairly quick (9 - 10 weeks max) and is not too fussy for a newbie.

Also one final question I saw a seed called an “early” (8weeks from seed to finish it was sugar black rose earlies from delicious seeds). Are these any good? I don’t want to buy and grow a plant that produces hardly any bud and is weak for the sake of a few weeks?

Apologies in advance if these are silly questions.
 
Kerovan

Kerovan

Well-Known Member
12 weeks from seed is pretty good depending on the strain. Some photos will go 20 weeks from the time you flip to 12/12. The average is closer to 12 weeks after flip, plus the 4 weeks of vegging. So I would say yes, autos are generally a bit faster. But a lot depends on the strains as to how fast. The advantage of photos imo is that you can control the size easier. You can let them veg for a very short time so that they stay small or you can veg them for a longer period and let them get huge. Plus it is supposedly easier to top or lst photos, autos don't have time to recover from topping before they flower.

I am on my first ever grow of autos right now, so take everything I say with a grain of salt. I chose these because they supposedly are very fast finishers. I have 2 Auto Seeds Candy Kush and 2 Bomb Seeds THC Bomb, they both supposedly finish in 65-75 days from seed. They are currently 3 days from seed.
 
Viridios

Viridios

Member
Kerovan said:
12 weeks from seed is pretty good depending on the strain. Some photos will go 20 weeks from the time you flip to 12/12. The average is closer to 12 weeks after flip, plus the 4 weeks of vegging. So I would say yes, autos are generally a bit faster. But a lot depends on the strains as to how fast. The advantage of photos imo is that you can control the size easier. You can let them veg for a very short time so that they stay small or you can veg them for a longer period and let them get huge. Plus it is supposedly easier to top or lst photos, autos don't have time to recover from topping before they flower.

I am on my first ever grow of autos right now, so take everything I say with a grain of salt. I chose these because they supposedly are very fast finishers. I have 2 Auto Seeds Candy Kush and 2 Bomb Seeds THC Bomb, they both supposedly finish in 65-75 days from seed. They are currently 3 days from seed.
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Thanks fellow, I think I will stick to autos for now and try a photo in the summer. Is that why on photos sellers say for example 12 weeks flowering and on autos they just say 12 weeks? I like the fact that you have more control but I’m too impatient and I check on them 3-4 times a day, 20 weeks sounds exhausting. Although I might set up a smaller tent to run autos and photos side by side. I’ll just leave the autos in the smaller tent and move the photos to the other tent once I flip to 12/12. I just want a continuos supply, it’s my only vice!

Let me know how you get on with those autos.
 
PineappleExpress1007

PineappleExpress1007

Well-Known Member
I did super critical Auto for my first grow and I had no idea at all what I was doing to start with, did a bit of reading up and that used some tomato nutes as I was a little skint at the time haha :) but to be fair they grew nice and healthy plants and no hassle at all with them nice yield too, smoke was lovely and I've stuck with autos ever since :)
 
Viridios

Viridios

Member
PineappleExpress1007 said:
I did super critical Auto for my first grow and I had no idea at all what I was doing to start with, did a bit of reading up and that used some tomato nutes as I was a little skint at the time haha :) but to be fair they grew nice and healthy plants and no hassle at all with them nice yield too, smoke was lovely and I've stuck with autos ever since :)
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Nice so no nutes and still a good result. You sound like from you are from my end of the world, what soil did you use? I’m paro that my soil I get is too light (use biobizz light mix but I will start on next with half all mix and upper half of pot as light mix).
 
PineappleExpress1007

PineappleExpress1007

Well-Known Member
Yeah buddy hardly any proper nutes just tomato feed haha, Wales, UK mate haha,

Just some normal pre mixed organic soil, does the job just the same with autos and you don't need to feed them anything for a good 2 weeks so it's handy, you should be alright with most soils mate shouldn't get too hot for your seeds from what I've read, plus I've heard a lot of people say autos and that don't like too much nutrients but I've never had any problems with giving a bit over the recommended dose, never had mute burns before :)
 
cindysid

cindysid

Well-Known Member
Autos are ok, but I prefer photos. For one thing, when you find the strain(s) you like you can clone that same plant indefinitely, and produce a never ending crop...that's what I do
 
PineappleExpress1007

PineappleExpress1007

Well-Known Member
Less time and less hassle with autos plus they've come a long way since they first came out, in my opinion the smoke is just as nice as photo plants, I prefer just buying different strain autos every few months saves fucking around with clones if I'm honest, each to their own tho, what ever suits the grower :)
 
Viridios

Viridios

Member
PineappleExpress1007 said:
Yeah buddy hardly any proper nutes just tomato feed haha, Wales, UK mate haha,

Just some normal pre mixed organic soil, does the job just the same with autos and you don't need to feed them anything for a good 2 weeks so it's handy, you should be alright with most soils mate shouldn't get too hot for your seeds from what I've read, plus I've heard a lot of people say autos and that don't like too much nutrients but I've never had any problems with giving a bit over the recommended dose, never had mute burns before :)
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Nice same here mate. Was not impressed with the soil I got online so next I’ll go to the local for the soil! Thanks for the tips mate.
 
too larry

too larry

Well-Known Member
If growing indoors, there is no real need for autos. They do best for getting a summer harvest outdoors. You will more than make up for the extra time under the lights from the weight you pull with photos.

Also do some regular seeds and pick out a good male to make seeds with. Spending money on seeds for every grow is whacked.
 
PineappleExpress1007

PineappleExpress1007

Well-Known Member
too larry said:
If growing indoors, there is no real need for autos. They do best for getting a summer harvest outdoors. You will more than make up for the extra time under the lights from the weight you pull with photos.

Also do some regular seeds and pick out a good male to make seeds with. Spending money on seeds for every grow is whacked.
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I'll always stick to autos, for me just so much less hassle, done a photo before a constantly kept fucking up the times haha, and as for doing them outside, you can't grow shit outside here in the uk haha :grin:
 
PineappleExpress1007

PineappleExpress1007

Well-Known Member
Viridios said:
I would second that, outdoors is a no no unles you can find a strain that goes from seed to flower in 2 weeks when the 2 week summer comes !
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Or if you live in wales we get literally a week of nice weather then it's back to rain and wind haha, I'd love to be able to grow my autos outside but there's just no hope here haha :)
 
Viridios

Viridios

Member
PineappleExpress1007 said:
Or if you live in wales we get literally a week of nice weather then it's back to rain and wind haha, I'd love to be able to grow my autos outside but there's just no hope here haha :)
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True that, and with the storm at the moment grown trees are struggling! I will try photos at some point side by side with autos once I set up a second tent but as I’m a smoke fiend, I couldnt wait that long on my first grow so went for autos.
 
PineappleExpress1007

PineappleExpress1007

Well-Known Member
If you smoke a shit load but don't have the room for photos, autos are just the best way to go, I wouldn't mind throwing a photo or two in with my autos like but just don't have the time for them otherwise
 
too larry

too larry

Well-Known Member
If you guys can scrape together a spot to veg a few clones and a mother, you can harvest every 10 weeks. It takes some work to pheno hunt for that special plant, but once you find her, all your seed buying is done. {and with two spaces, you will never have to change a timer, lol}

Good luck.
 
S

Special Kdog

Well-Known Member
yields can suck on autos... but some are super duper easy. 60 Day Lemon from DNA is a fantastic smoke but from a yield perspective you'll get only a couple ounces in good conditions. Very fast though. 10 weeks start to finish. Really strong lemon smell. use some good soil and you really won't need much if any nutes.
 
Cannabis.Queen

Cannabis.Queen

Well-Known Member
I find it all depends on space. This summer i grew 9 strains, 2 autos and the rest photos. The autos did well auto doors, but I wouldn't do them again outdoors. Maybe one, to help me from harvesting a plant early lol

Ps, this is just my opinions, gonwoth your gut.4
I am growing autos in the winter first time indoors, plants got ripped and had to start over quickly. My closet is 3.8 x 3.10ft and I have a 400whps replantment led in there. I have my 4 autos going and then my two photos being begged slowly for outdoors. I have a huge plant blah blah, but it all depends on space. Autos are easy, I am a horrible person and make them hard and experiment by topping and lst but most let them go, maybe tie them down. Inside I only have space for 4 5 gal, or 7, 3 gal pots. I'm doing an experiment on 1 gal and 3 gal with my autos, allowing me to add another plant under the footprint I find I wanted to. Best part is my lights foot print covers my whole closet lol, so I just fill the closet; leaving space between the plants.

Autos don't yield much. I say this comparing my outdoor plants which yield up to 5-7 oz in a 5 gal and 7-10oz in the ground. Autos are anywhere from 10gs-100gs. It all depends. Ido find 5 gal would be a waste of dirt for the auto, I stick with 3 now. :)

Happy growing!
 
Viridios

Viridios

Member
Cannabis.Queen said:
I find it all depends on space. This summer i grew 9 strains, 2 autos and the rest photos. The autos did well auto doors, but I wouldn't do them again outdoors. Maybe one, to help me from harvesting a plant early lol

Ps, this is just my opinions, gonwoth your gut.4
I am growing autos in the winter first time indoors, plants got ripped and had to start over quickly. My closet is 3.8 x 3.10ft and I have a 400whps replantment led in there. I have my 4 autos going and then my two photos being begged slowly for outdoors. I have a huge plant blah blah, but it all depends on space. Autos are easy, I am a horrible person and make them hard and experiment by topping and lst but most let them go, maybe tie them down. Inside I only have space for 4 5 gal, or 7, 3 gal pots. I'm doing an experiment on 1 gal and 3 gal with my autos, allowing me to add another plant under the footprint I find I wanted to. Best part is my lights foot print covers my whole closet lol, so I just fill the closet; leaving space between the plants.

Autos don't yield much. I say this comparing my outdoor plants which yield up to 5-7 oz in a 5 gal and 7-10oz in the ground. Autos are anywhere from 10gs-100gs. It all depends. Ido find 5 gal would be a waste of dirt for the auto, I stick with 3 now. :)

Happy growing!
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Thanks for that there was good info here for a newbie like me. I did choose autos not only because of the time to harvest but also for space like you said. I originally got a small tent and chose autos as I read they grow shorter than photos. So then I go and buy 2 auto sativas (Critical Neville’s Haze auto) and they grew past my tent so I had to get a bigger tent. On week 10 now and they look ok to me (not sure if they are supposed to look like at this stage tbh see pics) It’s my first grow and I’ve learnt a lot from all the mistakes I made (plenty of them), so hopefully will get better. I got space now for autos and photos so gonna try my hand at both next just to see which one I prefer if not both.
 

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